With Zhou Qingbo’s assurance, Pei Zi felt somewhat relieved and gave this new sister-in-law high marks for her first impression.
After leaving the supermarket, Pei Zi bid them farewell at the mall’s entrance. Pei You and Zhou Qingbo went upstairs to buy a gift for He Ping, while Pei Zi headed home ahead of them to inform her mother.
Although He Ping had always been eager to introduce Pei You to someone, this was the first time she would be receiving her son’s boyfriend. She seemed more nervous than Zhou Qingbo, immediately standing up from the couch upon hearing the news and pacing around anxiously, clenching her hands.
“You couldn’t have given me a call earlier,” He Ping said anxiously, “When are they coming? Can I still prepare something to eat now?”
“No need to rush,” Pei Zi, who seemed unfazed by the arrival of a new sister-in-law, replied, taking a small bag of sunflower seeds from a snack basket and tearing it open. “They’ve both already had dinner. Even if you make something now, they probably won’t be able to eat.”
“It’s different; it’s a matter of etiquette.” He Ping attached great importance to the occasion, criticizing both her daughter and son for not thinking ahead. She started tidying up the sofa and coffee table in a rush while grumbling, “Both you and your brother, you really didn’t plan this out at all. It’s such a big deal, and you didn’t even talk to me in advance to let me prepare something.”
“Ah, what preparations are you making?” Pei Zi said while munching on sunflower seeds, waving her hand at He Ping with an indifferent expression. She casually said, “sister-in-law is really nice. He has a good and gentle personality, and he’s very generous. He wouldn’t fuss over such small matters.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.” He Ping’s hand, which was tidying up the sofa cushions, paused. She turned her head and said seriously, “For a young child like you, calling someone a sister-in-law is embarrassing. From now on, call him brother. Got it?”
Pei Zi stuck out her tongue and embarrassedly replied, “Got it.”
After finishing up in the living room, He Ping seemed to still be worried that there wasn’t enough time to cook. She took out a few hundred yuan from her pocket, turned around, and handed it to Pei Zi.
“Go quickly, buy some fruits downstairs, pick out the good ones, and buy a few different kinds,” He Ping instructed, “Don’t buy from the fruit stand near the entrance, go to the imported supermarket across the main entrance.”
“Ah.mom..” Pei Zi seemed a bit reluctant, shuffling her feet and not wanting to move. “Mom, I just came from outside.”
“Go quickly, be obedient,” He Ping pushed her gently from the shoulder and urged her outside, whispering a few words to her, “You’re quick on your feet, go and come back quickly—run a few extra steps.”
With her bag of sunflower seeds taken away even before she could warm them up, Pei Zi could only shrug her shoulders and reluctantly head towards the staircase.
She quickly bought the fruits, and within a short ten minutes or so, she returned home to find the living room had completely transformed.
The game consoles and computer on the coffee table had been put away in Pei Zi’s room by He Ping. The glass coffee table gleamed, and even the sofa covers had been replaced with new ones, making it flat and wrinkle-free.
Pei Zi, carrying a bag of fruits, stared in astonishment at all of this. She thought that her mom was really anxious to find a partner for Pei You. Judging by the setup, even her biological father wouldn’t receive such treatment if he came home.
“Mom, aren’t you going overboard?” Pei Zi placed the paper bag at the entrance, muttering while taking off her shoes, “People might think you’re receiving a national leader.”
“Perfect timing that you’re back,” He Ping’s eyes lit up. She quickly pulled Pei Zi and said, “Didn’t you meet them at the supermarket earlier? Tell me quickly, what’s your brother’s boyfriend like?”
Pei Zi: “…”
Barely catching her breath, Pei Zi was bombarded with questions by the anxious He Ping. She was gently pulled into the living room by her mother, thinking that the heavens were finally on her side. She hoped her brother and his boyfriend would hurry back to rescue her from this predicament.
It seemed the heavens had heard her plea. After a while, the fingerprint lock on the door emitted a soft sound, and the lock turned inward, accompanied by an unlocking notification tone.
Just as He Ping, who was questioning Pei Zi, hesitated in her speech, she subconsciously stood up from the couch and turned her head towards the entrance.
The next moment, the door was pushed open from the outside. Pei You entered the house first, placing the various bags he carried on the floor.
“Mom.” Pei You greeted her and said, “I brought Qingbo over to see you.”
He turned to the side as he spoke, revealing Zhou Qingbo who was carrying bags behind him. Zhou Qingbo smiled with his eyes slightly curved, took a step forward, and politely greeted He Ping.
“Auntie, hello.” Zhou Qingbo said.
“Ah—good, good, come in quickly,” He Ping quickly beckoned and said, “Why did you buy so many things? There’s nothing lacking in the house.”
“Just a little gesture,” Zhou Qingbo said with a smile.
Following Pei You inside, Zhou Qingbo put down his bags as well. He Ping glanced down and noticed that he had bought quite a few items, and they were all well-selected. Apart from the customary gifts like tea, there was also a ladies’ coat and a complete fishing rod set, which seemed to be intended for her and Pei You’s father.
A thoughtful child, He Ping thought. She knew her son well. While Pei You was a good son, he was also straightforward in his mannerisms and wasn’t as courteous with family members. When he wanted to show his affection, he usually just gave money directly, allowing his parents to buy whatever they liked. He wouldn’t bother with such meticulous preparations.
Seeing how much effort Zhou Qingbo had put into this meeting, He Ping felt relieved and less nervous than before. Her smile became more relaxed.
“No need to buy so many things next time,” He Ping smiled and said, “Just having you here is enough.”
“He took a while to choose,” Pei You took out slippers from the shoe cabinet for Zhou Qingbo and said, “I’ll have the fishing rod delivered by express for Dad tomorrow. The new game console can stay at home, don’t let Pei Zi take it to school to play.”
Pei You probably didn’t realize that he sounded a bit like he was advocating for his boyfriend in front of his family, which was somewhat like “bending his arm outward.” On the other hand, Zhou Qingbo felt a bit embarrassed, his lips twitched into a smile, and he obediently changed his shoes. He was then led by He Ping into the living room.
From Zhou Qingbo’s expression, Pei You sensed something. He blinked, belatedly realizing that the words he had just spoken might not be suitable to say in front of He Ping. So, he cleared his throat awkwardly and followed them to the dining table.
“… How about eating an orange?” Pei You awkwardly changed the subject.
He Ping chuckled softly.
As someone with experience, she could tell whether a young couple had a good relationship or not at a glance. Although Zhou Qingbo’s personality seemed completely different from Pei You’s, there was an inexplicable harmony between them. It seemed as if they had an unspoken understanding, with a single glance conveying their thoughts to each other.
Pei You’s sexual orientation didn’t align with the mainstream, making his choice of a partner more challenging than for others. He Ping wasn’t familiar with this aspect of life and had been worried that Pei You, due to his reserved nature, wouldn’t find a partner and would be lonely. However, from what she could see now, she could set her worries aside.
“Yes, have some oranges,” He Ping said with a suppressed smile. “These oranges are especially sweet.”
Zhou Qingbo blushed slightly under He Ping’s teasing, lowered his head, and smiled. He casually split an orange in half and gave one portion to Pei You.
With Pei You changing the subject, the initially tense and awkward atmosphere suddenly lightened. He Ping brewed some tea and casually asked about Zhou Qingbo and Pei You’s daily life..
“Since you two are living together now, is there anything you find uncomfortable?” He Ping asked. “Since you’re close by, if you don’t feel like cooking at home, you can always come over for a meal.”
“It’s alright, there’s nothing we’re not used to,” Pei You said. “Cooking at home isn’t a hassle, just a natural thing.”
He Ping’s conversation was tactful. She didn’t pry into the couple’s privacy or inquire about their future plans. She simply asked about trivial matters. Zhou Qingbo was very good at being a polite guest, answering every question. With Pei Zi chiming in playfully, the atmosphere remained light and relaxed, punctuated by some playful banter.
It was evident that He Ping was quite satisfied with Zhou Qingbo. Her smile deepened, and even her gaze at Zhou Qingbo became affectionate.
“As long as you two are doing well,” He Ping tapped lightly. “Since you’re together, it’s fate. Stay confident and live your life well from now on.”
“Thank you Auntie,” Zhou Qingbo smiled. “Pei You is also wonderful, and my family also thinks I’m lucky to be with him.”
Originally, Zhou Qingbo had wanted to express his family’s friendly attitude towards He Ping. However, Pei You seemed to take his words to heart. He furrowed his brows and raised his head earnestly, countering, “I’m the one who’s lucky to be with you.”
“Mom, a while ago when I was on a business trip, I was actually trapped in a disaster area,” Pei You, as if afraid that He Ping would misunderstand, quickly put down what he was holding, took a tissue and wiped his hands, then said seriously, “He came to find me overnight, searching for me in the disaster area for over a week.”
“What!” Pei Zi exclaimed. “Brother, you were in the southern province at that time?!”
He Ping had intended to tease them for acting like a pair of lovebirds trying to outdo each other, but upon hearing the latter part, her face suddenly changed. She anxiously said, “Didn’t you call to say that you were working in secrecy and couldn’t use your phone over the next few days?”
Pei You had lost contact for a while, and was afraid that his family would be worried about him. So he had called, saying he was safe and participating in a confidential project, working collectively in a hotel without a phone.
He had participated in such projects before, so He Ping didn’t think much of it. But she hadn’t expected that he had been fooling her.
“… I was worried you’d be concerned,” Pei You honestly admitted, “I wanted to tell you in person after I came back.”
Seeing He Ping’s face change, Zhou Qingbo gently tugged at Pei You’s sleeve, shaking his head to signal him not to say more.
But Pei You seemed determined to show how lucky he is to be with Qingbo. Uncharacteristically, he didn’t listen to Zhou Qingbo.
“At that time, he went through a lot of hardship in the disaster area, following the rescue team to find me over mountains and valleys,” Pei You said. “He even got injured halfway and had to stay in Chongqing for several days before he was discharged from the hospital.”
He Ping was still immersed in her shock from hearing the news but was relieved that Pei You had returned safely. Thus, her anxiety only lasted a moment before she relaxed and regained her composure.
“So mom, it’s me who’s lucky to have him,” Pei You said.
He Ping nodded without speaking. She breathed a long sigh of relief and turned her head to look at Zhou Qingbo for a while. Then, as if having made a decision, she stood up and went into the inner room.
“I told you not to say it,” Zhou Qingbo whispered softly. “You’re scaring Auntie.”
“I was going to say it sooner or later,” Pei You was quite stubborn about this matter. “She should know.”
“But you scared her so much, Brother,” Pei Zi chimed in with lingering fear. “Why did you go to such a dangerous place?”
“It was just a normal business trip, no one expected the earthquake to happen” Pei You explained.
Just as he was speaking, He Ping returned from the inner room. She was holding a somewhat plain crimson box in her hand, and underneath it was a red envelope that seemed to carry some weight.
“This,” He Ping sat back on the sofa and placed the items on her lap. She opened the box, revealing a gold bracelet, about two fingers wide, intricately engraved with dragons and phoenixes, giving it a substantial appearance.
“This was given to me by Pei You’s grandmother when his father and I got married. I’ve cherished it all these years. I planned to give it to his future spouse when he gets married,” He Ping smiled nostalgically, gently touching the bracelet for a moment. Then, she placed the bracelet along with the red envelope on the coffee table and pushed it towards Zhou Qingbo, saying, “It’s yours now.”
“This, this is too precious, I can’t accept it,” Zhou Qingbo was genuinely startled and tried to push it back, but He Ping stopped him.
“I didn’t intend to give it to you this soon,” He Ping explained, pausing briefly as if afraid Zhou Qingbo might misinterpret her, “It’s not that I don’t like you; it’s just that you’re both still so young, and I’m afraid of uncertainties… But now, I think I should give it to you directly.”
He Ping understood Pei You quite well. She knew he was sincere and took relationships seriously. The person he brought back to show her must be someone he was ready to spend his life with.
And Zhou Qingbo seemed to have his eye on Pei You as well, valuing him. If that was the case, He Ping believed she had nothing to worry about anymore.
“Take it,” He Ping smiled and said, “You boys don’t wear these things, so just keep it. If you want any other jewelry in the future, we can melt it and make something new.”
Zhou Qingbo hadn’t expected to receive such great approval from He Ping on his first visit. He was a bit taken aback. Pei You gave him a slight nudge and gently touched his hand.
“Take it,” Pei You said. “Besides, it won’t be given to anyone else.”
Since Pei You had said so, Zhou Qingbo hesitated for a moment and then didn’t decline. He smiled, accepting the bracelet.
When leaving He Ping’s house, it was clear that He Ping had already considered Zhou Qingbo as a new family member. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, when they were about to leave, she gave him some Eight Treasures Cake and smoked bean tea that she had made.
In front of He Ping, Zhou Qingbo still held back slightly, but once he was downstairs, he revealed his true self. He eagerly took the bracelet out of the jewelry box and put it on his right wrist.
The bracelet was made of solid material, and its circumference was wide enough to fit Zhou Qingbo perfectly. With his fair skin, wearing such a vintage gold bracelet didn’t look gaudy. Instead, the quality of the gold made it appear somewhat noble.
“Hey, tell me, does Auntie now approve of me?” Zhou Qingbo raised his arm, admiring the bracelet in the moonlight. He spoke spiritedly, “Am I officially her son-in-law now?”
Pei You looked at him helplessly, a slight smile forming at the corner of his lips. He casually said, “Just keep it for now. If you like something else later, we can melt this one and make whatever you like.”
“Why melt it?” Zhou Qingbo covered his wrist, speaking confidently, “This is my mark as part of your family. I won’t melt it— I’ll wear it. When Xiao Zi gets married I’ll also pass it to her future partner.”
Unable to resist, Pei You also pondered his words for a moment.
“…Then you’ll have to investigate the other party,” Pei You said seriously. “You can only give it to someone reliable, not someone unreliable.”
“Rest assured, I have a good eye for people,” Zhou Qingbo teased him, “Aren’t you the one I picked out from the crowd?”
Pei You smiled and pursed his lips, reaching for the plastic bag in Zhou Qingbo’s hand without saying a word.
Approaching midnight, the residential area was quiet, with only the soft glow of landscape lights. Zhou Qingbo and Pei You walked side by side down the path toward home. After a while, Pei You spoke up again.
“Qingbo,” Pei You said, “What do you want to eat tomorrow?”
The coolness of the autumn night enveloped them. Zhou Qingbo’s thoughts stirred, and he suddenly heard a hint of sweetness in this sentence.
Before, when people said “The moonlight is beautiful tonight” as a confession, Zhou Qingbo hadn’t understood it. It wasn’t until just now that he suddenly grasped its meaning – if two people had feelings for each other, whether it was a romantic night under the moon or the mundane aspects of life, they were all expressions of affection.
He hadn’t expected that he would one day meet someone like this. Zhou Qingbo thought that even if the words Pei You spoke were just simple daily topics, he could still sense the affection behind them.
“uhmm…….,” Zhou Qingbo’s gaze softened. He reached out and lightly held Pei You’s hand, then looked down at the bracelet on his wrist and said with a relaxed tone, “Let’s have fish.”
