Chapter 118: "Dad?" Calling Him Dad Already?

"That’s good, then. Hehe." Jiang Dahai wasn’t much of a conversationalist. He laughed awkwardly, unsure of what else to say.

Jun Qingmeng quickly said, "Please, you two have a seat. Are you hungry? I can go get you something to eat."

She decided to heat up the buns she had brought for her best friend and serve them.

As she spoke, Jun Qingmeng spun around in a fluster and accidentally kicked a stool.

She quickly grabbed the table to steady herself, her neck stiff. She didn’t dare to turn her head back.

’I’m so nervous!’

’These are Jiang Liu’s parents. What if they get a bad impression of me?’

Jun Qingmeng felt like a nervous bride meeting her in-laws for the very first time.

She lifted her head and saw Jiang Liu watching her with an amused smile.

Jun Qingmeng felt like she’d found a lifeline and stared at Jiang Liu with pleading eyes.

’Say something!’

’Stop laughing at me, waah...’

Jiang Dahai could see how nervous Jun Qingmeng was and smiled to defuse the tension.

"Qingmeng, we’re not hungry. Just come over and we can chat."

Lin Qiu added, "That’s right, there’s no rush." Then, she shot Jiang Liu a glare. "Are you just going to stand there like a telephone pole? Hurry up and get us some water to drink!"

Jiang Liu’s mouth twitched.

’Who’s the biological child here? It’s starting the moment they arrive, isn’t it?’

"You guys sit tight. I’ll go get some juice."

With that, Jiang Liu turned and walked into the back kitchen.

He had no idea why his mom and dad were so displeased with him.

Lin Qiu gently took Jun Qingmeng’s hand and had her sit down beside her.

"You’re such a shy girl, I can tell just by looking. You’re a good girl."

"I’m... alright." Jun Qingmeng lowered her head, too embarrassed to look up.

Jiang Dahai, sitting across from them, cleared his throat and got straight to the point. "Ahem. Uh, Teacher Qingmeng, I’ve heard from the neighbors... you have feelings for that good-for-nothing son of mine?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Tongtong’s eyes went wide with excitement. She looked from face to face, so giddy she looked like she was about to stick her butt in the air and start hopping like a little frog.

’Here it comes, here it comes!’

Jun Qingmeng was easily embarrassed. Being asked such a direct question, her face instantly flushed crimson.

Her hands nervously fidgeted with the hem of her clothes.

She hadn’t dared to speak up, wishing she could just bury her head in her chest.

But she summoned her courage, looked up at Father Jiang, and stammered, "Yes. Un-Uncle Jiang, Aunt Lin... I like Jiang Liu very much. I want to marry him."

"I’ve liked him for a very long time!"

"Good! Wonderful!"

Although Jiang Dahai had heard the rumors, hearing the confirmation from the woman herself brought an undeniable look of joy to his face.

Lin Qiu shot Jiang Dahai a reproachful glance. "Miss Qingmeng, Uncle Jiang is very blunt. Please don’t mind him."

"It’s alright. I don’t mind. I’ll answer anything you ask."

Lin Qiu’s smile grew even wider.

’What a wonderful girl. That rebellious son of mine really deserves a beating.’

"If you don’t mind me asking, how far have you and Jiang Liu gotten? Has he shown any sign that he wants to be with you?"

Jun Qingmeng shook her head, looking dejected. "Not really. I’ve confessed to him many times, and... dropped hints."

"What?! You’ve confessed to him multiple times?"

Jiang Dahai and Lin Qiu exchanged a look.

"Let me ask you something else, dear. How many relationships have you been in? And what does your family do? You don’t have to answer if you’re not comfortable, it’s no problem."

Jiang Liu, who was just emerging with the juice, had a strange look on his face.

’What is going on? In just a few minutes, they’re already asking for her life story?’

’Wait, that’s not right. Why is Mom digging into Jun Qingmeng’s family details?’

Jun Qingmeng was more than willing to answer. She obediently accepted the juice he offered her. "Aunt Lin, Uncle Jiang, my upbringing was very strict from elementary school all the way through college, so I’ve never been in a relationship. My mother is abroad, and my father runs a company."

"Because, um... my dad was putting too much pressure on me, so I ran away from home with a close friend and found a job at a kindergarten..."

She laid her current situation out with complete honesty.

At the same time, a sliver of worry appeared in her heart.

’I got angry with my dad and ran away from home by myself.’

’Will Uncle and Aunt Lin think poorly of me for that?’

’I’m so scared...’

The old couple exchanged a glance.

’This girl is definitely the one.’

’Just look at how gently and sweetly she speaks. She doesn’t seem like the type to lie.’

’She’d make an absolutely perfect daughter-in-law!’

Their minds were made up.

Lin Qiu looked Jun Qingmeng up and down, growing more and more satisfied with every passing second.

"Qingmeng, dear, it can’t be easy being out here all on your own, can it?"

"It’s alright. I have Jiang Liu and Tongtong with me now, so I’m very happy."

As she said this, the corners of her mouth curved into a blissful smile.

Her standards weren’t high at all. Just being able to see Jiang Liu every day was enough to make her happy and content.

Then, Lin Qiu dropped a bombshell.

"So... would you be willing to be my daughter? How about I become your mother? Would that be okay?"

After she spoke, Lin Qiu glanced at Jiang Dahai.

They exchanged a knowing look.

The old couple was in complete agreement.

’Since we’ve already gotten everything cleared up...’

’We should just settle this quickly and decisively. Lock in her status as our daughter-in-law first.’

’As for their son’s opinion?’

’Who cares what he thinks.’

’Let’s have a big, healthy grandson first, and then we’ll talk!’

Jiang Liu, standing to the side, was so dumbfounded his jaw dropped.

He had less and less of a clue what these people were chattering on about.

Jun Qingmeng’s mind was blown as well.

She turned her head and looked at Jiang Liu in confusion.

Jiang Tongtong excitedly hopped onto a stool, threw her little arms in the air, and cheered, "Yay! Great news! Mommy Qingmeng and Daddy are getting together! They’re getting married!"

"Grandpa, Grandma, your decision is the best!"

’Wow, she changed what she calls them in a split second.’

Worried Tongtong might fall, Lin Qiu quickly scooped her up into her arms.

She looked at Jun Qingmeng, who was still reeling with joy, and asked, "What do you think, dear?"

"Was I being too forward?"

Jun Qingmeng snapped out of it and, in a shy fluster, shook her head then nodded rapidly. "Not at all! Um! Yes, anything’s fine! I have no objection."

’How could I possibly disagree?’

’This is like winning a five-million-dollar lottery!’

’It’s such a wonderful surprise!’

’I can’t believe Jiang Liu’s mother actually likes me.’

’And she even gave her blessing for me to marry Jiang Liu! Yay!’

Jun Qingmeng’s heart was pounding, and she was covered in a nervous sweat.

Lin Qiu and Jiang Dahai were grinning from ear to ear, their eyes crinkling with so much joy that their crow’s feet were clearly visible.

"Then I’ll just call you Qingmeng from now on?"

"Yes! You can call me whatever you like. I have no objections."

Seeing that his daughter-in-law was both beautiful and sensible, Jiang Dahai couldn’t hold back his smile.

"Today is a day for celebration. How about this, Lin Qiu? Later, you can take Qingmeng and Tongtong out shopping to buy a few things."

As he spoke, Jiang Dahai pulled out his phone. "Here, Qingmeng, let’s add each other on WeChat."

"Okay."

The moment she accepted the request, Jiang Dahai sent her a massive red envelope worth ten thousand yuan.

"Dad, what is this for?" Jun Qingmeng boldly switched her form of address.

"According to the customs back home, we’re supposed to give you a proper meeting gift. We came so suddenly that we didn’t prepare anything, so just take this red envelope instead!"

"Ah, I can’t accept this!" Jun Qingmeng said, feigning reluctance.

’I’m so, so happy.’

’It’s not because of the money.’

’It’s because I have Uncle and Aunt Lin’s approval.’

Jiang Liu was completely stunned by this rapid-fire series of events.

Now he was even more dumbfounded. ’She’s already calling him ’Dad,’ and the red envelope has been sent?’

’Are we having the wedding banquet tomorrow, then??’

Jiang Liu couldn’t take it anymore. He carefully chose his words and said anxiously, "Dad, Mom! What are you all doing? Qingmeng and I don’t have the kind of relationship you think we do."

"Isn’t this... a little inappropriate?"

Lin Qiu waved her hand dismissively. "Shoo, shoo, go stand over there. My daughter Qingmeng hasn’t even refused, so what are you panicking for?"

Jiang Dahai’s expression suddenly hardened as he chimed in, "You brat, I wouldn’t even have remembered if you hadn’t spoken up. I heard you’ve been bullying my daughter quite a bit. Is that true?"