"Hey, Auntie!"
Only then did Su Yajing call out sweetly, tugging Zhou Wang forward a few steps.
"Auntie, this is my boyfriend Zhou Wang I told you about. He came all the way to Li City to see me... Brother, this is my Auntie Su Man, the owner of the inn!"
"Hello, Auntie, I’m Zhou Wang."
Listening to the introduction, Zhou Wang was a bit surprised to realize Su Yajing took her mother’s last name, but he still smiled and greeted her.
Su Man nonchalantly closed the account book on the table, nodding slightly with a faint smile toward Zhou Wang. "Oh, so you’re the Zhou Wang that Ranran keeps talking about. Nice to meet you."
"Auntie, because this was a rushed trip, I didn’t know what you like, so I just got a few things as a meeting gift..."
Since Su Yajing had already given him a heads-up, Zhou Wang wasn’t bothered by Su Man’s rather lukewarm attitude. He waved at Miao Ying, who was waiting at the door, motioning her to bring the gift bags over.
Originally, they were bought for Su Yajing’s mom, but as Zhou Wang didn’t know there was an aunt too, he could only give them to Su Man for now.
As for Su Yajing’s mom, he could always get her an appropriate gift later, so it wasn’t a big deal.
When Su Man saw the gift bags placed on the table by Miao Ying, her gaze lingered on Miao Ying for a moment. "And who might this be?"
"My driver, Miao Ying."
Zhou Wang briefly introduced her.
Not being good at socializing, Miao Ying just managed a stiff smile and nodded at Su Man, then shrank back.
"Driver?"
Su Man looked amused, glancing at the two gift bags before her. Without looking inside, she just noted their exquisite packaging and smiled. "These weren’t cheap, were they?"
"They’re alright, just a gesture of goodwill. The price isn’t important."
Zhou Wang smiled and replied.
"I’m just Yajing’s aunt, and you two are merely dating. It’s not appropriate for me to accept these. You should take them back."
Su Man shook her head and stood up. "Since you’re here, stay for dinner. Ranran, keep him company, I’ll go to the kitchen and ask your uncle to add a couple more dishes."
Finished speaking, Su Man left with the account book, leaving behind a nervous-looking Su Yajing holding Zhou Wang’s hand.
"Brother, don’t be mad, okay? Auntie isn’t really targeting you..."
Even though she had warned Zhou Wang beforehand, Su Yajing still worried about Zhou Wang’s pride. After all, Su Man didn’t hide her indifference towards him.
This time, it was Zhou Wang’s turn to sigh. He rubbed Su Yajing’s head, "Silly girl, there’s no need for you to be so... cautious around me. I don’t get angry that easily, plus a girlfriend should have some privileges."
Zhou Wang couldn’t find a better term at the moment, so he just settled on "cautious."
He was beginning to sense that beneath Su Yajing’s bright exterior was a very typical "people-pleasing personality."
She had almost boundless indulgence and compliance towards Zhou Wang...
Hidden in those countless chat records, in the various pictures and texts trying to cling to Zhou Wang, were her frequent feelings of insecurity.
If she unfortunately met a scumbag, such a personality could make her easily get hurt without even realizing it...
What, you say Zhou Wang is also a scumbag?
Zhou Wang insisted that’s absolute slander.
He just wanted to give every deserving girl a warm home equally.
Even if there were quite a few deserving girls, it wasn’t something he expected...
"I don’t need privileges, just having a place in your heart forever is enough!"
Su Yajing nuzzled her head against Zhou Wang again, muttering, "Someone else could be beside me too..."
Zhou Wang was taken aback, momentarily unsure whether Su Yajing meant metaphorically or literally someone beside her...
Was this some kind of double entendre?
While Zhou Wang was pondering, Shen Yutong, freshly changed, came in, meeting Zhou Wang’s rather peculiar gaze head-on.
Shen Yutong couldn’t decipher what that look meant, but instinctively tightened the somewhat drafty neckline.
Strangely... she felt a bit flustered.
...
At dinner, Zhou Wang met Su Yajing’s uncle.
In contrast to the seemingly difficult Su Man, her uncle appeared much more amicable.
He was a man with dark skin, looking honest and straightforward, and seemed to have some leg issues, walking with difficulty.
They filled a large table with people, including Zhou Wang and others, as well as two regular workers at the inn, Xiao Xia and another shy boy in his twenties who seemed to be the uncle’s relative.
The main dish was a large pot of hot pot, featuring Li City’s specialty cured rib hot pot, with marinated ribs simmering in a broth made from country chicken, mixed with yams, gastrodia, and more, creating an enticingly oily and shiny look that instantly whetted the appetite.
The other small dishes were great too, like Li City cakes and chickpea jelly... all local specialties, homemade, and arguably tastier than those from the street.
Originally, Zhou Wang didn’t plan on drinking, but Yajing’s uncle brought out a homemade brew in a big plastic bottle, silently pouring a bowl for Zhou Wang.
At this point, Su Man raised an eyebrow, chiding her husband, "Always thinking about your booze, can’t you do something more productive? With people canceling, and you’re in the mood for drinking!"
"The guest is here, just a little drink, just a little drink..."