At the round dining table, Chen Mo sat with Xiao Yu on his left and Xiao Man on his right, her attention glued to her phone. Across from him was He Zhenghua. The family was gathered around, and the table was filled with the aroma of a freshly prepared meal.
Seven dishes and a steaming hot soup—it was a clear step up from their usual three dishes and one soup. Everything was homemade, specially prepared to welcome Chen Mo, their future son-in-law.
The rich scent of home cooking filled the air. The warmth of the scene gave Chen Mo a rare sense of comfort, almost like he had truly come home.
Wang Lan, sitting nearby, kept stealing glances at Chen Mo—like a mother-in-law evaluating her daughter's future husband. The more she looked, the more satisfied she became.
Before today, she hadn't known much about Chen Mo. She had been worried that Xiao Yu might've been deceived—after all, they'd heard plenty of stories about wealthy young men causing trouble.
But after finding out that Chen Mo was Lao Zhang's nephew, she'd made a call and gotten the full story.
Now, she was thoroughly impressed. Young, accomplished, polite, with a promising future, and—most importantly—deeply in love with her daughter.
That's not the kind of son-in-law you find easily these days.
And he and Xiao Yu had gone to the same university, shared similar backgrounds, and had a solid relationship foundation. In Wang Lan's eyes, this was a perfect match.
"Dad," Xiao Yu said, smiling as she took two bottles of Maotai out of a bag and placed them on the table. "Chen Mo brought you some wine—he knows you like a drink now and then."
She poured a small glass for her father, then one for Chen Mo, and handed it over. "You two have a drink."
Chen Mo picked up his glass. "Uncle, a toast to you."
He Zhenghua smiled and nodded slightly before taking a sip.
Though he was reluctant to let go of his daughter, he had to admit: the boy had manners, background, and potential. And most importantly, his old friend Zhang Yang had personally vouched for him.
Seeing his daughter in such good hands, he was slowly coming to peace with it.
"Do you drink often?" he asked.
"Just occasionally. I never get drunk, though—it would affect my work," Chen Mo replied honestly.
Hearing that, He Zhenghua nodded approvingly. "That's good. A little now and then is fine, but too much isn't healthy. Especially not when you're doing research."
As the meal went on, they chatted about work, daily life, and family. Chen Mo answered all questions patiently, and the atmosphere gradually warmed into relaxed familiarity.
"I've known Lao Zhang for over ten years," He Zhenghua said, raising his glass again. "Sometimes when our boats return, we get together for drinks. Last year, Xiao Yu came back from a classmate's wedding and said someone was trying to set her up with a foreigner. But she told me she wasn't interested."
Chen Mo smiled and glanced at Xiao Yu. "Back then, we were already classmates and had known each other for a while. I didn't realize she was the one being set up. It wasn't until later that I figured out it was her."
He Zhenghua laughed. "Fate, huh? Treat her well."
Xiao Yu's heart lightened at her father's words. His approval meant everything to her.
Before they returned, she'd been more nervous than Chen Mo—worried that her parents might not approve. She'd seen what family objections could do to relationships, even those that seemed ready for marriage.
But now, with both sets of parents on board—and a proposal already made—she could finally relax.
As she smiled, Xiao Man suddenly piped up, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Sister, now that Mom and Dad have given their blessing… when are you getting married? Hurry up and give me a little nephew to hold!"
Before she could finish, Xiao Yu stuffed a chicken drumstick into her mouth.
"Eat! There's enough food here to shut your mouth."
Everyone laughed, but her cheeks were slightly red.
Despite her sister's teasing, Wang Lan and He Zhenghua couldn't help but look at Chen Mo and Xiao Yu with anticipation. They weren't pressuring them, but deep down, they hoped for a wedding soon. It wasn't just about a ceremony—it was about welcoming the next stage of family life.
Chen Mo put down his chopsticks and spoke seriously.
"I don't plan to hold the wedding just yet."
The cheerful atmosphere froze.
Wang Lan and He Zhenghua exchanged glances, their expressions stiffening slightly. Even Xiao Man looked embarrassed, lowering her head and chewing her drumstick quietly.
Xiao Yu's heart jumped. She was about to explain when Chen Mo gently reached over to stop her.
Seeing the look in his eyes, she calmed down.
Chen Mo continued, "I plan for us to register our marriage first, without holding a formal wedding—at least for now."
He paused, his tone deepening.
"Xiao Yu has always supported me, stayed by my side, and taken care of me. She's incredibly important to me. I don't want to rush the wedding. I want to give her the most beautiful, grand wedding possible—one worthy of her."
Xiao Yu's eyes widened. Her breath caught.
She had expected something along the lines of "let's wait", but she hadn't expected this.
His voice was solemn.
"This is my promise to Xiao Yu."
For a moment, silence. Then Wang Lan's expression softened, a warm smile spreading across her face.
"All right. That's fine. Your big day should be planned carefully. You have the conditions now, so don't be as casual as we were."
He Zhenghua also nodded approvingly. "Good. Just make sure she's happy."
Their concern had been that Chen Mo might delay marriage indefinitely—like some wealthy men who led their girlfriends on for years before abandoning them. But after that promise, both parents were reassured. It didn't sound like a lie—it sounded like a man truly committed to his partner.
"Alright then, let's eat," Wang Lan said cheerfully. "Xiao Mo, eat more. Don't let the food go cold."
The warm atmosphere returned.
Xiao Man gave Chen Mo a secret thumbs-up under the table. That was a close one. Her sister looked like the happiest person in the world. Xiao Man couldn't help but think—If someone ever said that to me, I'd marry him on the spot.
Later that night, in Xiao Yu's room.
She wrapped her arms around Chen Mo and leaned into him, her face glowing with a smile.
"I was so scared just now. Thank you."
Chen Mo looked into her eyes and said softly, "Are you treating me like an outsider? I meant every word. That promise wasn't for show. I will give you the grandest wedding—and you'll be the most beautiful bride."
"I believe you," Xiao Yu whispered, her eyes moist with emotion. She didn't know when she'd become so sentimental, but in this moment, her heart was overflowing.
"Don't cry now," Chen Mo teased gently. "Earlier, your dad dropped his chopsticks and looked like he was ready to throw hands. If he finds out you're crying, he'll think I bullied you and probably chase me out with a knife."
That made Xiao Yu giggle through her tears.
"So your parents are on board now," Chen Mo said. "That means it's time, right?"
"Time for what?" Xiao Yu blinked at him, confused.
"Guess."
Chen Mo leaned in, whispering softly into her ear.
As he finished, Xiao Yu's face turned bright red. She looked at him with wide eyes, shy and stunned.