Lin Huanyue put down the coffee cup, and the cup clinked crisply against the saucer underneath.

"Makes sense. I saw that girl last time too, but what I saw was a bit inappropriate for kids. She was hooking up with Cheng Zhirang in the park, the two of them tightly embraced while kissing."

Several people widened their eyes.

Jiang Kai: "Whoa! Cheng Zhirang kissing someone in the park?! He never did such things back in high school when he was young and impetuous. When he caught me kissing my girlfriend once, he even told me to be mindful of the impression it leaves!"

Wei Ling, having fixed her lipstick, pouted, "That girl seems to have her ways. She’s got Brother Cheng wrapped around her finger."

"I say you two shouldn’t be so sour," Jiang Kai spat out his chewing gum, wrapped it in a tissue, and tossed it into the trash bin like a basketball shot, then lay back in a carefree manner, saying, "It’s giving me goosebumps."

"Also, it’s Cheng Zhirang we’re talking about. His judgment of people is sharper than your judgment of lipsticks. If he fancies someone, there must be something special about her, probably head over heels for her. You two should stop making snide comments whenever you feel like it."

Lin Huanyue didn’t respond, but Wei Ling muttered a few words with a full face of disdain.

"Anyway, that’s all there is to say," Jiang Kai added with a hint of a smile, "He’s a celebrity, always in the spotlight. If you say something carelessly, it might be trending by the end of the day. Then he’ll definitely come for you."

"What could we say?" Lin Huanyue smiled gracefully, "They’re just dating, whatever happens is their business, not ours. There’s nothing we can say."

"Let’s hope so. Don’t get on his bad side. Just because he’s got a good temper doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a temper."

Lin Huanyue picked up the coffee cup again, covering the corners of her mouth.

Meanwhile.

Cheng Zhirang, wearing sunglasses, drove straight to the suburbs. Assistant Wen drove another car, accompanying him for a journey before turning in a different direction to lead away the trailing paparazzi.

He was worried Mu Qiu’s parents might grow impatient waiting, so he entrusted the grocery shopping task to Assistant Liang, instructing him to have the groceries delivered to the villa’s doorstep so he could pick them up directly when the time came.

From his starting point to the suburbs only took about an hour and ten minutes, but once he reached the villa area, he didn’t drive straight into the parking lot behind the house. Instead, he stopped the car, adjusted his outfit a bit inside the car, relaxed a bit, then got out to meet the grocery delivery before knocking on the door calmly.

The door was opened by Mu Qiu.

In order to get there before her father, she even ran over in a small sprint. Opening the door, she winked at Cheng Zhirang outside, whispering:

"The adventure begins, good luck."

Cheng Zhirang noticed the slight redness in her eye corners, giving a reassuring smile.

He carried the groceries inside, familiarly placing them on the small bar counter in the kitchen, briefly nodding to the two people who walked out from the kitchen: "Hello, Uncle and Auntie, I’m Cheng Zhirang."

This was Mu Zhi and Yuan Chun’s first time seeing Cheng Zhirang in person.

The appearance on screen had some discrepancies compared to real life.

The difference was, in real life, he looked even better, with a more noticeable height difference from them.

The two discreetly and openly sized him up from head to toe, and then Yuan Chun, smiling, said: "The name Zhirang is well chosen. Don’t be formal, have a seat first. Today, it’s just that Mu Qiu invited you over for a meal. Do you have any dietary restrictions?"

"None. Auntie, let me help you in the kitchen."

"No need, no need, Mu Qiu will help me. You just go chat with Mu Qiu’s dad."

Helping the mother-in-law in the kitchen or chatting with the father-in-law, which is easier?

Cheng Zhirang, steady and sincere, politely insisted again: "I’d still prefer to help, Mu Qiu doesn’t like to do kitchen chores."

Yet Yuan Chun refused again with a smile.

"I don’t let her do kitchen chores. You guys go chat. Her father just wants to know about you and Mu Qiu lately."

Having no other option, he picked the second scary choice.

He maintained his composure, handed the groceries to Mu Qiu, and politely said to Mu Zhi: "Then Uncle, I’ll accompany you for a chat."

Mu Qiu was left in the kitchen, helping with the veggies.

She wasn’t worried Cheng Zhirang couldn’t handle her dad. A mature man, not a young boy, wouldn’t nervously say the wrong thing or sweat through his palms. He might even win her dad over.

He was always like this, like a patient fisherman, coolly and skillfully waiting for the fish to bite.

Compared to him, she was more worried about herself.

It’s impossible to stay silent doing their own things in the kitchen. Not even two minutes passed before Yuan Chun started lecturing her again.

"Dating made you lazy, huh? You two together and you don’t even touch water? No laundry, no washing veggies? Do you even wash your face or take a bath?"

Mu Qiu muttered softly, "I still wash my face."

But besides that, she basically didn’t handle those chores anymore.

Yuan Chun seasoned the chicken brought home, washed her hands, and peeked into the bag of groceries Cheng Zhirang brought.

"All foods you like, quite considerate."

Mu Qiu thought her mom was satisfied with this about Cheng Zhirang and was about to say more when she heard her continue: "Being able to tell what you like from takeout, did he order the takeout?"

"...Ha, of course not, when he’s working his assistant usually prepares his meals. It’s more that I order takeout often."

"Already defending him before anything’s said. He’s a few years older, being considerate is expected."

Well then, apparently Cheng Zhirang was now branded as someone who liked to order takeout for her.

Sorry Brother Cheng, today you have to take this blame.

She brushed aside the strand of hair that fell down and chose to quietly work on the veggies.

Yuan Chun wouldn’t stop questioning. Already having started blanching the duck meat, she continued talking.

"He seems quite tall, but people say celebrities’ real heights usually aren’t what’s reported online. How tall is he actually?"

"One eighty-seven or one eighty-nine, I haven’t used a tape measure."

"What about his weight?"

Mu Qiu: "...Not sure, probably around one hundred thirty pounds. Mom, why are you asking this?"

Why does it feel like she’s about to ship him off right after measuring his three dimensions?

"Better to know a little more," Yuan Chun gave her a glance, "You young people date purely by feeling, not paying attention to actual circumstances. Going on so carelessly, there’s bound to be clashes sooner or later. Does he have any bad habits?"

"No." She fiddled with the outer skin of the peas, feeling oddly puzzled.

Understanding the other person, isn’t that something to do when finalizing things between the two, entering the parental assessment phase?

Last time she was informed that she and Cheng Zhirang were dating, they were full of shock and opposition, weren’t all their various living room persuasions meant to discourage?

Why are they now starting to want to know him thoroughly?

"You’ll wash peas like this forever," Yuan Chun snatched the bowl of peas from her hand, "Just stand by and answer my questions."

"...Oh."