Chapter 229 - Sister-in-law

After aunt Lin left, Ning took out a cookie jar from the shelf and gave it to Yitian. "Here I am very sure that you will like it, It's our favourite."

Taking the jar from her hand, Yitian inquired, "Who is the other one in the our?"

"Yichan." Opening the refrigerator, she asked, "Do you want some milk?"

"Yes, do you have soy milk?"

Stopping midway, she turned towards him. "Do you like soy milk?" When he nodded his head, she smiled and helplessly shook her head.

"Hmm, it's okay if you don't have it, regular milk is fine."

Taking out a carton of soy milk, she placed it on the counter. "Its okay, I always make sure that we have a cartoon because it's Yichan's favourite but this isn't very healthy so I don't let him drink it regularly."

Scrunching his brows, he inquired, "It's not?" When Ning shook her head, he said, "I don't want it then."

"Oh don't worry, a glass will do no harm," she smiled before giving him a glass of milk.

Looking around when he saw a chair, he asked, "Can I sit here?"

"Of course, if you don't mind all the smoke and heat after I start cooking."

Opening the jar, he took out a cookie and sat down in the chair. "You are cooking?"

Taking out the ingredients from the bag, she nodded her head, "Yes, I am making dinner for everyone today."

Keeping quiet for quite some time, he hesitantly asked, "For everyone?"

"Yes for everyone—" Turning towards him, Ning added, "It's not like Yichan doesn't like you, things are just a little bit complicated right now."

Fidgeting with the cookie in his hand, Yitian hesitantly asked, "So he doesn't hate me?"

"What makes you think that he hates you?"

Shrugging his shoulder, he answered, "I don't know—I mean, I really don't know what happened between father and him though mom vaguely told me about it once but I know that there definitely more to it. I tried to find out but got nothing, I just—" stopping midway, he sighed.

Sensing his desperation, Ning approached him and sat down beside him. "Yichan may seem a bit cold and aloof but he is not like that. There are a few things that even he isn't sure of and is still looking for answers and though he doesn't say it out loud, I know that he doesn't hate you."

"He doesn't?" he inquired with a tinge of excitement in his voice which did not go unnoticed by Ning.

She smiled and shook her head, "If he really hated you, he would have never bought that chair and desk for you. Trust me little guy, I know my husband more than he knows himself."

"You both really look very cute and nice together." Pausing for a while, he smiled, "If things ever become normal between us, I mean brother Yichan and me, you'll be my sister-in-law."

Ruffling his hair, she chuckled, "Yes but you can still call me sister Ning."

"This is so cool, none of my friends have a sister-in-law yet," he beamed.

"Why do you think it's cool?" she inquired.

Shrugging his shoulder, he answered, "I don't know but it does sound so cool but too bad I wont be going back to so I can't gloat."

"Why not? Why don't you wanna go back?" she frowned.

"I just enrolled in a college here and I also wish to work here after completing my studies," he answered.

"And what about your parents?"

"Well, they can stay or leave, it's totally up to them but I am not leaving." Pausing for a while, he added, "It just feels so free and great here."

Patting his back, she smiled, "You are a big guy now, you should do what you feel is right." Getting up, she continued, "Finish your milk and cookie, I'll start cooking now."

Quickly shiving the cookie in his mouth, he dusted his hands and excitedly requested, "Can I help you?"

"How are you in the kitchen?"

"I can cut, stir and smash things," he answered.

"Alright then, go grab an apron and let's get started," Ning exclaimed.

….

Zhang Mansion.

When Meili arrived at the mansion, mother Zhang was already waiting for her at the door which made her even more nervous than she already was. She had no idea what Guiren's mother wanted from her but she wasn't having a good feeling from it. Though his parents were super nice and normal now but that sudden change in their character and behaviour was scaring the shit of her.

"Ah there you are, I thought you wouldn't come," Mother Zhang exclaimed before giving Meili a hug.

"I-I got stuck in traffic," Meili awkwardly explained, she wasn't used to the warm hugs and pleasant tone from her in-laws.

"You must be feeling so tired, why don't you sit with your grandpa for a while, I'll get some refreshments for you." Without waiting for her reply, mother Zhang added, "He is in the living room."

When Meili nodded her head, she patted her head and left.

Shrugging away the weird feelling, Meili sighed and made her way towards the living room.

….

Living room.

When Meili saw grandpa Zhang quietly sipping coffee, she quickly rushed towards him and gave him a hug.

"Ah you are finally here," grandpa Zhang smiled.

Pulling away, Meili inquired, "You knew I was coming?"

"Your mother-in-law forced me to stay so that you won't feel awkward." Helplessly shaking his head, he chuckled, "I think even she knows that you don't like her."

"It's not that I don't like her, it's just weird," Meili explained.

"Uh huh, I understand and it's okay for you to feel that way after everything that has happened in the past." Without waiting for her reply, he continued, "But I must tell you that she has been working hard since morning to make lunch for you and I also heard that she called Guiren to ask him about your likes and dislikes."

Widening her eyes in shock, Meili inquired, "She really did that?" When grandpa Zhang nodded his head, she sighed, "She didn't have to take so much trouble for me."

"Well, she wanted to do something special and nice for you and it's understandable why." Placing her hand Meili back, he continued, "Amanda wasn't so—how do I explain this?"

"Mean, rude, arrogant and then more mean," she stated.

Snapping his finger in agreement, grandpa Zhang chuckled, "Yes, exactly." Pausing for a while, he continued, "Amanda wasn't always like this but I don't know what happened to her in the last few years, maybe she got blinded with all the unwanted socialite rules and she failed to realize how brilliant his son's choice is."

"I-I don't mind the things that happened in the past and I also understand they had greater expectations from their only but now when everything is suddenly falling in the right place, I am scared. What if all of this is not real? Maybe I am just being paranoid but—"

Cutting her off, he explained, "I can understand why you are feeling this and it's okay to feel like that because this is actually very weird. I mean when I saw your mother-in-law running everywhere, making sure everything was ready before you arrived, I was shocked too. I have never seen her so worried and anxious about anything for years."

Grabbing her hand, he added, "I am not telling you to completely trust her but at least give your stupid in-laws a chance to make it up to you. I know what is stopping you but I promise you Meili that if they screw up this time, I will deal with them my way. But I also feel that their intentions are quite genuine this time."

"It's not like I don't want to, Grandpa, I have wished for this. Though Guiren always told me that he is okay, I know that he missed his parents too but he couldn't visit them or talk tothem properly because of me and that has always made me feel so guilty. I never to be the person responsible for breaking someone's happy family, in fact, I didn't even know that things were this complicated when I started dating him—" Stopping midway, she sighed, "I just don't want things to get more complicated, I really don't to deal with any kind of hate or cursing."

Caressing her head, he nodded his head, "I know how you feel but maybe whatever is happening now is for the best."

"I really want Guiren to be with his parents and I want their entire family to be happy—"

Cutting her off, mother Zhang said, "Aren't a part of our family too?"

When Grandpa Zhang saw her, he quickly got up. "Alright, I'll give you mother-in-law and daughter-in-law some privacy to bond and sort things out. I'll be in my room so call me over when it's time to eat."

"I made your favorite mushrooms as well father," Mother Zhang smiled before playing the tray on the table.

"Really? And here I thought you are making only Meili's favorite dishes today."

...