Chapter 138: Meeting the In-Laws

Yan Rushan took the bottle of liquor and held it in one hand, while using the other to take her hand as they stepped out.

Once they left, Gou Dan closed the door and remained downstairs, standing guard to wait for his master's return instead of going upstairs.

"No need to be nervous," Yan Rushan leaned down and whispered to her, "Grandfather already made his stance clear last night; no one in the family would dare to give you a hard time."

She had been slightly anxious, but Yan Rushan’s candid and unreserved disclosure of family matters suddenly eased her mind. Even if his parents were not satisfied with her, she still had his grandfather! The old man was broad-minded and had a good impression of her.

Thinking this way, she felt as if she had taken a reassuring pill.

Zhong Yuxiu nodded repeatedly, "I know, with Grandfather here, I'm not afraid."

"..." Why Grandfather?

Yan Rushan felt a bit sour inside. "You were won over by me; there's no need to rely on Grandfather."

Zhong Yuxiu shook her head with a playful smile, tilting her head to look at him, her eyes sparkling with spirit.

"Are you jealous?"

Yan Rushan felt a moment of shame, but he quickly buried it and said righteously, "Xiuxiu, your partner is feeling sour!"

"Haha." The man kept a serious face while saying such pitiful things, and Zhong Yuxiu could not stop laughing. She teased him, "Do you need me to rub your chest for you? Maybe it won't be sour anymore if I do."

"..." He was a little tempted.

Zhong Yuxiu did not give him the chance to dwell on it; she let go of his hand and hummed at him, "You wish, how shameless."

He hadn't even said it out loud, just thought about it in his heart; who was the one being shameless?

Yan Rushan looked at her speechlessly, "Xiuxiu, don't say these things outside in the future; it wouldn't be good if others heard."

"So it's fine when there's no one at home, right?" Verbal teasing wasn't enough; Yuxiu leaned in closer, her expression cunning and smiling. It made Yan Rushan blush, but as a man, he couldn't afford to lose, "That... that's fine too."

Zhong Yuxiu couldn't help but burst into laughter. Yan Rushan reached out to shield her, "Is it really that funny?"

"No, no, it's not just funny, it's hilarious!" She had met many reserved men, but he was the only one who was so reserved yet had such a contrasting charm. "Brother Yan, do you know what a man like you is called?"

Yan Rushan felt a bit uncomfortable, yet he was curious. He cleared his throat, "A man is a man, what else could he be called?"

"A 'tsundere'—someone whose words contradict their true feelings—that's exactly you."

"What kind of nonsense is that? Stop playing around; it's cold outside, hurry home to warm up." Yan Rushan endured the itch in his throat and the shame in his heart. Even without a formal understanding of the term, he roughly grasped the meaning; wasn't it just saying he was being hypocritical?

Zhong Yuxiu was delighted, and she couldn't stop laughing all the way to the Yan household. Yan Rushan felt awkward throughout the journey, but he didn't stop her, his actions subtly revealing his indulgence.

"What are you two laughing about so happily?" Yan Guofeng asked with a smile on his aged face, "I heard your laughter from quite a distance."

Zhong Yuxiu silently composed herself, though the smile remained on her face, "Grandpa Yan, Happy New Year. I'm sorry to bother you; I hope you don't find me too noisy."

"Not at all, not at all. You should come over more often! You should have come to visit long ago, but you were always so busy. I tried to get Dashan to bring you over, but it never worked out." Grandpa Yan’s eyes crinkled with laughter, the wrinkles on his face seemingly dyed with joy.

"If you don't mind me, I'll come often. But even if you get tired of me, I won't leave."

Yan Guofeng laughed heartily, "That’s exactly how it should be! Once you're here, you're home. Come over and sit by the fire. Dashan, get some hot water for Yuxiu."

Calling her "Comrade Zhong" felt too distant and insincere, so the old man followed Yan Rushan’s lead.

"Yuxiu, you sit first; I’ll go get you some water to warm your hands." Yan Rushan placed the New Year gifts beside the sofa and pressed her down into her seat. Just then, he saw Yan Ruhai coming out with a small new wooden basin.

Yan Ruhai handed the basin to Yan Rushan, his face filled with teasing, winking, "Brother, here is the hot water. Go ahead and warm sister-in-law's hands properly."

"You talk too much." After taking it, Yan Rushan placed the basin on the coffee table and, with familiar and natural movements, held her hands and placed them into the water. Zhong Yuxiu was stunned and glanced sheepishly at the old man. Seeing his kind expression and no sign of displeasure, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and pulled back slightly, saying, "I can do it myself."

Yan Rushan didn't insist and looked at his grandfather, "Grandfather, where are Mom and Dad?"

"Your father is in the study upstairs; he'll be down in a moment. Your mother is busy in the kitchen. Xiaohai, don't just stand there, go in and help her." Grandpa Yan gestured to his younger grandson.

Yan Ruhai chuckled and turned toward the kitchen.

A moment later, a middle-aged woman walked out carrying a fruit platter and snacks. She had an elegant posture and walked with a special grace, clearly someone who had danced for many years.

"Yuxiu, this is Dashan’s mother, Song Man. You can just call her Auntie." Yan Guofeng introduced them personally, which made Mother Yan pay even more attention to her. She said with a beaming smile, "Yuxiu is here! I’ve heard Dashan say you two were seeing each other for a long time. His father and I are rarely home, so we couldn't meet you sooner. I hope you don't mind!"

"Hello, Auntie. You are too kind. You are busy with important work, so naturally, public duty comes first." She stood up to greet her.

Zhong Yuxiu’s gaze was clear and upright, her speech neither humble nor pushy, and her attitude was excellent. Mother Yan liked her even more and offered the fruit platter.

"I'm glad you don't mind. Come, have some fruit and snacks; take whatever you like."

"Thank you, Auntie."

Mother Yan beamed, "Don't be so polite. We are all family now; be at ease. What kind of dishes do you like? I'll go make them for you."

"I'm not a picky eater. I'll eat whatever is prepared."

"That's good. Dashan bought plenty of meat today at the state-run restaurant, so I’m sure there’s something you’ll like. You two go ahead and chat; I’ll go check on the soup. If it stews for too long, it won't taste as good." After the brief introduction, Mother Yan returned to the kitchen.

Once Yuxiu’s hands were warm, Yan Rushan and Yan Ruhai’s father came downstairs. In middle age, he stood tall and straight. Clad in his military uniform, Father Yan carried the weight of years of service, which gave him a stern, serious, and unsmiling quality—his tight face was quite intimidating.

However, his upright character also softened some of that fear-inducing aura.

"Yuxiu, look, this is Dashan and Xiaohai’s father, Yan Hejun. You can just call him Uncle. He’s usually stationed with the troops and doesn't come home often, so we only see him during the holidays." Yan Guofeng turned to point at his son, "Hejun, this is Comrade Zhong Yuxiu, Dashan’s partner."

"Hello, Uncle Yan." Zhong Yuxiu stood up to greet him.

Yan Hejun walked down the stairs to the sofa, his eyes scanning her with the intensity of a torch.

"Sit, no need to be so formal. Since you are Dashan’s partner, I won't call you Comrade Zhong; I'll just call you Yuxiu, is that alright?"

"Of course." Zhong Yuxiu sat back down, and Yan Rushan took his seat beside her. "Uncle Yan, where is your military unit stationed? Is it far from the capital?"

"It’s near the capital, not very far," Yan Hejun replied concisely.