Chapter 101: Chapter 98: How Many Love Rivals Do You Think You Have? (Part 1)
"Oh, oh-oh!" Su Xiaomei realized she used the wrong words and quickly replied.
Elsewhere.
After the warm greetings with Grandma Su, Su Xiaomeng moved her gaze to Yin Shixiu, looked him up and down, and couldn’t help but smile widely, "Is this... the grandson-in-law? Very handsome!"
"Hello, Grandma."
Compared to Grandma Su’s enthusiasm, Grandpa Su’s attitude towards Yin Shixiu seemed much cooler.
"Come on in and have a seat."
Su Xiaomeng held Grandma’s arm, while Yin Shixiu stood on the other side, bending slightly. Even so, Grandma Su still had to crane her neck to look up at him, asking questions as they walked...
Like how old are you this year?
When did you meet Xiaomeng?
How many people are in your family?
What do you do for a living...
And so on and so forth.
Su Xiaomeng was getting tired of it, but Yin Shixiu remained very patient.
Sometimes, looking at Yin Shixiu, she really found it amazing...
Clearly someone from a completely different world, yet he seemed to blend well into the world she was in.
Seeing him bending down to accommodate Grandma’s relatively short stature, she couldn’t help but think... this man is really handsome.
His socks weren’t even removed yet, shoes were muddy, and the dust on the coat hadn’t been brushed off...
At that moment, it was hard to align him with the Yin Shixiu who had the apartment cleaned at least twice a day.
Is it his adaptability, or is he grudgingly compromising?
"No, no!"
"Qing’er, don’t run around!"
As soon as Su Xiaomei spoke, Du Qing crashed into Yin Shixiu’s arms, spilling the entire cup of cola on him...
"Ah! Sorry, I..."
Su Xiaomei hurriedly apologized!
But at this moment, Su Xiaomeng found it hard to say "It’s okay."
Looking at Yin Shixiu’s sorry state...
"It’s okay."
Yin Shixiu waved his hand, then steadied Du Qing, ruffled her hair, "Did you bump your head?"
Du Qing, realizing she was in trouble, looked afraid, but upon seeing Yin Shixiu’s gentle and concerned expression...
"Didn’t bump, didn’t bump!" Su Xiaomei hurriedly pulled Du Qing away, "Nephew-in-law, really sorry, I’ll have my husband get you clothes—"
"Bumped..."
Su Xiaomei was full of guilt and hadn’t finished speaking when Du Qing, covering her forehead with her small hand, looked at Yin Shixiu pitifully and muttered.
Su Xiaomei was stunned, "Bumped?"
Without even glancing at Su Xiaomei, Du Qing walked back to Yin Shixiu, rubbing her forehead pitifully, looking at him with watery eyes, "Brother, bumped here..."
Yin Shixiu crouched down, rubbed her forehead, "Here?"
"Mmm, yes."
Du Qing nodded.
"Feeling better?"
"Mmm... not really..."
"Where did you bump? Let me see."
Du Qian leaned over, about to pull Du Qing away, when Du Qing snuggled into Yin Shixiu’s embrace, acting cutesy, "I really bumped..."
On the side, Su Xiaomeng slowly seemed to understand something...
Took a deep breath, "Qingqing, stop acting spoiled. Let go—"
"I’m not acting spoiled, brother, you touch again and see if there’s a bump?"
That said, Du Qing pulled Yin Shixiu’s big hand to her forehead...
"Du Qing, stop it, okay?"
Su Xiaomeng felt a fire rising in her heart.
"I’m not making trouble, sister, I really bumped it." Du Qing blinked innocently at Su Xiaomeng.
Yin Shixiu’s chest is like a fortress, how could it make a bump on your head?!
Su Xiaomeng quickly looked at Aunt.
Su Xiaomei was a bit embarrassed. This girl being so dramatic, whom did she take after?!
"Qingqing, you got brother all dirty, let him go change, okay?"
"Oh, okay." Du Qing nodded very obediently.
Only then did Su Xiaomeng sigh in relief, then saw the little girl actively holding Yin Shixiu’s hand, "Brother, I’ll take you to change clothes. Let’s go."
Later, of course, Su Xiaomeng didn’t let that little flirt succeed, seeing her act all innocent, yet she had designs on her boyfriend!
Unbearable!
She led Yin Shixiu into Grandpa and Grandma’s room and locked the door.
"Uncle, aren’t you quite pleased with yourself? Even an eight-year-old girl is smitten with you."
Su Xiaomeng, with her back to him, rummaged through the closet while speaking with a sour tone.
Took out his socks from the bag, then found a sweater that, although clean, was worn out, and a bigger down jacket since his coat couldn’t be worn anymore.
Holding the two pieces of clothing, she turned around to find Yin Shixiu standing in front of her, she didn’t know when.
He had a playful, teasing smile on his face.
Su Xiaomeng frowned, "Aren’t you changing clothes yet?"
"Help me."
"What?"
"I said... help me change."
"Do you not have hands or—?"
"If you don’t help me, I’m not changing."
"Hey, has anyone ever told you that you can be quite the brat sometimes?"
Yin Shixiu shook his head, "No, probably you’re the only one in the world who says I’m being a brat."
He chuckled lightly, pulling Su Xiaomeng’s hand towards his shirt buttons.
Su Xiaomeng hesitated a bit, but then thought what was the big deal of helping him change a shirt... It’s nothing, right?
Focusing intently on his shirt buttons, one by one, drew a smile from Yin Shixiu.
He wrapped his arm around her waist, "Xiaomeng, what should we do?"
"...About what?"
"Even an eight-year-old girl likes me, how many love rivals do you think you’d have?"
Su Xiaomeng glared at him, "How do you know an eight-year-old handsome boy wouldn’t like me?"
"Girl, has anyone told you that competing with an eight-year-old little girl makes you look adorable?"
"...I’m not competing with that little brat!"
Su Xiaomeng’s shout made her seem to have the upper hand, hinting at a guilty conscience.
She cast a sideways glance at Yin Shixiu, "I’m not arguing with you. Hurry and change, don’t catch a cold!"
Su Xiaomeng took off his sweater and shirt, quickly handing Grandpa’s shirt and sweater to him.
"Um... I know you’re a neat freak, but my grandpa also likes to keep clean, just bear with it a bit..."
Yin Shixiu put on the clothes swiftly.
Of course, it felt uncomfortable; he had never worn someone else’s clothes since he was a child.
"Um... seems a bit tight."
Su Xiaomeng looked at the snug sweater on him, feeling a bit guilty.
He understood what this girl was thinking, which made him feel especially content inside.
He pulled her closer, letting her wrap her arms around his waist.
"Seeing that eight-year-old little girl, I was just thinking... when our child is born and grows to be eight, would they be as cute?"
Su Xiaomeng’s heart tightened.
"If it’s a girl, having more of your traits would be better, charming and lovable."
"...Why say such things? No matter how the kid turns out, it has nothing to do with me..."
Su Xiaomeng released his waist and walked away from him.
Her mood suddenly dampened.
"Put on the down jacket and get out——hey?"
Before Su Xiaomeng could reach for the door, she was pulled back again.
Yin Shixiu sat on the bed, tugging her onto his lap.
"Stay with me inside for a while, it’s too noisy outside."
Su Xiaomeng glanced at the slightly tired person, lowering her head to pick at her fingers, muttered, "You’ve never been to the countryside before, right?"
"...Does a large manor in the United Kingdom count?"
"Does it have such muddy roads?"
"Um... no."
"Then it doesn’t count as having been to the countryside."
"...Oh, then I haven’t been."
Su Xiaomeng continued picking at her fingers, whispering, "My grandparents didn’t go to school, my dad finished high school but didn’t continue, and my aunt has always lived in the countryside... Oh, my third granduncle’s family has a top student, he’s working as an official in the city! But... he doesn’t really get close to us..."
"What do you want to say?"
"I want to say... although they haven’t gone to school much, they’re all rural people, but they’re very nice! Truly!"
Su Xiaomeng looked earnestly at Yin Shixiu, afraid he wouldn’t believe her, she emphasized her words!
Yin Shixiu looked at her for a long while, asking, "Are you afraid I’ll look down on them?"
Su Xiaomeng swallowed... continued picking at her fingernails, nodding.
Yin Shixiu leaned in and suddenly kissed her on the mouth.
Su Xiaomeng blinked, then frowned, "I’m talking to you seriously!"
"I’m seriously listening too."
He pressed his forehead against hers, smiling softly.
"You’re not being serious at all!"
"Xiaomeng... you’re right, I’ve never been to the countryside, especially such an underdeveloped one, and I’ve never been so messy in my life. Walking here, stray dogs and cats were wandering everywhere, and the smell after the ox cart passed by was unbearable, wearing socks caked with mud, and shoes with such a thick layer of dirt! Just thinking about it gives me chills."
"And your grandpa doesn’t seem to like me... when that little girl spilled Coke all over me, I actually wanted to lose my temper."
"I have a phobia of dirt, it’s more than just cleanliness, it carries a bit of OCD, dirt, chaos, and untidiness greatly affect my mood... so ’Su Family Village’ is enough to be considered ’terrifying’ for me."
"Then why didn’t you lose your temper?"
"I just thought... that girl is your sister, and even in such a ’terrifying’ environment, there’s a grandpa and grandma that you really like, and I have no mood left."
Su Xiaomeng glanced at him, feeling extremely sweet inside, unable to hold back her sneaky grin, showing it.
"Relieved now?"
Su Xiaomeng nodded, then pecked Yin Shixiu on the lips, "Sorry you had to go through this!"
"I thought... you’d compensate me in a more passionate, heated way..."
"This is my grandparents’ house!"
"I know, I’m still wearing this... also, I don’t know what decade heavy down jacket your grandpa gave me!"
"My dad bought it for him last year! It’s not from some decade ago!"
Xiao Meng retorted unhappily.
"When will you buy me a nicer piece of clothing?"
"Um... depends on your performance, I’ll consider it!"
Su Xiaomeng raised her eyebrows.
The two indeed lingered in the room until it was almost time for dinner before they came out.