Chapter 79 - We’ve Just Started Dating. I’ll Bring Her Home When We’re In A Stable Relationship (1/2)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
After the incident with Qi Chengze, Qi Chenglin’s parents no longer meddled with their children’s personal life, allowing them to fall in love with whomever they please. Nothing outweighed the safety of their children, not even the prestige of other great families.
There was nothing bad about the freedom to love. The elders of the Qi family were not elitists. It was just that Qi Chenglin was already in his thirties and with nary a lady in sight, so freedom was never the issue. When was the man going to get married?
Their youngest grandchild, Qi Chengji, was in the military. He had only the company of burly middle-aged men, so the chances of him getting married were slim to none.
Only Qi Chengyue showed some promise by bringing back an actual boyfriend. Being dressed up to the nines, Grandmother Qi was fairly satisfied with this man.
Qi Chenglin was being rebuffed by his grandmother when Qi Chengzhi walked in. He immediately turned to Qi Chengzhi and greeted loudly, “Big brother!”
“Grandpa, grandma,” Qi Chengzhi greeted. Qi Chengji, who was still dressed in his military uniform, stepped aside to let Qi Chengzhi sit beside his mother, Xia Wenna.
“And you! I was just talking about Chenglin. Did you hear what I say? Hurry up and get married. All my younger grandchildren are following your footsteps. They’re probably taking their own sweet time because the eldest isn’t married yet,” Grandmother Qi admonished, seemingly angrier after seeing Qi Chengzhi.
“Grandma, I’ve met the one. I’ll bring her over some other time,” Qi Chengzhi said nonchalantly.
This whole marriage fuss had long since been a neverending topic in family gatherings. When it came to lecturing Qi Chengzhi about marriage, the elderly matron of the Qi family never let an opportunity pass.
From the old lady’s perspective, hoping for Qi Chengzhi’s marriage was like waiting for a blue moon.
She had all but given up on Qi Chengzhi. Now, she pinned her hopes on the single Qi Chenglin, who had in tow his young son, Qi Youxuan.
Qi Chengzhi’s words did not register with Grandmother Qi. She fed a piece of mandarin orange to Qi Youxuan and continued her rant, “Look at Chengyue, she’s bringing her boy…”
Her words trailed off. The old lady blinked in confusion for a few seconds. She whipped her head around to face her grandson, pushing past Qi Zhongliang and Xia Wenna in the process. “What did you say?”
Without much inflection in his tone, Qi Chengzhi repeated his words. “I said, I’ll bring my partner over next time.”
“Cough!” The sound of Qi Chenglin choking on his tea. He quickly reached for a tissue and watched Qi Chengzhi from behind his hand. ‘If he brings Song Yu home, there would be such drama…’
He could not resist the urge to peek at Qi Chengji. ‘From being his ex-fiancee to sister-in-law…’
“You won’t be bringing a man back right?” the grandmother asked. There were rumors surrounding her grandson that she turned a blind eye to but she might just lose it if he really brought home a man.
Qi Chengzhi’s hand stopped. His intention to procure a mandarin orange interrupted. ‘Where did this old lady get these ideas from?’
After a slight pause, he got back onto peeling his mandarin orange. “It’s a girl, don’t worry.”
“Really? When? Just call her over now.” The old lady’s eagerness could not be overstated. Her eyes lit up with excitement as she leaned forward. She was truly witnessing the blue moon now.
The news came like rain after months of drought.
Even Qi Zhongliang and Xia Wenna looked at their eldest son with surprise. They had decided to let fate take its course when it came to Qi Chengzhi’s personal life and had kept their worries to themselves.
Much like three years ago, when Qi Chengzhi resigned from Qilin Technology and took up the managing director position in Qilin Property, his father did not raise any objections.
Xia Wenna felt tears of joy stinging her eyes. She grabbed Qi Chengzhi’s arm and said, “Are you really dating someone? Which family is this lady from?”
The elders would not demand him to marry a lady from a notable family, just a family with moral decency will do.
“We’ve just started dating. I’ll bring her home when we’re in a more stable relationship. I don’t want to scare her away,” Qi Chengzhi said as he peeled another mandarin orange.
“Aiya…” His grandmother had started shedding tears of happiness.
The family had never seen Qi Chengzhi be so considerate and thoughtful. Although he did not want to frighten the lady by bringing her home too soon, the fact that he had announced her to the family indicated that marriage was a foreseeable outcome.
Tears streamed down the old lady’s face drenching the mandarin oranges. The once sweet and juicy fruits now tasted salty, prompting Qi Youxuan to quickly retrieve some tissues.
“Thank you, child.” Their grandmother sniffled and turned to Xia Wenna. “We thought this day would never come. Wenna, on the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar, come to the temple with me. We need to pay tribute for this happy occasion. If our eldest boy gets married, I will donate a golden statue of Buddha as promised.”
Sitting at the head of the table, the paterfamilias of the Qi family called out, “You and your superstitions!” He was a staunch disbeliever of religious traditions.
“Well, I don’t see you helping your grandson to find a wife?” The old lady blew her nose and the bickering started.
After some back and forth, Grandfather Qi huffed and continued drinking his tea in resignation.
“Master, Madam, Miss Chengyue is back.” Right after Aunt Liu’s announcement, Qi Chengyue’s voice could be heard. “Grandpa, grandma!”
The voice was accompanied by a distinct perfume. Qi Chengyue ran toward her grandmother and hugged her. “Grandma, I missed you so much!”
“My child.” The old lady chuckled while patting Qi Chengyue on her arm. “You say that, yet you don’t visit more often.”
“Well, I’m back now. And my boyfriend is here too.” Qi Chengyue released the old lady from her embrace and gently swung their linked hands.
“You’re still acting so childishly even in front of your boyfriend. Not afraid that he will laugh at you?” her grandmother teased. “Quickly bring him in. Don’t let him stand out there alone for so long!”
Qi Chengyue went out to fetch Jian Yi but not before sticking her tongue out petulantly. She came in with Jian Yi on her arm. “Grandpa, grandma, dad, mom, uncle, auntie, let me introduce to you my boyfriend, Jian Yi. He is the manager of the engineering department in Qilin Property.”
With that, she shyly extended her left hand. “Jian Yi, he… he proposed to me.”
The old lady’s excitement was palpable after the news.
A round of introductions proceeded. Qi Zhongxun and his wife approved of their daughter’s choice. Although his family background was nothing spectacular, he appeared to be a talented and ambitious man, achieving managerial level at his age. If they gave him the required support and opportunities, he would surpass the young men of rich families.
The key factor was that Qi Chengyue liked him. In the presence of his steadfast demeanor, Qi Chengyue became a so sweet and lovable without her usual temper and tantrums.
If the man could keep a handle on Qi Chengyue and change her for the better, her parents would be delighted.
To Qi Zhongliang and his wife, Qi Chengyue was just their niece. Naturally, they would not object as long as her own parents were satisfied with the match.
When it came to Qi Chengzhi, Qi Chengyue said, “This is my eldest cousin brother, you should know him. He’s your boss at work but at home, you’ll be cousins-in-law.”
Qi Chengzhi responded with a nod, then proceeded to take out his phone. He texted Song Yu on WeChat.
[What are you doing?]
Jian Yi was put on edge by Qi Chengzhi’s action. His mind fretting over the identity of the recipient. ‘Was he texting Song Yu?’
‘Had their relationship progressed to the next stage?’
Oblivious to his internal discord, Qi Chengyue moved him onward, “This is my eldest brother, Qi Chenglin. And this is my nephew, Qi Youxuan.”
Qi Chenglin gave him a slight nod of acknowledgment. A far colder reception than the parents, Qi Zhongxun and Guan Liya.
Jian Yi figured that he could endear himself to the young boy who still carried some of the baby fat on his cheeks. He beckoned the boy. “Hello Youxuan, I brought you a present, come and see if you like it.”
Jian Yi did not come empty-handed. From the stash of presents, he took out a bag that contained a boxed Iron Man action figure.
“Oh! You don’t need to bring presents when you come over,” she said, though Guan Liya was impressed by his generosity. The fact that he remembered her precious grandson earned him extra brownies points.
Through the transparent box, Qi Youxuan saw the Iron Man action figure. He had seen it before when Zhang Mingming showed off his in the kindergarten class.
Qi Youxuan looked up from the present and asked Jian Yi innocently, “Uncle, what is this?”
“It’s an Iron Man toy. I heard that kids these days love this. You don’t know about the Avengers?” Jian Yi smiled encouragingly.
“I’ve heard of it but I never watched the movies because it’s too violent. Not suitable for kids,” Qi Youxuan said, sounding wise beyond his age. Without accepting the gift, he climbed into Grandfather Qi’s lap and sat there, eyeing Jian Yi with disdain.
His stare seemed to mean, ‘First time meeting a child and you already get them something this violent. Really?’