Feng Manlun said with pleasant surprise, "Really? That would be wonderful! Thank you so much! Please don't call me that, Auntie. Just call me Manlun."
Xu Yunxi pursed her lips and deliberately said, "Young Master Feng, I am Xiao Qi's godmother, after all!"
Feng Manlun smoothly replied, "I've always regarded Teacher Xu as an elder. Whatever an elder calls me, I accept gladly."
Liu Yi couldn't help shaking his head and said, "What a smooth talker!"
Shen Qi looked helpless. "Enough, you two! Time to eat!"
Everyone laughed and picked up their chopsticks together.
It had to be said that when Feng Manlun genuinely wanted to win someone over, his skill was quite impressive. By the end of the meal, he had significantly closed the distance between them. Especially after dinner, when he rolled up his sleeves and started washing the dishes—this gesture earned him high marks from Shen Ziyao and Xu Yunxi. For a wealthy young master to willingly roll up his sleeves and do such a thing, even if he had an ulterior motive, someone willing to humble themselves for a goal was bound to achieve great things.
After eating, Shen Qi and the others gathered to chat. Shen Qi's phone rang again. Glancing at the number, she covered the receiver and ran outside.
"Xiao Qi..." He Yining's voice came through the phone, tinged with grievance. "Are you嫌弃 me for not being handsome enough?"
Shen Qi was speechless. What was this all about?
"Otherwise, why would you let Feng Manlun come see you but not me?" He Yining continued mournfully. "Is he more handsome than I am?"
Shen Qi's head throbbed. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
He Yining pressed his lips slightly, his phoenix eyes shimmering with an unusual light. He had just received news that Feng Manlun had gone over with countless gifts. For Feng Manlun to be so attentive, something new must have happened on Shen Qi's end. He couldn't rest easy without checking it out himself.
"Xiao Qi, where are you now?" He Yining asked softly.
"Uh, I'm at my mom's place," Shen Qi answered honestly.
"Your mom?" He Yining's reaction was almost identical to Feng Manlun's—his mind worked quickly, and he immediately caught on. "You found your mother?"
Shen Qi said excitedly, "You know? I never expected it to be so coincidental! I ran into Mom as soon as I arrived in P City! Yining, do you know how happy I am?"
He Yining's phoenix eyes darkened, a flicker of unreadable emotion passing through. "I'm really happy for you too. But honestly, how could you not tell me you found your mother? As your husband, how can I not come to meet my mother-in-law?"
Shen Qi stuck out her tongue sheepishly. "I was so caught up in chatting that I forgot. Even my senior brother only found out I was at Mom's when he called."
He Yining chuckled lightly. "That deserves punishment—you'll have to warm my bed for a lifetime!"
Even through the phone, Shen Qi's ears turned bright red like shrimp.
After hanging up, He Yining tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, his phoenix eyes fixed on the phone in his hand. After a moment, he let out a soft breath and murmured, "So Feng Manlun has set his sights on my mother-in-law. He wants to take my place? Hah, interesting."
Xiao Chun stood by, silently awaiting orders.
He Yining asked softly, "What did Feng Manlun bring?"
"Some daily necessities, household appliances, and the like," Xiao Chun replied.
He Yining smiled faintly. "Ah, Young Master Feng truly understands human nature. They live by the lake—some appliances probably can't handle the voltage load, can they? Arrange for a generator to be sent over. We can't let Feng Manlun's good intentions go to waste."
Xiao Chun's lips curled slightly. "Yes, President."
"Xiao Xia." He Yining turned to his second chief assistant.
Xiao Xia came running over, holding a melon. "President, your orders?"
Seeing the melon in Xiao Xia's hand, He Yining said, "I have a task for you."
Xiao Xia quickly nodded, looking at He Yining expectantly.
"I recall there are some antique calligraphy and paintings stored at the mansion. Pick a few that aren't too valuable but have high appreciation value, pack them up, and bring them along." He Yining ordered. "Be quick! If necessary, have them packed directly and flown over to meet us."
Xiao Xia left, munching on his melon.
He Yining felt genuinely helpless about this lively chief assistant. Each of his four chief assistants had a distinct personality. Xiao Chun was steady, sharp, and knew when to advance or retreat, so He Yining always took him along to handle affairs. Xiao Xia was lively, skilled in martial arts, and acted decisively, always completing or exceeding He Yining's tasks. Xiao Qiu was more gloomy and disliked interacting with people, so he was often sent by Yin Sichen on global missions. Xiao Dong was in charge of intelligence gathering and rarely appeared.
These four chief assistants were chosen by He Yining before he inherited the He family, and they had all made significant contributions during his struggle for succession.
Xiao Xia immediately relayed He Yining's orders to the He family mansion. He老夫人 gladly agreed and had Butler He prepare a modest yet thoughtful gift for Xiao Xia to take along.
While He Yining was still on the road, Shen Qi leaned against Shen Ziyao's arms, sleeping peacefully. It was the first time since birth that she had fallen asleep in her mother's embrace. Whether it was psychological or not, Shen Qi slept especially soundly.
Shen Ziyao gently stroked Shen Qi's hair, her expression complex. For some reason, she instinctively worried about Shen Qi. The He family was so prominent—could it truly be a safe haven for Xiao Qi? Although Xiao Qi hadn't said much about the He family, as a woman herself, Shen Ziyao sensed a lurking crisis beneath the surface. If Xiao Qi were truly happy, why would there be a trace of melancholy and helplessness between her brows?
Shen Ziyao silently resolved to thoroughly assess this son-in-law and see if he truly deserved her Xiao Qi!
By the time the sun slanted westward, He Yining had arrived. Shen Qi had received his call early and ran out to greet him. Since He Yining had brought a lot of things, she wanted to help organize them. If Shen Qi felt a bit uneasy about Feng Manlun's heavy gifts, she only felt joy at He Yining's. It showed how much he valued her mother!
Shen Qi was naturally overjoyed.
As He Yining got out of the car, he saw Shen Qi standing obediently by the bridge. Dressed in a flowing long skirt, she blended perfectly with the surroundings, so beautiful that He Yining couldn't help but hold his breath.
Shen Qi smiled sweetly at him. "I came to pick you up. Still mad?"
He Yining's lips curved instantly, his voice low and deliberately serious. "Hmm, not bad. I'll give you six out of ten."
Shen Qi shot him a playful glare.
He Yining leaned in, lowering his voice. "First time meeting the in-laws—I'm so nervous! Will Mom like me?"
Shen Qi rolled her eyes. "We're already married, and you're acting like this!"
He Yining stifled a laugh. "If Mom gives me a hard time later, you have to help me out!"
Shen Qi glared at him. "No."
Despite her words, she took his arm and led him back.
He Yining pinched her nose gently and walked with her. The breeze was gentle, the scent of flowers filled the air, and the distant red leaves and sunset created a picturesque scene.
Shen Qi asked casually, "Is the finals over?"
He Yining nodded. "Yes, everyone has picked their favorite contestants. The competition ended well."
Shen Qi said with slight regret, "I really still have a lot to learn."
He Yining replied, "It's okay. If you want to pursue design, I can find you other teachers besides Charles."
Shen Qi shook her head. "Teacher Charles is more than enough. He's the top master exclusive to the He family. Finding someone better than him would be nearly impossible, right? Besides, my foundation is weak, so I don't need such advanced instruction yet."
He Yining nodded. "It's good that you think that way. Stay grounded instead of reaching for the stars."
Seeing Xiao Chun and the others pushing large and small boxes, Shen Qi couldn't help asking curiously, "What did you bring?"
He Yining's face was full of barely concealed pride. "A generator, lightning rods, and some materials to reinforce the house. Didn't you say the house here was built over twenty years ago? If it's not properly repaired, it could be unsafe."
Shen Qi looked astonished. "Most people bring cigarettes, alcohol, tea, or sweets when meeting their mother-in-law for the first time. You bring a generator?"
He Yining said smugly, "Feng Manlun brought so many appliances. Without a high-power generator, they'd just be decorations."
Shen Qi burst out laughing. "So that's your angle."
He Yining's phoenix eyes swept over her. "Hmph, my mother-in-law doesn't need him to play the hero."
They chatted and laughed as they reached the entrance of the sanctuary. Xiao Chun had already directed the workers to start installing the equipment. Shen Ziyao came out holding a pot of tea. When she saw He Yining, she was momentarily stunned—this man was almost too handsome.
Before Shen Ziyao could recover, He Yining took the initiative to greet her. "Mom, I'm sorry I'm late."
Shen Ziyao was still adjusting to the fact that her daughter was already grown, and now she had to accept suddenly having a son-in-law. It would take some time to process.
She nodded slightly and said with a smile, "You're thoughtful. Those paintings are too precious; I can't accept them."
"What paintings?" Shen Qi was still confused.
He Yining smiled and said, "Mom, I heard you studied painting abroad in your early years, so I brought some Western works. To those in the know, these are art; to those who aren't, they're just money. If spending a little can make Mom happy, then as your son-in-law, I'll feel at ease."