Lin's face felt a little warm. She straightened her clothes and quickly checked her reflection in a small mirror. Once she was satisfied, she took a deep breath and walked into the general manager's office, her heart pounding.
"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Liu. It's so nice to finally meet you. Hi, Liu Wan, Lucas," Lin Xiaohan said warmly, looking at the family seated on the sofa.
Her eyes then landed on Lila and Noah , who were chasing each other around the office. She smiled and knelt down slightly. "And you must be Lila and Noah . Hello, you two!"
Noah didn't recognize the beautiful woman and quickly hid behind his older sister.
But five-year-old Lila wasn't shy at all. She looked Lin Xiaohan up and down and declared, "I know you! You're my uncle's girlfriend! Wow, you're so pretty!"
Lin Xiaohan blushed. "You're very beautiful too, Lila !"
The moment Lin Xiaohan walked in, Jason's mother knew this was her son's girlfriend. Hearing her granddaughter's comment, she immediately corrected her. "Lila , don't call her sister. You should call her Auntie!"
With that, Jason's mother walked over happily and took Lin Xiaohan's hands in hers, looking her over with the unmistakable gaze of a prospective mother-in-law. "You must be Xiaohan. Oh, you're just as beautiful as Jason said. I've wanted to meet you for so long, but we never had the chance."
"I'm so sorry, Auntie. I should have visited you and Uncle sooner..." Lin Xiaohan felt flustered under her intense, eager gaze. It seemed like Jason's mother was ready to welcome her into the family right then and there.
Liu Wan came over to join them, and the three women sat together on a couch, chatting and laughing about everyday things as if they were old friends.
Meanwhile, Jason's father, Lucas , and Jason himself sat silently on the opposite sofa, unsure of what to say.
Finally, the time came for them to meet Lin Xiaohan's family. Everyone left the company and drove to a restaurant called The Fragrant Garden.
Jason's family arrived first, and Lin Xiaohan's parents arrived shortly after. The two sets of parents greeted each other politely and enthusiastically, and the conversation quickly turned to their children.
"I just wish Jason and Xiaohan would get married sooner," Jason's mother sighed. "But that boy of mine says he's too busy with his career and isn't in a hurry. Honestly, it makes me so mad I want to smack him." She had been dreaming of holding a grandchild for a long time.
Lin Xiaohan's mother sighed as well, offering a wry smile. "My daughter says the same thing. Oh well, what can you do? This younger generation is different from ours. His company is very busy right now, so I suppose it's alright if they get married a little later."
Hearing this, Jason's mother felt a wave of relief. She had been worried the Lin family would be upset, thinking that her family was deliberately delaying the marriage.
Since both sets of parents were satisfied with the match, the meeting had a wonderful atmosphere. They eventually negotiated an agreement: Jason and Lin Xiaohan had two years at most, and then they had to get married.
Jason and Lin Xiaohan both agreed to the terms.
After the meal, Lin Xiaohan's parents said they had to get back to their supermarket and left. Jason and Lin Xiaohan then took his family for a tour around the city, which included a trip to the zoo that Lila had been so excited about.
The North, Westeros —
Tyrion Lannister rode in comfort toward Castle Black. The small, luxurious carriage he had purchased from the Easterner's shop made the long journey surprisingly pleasant.
"Unhitch the horses and find a place for the carriage," Tyrion instructed the two Lannister guards accompanying him. "We'll need it for the trip back."
"Yes, my lord!" The two guards untied the horses, led them to the stables at Castle Black, and parked Tyrion's carriage under a wooden shed nearby.
The Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, Jeor Mormont, was already there to greet him. "Lord Tyrion, welcome. You've had a long journey. Welcome to the Wall, the northernmost point of the world. I hope you enjoy your stay, though I can't imagine why you would."
Tyrion was surprised. He hadn't expected such a warm welcome from the Lord Commander. While he suspected the man wanted something from him, being treated with such importance was still a pleasant feeling.
"The journey wasn't hard at all, I assure you," Tyrion said. "This luxury carriage from the Easterner's shop has excellent shock absorption. Barely a bump the whole way. A true must-have for travel. Consider that a free promotion for Jason, the merchant. I hope it brings him good business!"
He waddled up to the Old Bear on his short legs and gave a polite greeting. "A pleasure to meet you, Lord Mormont. I hope my visit won't be a bother to the brothers of the Night's Watch."
"Ha! One dwarf is no trouble at all. It's an honor to have you in our remote corner of the world," the Old Bear said. He turned and gestured toward the main hall. "Come, Lord Tyrion. I'll introduce you to some of my officers. I'm sure they can be of help to you during your stay."
Seeing how polite the Old Bear was being, Tyrion grew more certain that the man had a request for him. He kept his thoughts to himself, however, and smiled. "That's wonderful. I was hoping to get a look from the top of that wall of yours. At several hundred feet high, I was worried I wouldn't be able to get up there without some help!"
The Old Bear led Tyrion into the common hall and introduced him to the senior leadership of the Watch: Maester Aemon; the First Steward, Bowen Marsh; the master-at-arms, Donal Noye; and the new recruit instructor, Ser Alliser Thorne.
He already knew the First Ranger, Benjen Stark. They had traveled together from Winterfell, but it was clear Benjen didn't like him very much, as he'd barely said a word the entire way.
After a few brief exchanges, Tyrion retired to the room the Watch had prepared for him. He had his guards draw him a hot bath, and after a good soak, he went to bed early.
Back in the council chamber, Benjen Stark was recounting his fruitless visit to King's Landing to Lord Commander Mormont. "King Robert doesn't care if we can hold the Wall or not," he said angrily. "Compared to the feasts and joys of the south, this frozen wasteland hardly interests His Grace."
"I tried several times, but the drunken king had no patience to hear the Night's Watch's needs. He just told us to carry on as before—recruit criminals from the dungeons of Westeros to fill our ranks. Food, weapons, supplies... he offered nothing!"
Thinking about it made Benjen Stark furious all over again.
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