Chapter 106: Chapter 103: We’re Already Married
"Miss Su, please sit down. The Master and Madam will be down shortly. Would you like something to drink?"
"Water, just water is fine..."
Su Xiaomeng swallowed, feeling like her throat was burning up.
Yin Shixiu took off his coat and set it aside, seating himself next to Su Xiaomeng.
Su Xiaomeng tugged on Yin Shixiu and quietly asked, "Uncle, can you check if my hair looks okay?"
Yin Shixiu straightened the two stray hairs standing up on her head, "It’s fine."
"Thud"...
Though not loud, Su Xiaomeng immediately recognized the sound of Mr. Yin’s cane hitting the ground.
Oh my, she quickly stood up. Even Yin Shixiu wasn’t as quick to react. She put down the tea she had just picked up and got up to greet the elders coming down from the stairs.
"Dad, Mom."
"Uncle, Aunt..."
Su Xiaomeng called out, feeling more nervous than the first time she met Mr. and Mrs. Yin...
Maybe because back then she didn’t know how Mr. and Mrs. Yin would view her.
When Old Master Yin and Old Madam Yin saw Su Xiaomeng, they didn’t show any displeasure. On the contrary, they smiled kindly.
"Xiao Meng is here?"
"...Yes."
Su Xiaomeng replied.
"Uncle, Aunt, Happy New Year. Over there are some specialties my dad asked me to bring from Chengdu. They’re all made by my family, with no additives, completely natural, very suitable for the elderly."
"Oh! Great! Please thank your dad for me. That’s very thoughtful."
The Old Madam smiled, maintaining her humble yet noble demeanor.
Su Xiaomeng couldn’t help but find the elderly woman in front of her very beautiful.
"Ah Su, have the kitchen bring out some snacks."
"Yes, Madam."
The Old Madam held Su Xiaomeng’s hand, about to invite her to sit, when her gaze unintentionally fell on Su Xiaomeng’s slightly rounded abdomen—
Su Xiaomeng saw that the Old Madam’s gaze lingered on her belly and almost felt her heart stop.
She pressed her lips tightly together, swallowed again, and saw the Old Madam gently smile and ask, "Is this... are you pregnant?"
"...Yes."
"Is it my fourth child’s?"
The Old Madam still wore a smile.
This made Su Xiaomeng feel that smile chilled her to the bone!
She glanced at Yin Shixiu, then nodded, "Yes..."
"...How many months?"
"Five months and one week..."
"So... when my husband and I last visited Shixiu to see the fourth child, you were already pregnant?"
"Aunt, I’m sorry, it wasn’t intentional to hide it from you last time, I..."
"It’s all right, all right, being pregnant is a happy event. Don’t worry, sit down quickly. I’ll have the kitchen make you some soup."
"No need, I—"
"Pregnant women must remember to supplement their nutrition."
"...Thank you, Aunt."
At this moment, Su Xiaomeng couldn’t tell if Mrs. Yin was sincere or just putting on a show.
She sat down with stiff limbs.
Old Master Yin looked at Yin Shixiu, his aged face tense.
The kitchen brought out snacks, and the Old Madam introduced each of them, but the usually food-loving Su Xiaomeng didn’t hear a word.
She dared not even try any... Wouldn’t there be poison in these snacks?
Yin Shixiu knew her all too well, knowing her mind had probably already gone through several soap opera melodrama scenarios.
He bit into a snack and then offered it to her, "Try it."
Only then did Su Xiaomeng open her mouth, taking a bite. It really was quite delicious.
"It seems my fourth child really does like you. Do your parents know yet?"
The Old Madam asked softly.
Su Xiaomeng nodded, "They know."
"What... is their attitude?"
"Well... they hope Uncle and I do well together..."
"Is that so?"
The Old Madam squeezed Su Xiaomeng’s hand, "Xiao Meng, the fourth child never mentioned any of this to your uncle and me. It’s all so sudden, so please don’t blame us for being abrupt."
"I understand, I understand! I’m the one being abrupt."
Su Xiaomeng quickly responded.
"Our Yin family is quite historical, and Shixiu is at an age where marriage is naturally on the agenda. If he simply picks someone to marry, it’s hard to explain to the whole family."
"...I understand."
Su Xiaomeng nodded, but whether she truly understood was anyone’s guess.
"Could you give me your parents’ contact information? Whatever the case, we should arrange to meet. You’re carrying our fourth child’s child, we certainly won’t treat you unfairly."
Su Xiaomeng’s heart sank suddenly.
Despite usually being slow on the uptake, her nerves were unusually sensitive at this moment, and she vaguely inferred the Old Madam’s underlying meaning.
Not treating you unfairly...
"Is that okay?"
Su Xiaomeng took a deep breath, "Okay..."
"There’s no need for that."
Yin Shixiu spoke calmly, looking at the Old Madam Yin.
"What do you mean by unnecessary?"
Old Master Yin asked with a stern face, his voice deep and commanding.
"Su Xiaomeng and I are already married. During the New Year, I met her parents in Chengdu and talked a lot. They approve of my marriage with Xiaomeng, so today, as soon as we landed, we went to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get our marriage certificate."
"So, there’s no need to meet Xiaomeng’s parents for now. Even if we met, the outcome wouldn’t change. The only way to treat her right is to get your blessing."
Su Xiaomeng watched as the expression on Old Madam Yin’s face froze, while Old Master Yin’s eyebrows knitted suddenly, and the veins on his forehead popped.
"What did you just say? Say it again!"
Old Master Yin’s voice was so deep that it shook the floor.
A sinking feeling hit. It’s over.
Su Xiaomeng felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, not daring to breathe heavily.
For a moment, the air in the living room seemed to freeze.
Su Xiaomeng raised her eyes slightly, glancing at Yin Shixiu, seeing his expression still calm, even when faced with Mr. Yin’s icy gaze.
Actually, at this moment, Su Xiaomeng really wanted to tell Yin Family’s elders...
Getting married was just a temporary measure to clear her name at school and give her a foothold.
Once the child is born, she and Yin Shixiu will divorce.
So... could they please not look at Shixiu with such stern eyes...
As if he had done something more terrifying than the sky falling.
She really wanted to honestly tell the details, so this standoff wouldn’t have to continue.
But...
She couldn’t bring herself to say it. She didn’t dare, and maybe... she didn’t want to.
"Little Uncle, Xiaomeng! You’re finally back!"
Just as everyone was at an impasse, the Yin Meng family arrived.
The first person Yin Shihua saw upon entering was Su Xiaomeng, with her large belly, sitting on the sofa with a look of panic.
She was nervously picking at her fingernails.
So the fourth actually has a girlfriend.
Looking at the expressions of their parents, she probably guessed this girl wasn’t what the Yin Family elders favored.
Yin Meng wasn’t oblivious or clueless; she certainly saw the slightly stiff expressions of their grandparents and the obvious awkward atmosphere.
But she pretended not to notice, walked over to Su Xiaomeng, and sat down to hug her tightly, "I’ve been wondering when you’d come over!"
Yin Shihua rubbed her temples, feeling that Yin Meng was quite a handful too.
Knowing that their grandparents didn’t like this girl, she still went up to act so intimately with her...
"Shixiu, won’t you introduce us?"
Yin Shihua said, noticing that the girl’s belly was quite large, and she was quite pretty and delicate.
But if she doesn’t gain the parents’ favor, she definitely won’t be allowed into the Yin family’s house.
She believed that her smart younger brother wouldn’t oppose their parents just for some girl.
The only issue now is how to address the child.
"Third Sis, this is my wife, Su Xiaomeng."
Yin Shihua and her husband were dumbfounded.
"Ah! Little Uncle, you’ve already got your marriage certificate?"
Yin Meng asked excitedly.
Yin Shixiu nodded, "Yes."
Yin Meng hurriedly patted Su Xiaomeng on the shoulder, "Hey, Little Auntie... Hehe!"
Su Xiaomeng was immensely embarrassed, hoping Yin Meng would say a little less!
She’s the only one having fun here!
Didn’t she notice her grandparents and her parents looking pale and green?
"You’ve... got the certificate?"
Yin Shihua asked a bit uncertainly.
"Yes, we got it today. If we waited until the child was born, it wouldn’t be good for Xiaomeng’s reputation."
Yin Shixiu said it matter-of-factly.
Yin Shihua swallowed and exchanged a look with her husband, both speechless.
Now she finally understood why their mother, usually unfazed, had such an unpleasant expression.
"Fourth, come with me to the study."
In the end, valuing face, the elder said this heavily, then went upstairs with his cane.
The sound of the cane hitting the floor was much louder than before...
Each time it hit the ground, it felt like it was thudding on Su Xiaomeng’s heart, making her jumpy!
Yin Meng saw the little white rabbit looking scared out of its wits and hurriedly consoled her, "It’s okay, it’s okay."
"..." Su Xiaomeng looked at Yin Meng, exaggeratedly mouthing silently, "This is okay?"
Yin Meng knew that as long as Little Uncle had gotten the certificate with her, no matter what, the grandparents wouldn’t do anything further, unless they were willing to pay a much heavier price to divorce them.
Old Madam Yin glanced at Su Xiaomeng before going upstairs, her face still cold.
"Dad, Mom, I mentioned my roommate Su Xiaomeng to you! Haha, now she’s also my Little Auntie!"
"Hehe..."
At this moment, Su Xiaomeng forced a smile uglier than crying. She waved slightly at Yin Meng’s parents, "Hello, Uncle and Auntie."
"H-hello."
Yin Shihua couple responded, knowing this girl actually got the certificate with Yin Shixiu, they looked at her differently.
There was an inexplicable sense of... this was something sacred.
Yin Shixiu and the elders didn’t know how long they stayed in the study; Su Xiaomeng watched as the sun was about to set, yet there was still no movement from upstairs.
Su Xiaomeng felt grateful Yin Meng arrived; otherwise, sitting here alone would have driven her crazy!
Having not seen her best friend for nearly a month, of course, they had endless things to talk about, although Su Xiaomeng wasn’t in the mood to chat, Yin Meng seemed genuinely excited!