Xia Nuannuan placed the groceries in the kitchen and washed some fruit, cutting it into a fruit platter.
After everyone sat down in the living room, they ate fruit and chatted.
Xia Nuannuan, with a smile in her eyes, told her parents about her university life.
She mentioned how great her dorm mates were, talked about which cafeteria had the best dishes, and how fulfilling her classes were every day.
Seeing their daughter so radiant, Xia Zhengping and his wife felt both pleased and a little melancholic.
The daughter who used to rarely talk about her school life with them no longer needed to deliberately hide her troubles.
Their daughter had truly grown up, able to handle interpersonal relationships on her own and enjoy her university life with happiness, no longer needing to hide under the shelter of their wings.
Unknowingly, the sky outside began to darken.
"Ah, it's so late already, I need to start cooking."
Su Xia glanced at her phone for the time and spoke up hurriedly.
"Auntie, let me do it!"
Qin Tian smiled and volunteered, standing up. "You all continue chatting with Nuannuan, I'll cook."
Xia Zhengping and his wife were taken aback.
"No, no, there's no reason for you to cook, I'll do it!"
Su Xia quickly got up as well.
"Auntie, I've always eaten your cooking. Let me do it today. Don't worry, my cooking skills are quite good."
Qin Tian said with a confident smile.
"It's not about whether the cooking is good or not. I've heard from Nuannuan that your cooking is delicious, but it's just not appropriate."
"Auntie, I don't consider myself an outsider, why are you still being so formal?"
"This..."
Su Xia was momentarily speechless.
Xia Zhengping secretly rolled his eyes, gaining a new appreciation for Qin Tian's shamelessness.
"Mom, just let brother do it!"
Xia Nuannuan chimed in with a sweet smile.
"Brother?"
Xia Zhengping and his wife were stunned, looking at her with surprised eyes.
Xia Nuannuan paused, then her small face visibly flushed, and she shyly lowered her head.
Xia Zhengping and his wife exchanged a bewildered glance, their expressions turning somewhat odd.
They naturally guessed it was an intimate term between a young couple, they just weren't quite used to it.
Yes, very unaccustomed!
Su Xia was alright, finding it a little hard to suppress a smile.
Old Xia, however, felt more conflicted, his sharp gaze sweeping over Qin Tian.
In his opinion, it was definitely this brat's peculiar habit.
Men, after all, were all the same.
He was no exception; when being intimate with his wife, if his wife, who usually called him "Old Xia," suddenly called him "husband" in a soft and tender voice, he would also be overjoyed and his spirits would soar.
"Well... I'm going to go cook."
Realizing the danger, Qin Tian decisively uttered, then turned and hurried towards the kitchen as if escaping.
"Nuannuan, did Xiao Qin ask you to call him that?"
Su Xia asked her daughter with a mischievous smile.
"No, no, it wasn't."
Xia Nuannuan shook her head quickly and said, "It was my own idea. My dorm mates gave me the suggestion."
As for the fact that Qin Tian had brought it up first, she certainly wouldn't say.
"Alright, your roommates are quite interesting!"
Su Xia exchanged a humorous glance with her husband.
They both knew it wasn't that simple, but they didn't press further.
Xia Nuannuan breathed a sigh of relief in her heart and forcefully changed the subject.
"Mom, what have you been doing at home lately? Have you missed me a lot?"
"Miss you, my foot! Without you and your father, I alone play cards and shop every day, not having to cook. It's so comfortable."
"Tch... you're just trying to fool me."
...
...
A moment later, Su Xia still went into the kitchen to help.
After greatly praising Qin Tian's cooking, Su Xia helped out while chatting with him about everyday matters.
In front of this gentle and virtuous future mother-in-law, Qin Tian felt no more restraint, treating her as the elder he respected most and chatting casually.
"Oh right, Auntie, how is my mom doing lately?"
"She's doing great. I think your mom wants to be a strong woman. The business is getting better and better, and she's so busy every day, yet she enjoys it."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, I go to her shop every few days to help her out. I originally wanted to drag her out shopping and playing cards, but she was too busy to have any time. So, I was a bit bored and came to see you all."
"My old lady, honestly. I told her not to tire herself out too much."
Qin Tian skillfully chopped vegetables, shaking his head with a wry smile.
"Your mom might be doing it for your future. But frankly, there's no need. With your ability and talent, why would she need to work so hard?"
Su Xia said with a smile, helping to pick vegetables.
"You see things so clearly."
"But then again, even if I say that, if I were in your mom's shoes, I would probably do the same."
"Mm!"
Qin Tian thought of his mother, who had been working hard for him in both his past and present lives, and a warmth surged in his heart.
He decided that this time, when he went back, he would show his mother his investment account and prove his earning ability again, so she wouldn't have to be so tired anymore and could enjoy life more.
"National Day is coming up soon. Go back and spend more time with your mom!"
"Understood."
Soon, with Chef Qin busy, a table full of delicious dinner was ready.
In the center of the dining table were the hairy crabs, just steamed and still emitting heat.
Beside them was roasted duck, cut and reheated, with a large plate of blanched prawns placed in the middle with dipping sauce, and beef stir-fried with chili.
Further out, there were other dishes with a balance of meat and vegetables, as well as stewed corn and pork rib soup.
"Xiao Qin, your cooking skills are truly remarkable!"
Old Xia sat down at the head of the table and praised with surprise, looking at the appetizing dishes.
"Still a bit worse than Auntie's."
Qin Tian smiled humbly.
"Xiao Qin, this is no worse than what I make. It's not good to be too humble!"
Su Xia said with a gentle smile.
"Hee hee... Mom is right. Brother... Brother Tian, you've made this too lavishly."
Xia Nuannuan chimed in with a bright smile.
Qin Tian no longer continued to be humble and accepted the praise, then asked Xia Zhengping, "Uncle, shall I have a drink with you?"
"Alright! With such good food, we should have a drink. Wait a moment, I'll get the wine."
Xia Zhengping nodded with a chuckle and got up to go to the bedroom.
A moment later, Old Xia returned with a bottle of Maotai and a bottle of fine red wine.
"Xiao Qin, I'll drink the baijiu with you. Nuannuan, you and your mom can see if you want to try some of this red wine, it's not strong!"
"Okay, Mom, I'll have a glass with you too."
Xia Nuannuan said to her mother with sparkling eyes.
"Okay!"
Su Xia agreed with a smiling nod.
After the two bottles of wine were opened, Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan poured the drinks for everyone.
"Come, come, let's all toast! Thank you, Xiao Qin, for this entire meal!"
Old Xia said, raising his glass with a smile.
"Cheers!!"
After a shared toast, everyone began to feast.
Qin Tian peeled a hairy crab, removed the inedible parts, and naturally placed it into Xia Nuannuan's bowl.
"This is for you."
Xia Nuannuan reciprocated, her smile sweet as she handed him a peeled prawn meat.
Xia Zhengping and his wife looked at the scene and exchanged a helpless smile.
In the past, it was they who occasionally showed affection in front of their daughter, but they didn't expect it to be their turn so quickly.