Guiying might show that she was holding together at the outside but inside, she was racing towards an unknown destination at God knows what miles per hour.
"So, so! You are a writer, right? That's so cool!" Chen Liling sparkled. "In my brother and my families, everybody usually just grows up to become businessmen," she pouted. "Staying in one profession is so boring. That's why I am glad Jian, Nian and Nuo chose to be chefs. My boys here are all CEOs or President! We need to have colorful careers in our families too!"
Jianyu was unsure of what to comment on that.
Guiying coughed. Chen Liling's cheerfulness and glee was able to ease a little stress in her heart.
"Thank you…" but she quickly added next, "I am really sorry Mam-...Mrs. Chen. I just came unannounced like this…I-I really was unaware that Zixin will drive me here…"
Chen Liling pursed her lips. "Mrs. Chen is also no good. Call me Grandma!"
"..."
"How…" she sweated. "How can I call you that?"
We are not family after all…
"Of course you are family! Zixin's girlfriend is my granddaughter-in-law. How are you not family?"
It took a while for her words to register in her brain.
Granddaughter-in-law.
Granddaughter-in-law.
Granddaughter-in-law.
Chen Guiren and Jianyu were pleased to hear that. The atmosphere was blooming with flowers and warmth.
Guiying looked from her to Jianyu and Chen Guiren and nobody seemed to be in opposition.
Whaaaaaat!??
When did I become their granddaughter-in-law!?
Guiying was seriously trying to remember when she accepted Zixin's confession.
"M-Mam…"
"Grandma," she pouted.
"...Grandma."
She brightened. "That's great!"
She gulped back in her throat. "I think there is a mis-misunderstanding."
The trio tilted their heads at the same time with a question mark.
Guiying sincerely felt that it wasn't right to play with their feelings and let them assume something incorrect.
"I mean Zi-Zixin did…" her cheeks blushed, " confess to me, but I… haven't yet…"
Jianyu asked, "You haven't given your answer yet?"
"...Yes."
He frowned, making her want to faint.
A-are they mad at me?
"What is that brat doing then? He is so slow!"
"..."
Chen Guiren gravely nodded.
Chen Liling harrumphed. "He should quickly win your heart and give us the official news! I am telling you the men in my family are extremely slow with progress!"
Chen Guiren and Jianyu - "..."
"You know, it was me who passionately chased after Guiren."
Chen Guiren looked away, his face reddening.
"Even my Serena had to work so hard too to get to my son!"
Jianyu's mouth twitched hard.
Mom…Will you keep some of my dignity intact in front of my future daughter-in-law?
"Yunru too. I heard he has a crush on that girl from the Shi family, but why is it still hung up on a crush!? These men are are like turtles in moving forward," she complained.
Guiying stared at her but was actually thinking about Zixin's confession, kiss and his flirting today.
Yeah I don't think he is shy at all…
Just then the kitchen group re-entered the scene as they brought in a feast of got and piping dishes.
Yubi chirped. "Sis, sis! Enjoy the feast!"
Guiying widened her eyes. "This…is all for me?"
Serena proudly said, "Of course! This is your first time at the Chen villa. If Zixin had told us sooner about you, you wouldn't have had to wait!" She threw a glare at her son once again.
"Shoo, shoo!" Yunru exclaimed. "Make way for this young master's special dumplings! Behold! Sis, eat my dumplings first! You will fall in love with it!"
Yubi kicked him on his feet. "Why your dumplings first? She should eat my fish first!"
"Shut up, I don't want her palette to get sour by your cooking!"
"Are you saying the fish I cooked is bad? I will kill you Chen Yunru!"
And the twins got busy pulling each other's hair in their catfight.
Zixin eagerly went to her side and served her hot fried rice which was a dish he personally cooked. "Do you want to try the fried rice first?"
Is that why they so hurriedly ran to the kitchen?
Guiying felt a numb feeling in her throat. This was the first time that so many dishes laid before her for her to eat. In her apartment it was only her alone who would do the cooking. Her brother Cai Lingyun had never really pampered her either.
Serena gasped seeing tears forming in her eyes. "Why are you crying, my dear?"
Zixin panicked and brought a glass of water for her. "What happened? Are you fine?"
Chen Guiren promptly slid a tissue towards her side in concern.
The twins raised their heads from their catfight.
Yunru flared his nostrils. "Who bullied you sis? Was it Dad? You can be honest!"
"Shut up. Why will I bully her?"
"Because you always bully me!"
"You and her are not the same," Jianyu looked at Guiying and hastily asked, "Is there anything you don't like here? You can tell us. We will prepare what you like."
Chen Liling scolded Zixin. "Why wouldn't she cry? She says that she still hasn't answered your confession."
Everybody - "..."
Serena gritted her teeth. "Chen Zixin! What is taking you so long to make it official? I tell you, the men in this family…"
Guiying quickly said, "No, no! It's not Zixin's fault. It's just…"
Serena harrumphed. "You don't have to defend him, dear."
Guiying truly wondered if what she was living at this moment was even real. From living alone at her apartment, she was suddenly surrounded by these warm people who were fighting to feed her lots of food.
She received so much warmth and love in the last hour with his family that she couldn't compare it to her entire cold life with her brother.
Everybody's shoulders dropped seeing Guiying sad.
Serena remembered that she had heard about Zixin sending Cai Lingyun to jail before as he had repeatedly abused Guiying. Thinking of living such a horrendous life with that monster, she understood how Guiying must have lacked love for all her life.
She looked away for a moment and her eyes shone as an idea struck her.
Guiying saw the change in her expression and shuddered.
W-why does she look like when Zixin gets a bright idea?
"I got a great idea! Why don't Guiying live with us here?"