Mother Lin finally explained everything.
As it turns out, on her way home, she had been intercepted by the senile Grandma Li.
The old woman claimed to have seen Lu Qingyue returning with a chubby baby boy and a man.
Hearing this, Shen Xiao immediately remembered the elderly grandmother at the village gate that morning.
"Auntie... you actually believed Grandma Li's words?" Shen Xiao asked in disbelief.
"Well, yes! She said you two came home with a baby boy who didn't even have a birth certificate yet!"
This time, Lu Qingyue truly exploded.
"Mom! Grandma Li is senile! There's even a banner at the front of the village telling people not to believe her! I came home with Lao Jiang, and she's a female cat!"
Lao Jiang, who was busy eating fish in the corner of the room, chimed in to clarify, "I am a girl cat, meow! You can call me 'Chubby Girl,' but don't call me a 'Baby Boy,' meow!"
Mother Lin grabbed her daughter's hands, her face instantly brightening.
"So you don't have a child? I don't have a grandchild yet?"
"Where would I get a child from, Mom?! I'm under your supervision every single day!"
Mother Lin finally realized just how foolish she had been.
"Then, what was the big surprise you brought today?"
"Shen Xiao paid off all our family debts, Mom. That was the surprise," Qingyue answered.
Mother Lin froze. She stared at Shen Xiao with a gaze that shifted 180 degrees.
"He paid off the debt? But then why did you just admit to being guilty and ask to be punished, Shen Xiao?"
"Auntie... I thought you were angry because I settled the debt without your permission," Shen Xiao answered truthfully.
Plak!
Mother Lin delivered a sharp smack to Lu Han's head.
"This is all because of you, you naughty brat! Misleading your mother like that!"
"Ow! I only said he was the guy Big Sister tricked..."
Plak!
Another smack landed on Lu Han's head.
Once the air cleared, Mother Lin became incredibly warm.
Her "Rank 9 Master" aura vanished instantly.
"Xiao Xiao, it turns out you're such a wonderful young man! Come, eat more! My daughter's soup is second to none!"
"Auntie, I can get it myself..."
"Nonsense, just sit! The more I look at you, the more handsome you become. I don't mind at all if Qingyue is with you," Mother Lin said with a wide smile.
"Mom! Stop talking nonsense again!" Qingyue cried out, dying of embarrassment.
Mother Lin, feeling she had caused enough embarrassment, finally decided to head to her room to rest.
But before leaving, she patted Shen Xiao's shoulder and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, "My daughter is still pure, you can marry her for a dowry of just six yuan."
"MOM!" Qingyue screamed.
"Wait, Auntie!" Shen Xiao called out.
Mother Lin stopped, feeling a bit nervous.
Is my son-in-law angry? she thought.
However, Shen Xiao instead pulled out a twenty-yuan bill and handed it to her.
"Auntie, here is twenty yuan... keep the change, consider this a token of my devotion!" Shen Xiao said, barely stifling his laughter.
Ding!
[Gained Mother Lin's favorability, Fate Ticket +0.1!]
Mother Lin was overjoyed.
"Good, good! Such a filial son-in-law! I'll accept this as the 'proposal money,' so don't worry, if any other village boys come to propose to Qingyue, I'll chase them all away!"
After Mother Lin dragged Lu Han into the room, only Shen Xiao and Lu Qingyue were left at the table, her face now a deep shade of crimson.
"Shen Xiao... I'm so sorry about my mother. She seems to have left her brain outside earlier," Qingyue whispered.
"It's okay. I'm actually happy," Shen Xiao replied casually while enjoying the ribs.
"You're... not mad about being accused of having a child?"
"Why would I be? Now I have a guarantee that no other man in this village will dare to propose to you."
"I'm serious, Shen Xiao. Aside from that 'child' thing, I... I've never even had a boyfriend before."
Ding!
[Gained Lu Qingyue's favorability, Fate Ticket +100!]
"I believe you," Shen Xiao answered firmly.
Ding!
[Gained Lu Qingyue's favorability, Fate Ticket +100!]
"Really?"
"Of course! I, Shen Xiao, trust you completely!"
Ding!
[Gained Lu Qingyue's favorability, Fate Ticket +100!]
Shen Xiao smiled broadly.
Turns out this system has a loophole!
Just by providing affirmation and trust repeatedly during an emotional moment like this, the lottery tickets kept flowing in without end.
Come on, while the gap is still open, let's harvest even more tickets! Shen Xiao thought enthusiastically.
...
After the storm of miscommunication subsided, Mother Lin truly changed 180 degrees.
She emerged from her room with a cheerful face and acted as if Shen Xiao were a long-lost family member.
"Xiao Xiao, it's already late. Stay over tonight, okay?" Mother Lin invited warmly.
"All right, Auntie," Shen Xiao replied politely.
Ding! Gained Mother Lin's favorability, Fate Ticket +0.1.
"Make yourself at home. It's a bit run-down, but you're welcome here anytime!"
Ding!
[Gained Mother Lin's favorability, Fate Ticket +0.1!]
Shen Xiao felt a wave of relief.
One massive hurdle, family approval, was technically cleared, even if it was through only 6-yuan dowry.
Lu Han, too, was actually ready to cooperate, it was only his pride masking his admiration for his new "Brother-in-Law."
Now, it was time to focus on the main target, Lu Qingyue.
...
Lu Qingyue didn't say much during the meal.
Her mind was still drifting back to her brother's words about Shen Xiao being willing to fight the world for her.
He must have just been lying to calm Lu Han down, Qingyue thought while tidying the plates.
But still, her heart felt warm.
Especially after seeing her mother so willing to sell her off for the price of six yuan.
What kind of family is this?
Qingyue thought, embarrassed yet unable to hold back a thin smile.
Ding!
[Gained Lu Qingyue's favorability, Fate Ticket +100!]
"Shen Xiao, you can sleep in my room tonight," Qingyue said softly.
Shen Xiao's eyes narrowed slightly.
That's fast progress?
I was just about to ask for a kiss on the cheek, and she's asking me to sleep in her room?
His thoughts ran wild.
But as a strong man, I must be ready to improvise!
"Okay!" Shen Xiao answered firmly.
...
As it turned out, Shen Xiao's imagination had gone too far.
The room was small, about twenty square meters.
There was a desk, a single bed, a bookshelf, and of course... Lao Jiang.
It turned out Qingyue was sleeping with her mother, letting Shen Xiao occupy her room all by himself.
Disappointing... I expected way too much, Shen Xiao grumbled in his heart.
But at least there was a consolation prize.
Lying in the bed where Qingyue had grown up provided an indescribable comfort.
The faint, lingering scent of her body that had merged with the room felt incredibly soothing.
"Master, if you're lonely, I can call Ah Gui or Ah Piao to keep you company," Lao Jiang teased, poking her head out from under the blanket.
"Don't be ridiculous," Shen Xiao snapped.
"Seriously, meow! If they hold hands, they can become physical. Even if their bodies are cold, you have fire magic, just heat them up. I used to watch human wrestling documentaries with my old master, I know some great wrestling techniques, meow."
"...Just go to sleep and stop overthinking," Shen Xiao muttered, hugging the increasingly chubby Lao Jiang.
"Thanks for the compliment, Master."
Ding!
[Gained Lao Jiang's favorability, Fate Ticket +10!]