"But..."

Old Zhou spoke patiently, "I’m in desperate need of Huang Xiaojue’s talent. There are some things that he must do for us. I have observed him for half a year. Although he is definitely capable, I can’t be sure if he’s absolutely loyal."

Zhou Ting instantly understood. A marriage alliance—the strongest bond to deter both allies and adversaries. Once I marry Huang Xiaojue, we’ll be like grasshoppers on the same string. Even if he has other ideas, he’ll have no choice but to be loyal. In the eyes of the world, if he’s Old Zhou’s son-in-law, he naturally belongs to Old Zhou.

「That evening, an unassuming minivan pulled into the parking lot of the Huang Family’s residential complex.」 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

As night fell, the residents strolling around, in ones and twos, paid no particular attention to the ordinary-looking father and daughter.

Old Huang opened the door and was shocked to see Old Zhou and his daughter. He stammered, "This... Hello... Hello..." He didn’t know how to address them and even forgot to invite his guests in.

Mrs. Huang, who was watching TV, called out boisterously, "Old man, who is it?"

Old Huang was simply unable to answer.

Mrs. Huang came out, and upon seeing Old Zhou and Zhou Ting, she too was stunned. But she recovered quickly, her face breaking into a wide smile. "Please, come in... Please, sit down..."

Zhou Ting cheerfully ushered her father inside.

The Huangs bustled about, hurriedly serving tea and their best snacks.

Mrs. Huang said anxiously, "Oh... I’ll go make you something to eat right away..."

Old Zhou said pleasantly, "No need, we’ve already eaten."

Zhou Ting also said cheerfully, "Uncle, Auntie, please don’t fuss, and don’t be nervous. Dad and I already ate before coming."

Something occurred to Mrs. Huang. "Xiaojue... I’ll call Xiaojue right now! He surely doesn’t know you’re here..."

"No need," Zhou Ting said. "I already called Xiaojue before we left. He said, ’I’m on my way and will be back soon.’"

Mr. and Mrs. Huang remained standing, clearly ill at ease. After all, a person of great importance, someone they usually only saw on television, was now gracing their humble home.

Old Zhou said kindly, "You two, please sit as well."

They didn’t dare refuse.

Old Zhou looked around, carefully examining the two-story, split-level apartment. It was spacious and well-decorated. He nodded. "You have a very nice living environment here."

Mrs. Huang hastily replied, "Thank goodness we bought the house early! We really benefited from the favorable policies back then."

Her answer is completely off the mark, Old Huang thought, though he himself didn’t know what to say.

Old Zhou continued, "Please, don’t be nervous. I just came over to chat casually with you. Huang Xiaojue is a good boy, and he’s been seeing our Tingting for some time now. By rights, I should have paid you a visit much sooner, but work has kept me so busy I simply couldn’t find the time..."

Mrs. Huang responded, "Not at all, not at all... We should have been the ones to visit you, but..." As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized how inappropriate they sounded. What qualifications did they have to visit Old Zhou? She trailed off, flustered, unable to continue.

Old Zhou still wore a pleasant smile. "This boy, Xiaojue, is very diligent and ambitious. He has an excellent work attitude and is highly efficient—a truly promising talent. I wholeheartedly approve of their relationship. However, the children are grown now, and some things are best settled sooner rather than later..."

Mrs. Huang nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes, exactly! Things should be settled! Zhou Ting is just wonderful—beautiful, smart, capable, and kind. I often tell Old Huang, for Zhou Ting to even take an interest in our Xiaojue, it’s like smoke is rising from our family’s ancestral tomb! It’s truly a blessing from our ancestors that he could find such a wonderful girl..."