Yuan Chun formally began her investigation into her future son-in-law’s background.

"Does he have any hobbies that are the opposite of yours? Like being noisy or liking to eat things you hate?"

Mu Qiu answered honestly, "No. Does he look like someone who is noisy?"

"When you’re together, does he really never let you cook?"

"Occasionally, but it’s not because he demands it. I make breakfast, and if there’s enough ingredients, I make some for him too."

"So if there’s not enough ingredients, you eat by yourself, is that it?"

Mu Qiu rubbed her nose, "..."

Yuan Chun, exasperated, threw the duck meat into the pot until it bled, and said:

"How can you say relationships are about mutual giving when the giving has to be equal? You’re just waiting to be bullied. Either don’t cook at all, or cook for both. Only cooking for yourself is impolite."

"Mom, didn’t you just blame us for ordering takeout?" Are women’s minds always so fickle?

Yuan Chun: "Ordering takeout is a matter of laziness, while cooking for him is another issue. Who is born wanting to cook? If he can afford it and promises you’ll never have to cook again, that would be best. Of course, don’t be too eager to cook for him just because he has a good background; being used to the high life of a celebrity doesn’t mean he’ll reciprocate equally."

"But honestly, he cooks more often."

Yuan Chun slowly stirred the duck meat in the pot with a ladle and didn’t speak for two minutes.

Once the duck meat was blanched and put in the crock pot with ginger, scallions, and cooking wine and covered with a lid, she turned back to continue asking.

"He cooks more often, but what about washing dishes?"

"There’s a dishwasher."

"...Okay. Does he have good dining habits?"

"Impeccable. The chopsticks don’t even touch. Don’t worry, there’s absolutely no habit of chewing with his mouth open. Mom, is there anything else you’d like to ask? Ask everything at once and succinctly."

Yuan Chun started to wash the green beans, and questions popped out one after another at her request.

"Does he have any siblings?"

Mu Qiu: "No, he’s an only child."

Yuan Chun: "Is he busy with work? Does he rarely keep you company?"

Mu Qiu: "He only acts in one drama per year. He might be busy while filming, but he’s mostly at home now... at his home."

Yuan Chun: "Have you met his friends? Has Brother Lin met him?"

Mu Qiu: "Brother Lin has met him, but I rarely see his friends. He’s quite famous now and doesn’t socialise often."

Yuan Chun: "Does his assistant handle all his daily necessities like food, clothing, and housing?"

Mu Qiu: "No, he’s not a big baby."

Yuan Chun: "Have you met his parents?"

This question...

Mu Qiu glanced up at her and said softly, "I’ve met them once."

Yuan Chun placed the bowl down, and Mu Qiu immediately dropped the garlic and ran out.

"I’ll go make tea for my dad, from the batch Brother Lin brought last time!"

After running out, the two people sitting in the living room both turned their heads to look at her.

Mu Qiu chuckled awkwardly and scampered up the stairs with a thud.

Cheng Zhirang’s gaze followed her movements until she safely disappeared upstairs before he returned his gaze to Mu Zhi.

Mu Zhi was staring at him, smiling gently: "Qiuqiu can be like this sometimes, very lively. Though she’s usually not talkative, when she does get lively, she can be quite noisy."

"Quiet?" Cheng Zhirang appeared genuinely curious, "She usually laughs a lot and rarely stays quiet."

Mu Zhi couldn’t quite relate, so he changed his approach with another question: "People in your profession must be quite busy. She’s someone who loves writing little pieces, and when busy, tends to ignore everything. It must be hard to manage the household being together."

"Not really. Besides filming one drama yearly and occasionally walking on the red carpet for film and TV projects, I’m mostly during rest periods, giving me plenty of time to be with her. She did have some bad habits, but she’s improved a lot recently."

Mu Zhi could only smile.

I’m talking to you about how my daughter isn’t suitable for you and you’re talking to me about how much better you’ve made my daughter. Why don’t you become her dad?

Smiling past it, Mu Zhi continued to the next topic.

"This might be a bit forward, but how old are you? When’s your birthday?"

Cheng Zhirang’s smile didn’t change: "May 19th, and I’ll be thirty."

"So it’s less than half a month away. Will you be having an event or spending it here with her?"

The first test question arose.

Cheng Zhirang, hearing the thumping from the stairs, maintained composure: "With her. It might not be here; it could be at a fan event. But as long as she’s interested, I’ll always take her. She’s quite interested in such occasions."

"Better not. Crowded places aren’t safe, and neither are your fans." Mu Zhi remarked, watching Mu Qiu come downstairs and approach, pushing a teacup in front of him.

"Why did Zhou Jilin leave the tea here for you?"

Mu Qiu didn’t avert her eyes, answering honestly: "He thought you might occasionally come over and would want some. Try it, I can’t tell what kind of tea it is either. The tea cakes are wrapped in oiled paper, and the packaging doesn’t reveal much."

After brewing for him, she finally looked up seriously at Cheng Zhirang: "Would you like a cup too?"

"I’m fine with just water. Where’s your water bottle?"

"Upstairs. I’ve had water."

Seemingly insignificant conversation but with a kind of familiarity that annoyed Mu Zhi.

He put the teacup down with a ding, pausing the conversation between the two.

"Qiuqiu, your mom’s busy in the kitchen by herself. Are you comfortable not helping?"

Just as Mu Qiu was about to stand, Cheng Zhirang earnestly suggested for the third time: "Uncle, let me help. Auntie can’t handle it all alone..."

"No need," he wasn’t rushing them out either, "there aren’t many dishes for lunch today, might as well help later. Both of you stay."

Mu Qiu obediently sat next to Mu Zhi, facing Cheng Zhirang as they sat on opposite sides.

Mu Zhi first asked Mu Qiu.

"Yesterday was Zhao Yu’s birthday, and you guys went to Disney; why was there a guy with you? A friend?"

"Yes, we bumped into him. Dad, you checked the trending topics?"

Mu Zhi glared at her: "You still talk. There’s news about you everywhere online. It’s hard not to notice!"

Every day upon waking, he checked his phone for news, worried about any negative news about her, feeling both heartache and anger at the insults tossed at her, nearly shedding a pound from anxiety even before the peak of summer season.

Mu Qiu fell silent.

Cheng Zhirang spoke up in defense: "Uncle, these issues are my responsibility. The current high exposure is due to recent shows. There are many fans and paparazzi tracking schedules. It was only Miss Zhao’s birthday at Disney, and it’s normal for them to have fun."

"It is normal, I never said it wasn’t. What shouldn’t be is receiving so much public attention and malicious criticism just for a casual outing."