While Han Yiyuan was busy greeting his parents, Jiang Shi quietly pulled Han Yuze out of the room and cornered him in the hallway. “Speak up?”
To avoid being seen by the people in the room, the two of them were unavoidably very close.
Han Yuze could distinctly feel Jiang Shi’s breath almost brushing against his cheek. Suppressing the curve of his lips out of a survival instinct, he said, “I said I came because I was bored during the New Year and wanted to accompany my cousin. Do you believe me?”
Jiang Shi smiled ambiguously, “Do you think I believe you?”
Han Yuze shrugged in a gesture of helplessness, looking like a completely innocent move.
Jiang Shi’s gaze lingered on this person’s face, which was as thick as a fortress wall, for a moment. Suddenly, he chuckled, “Alright, since you’re here, why not take this opportunity to introduce yourself to my parents?”
Originally, Han Yuze was just teasing Jiang Shi, and he hadn’t expected such a reaction from him. Caught off guard, he paused for a moment.
Seeing Jiang Shi actually grabbing his hand and attempting to pull him into the room, Han Yuze rooted his feet to the ground and pulled himself back, “Wrong, totally wrong.”
Jiang Shi turned back leisurely, “Wrong about what?”
“Wrong for not informing you in advance.” Han Yuze’s expression was as sincere as it could be, “I won’t do it again next time.”
Jiang Shi deliberately kept his expression tense and couldn’t help but tease, “So scared to meet my parents, then why did you come along?”
“Not scared to meet them, but no matter what, you can’t just casually meet them like this, right?” Han Yuze gestured towards the room, raising an eyebrow. “Otherwise, it’ll seem like I’m here as part of a dowry for my cousin.”
As the conversation progressed, Jiang Shi finally chuckled amidst the slightly eased atmosphere and then leaned in slightly to speak, “Besides, I didn’t come to see your parents. I came specifically to see you.”
Jiang Shi hadn’t expected such a shameless statement from this person all of a sudden. After the words were spoken, he felt a slight warmth in his ears.
He cleared his throat softly and said in a low voice, “I’m going back, the one brought for dowry.”
Watching Jiang Shi briskly leaving, Han Yuze silently smiled.
He casually slipped his hands into his pockets and followed back into the room.
The attention of the two elders in the Jiang family was entirely focused on Han Yiyuan, their future son-in-law. After an elaborate round of inquiries that almost rivaled a census, they naturally didn’t notice the brief absence of the two.
After the chat was over, they instructed Jiang Yan to properly take care of Han Yiyuan, and together they busied themselves with preparing the meal.
Jiang Yan was still immersed in the embarrassment Han Yiyuan faced earlier and was laughing uncontrollably. When she looked up and saw the two return to the living room, she waved and asked, “When is your turn to prepare?”
Jiang Shi asked, “Our turn for what?”
Jiang Yan pointed at Han Yuze, “Wasn’t it about bringing double joy?”
At her words, Han Yuze immediately began coughing, “Sis, you two are really brother and sister.”
Jiang Yan asked, “Huh?”
Jiang Shi restrained his laughter, “Someone is too cowardly. The main stage of the New Year’s dinner is still for you guys. We’ll take it slow.”
Jiang Yan was surprised, “Huh? Weren’t you both here for that?”
“Of course not. I came to accompany my cousin, and also…” Han Yuze glanced at Jiang Shi, “To take Jiang Shi out for a spin.”
Jiang Yan was somewhat anxious, but seeing both of them saying the same thing, she could only express a bit of regret.
Dinner was served soon.
When it was time to eat, Jiang Shi naturally vacated the seat beside Jiang Yan, seemingly voluntarily giving it to Han Yiyuan, the future brother-in-law. In reality, he casually and unobtrusively sat next to Han Yuze.
Jiang’s mother was obviously very pleased with the future son-in-law and was equally enthusiastic at the dining table.
After chatting for a long time earlier, she finally had the energy to attend to Han Yuze, the cousin of her future son-in-law, instructing Jiang Shi to help entertain him properly.
Jiang Shi looked very obedient, “Okay, Mom, I’ll make sure little Han feels right at home.”
Just as Jiang Yan had a mouthful of soup, she accidentally choked and started coughing.
Han Yiyuan hurriedly assisted her in catching her breath.
This scene fell into Jiang’s mother’s eyes, undoubtedly satisfying her.
In a cheerful mood, the conversation veered off course, “By the way, Little Han, you and Yiyuan are probably around the same age, right? Do you have a partner?”
Han Yuze, just as compliant as Jiang Shi, said, “Yes, Auntie. But we’re still in the process of getting to know each other. I need to confirm if the other person really likes me before visiting the uncles and aunts.”
Jiang’s mother looked very approving, “That’s right, it’s necessary to be careful about such things as meeting parents.”
Jiang Shi glanced quietly at Han Yuze, continuing to eat silently.
Jiang’s mother liked Han Yiyuan and seemingly extended that approval to Han Yuze as well. After chatting for a while, noticing that Jiang Shi hadn’t said a word, she poked him, “Young people should seize opportunities wisely. If Ah Shi could be as thoughtful as you guys, it would be great, sigh.”
Jiang Shi raised his head from his bowl, “Why drag me into this again?”
Jiang’s mother said, “Ah Yan’s matters have been settled. Next, of course, it’s your turn to worry about.”
Jiang Shi sighed silently.
Jiang’s mother continued, “You know, your dad and I used to wish we could see a collective wedding for both of you. But now, it seems like we’ll have to send you out one by one.”
Jiang Shi remained speechless.
Seeing that his mother was about to start chatting again, Jiang Shi rubbed his temples with a headache.
Glancing sideways, Jiang Shi happened to catch Han Yuze’s suppressed smile.
Pausing for a moment, he slowly opened his mouth, “Mom, a collective wedding isn’t entirely impossible.”
Indeed, the person who was laughing a moment ago suddenly froze.
Equally astonished was Jiang’s mother, who pondered for a moment before catching the implication in Jiang Shi’s words. “What do you mean? Are you in a relationship too?”
“Yeah, I am.” Jiang Shi suddenly felt good about being so honest, feeling Han Yuze’s gaze and speaking more cheerfully, “We’re still getting to know each other. We haven’t reached the stage of informing my sister yet. Once things are confirmed and satisfactory, we’ll bring him back to meet you and Dad.”
Jiang’s mother pondered and remarked, “This sounds familiar. Where have I heard this before?”
Jiang Shi nodded, “Exactly, it does sound familiar.”
Han Yuze remained silent.
With the sudden knowledge of Jiang Shi also being in a relationship, Jiang’s mother’s mood improved, and the atmosphere at the dinner table became livelier.
After dinner, she pulled Han Yiyuan into the living room, leaving Jiang Yan to continue accompanying him. This finally gave the other two a chance.
Jiang Shi smoothly used the excuse of taking Han Yuze around the vicinity to leave the scene of the commotion.
“I think I did the right thing this time. With my cousin paving the way for me, I should be able to perform well next time.” Han Yuze was reminiscing about the scene at the dinner table. He truly felt that meeting parents was a significant test of human character. To maintain such composure in such a significant situation, like Han Yiyuan did, required strong psychological endurance.
“I believe even without Han Yiyuan setting an example, you’d do well.” Jiang Shi said, “I trust your acting skills.”
“Thank you for the praise.” Han Yuze never rejected such ‘acknowledgment.’ But at this point, he finally found an opportunity to settle the score, “So, you chose to blurt it out suddenly?”
“Then I didn’t expose you either.”
“Because Auntie hadn’t caught on yet.”
Han Yuze had something else to say but found that this guy wouldn’t acknowledge it in any way.
Seeing they’d reached a corner, he suddenly grabbed Jiang Shi’s wrist and led him in another direction, “Let’s forget about that for now. Come, I’ll take you somewhere.”
“Where are we going?” Jiang Shi asked.
Han Yuze took out his phone from his pocket, fiddled with it, then handed it to Jiang Shi with a smile.
During dinner, Jiang Shi had noticed Han Yuze discreetly using his phone. When he finally saw the map software showing the destination, he understood, “You were looking for a nearby internet café just now?”
Han Yuze chuckled, “Didn’t you mention wanting a special New Year’s gift?”
For a moment, Jiang Shi had forgotten about that conversation.
[Han Yuze: Speaking of the New Year, is there any special New Year’s gift you’d like?]
[Jiang Shi: Well, there actually is.]
[Han Yuze: What do you want?]
[Jiang Shi: I want to go to an internet café and play games for the New Year.]
After all, it was just casual banter.
When Han Yuze casually asked, Jiang Shi gave a casual answer without giving it much thought.
He never expected this man to actually make the effort to come all the way to his hometown and specifically look for an internet café nearby.
Taking a casual remark to heart was indeed a very romantic and touching thing, yet somehow, it was also a bit absurd.
Who would travel so far during the New Year just to take someone to an internet café?
It was rare for Jiang Shi to be left speechless.
“So, are you coming?” Han Yuze asked after half a second of consideration.
After a brief thought, Jiang Shi replied, “I’ll go.”
It had been a while since he’d visited the Genesis, and he did indeed miss it.
Thanks for yor work!