Cheng Zhirang drove home first.

The home where his parents lived.

He parked the car at the door, got out, slammed the car door, and strode inside with his long legs.

He Jia was already waiting in the living room. Seeing him come in, she immediately stood up to greet him.

"How is it? Are we really going to have a meal together?"

"Yes."

He fastened two fingers at his collar, loosened his tie, and sat down, saying, "We’ll go to Half Mountain. I’ll go fetch them at four tomorrow afternoon."

He Jia didn’t quite agree: "Why not here? They’ll think we’re not paying enough attention."

"Her father doesn’t quite agree with seeing the elders too soon. Being too formal would stress her out, so I took a step back and chose Half Mountain. Mom, does Dad have time tomorrow?"

"Even if he’s busy, he must make time. But I’m worried the dishes won’t be to their taste. Did you find out what they like to eat?"

Cheng Zhirang took a sip of water and shook his head: "No need for you to do it. Mom, just have a chat with Aunt tomorrow; I’ll cook, with Aunt Liu’s help."

Aunt Liu is responsible for cooking; she can help out when the time comes.

He Jia was a bit surprised: "You’re cooking? Trying to impress your mother-in-law?"

"The lunch is made by Aunt, but that doesn’t mean she agrees that women should be cooking," he said observantly, noticing the key revealed in small details, "She rarely lets Qiuqiu cook."

Although she would say to go buy groceries to cook, ultimately, everything brought back and stored in her room was ready-to-eat.

"I wouldn’t like it either," He Jia wasn’t surprised, "if I had a pretty daughter, why should I let her go into the kitchen and endure the fumes? But can you really cook for six people?"

She was skeptical; after all, her son had always had help with his meals since he was a child; learning to cook was a result of his career but he had never cooked for six people at once.

Where could there be six people just for him to cook for? It never happened.

"With Aunt Liu helping, it’s possible."

The mother and son chatted a bit more. He Jia forced Cheng Zhirang to talk a little about his feelings after meeting his future parents-in-law, before getting chased away.

"Hurry back and tidy up. It’s best to hide those things that shouldn’t be seen by others."

Cheng Zhirang was helpless: "What things shouldn’t be seen?"

He didn’t have any bad habits.

"Not things that can’t be seen, but things that can’t be seen by the elders. Can you say there aren’t any traces of Qiuqiu’s life at home?"

"But it won’t be left out everywhere."

He Jia looked doubtful, like someone who had been through it: "You’re so conservative?"

Cheng Zhirang was taken aback.

Then fell silent.

He Jia understood, waved him off: "Hurry back and tidy up then."

He didn’t argue, taking his tie, he got into the car.

He drove along the straight road where Mu Qiu had leisurely strolled before when he ran into Jiang Kai, who was walking back casually with a jacket on his shoulder.

"Hey, Brother Cheng—"

The car slowly stopped, Cheng Zhirang rolled down the window, Jiang Kai leaned on the door, glancing inside.

"What, no one? Didn’t you go to see your girlfriend? Seeing you rush, I thought your girlfriend was pregnant."

Cheng Zhirang’s mind was still on what He Jia just said, remaining silent without opening his mouth.

Seeing him not deny, Jiang Kai immediately straightened, his eyes wide: "No way, is she really pregnant?! Wouldn’t your fans be devastated?"

Cheng Zhirang glanced at him and then shook his head: "She’s not."

"Tsk—you startled me. Then what were you doing? Rushed off and now leaving home again, something happening at home?"

"No. You just finished a gathering?"

He didn’t want to talk about it, so Jiang Kai didn’t continue to ask, leaning leisurely on the car window, "Nah, we had a meal and then dispersed. Wei Ling wanted to follow me to see my girlfriend, but of course, I refused."

"Got a new girlfriend?" Cheng Zhirang’s expression didn’t change much; he knew it was normal.

"Yes, this time she’s in your industry, a third-tier star."

"I don’t have that many colleagues. Why not bring her back?"

"Only a few days in; bring her back to see the scenery?" Speaking of seeing scenery, Jiang Kai remembered what Lin Huanyue said this morning and asked mysteriously, "Heard from Lin Huanyue that you— and your girlfriend were embracing passionately in the little garden? In a tight hug?"

He even made an exaggerated hugging gesture.

Cheng Zhirang frowned slightly but quickly relaxed: "Isn’t kissing very normal? As for the rest, she probably saw incorrectly."

Jiang Kai didn’t judge, instead making a "hmm" sound after hearing the explanation: "Well, Lin Huanyue, his words about you are indeed half-true. But I was surprised you kissed your girlfriend in broad daylight."

Last time when you saw me kissing my previous girlfriend, didn’t you criticize me for not being mindful of the impact? Why, when it’s your turn, you’re not mindful?"

"Your wording is problematic; are we supposed to kiss in a dark confined space? Is that your fetish?"

"...Prioritizing the lighter matter, this must be true. When do you bring her back for a meet?"

Cheng Zhirang: "We’ll see when there’s a chance; she’s going to frequently come back afterward."

Jiang Kai made a meaningful "oh—".

The window rolled up again, he drove away from the island garden, heading straight for the Half Mountain Villa District.

Mu Qiu rarely came here. Before buying the small villa, she lived in Yishan, and afterwards moved into the villa, occasionally coming over to see him, spending a night. After all, it was more secluded here than Yishan.

She didn’t come often, which was why he thought earlier that there wouldn’t be much about her needing tidying up.

Yet, every time she came...

Cheng Zhirang unbuttoned his collar, rolled his cuffs up his arms, contemplating with lowered eyes.

After a moment, he sighed, and went into the master bedroom.

The clothes she left here weren’t much, but he bought her many; kept in the side bedroom without touching, and she seldom even tried them.

So after he placed the sorted bean-green intimate wear in the side bedroom, he hesitated, took it out again, and put it in his wardrobe in the master bedroom.

The thin fabric felt somewhat hot to the touch; after placing it in a drawer, he stared at it for a while.

Among the dark colors, the fresh bean-green stood out somewhat abruptly.

Turning his head, he saw the bedside cabinet where bright yellow female items were placed.

Unknowingly, their lives had permeated each other. She prepared his clothes and living supplies there, whereas he kept her intimate clothing and usual items here.

It felt like any second, the owner of those items could push the door open, give him a hug, and the two would kiss forgetfully. Then they would talk intimately about the happy and unhappy events of the day.

If happy, she would act coquettishly; if unhappy, the same. At night, maybe she or maybe he would prepare dinner, and afterward, hand-in-hand, they’d go out for a walk, enjoying comfortable times with the beloved by their side.