On Christmas Eve afternoon, another professional course concluded, meaning it would no longer be a required class, leaving only revision and preparation for the exam.
Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan handed their textbooks to their roommates and drove away from school to pick up their two mothers at the train station.
On the way, Qin Tian called his mother.
"Hello, Xiao Tian!"
Tang Xiuxia's familiar voice soon echoed from the car's stereo.
"Mom, are you arriving soon?" Qin Tian asked.
"Yes, about ten-plus minutes away."
"Okay, we are also on our way, waiting for you at the west exit."
"Good, good."
"Auntie, the wind outside is a bit strong today, remember to wear more clothes," Xia Nuannuan added with concern.
"Okay, okay, don't worry, we are dressed warmly!" Tang Xiuxia's voice was filled with joy, her tone several notches higher.
After a brief chat, the call ended.
Qin Tian glanced at Xia Nuannuan beside him and smiled teasingly, "Seeing you two like this, I don't think you'll have to worry about mother-in-law relations in the future!"
Xia Nuannuan was startled, then blushed and playfully slapped his shoulder, not too hard. "What are you saying! You're annoying!"
"Seriously, haven't you and Auntie watched those soap operas? My mom watches them frequently, and the mother-in-law relationships in them are so dramatic. It's so difficult for the man caught in the middle!"
"That's television." Xia Nuannuan rolled her eyes with a laugh.
"Have you ever heard the saying that art comes from life? That implies that reality must have things even more absurd than in television dramas," Qin Tian said with a chuckle.
"I haven't seen anything like that anyway. My grandmother and my mother get along very well, they've never argued."
"Auntie Su is so intelligent and virtuous, such minor issues surely wouldn't trouble her!"
"My mom isn't here, so save your flattery for later!"
"What flattery? I never flatter people, it's all the truth!"
...
...
"Auntie Su, it's only been two months, but you seem to have become even younger and more beautiful! Mom, you too, you look beautiful today!" These were the first words Qin Tian spoke as he quickly approached the two mothers.
"Pfft!" Xia Nuannuan couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Nuannuan, what are you laughing at?" Su Xia glared at her daughter. Qin Tian's compliment had made her instantly delighted, and her daughter's sudden laughter made her feel a bit displeased.
"Nothing, nothing." Xia Nuannuan waved her hands hastily, suppressing her laughter. She then looked at her future mother-in-law beside her and said, "Auntie Tang, your skin looks much better."
"Really?" Tang Xiuxia's face lit up with a smile. She nudged her son and said, "The beautifying ointment he gave me is quite effective."
Qin Tian, who was taking the mothers' suitcases, subtly gave Xia Nuannuan a "you too" look. Xia Nuannuan completely ignored him, smiling and nodding, "I also feel it's very effective, but Auntie, your results are much better."
This was undoubtedly flattery, but it was also the truth. Both had used the age-defying ointment Qin Tian gave them, but Su Xia and Xia Nuannuan had always paid attention to skin care, so the changes were naturally less noticeable. In contrast, Tang Xiuxia had previously had no time or inclination to care for her skin due to her life and work, leaving much more room for improvement. Moreover, Tang Xiuxia had recently changed her attitude towards life, handing over the shop to a hired manager, and no longer being so busy or worried about work. With her improved mood, her entire demeanor naturally changed. Qin Tian had also noticed this at a glance. In just over two months since National Day, his mother seemed to have aged several years. Coupled with the light makeup she wore today, she looked much more beautiful. Given that she raised such a handsome son, his mother's youthful appearance must have been very high. From photos of him and his mother when he was young, it was clear that his mother then was undoubtedly a beauty no less than his future mother-in-law. It was just that over the years, the hardships and fatigue of raising him had left her with no time to attend to such matters.
Qin Tian put the suitcases into the trunk, while Xia Nuannuan opened the car doors for the two mothers, sitting in the back with them.
"Nuannuan, why don't you sit in the front passenger seat? Why are you squeezing back here with us?" Su Xia asked, looking puzzled.
"I don't want to. I just want to sit with Auntie Tang and chat. You can sit in the front if you want!" Xia Nuannuan said with a smile.
"Yes, Nuannuan can sit here." Tang Xiuxia held her hand with a beaming smile, asking with concern, "Sweetheart, why are your hands a little cold?"
"It was a bit cold outside just now. Auntie, your hands are so warm!" Xia Nuannuan replied sweetly.
"Hehe... then let me warm them for you."
"Mhm, mhm!"
"I feel like I'm redundant," Su Xia remarked, watching the scene with a touch of helplessness.
"Auntie, I feel the same way," Qin Tian chimed in after getting into the driver's seat.
Hearing this, Xia Nuannuan and Tang Xiuxia burst into happy laughter. Su Xia couldn't help but join in the laughter.
Qin Tian smiled and started the car. After turning on the navigation, he headed towards the restaurant chosen by his future father-in-law.
Soon, the people in the car spotted the restaurant ahead.
"Nuannuan, quick, see if that's it?" Qin Tian asked.
Xia Nuannuan leaned forward to look and nodded, "Yes, it's this one. I don't see my dad."
"He should be inside already. I'll call him." Su Xia said, taking out her phone from her bag to make a call.
Qin Tian drove the car over and parked in a spot in front, following the instructions of a restaurant staff member.
Just as the four of them got out of the car, Old Xia hurried out from the restaurant.
"Uncle Xia!" Qin Tian greeted him with a smile.
Old Xia nodded in response and then looked at Tang Xiuxia, saying with a smile, "Sister Xiu, we finally meet!"
"No, no, no, you must be older than me, right?" Tang Xiuxia asked, flattered.
"I'm a few months older. I'm just calling you Sister Xiu as my daughter-in-law does, there's nothing wrong with that!" Old Xia said with a smile.
"That's not appropriate, not appropriate."
"It's fine, none of that is important. Let's go in and sit down to chat. It's quite cold out here."
"Okay, okay."
Thus, the group entered the restaurant and went to a luxurious private room on the second floor. A waiter brought tea and menus. Old Xia first handed a menu to Tang Xiuxia.
"Sister Xiu, see what you'd like to eat. This restaurant specializes in local cuisine, and the dishes are very much to our taste."
"Let the two young people look first!"
"It's alright, you look first."
"Okay!" Tang Xiuxia, unable to refuse, took the menu and began to browse.
Seeing this, Xia Nuannuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Old Xia was behaving very well; it seemed this gathering would go smoothly without any issues. Little did she know, variables often arise from the unknown!