Su Xia led Qin Tian to the living room and then went to the kitchen to prepare the remaining two dishes. She had gone to the wet market at eight in the morning and had been busy preparing dishes ever since.
On the dining table in the living room, several dishes emitting an enticing aroma had already been laid out. Without a doubt, the lunch today would be quite lavish.
Normally, when she returned home for lunch and her mother was still busy in the kitchen, Xia Nuannuan would help out. But today, she did not. Instead, she sat down on the sofa next to Qin Tian.
Xia Zhengping, catching sight of this scene from the corner of his eye, felt his eyelid twitch slightly.
"We should be able to eat soon. Mom seems to have gone all out today, making so many dishes," Xia Nuannuan said to Qin Tian, her eyes curving into crescents.
Qin Tian nodded with a smile, "Yes, it almost makes me feel embarrassed."
"Hehe, it's okay. These dishes are also for my dad, as he'll be leaving tomorrow," Xia Nuannuan said comfortingly with a smile.
Xia Zhengping felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this. So, he was just an afterthought! This darned girl was already siding with others before anything was even set in stone!
Xia Nuannuan, remembering her mother's reminder from yesterday, realized she had said the wrong thing and quickly tried to make amends. She looked at her father with reluctance and said in a slightly aggrieved tone, "Dad, your work is too busy. You've only been home for two days and you have to leave again."
Xia Zhengping's heart warmed at this, and he smiled dotingly, "It can't be helped. The new store is opening soon, and it's been quite busy lately. However, Nuannuan, if you don't want me to go, I can stay for another two days!"
"Ah?" Xia Nuannuan was stunned, then shook her head seriously, "No need, Dad. Your work is the most important. Keep going and earn more money."
Xia Zhengping's smile became somewhat stiff, and his cold gaze fell upon Qin Tian beside him. His precious daughter had never been like this before. It was all this pig-headed boy's fault!
Feeling a flutter in his heart under the gaze, Qin Tian offered a friendly smile to his future father-in-law, then immediately shifted his attention to the television.
"Okay, we can eat now. Nuannuan, come help me serve the dishes," Su Xia's voice called from the kitchen.
"Coming," Xia Nuannuan replied, standing up and saying to Qin Tian, "Qin Tian, you sit here for a while longer. I'm going to help."
"Then I'll help too!" Qin Tian quickly stood up to follow. He didn't want to be alone in the living room with his future father-in-law; the pressure was too immense.
"No need. You're a guest today. How can we let a guest help? You sit down," Xia Nuannuan directly placed her hand on his shoulder, pressing him back down.
Qin Tian gave her a pleading look. However, Xia Nuannuan didn't notice and turned to head into the kitchen. Left with no choice, he continued to pretend to be engrossed in the art of television commercials, counting the seconds until the meal was ready.
For a moment, an awkward silence fell over the living room. Qin Tian could clearly feel his future father-in-law's sharp gaze occasionally assessing him, but he remained silent. This made Qin Tian even more uncomfortable, and he could only try to remain composed.
Fortunately, Su Xia and Xia Nuannuan were quick.
"Dad, Qin Tian, you can come and eat now," Xia Nuannuan called out to the two in the living room as she set the tableware.
"Okay!" "Coming." Qin Tian and Xia Zhengping responded simultaneously, then instinctively looked at each other.
"Xiao Qin, make yourself at home. Eat well and drink well," Xia Zhengping said with a smile.
"Okay, thank you, Uncle," Qin Tian replied with a smile. After another brief exchange, they walked to the dining table.
"Come, come, Xiao Qin, you and Nuannuan sit here. Your father and I will sit opposite," Su Xia said with a smile, pulling out a chair beside her.
"Yes, thank you, Auntie," Qin Tian said gratefully and walked over.
"Sit down, don't be so formal. What would you like to drink? I'll get it for you."
"Okay, anything is fine," Qin Tian replied. Seeing Xia Zhengping already seated opposite, he slowly sat down.
"Mom, let's have that fruit and vegetable juice. It's healthier," Xia Nuannuan said sweetly to her mother.
"Okay, I'll get it!" Su Xia nodded and soon brought two large bottles of fruit and vegetable juice from the kitchen refrigerator. After Xia Nuannuan took them, she first poured for her mother and Qin Tian, then asked her father, "Dad, do you want some wine?"
"Forget it. You're still students and can't drink. Drinking alone isn't much fun, so I'll have this too!"
"Okay!" Xia Nuannuan responded and poured a glass for him and herself.
"Come, let's toast. Thank you, Xiao Qin, for your help with Nuannuan's studies," Su Xia said with a full smile, raising her glass after her daughter had sat down.
"Xiao Qin, I also have to thank you for this," Xia Zhengping added in agreement. He was a principled and reasonable person. Although he harbored some hostility towards Qin Tian, his daughter's recent academic progress and her improved spirit and demeanor were indeed Qin Tian's contributions.
Xia Nuannuan said nothing, merely holding her glass and looking at Qin Tian beside her with a beaming smile, her eyes curving into a crescent moon.
"Uncle and Auntie, you are too kind. It's only natural for deskmates to help each other," Qin Tian said with a quick smile as he raised his glass.
"Good, then let's not say any more. Cheers!" Su Xia said with a smile.
"Cheers..." After the four of them drank a glass, their attention turned to the dishes on the table. Qin Tian's gaze casually swept over them, and he couldn't help but once again admire his future mother-in-law's domestic skills. There were about ten dishes. Except for a bowl of milky white crucian carp and tofu soup, the other dishes were a balance of meat and vegetables, appearing somewhat light but very appetizing.
"Xiao Qin, please start eating. You and Nuannuan have been exercising recently, so I've made them generally lighter. I don't know if they'll suit your taste," Su Xia said gently to Qin Tian with a smile, picking up her chopsticks.
Qin Tian smiled and said, "Auntie, you don't need to doubt that. I finish all the meals Nuannuan brings me every day, and I have to thank you for always going to the trouble."
"This has nothing to do with me. It's all that girl who wanted to bring it to you," Su Xia gestured towards her daughter with her chin.
"Of course, I also have to thank Nuannuan," Qin Tian turned his head and smiled heartily at Xia Nuannuan. Xia Nuannuan's pretty face blushed, and she said in a somewhat flustered tone, "Why are we talking about this now? Let's eat."
Sitting opposite them, Xia Zhengping watched this scene quietly, feeling a bit out of place, as if he were an outsider. Xia Nuannuan picked up a piece of stir-fried chicken with chili and instinctively reached to put it into Qin Tian's bowl.
"Ahem." Suddenly, a light cough came from his mother opposite them. Xia Nuannuan looked up and saw her mother glancing sideways at her father. She immediately smiled knowingly and placed the chicken into her father's bowl.
"Dad, eat more of this."
"Hmm!" Xia Zhengping glanced at his daughter with a gratified look, his mood slightly improving. However, the next second, he saw his daughter pick up a large chicken leg from the bowl of stir-fried chicken with chili and place it into the bowl of that impudent brat.
"Qin Tian, have a chicken leg. This is very delicious."
"Thank you," Qin Tian said with a light smile.
Su Xia held her forehead with her hand, feeling a headache. Hadn't this girl agreed so well last night? Why were her actions completely different from her words!