Chapter 115: Meeting the Father-in-law

  When Sang Hong woke up, she saw Song Shuyu's enlarged face with a hint of smile close at hand.

  Dazed and confused, she was led off the plane by him. As soon as she lifted her head, she saw the luggage claim window. Suddenly, she remembered that pile of gifts, and it made her dizzy.

  Really no need to let dad come pick us up?

  He seems to have no acquaintances here, and even Qin Luoshui has gone to City B.

  Song Shuwei looked at her small face with a knot, and involuntarily changed one hand to tightly hold Sang Hong's hand, while using his right hand to take out his phone and make a call.

  Xiang Hong stood still for a moment and felt something was off, why were all these people passing by staring at them.

  But when Sang Hong observed that most of those who turned back to look at them were women, he understood where the problem lay.

  Song Shuyu wore a black slim-fit stand-up collar top and matching pants today, although the combination is simple, but the lines are concise, the cutting is close-fitting, making the ordinary extraordinary at once.

  The imported cashmere sweater with a standing collar tucked inside revealed a hint of its collar, resolving the slightly cold and hard tone, looking like a handsome young man.

  Not to mention the aura that surrounds him, his 1.8-meter tall and slender waist with long legs is already eye-catching. Now that he's no longer in military uniform, the gaze of women on him are filled with fiery interest.

  But when that gaze followed his arm and landed on Sang Hong's body, it became inexplicably flavorful. She was wearing a elegant pink long windbreaker today, with lace-trimmed high-neck thermal underwear inside, and short black sheepskin boots with low heels.

  The two people's clothes colors echoed each other, obviously all came from the hands of famous designers, standing there a pair of golden boy and jade girl's star style, really eye-catching.

  Song Shuyu was already used to ignoring the attention of the crowd, but Sang Hong couldn't. Thinking that this was her hometown, it was possible that among those onlookers and passersby, there were neighbors from her own street!

  Although Song Shuoye always wore military uniforms, this time he brought casual clothes when going out. He remembered that one day he opened the closet in his newly decorated dormitory and almost blinded Sang Hong with his underwear.

  She raised her hand and rummaged through it. There was a whole cabinet of various styles of famous brand coats, all brand new with tags still on.

  Of course, when she was speechless, Song Shuyu opened the cabinet on the opposite side and smiled at her with a charming smile: "No need to envy mine, yours is more beautiful!"

  Then Shang Hong stared blankly at the new autumn and winter clothes, windbreakers, sweaters, overcoats, short, medium and long cotton-padded jackets, which made her dizzy.

  She looked at the price tag and those sizes, stunned for a moment, asking incredulously:

  "This - so many, are all mine? Even the size is right, how did Auntie know what size clothes I wear?"

  Song Shuwei burst out laughing, clearly her silly appearance pleased him. He raised his hand to rub her short hair, and stood in front of the closet helping her organize the clothes she was packing into her luggage, saying:

  "Don't you think this is a stupid question? She just needs to ask me and it's settled."

  "Haha, I forgot, there's still someone of your level around - a traitor." Xiang Hong teased him with a smile.

  "This traitor is absolutely professional, even the length of your two sleeves can be detected." Song Shuyu said with a smile as he lowered his head to her.

  Xiang Hong raised her hands and looked at them, thinking of the usual embarrassment when buying clothes that exposed her long arms, and silently asked: "How did you know?"

  "I knew from the moment you put on your first uniform that while others' sleeves could reach halfway down their palms, yours were just right. The loose military uniforms are a bit awkward, but everyday clothes, especially women's clothes, are too delicate and even a slight difference in sleeve length can be quite noticeable." Song Shuyu said as he took out a pale pink long coat and handed it to her, "Try it on and see if it fits?"

  Then, someone gave her the first lesson in life on dressing coordination. Of course, this coordination is not just about teaching her the color matching technique of clothes, but more importantly, it's about pairing up two people who like each other's clothes, arranging them in order, and even solemnly telling her that from now on, whenever she wears casual clothes, she should also pick out the clothes that match her partner.

  For example, now——

  Two people, one in a black coat with a elegant pink collar and the other in an elegant pink coat with a black collar, standing there, exceptionally elegant and outstanding.

  Although the red spots on her face, which were originally the seven bright stars of the Big Dipper, had been somewhat alleviated by the medicine given to her by Qin Luo, a discerning woman could still easily pick out the flaws on her face and feel regretful. Regret that such a woman could snag such a high-caliber golden turtle, and also feel confident that with such a boyfriend, their innate beauty would naturally have an unlimited bright future.

  "Handsome guy, if you keep standing there like that, this place is going to get congested."

  Xiang Hong easily broke free from his hand, and with a swift motion, she grasped Song Shuyu's hand instead. With a playful smile, she swung her arm to remind him, her intimate expression and actions making the women who were watching with envy, jealousy, and hatred.

  Song Shuyu also noticed that too many eyes were staring at him, so he raised his wrist to look at his watch and could only comfort Sang Hong in a low voice: "Be good, someone will come to pick us up soon, just a little while."

  She leaned in close to Song Shuyu and whispered, "If I stand here with you like this any longer, I'm afraid those jealous women will curse me until I sneeze continuously."

  Song Shuwei puckered up and stretched out his hand to wrap around her waist: "Let their jealousy come more fiercely, hehe, holding you like this, will it help block some for you?"

  Xiang Hong was speechless, what kind of logic is this?

  She struggled slightly but couldn't break free, so she had no choice but to reluctantly surrender into the arms of evil forces. And so, in the bustling airport, Xiang Hong was forced to stand together with him, forming a rare and beautiful landscape that was hard to come by.

  When the driver responsible for picking them up finally arrived, he apologized non-stop to the two of them.

  Song Shuoye nodded and handed over the air freight documents to him. The driver skillfully directed the cargo truck driver to load the goods, and the two of them got on a special car and rushed to the predetermined hotel.

  Sitting in the back seat, Sang Hong said with a sigh: "Alas, today I accidentally became the center of attention."

  Song Shuwei raised an eyebrow: "You'll have to get used to it."

  "What's the habit? The woman's gaze falls on you, smiling and warm like sunshine, but falls on me, dark and gloomy like a cloud?"

  Although Xiang Hong knew that standing with him might lead to such a situation, it was also too uncomfortable.

  "Don't you think having a handsome husband is also something to be proud of?" Song Shu Yu raised an eyebrow and smiled at her.

  "I didn't know, if I had known you looked so handsome in casual clothes, I would have never let you wear them."

  Xiang Hong gritted her teeth, feeling a little regretful. She had known all along that this guy was just a clothes rack - whatever clothes he wore made him look stunningly handsome, dazzling her eyes. At the time, she only wanted to give herself a visual treat, but didn't think that while she was enjoying the view, other women were also being dazzled.

  "You look even more beautiful in this windbreaker, with a slender and elegant skeleton. Few women can wear a windbreaker with such charm and elegance." Song Shuyu admired her small face.

  "Really? Why didn't you tell me earlier and let me worry that I'm just a lump standing next to you, just to set off your grandeur?"

  Xiang Hong raised her hand to touch her face, and was suddenly beaming with joy at his compliment. Her bright smile made Song Shuyu unable to look away. In fact, he also wanted to say that if he had known she would look so charming and lovely in casual clothes, he wouldn't have let her wear them. He didn't know how much he disliked the admiring glances from the men around her.

  "You're by my side, apart from you, I don't see anyone else." Song Shu Yu's lips curled up into a gentle smile.

  Xiang Hong felt a sweet smile lingering around her chest and abdomen, unable to come up or go down. In the end, she could only pretend to be nonchalant and say with a forced laugh:

  "You're speaking so many sweet words, is there some kind of conspiracy?"

  "Ah... you've seen through me, so I'll just say it straight out. Honghong, don't leave me all alone and pitifully abandoned at the hotel. I want to go home with you." Song Shuyu said softly in a low voice.

  "I'll head home first today and reconnect with Dad and Mom. I'll wait for an opportunity to mention you, and I'll bring you over to meet them as soon as possible."

  Xiang Hong looked at his tense and expectant face with some helplessness, didn't they agree that he would stay in the hotel first? Why did he change his mind now?

  "I'd rather create my own opportunities than wait for them."

  Song Shuyu did not explicitly say that she was timid or procrastinating, but rather expressed her dissatisfaction in a subtle way.

  "Good grief - you don't know my dad at all, he's got a terrible temper. If we go home together, who knows if he'll scold me severely, or yell at you, or even kick you out without any mercy. He's that kind of person, totally capable of doing something like that."

  Xiang Hong couldn't help but sigh, she felt that just thinking about it made her palms sweat.

  Song Shu Wei patiently said: "At least with me by your side, if he scolds or hits you, I can take it for you. It's better than facing him alone."

  Crimson Red stared at the man with no sharp edges, only a pitiful and pleading expression. When had she ever seen Song Shuyu look like this? Who said that men had to be majestic and awe-inspiring to capture hearts? This guy was actually using his humble and downtrodden face to make Crimson Red's heart flutter, her long-decided mind suddenly wavering with difficulty.

  "It doesn't matter if Dad scolds or beats me, what's important is that I've gone too far this time. I'm also used to his attitude already. Besides, after practicing for so long, shouldn't I be able to withstand his punches?"

  He scolded and beat him up a bit, then I was fine, and then you can be notified to come over, everyone will be happy.

  I mind you following me and suffering, being beaten and scolded is nothing new to me, how can your face bear it?

  This could also be a special way for my father and me to bond, when he's angry, he pretends to be fierce, yelling and hitting, but actually it's just his way of showing off as a parent; I pretend to cry and say a few soft words with a deadpan expression, and that can get us past the trouble.

  If you follow him, his fists will probably get harder and my level of pretending to be coquettish and silly will also be affected by having someone watching.

  "Haha, aren't you just watching us two suffer?"

  Xiang Hong hesitated for a long time before honestly handing over her small abacus to him.

  Song Shuoye couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time, this was probably the most incredible father-daughter combination he had ever heard of.

  He wouldn't think that letting her go back alone, enduring a scolding, and then everything would be fine. Being beaten and scolded was nothing new to her - her words made his heart ache with sorrow.

  What kind of father would be so heartless as to scold and beat such a well-behaved girl who is like an elf?

  He comfortingly wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer into his embrace: "Is this the real reason you wanted to go back alone?"

  "Hmm, you've long been accustomed to people's respect and being high above others. I won't let you suffer because of me." San Hong said softly.

  "Silly girl, I've found that although you're optimistic and positive when doing things, but deep down, you're actually a pessimistic person. You always make the worst-case scenario for everything, relying on your intelligence and endurance to put in the greatest effort. That's why you've always had good luck, but this process has made you suffer from all sorts of worries and anxieties."

  Song Shuwei carefully guided her.

  Huh? Xiang Hong was puzzled for a moment, then nodded, he summarized it quite accurately, that's exactly what she is like.

  "Why did your father-in-law scold and beat you? Just because you got involved with an older man who is already at the age of marriage?"

  "Alas... isn't this enough already?" Xiang Hong felt that the smile on his face was somewhat frozen, but he knew that his words had hit the nail on the head.

  "I'm certainly not a reason for you to get beaten up, Honghong. This is a proper romance between us, heading towards marriage."

  "I reckon if you were to bring home a boyfriend of the same age as yours, this beating would be unavoidable. Bringing home a man of my age who's suitable for marriage, he'd be thrilled before I even have time to react." Song Shuyu said with an air of certainty.

  "Hehe, I knew you were narcissistic, but I didn't think it was to this extent. Yes, your charm is all-conquering for me, but for my old man, it's impossible to have such an effect."

  Xiang Hong gazed out of the car window at the increasingly familiar scenery, as the vehicle had already left the highway near the airport and entered the city. She didn't plan to continue communicating with him about this matter.

  The complicated emotions of a traveler returning home are summed up in these four short words: "Near hometown, nervous heart".

  When she saw the road that had accompanied her growth, and looked at the increasingly familiar streets and houses around her, Shang Hong's grip on Song Shuyu's hand unconsciously tightened.

  "Why didn't you go to the hotel first?" she asked in puzzlement, praying that this guy wouldn't shamelessly follow her home.

  "Let's send you home first." Song Shuwei looked at the surrounding buildings, with a hint of worry in his heart. In front of him was a dilapidated residential area, with rows of unit buildings built in the 60s and 70s, their exterior walls never having been painted, and many bricks on the stairs had weathered to the point where the cement between them was no longer visible.

  Against the residential building, a simple shed is built underneath, storing coal balls, bicycles and other miscellaneous items, squeezing and occupying the road, making it narrow and winding.

  "Hehe, let's just have the driver stop here. The alleys inside are narrow and winding, this long Mercedes-Benz won't even be able to turn around."

  Xiang Hong politely suggested.

  The driver looked at the old ladies sitting in a circle at the entrance of the alley, lazily chatting and showing no intention of getting up to give way. Judging from the situation, there seemed to be several luxury cars parked inside the alley, and this car was absolutely impossible to pass through.

  "Just put me down here, you go back to the hotel and rest for a night, I'll notify you tomorrow." Shang Hong softly discussed with Song Shu Yu.

  "You can get off here, but I won't go back to the hotel. Even if I went back, I wouldn't be able to calm down and rest. I'll wait here for you, and call you in half an hour. If everything is fine with you, then that's it. But if you're beaten or scolded, I'll go in and accompany you."

  Song Shuyu's tone was firm and resolute, leaving no room for refusal.

  Xiang Hong knew it was pointless to say anything, so she simply said with a huff: "Well, yeah. Since I'm such a capable daughter raised by my dad, I should go in and accompany him in kneeling down and getting scolded."

  Song Shuwei grasped her small paws with one hand, his eyes burning: "Since you have such enlightenment, I'll accompany you home to show my sincerity."

  "Go, go, go! How can you even miss a hint like that?"

  After getting off the bus, he suddenly remembered something and turned back to say: "What about the luggage I brought with me?"

  The driver in front turned his head and said to her: "Together with the gifts that were just transported, they will all be delivered to your home."

  "Altogether? So many things? Weren't they supposed to be sent to the hotel first? How did they directly send them home?" San Hong felt as if a group of black crows flew over her head, and she suddenly realized that she had been calculated by Song Shuyu.

  As expected, Song Shu Yu laughed and said: "Those gifts are very valuable, back and forth moving them around, I'm worried about damaging them. Since it's mother who asked me to bring them as a gift for my mother-in-law when we meet, of course they should be delivered to their destination."

  Xiang Hong covered her forehead with her hand, realizing that this guy was forcing her to go back and show her cards immediately, wanting to secretly delay the time of punishment, the idea was directly extinguished.

  "Alright, you win!"

  Xiang Hong gritted her teeth in anger and slammed the car door shut, then turned around and walked away with big strides.

  Her sleeves fluttered as she arrived at the entrance of the alley, still forcing a smile and warmly greeting those familiar old ladies, planning to quickly pass through.

  "Isn't that the young lady from the Daiyu family? Didn't you go to military school? Why are you dressed like this?"

  "You've been away for several months, how did you become so dark and thin?"

  "Is that your classmate on the bus?"

  ……

  Xiang Hong was about to get past him, when she looked up and saw her father, Sang Dawei, with a big smile on his face, striding towards her with a group of well-dressed men following closely behind.

  The smile on Sang Dawei's face grew even redder when he saw Sang Hong, and after glancing behind her a few times, he hastily jogged over, pulled her to the side of a quiet wall, and said:

  "Red, why are you alone?"

  Xiang Hong was surprised, wasn't she supposed to be alone?

  Isn't he happy that she came back alone?

  She looked back at the other person in the car outside the alley with a puzzled expression, thinking to herself, "Has Dad already found out?"

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, a group of people behind Sang Dawei's back rushed past them and ran towards the car parked outside the alley.

  Sang Dawei didn't wait for her response and scolded: "You're back, why didn't you bring your boyfriend home directly? Why did you leave him at the alley entrance?"

  He said, his eyes flashing like lightning, directly locked onto the tall and handsome figure getting out of the Mercedes-Benz car. He narrowed his eyes for a moment, then asked Sang Hong: "Is that the young man with the high stature?"

  Xiang Hong followed his line of sight and saw that the leaders all respectfully extended their hands to shake hands with Song Shuyu, who stood out from the crowd like a crane among chickens, greeting them.

  She nodded immediately with a guilty conscience, and bluntly said: "It's him, Dad. I'll explain in detail later, can you please give him some face for now? You can scold or beat me afterwards, but please don't scare him away! I've put in a lot of effort to catch such a good man, so please don't chase him off!"

  Xiang Hong thought it was better to say what she had to say earlier on, so that her heart wouldn't be hanging in suspense.

  Shang Dawei's heart, which had been hanging in suspense for several days, finally settled down safely into his stomach. Good, not bad, a handsome and talented man, not the kind of fat-headed and big-eared old man he was worried about.

  "He sighed and said: 'What nonsense are you talking about? You have such insight and blessings, it's the good fortune accumulated by our ancestors burning incense for who knows how many years. Why would I scold you?'"

  "Ah----I've had a crush on you for a long time, aren't you angry?" Xiang Hong felt that what she heard was too unreal.

  "You're in college, what's the hurry? Falling in love is a normal thing, I'm worried that you're too introverted and stubborn, can't even maintain relationships with female classmates, how would you dare to hope for a boyfriend?"

  "Wow, you sneaky girl, you actually hooked the legendary Golden Son-in-law for Dad without making a sound!"

  There was an unmistakable hint of amusement in Sang Dawei's voice.

  Xiang Hong was almost stunned by this dramatic scene, and could only watch as his dad accompanied him in silly laughter.

  "What kind of background does this guy have, that he can get a high-ranking official like the Secretary and Mayor to personally accompany him?"

  Sang Dawei was furious and couldn't help but feel stifled.

  Qin Luoshui told him that Sang Hong was going to bring her new boyfriend home, and he almost doubted his own ears. That wild girl of his would actually have a boyfriend so soon? She had a boyfriend, and it could even shock Qin Zong, such a big shot.

  He also said that the boyfriend was too expensive to mention, and reminded him not to be slow. He thought to himself, would it be a rich man similar to Qin Luoshui? He and his wife were more worried that their daughter was dating a wealthy man. If it was an old man older than him, he didn't know how he should react. Should he listen to his wife's words and block the way at the alley entrance, not letting him in?

  He took a good look at Song Shuyu's appearance and finally put his mind at ease, leaving only one thought of excitement. Such a talented person, even if not rich or noble, is enough to match his rustic daughter.

  Song Shuyu walked step by step towards the father and daughter standing by the wall, smiled and stopped in front of them, extending his hand to Sang Dawei:

  "Uncle, I am Song Shuyu, Sang Hong's boyfriend;"

  I'm so sorry to intrude upon you like this, it's really impolite of me. Please don't blame Xiang Hong, I just have a liking for her, and that's why I wanted to meet the people who raised her and see the environment she grew up in.

  Sang Dawei smiled politely and shook his hand vigorously, showing his sincerity.

  "Xiang Hong is studying in City B, thank you for taking good care of her. She always mentions you and both I and her mom are looking forward to seeing you soon. Come on, hurry back home, her mom has prepared a full table of dishes waiting for you."