"Xiao Tian, Nuan Nuan, come out and sit, dinner is ready."
Mother's voice called from outside.
Qin Tian, with Xia Nuannuan, walked out of the room and saw his mother placing two dishes on the dining table in the main hall.
"Auntie, shall I help you bring the dishes?"
Xia Nuannuan called out quickly, making a move to follow her to the kitchen.
"No, no, no, Xiao Tian, you entertain Nuannuan first, I'll go get the bowls and chopsticks. You eat the dishes first!"
Tang Xiuxia instructed her son.
"Okay!"
Qin Tian smiled and nodded, then pushed Xia Nuannuan towards the dining table.
"Don't push me! I'll sit in a moment, let me help with the dishes first!"
"You are a guest today, how can you let a guest busy themselves?"
"But..."
"Alright, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to help in the future. Next time you come, just help casually, okay? Today, just sit obediently and be responsible for eating."
Qin Tian interrupted her with a chuckle and pressed her into a chair.
Xia Nuannuan gave him a sideways glance and could only sit down as instructed.
At this moment, Tang Xiuxia brought over three sets of bowls and chopsticks.
"Here, you two eat first."
"Thank you, Auntie!"
Xia Nuannuan eagerly took the bowls and chopsticks and thanked her.
"Try it, try it quickly. These are all dishes Xiao Tian said you like to eat. Of course, they definitely won't be as delicious as your mother's. Xiao Tian said your mother is a great cook."
Tang Xiuxia said with a beaming smile.
"Not at all!"
Xia Nuannuan shook her head, and with a sweet smile, praised, "Auntie, the dishes you made look delicious!"
"That's good, eat up, eat up. Don't be polite, just treat it like your own home!"
After Tang Xiuxia finished speaking, she continued to the kitchen to bring out more dishes.
Xia Nuannuan watched her hurry to the back room, sat up straight, and felt too embarrassed to pick up her chopsticks.
"Eat quickly, don't be so particular. My mom is right, it's like your own home!"
Qin Tian grinned and placed a garlic butter prawn into her bowl.
Hearing this, Xia Nuannuan's pretty face flushed with a faint blush, and she shyly glanced at him.
"What? Do you want me to peel it for you?"
Qin Tian asked with a chuckle.
"No!"
Xia Nuannuan hurriedly picked up her chopsticks upon hearing this and began to tackle the prawn in her bowl.
This was her first time visiting, and she felt too shy to be too intimate with Qin Tian in front of his future mother-in-law.
"How is it, Nuannuan, is it okay?"
Tang Xiuxia came over with two more dishes. Seeing Xia Nuannuan eating the prawn, she asked with a smile.
"Mmm, it's delicious, I really like it."
Xia Nuannuan quickly looked up and replied.
"Then eat more. Xiao Tian, take good care of her!"
Tang Xiuxia placed the two dishes down and instructed again.
"Don't worry!"
Qin Tian smiled confidently.
Soon, Tang Xiuxia brought all the dishes she had been busy with all afternoon to the table.
There were quite a few dishes for just three people.
A total of seven dishes and one soup, making up a propitious number.
Qin Tian took a bottle of Minute Maid from the refrigerator and poured three glasses. After sitting down, he raised his glass and called out, "Come on, let's clink glasses. Thanks, Mom, for making such a table of food. You worked hard."
"Thank you, Auntie. Auntie, you've worked hard."
Xia Nuannuan put down her chopsticks and raised her glass with a radiant smile.
"No, no, I just made a few simple dishes."
Tang Xiuxia said with a beaming smile.
After clinking glasses, the three of them continued to feast.
Xia Nuannuan sat between Tang Xiuxia and Qin Tian. She didn't need to pick up any food for herself; before she finished the food in her bowl, someone on either side would immediately place more food into it.
This made her feel flattered, yet also relieved.
It seemed that Qin Tian's mother had a good first impression of her.
While eating, the three of them chatted casually.
Tang Xiuxia was responsible for initiating topics, Xia Nuannuan responded politely, and Qin Tian chimed in from time to time, perfectly livening up the atmosphere.
Gradually, Xia Nuannuan's nervousness subsided.
The meal was quite harmonious, and with the constant feeding from the two of them, Xia Nuannuan unconsciously ate a little more.
"Nuannuan, eat some rice? Otherwise, you'll get hungry later," Tang Xiuxia suggested with a gentle smile.
"No, no, Auntie, I really can't eat anymore."
Xia Nuannuan smiled wryly and waved her hands in refusal.
Tang Xiuxia didn't insist. She nodded towards her son, who was stuffing his face with rice, and teased, "Look at how he eats. Was it like this when he went to your house for dinner before?"
"Pfft!"
Xia Nuannuan glanced at Qin Tian and couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.
"Mom, you can't talk about your own son like that!"
Qin Tian looked at his mother with a resentful gaze, his mouth full of food, making his words slightly muffled.
Tang Xiuxia rolled her eyes and said to Xia Nuannuan, "I'm already used to it. If he eats like this when he goes to your house next time, you take it upon yourself to subtly remind him not to embarrass me."
"He won't!"
Xia Nuannuan quickly waved her hand and said, "My dad and mom both like him a lot. If he eats happily, my mom will be even happier!"
"Xiao Tian has been telling me all about you, saying how nice your mother is, how pretty she is, and how delicious her cooking is."
"Auntie, you are too. You are both beautiful, and your cooking is delicious too."
This flattery made Tang Xiuxia very pleased, and her eyes sparkled with joy.
After Qin Tian finished eating, Tang Xiuxia asked Qin Tian to take Xia Nuannuan into the living room to watch TV.
However, Xia Nuannuan insisted on helping to clear the dishes.
Then Qin Tian said that since they were family, they might as well clean up together!
Xia Nuannuan's face immediately flushed red, while Tang Xiuxia smiled brightly and agreed.
After the three of them tidied up the dishes together, Tang Xiuxia cut some fruit, and they all went to the front room to sit, eating post-dinner fruit while watching TV and chatting.
Tang Xiuxia became more and more animated as they chatted, her face glowing, as if she had already accepted Xia Nuannuan as half her daughter.
Unknowingly, it had already become completely dark outside.
"Mom, it's getting late. I should take Nuannuan home."
Qin Tian spoke up.
"Yes, it's getting late. Auntie, I have to go back."
Xia Nuannuan quickly echoed.
Tang Xiuxia was holding Xia Nuannuan's small hand. After glancing at the time, she said with surprise, "It's already half past eight! Time flies so fast. Okay, okay, let Xiao Tian send you back."
Saying this, the three of them stood up, and Qin Tian prepared to leave with Xia Nuannuan.
"Nuannuan, wait a moment!"
Just as the two of them walked out of the room, a voice called from behind.
Xia Nuannuan turned her head in confusion and saw a large red envelope being handed over.
"Nuannuan, you've given Auntie gifts twice, and I haven't prepared anything substantial. Take this red envelope!"
Tang Xiuxia said with a smile.
"No, no, no, Auntie, I can't accept it!"
Xia Nuannuan refused in a flurry.
Tang Xiuxia didn't give her a chance to refuse and directly handed it to her son.
"You hold onto it for now, and give it to Nuannuan when you get there!"
"Got it!"
Qin Tian smiled and agreed.
"Qin Tian..."
Xia Nuannuan glared at Qin Tian anxiously, signaling him desperately with her eyes to return it to his mother.
"It's the first time a girlfriend is visiting, of course, she should give a red envelope. This means my mom really likes you and is very satisfied with you. You must accept this red envelope."
Qin Tian said with a smile.
"Yes, yes."
Tang Xiuxia nodded with a smile.
Seeing this, Xia Nuannuan was a little unsure of how to refuse.