Chapter 504: Chapter 191: Empress Dowager Xia’s Perfect Daughter-in-law, Meeting Jiang Zhiyu Again_2

Li Yuan lavishly praised Zhong Tingyue to his mother.

"Tingyue not only has excellent grades but is also very talented. She is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—a true genius! I really hit the jackpot with her."

Zhong Tingyue rolled her eyes at Li Yuan, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and said with a bashful timidity, "Auntie, don’t listen to Li Yuan’s nonsense. I’m not that great; he’s exaggerating. I just know a little bit."

Li Yuan pointed to the sky, pretending to be serious. "Mom, I swear to heaven, everything I said is true. You know I’ve been honest my whole life and have never lied."

Seeing this, Zhong Tingyue quickly pulled Li Yuan’s hand down, her cheeks flushing as she protested coquettishly, "Li Yuan, can’t you be serious!"

Li Yuan immediately responded with a straight face, "I am being serious! Look, I’m not even smiling."

Seeing Li Yuan and Zhong Tingyue flirting, Xia Qin chuckled to herself and asked curiously, "Sweetheart, judging from your accent, where is your family from?"

Zhong Tingyue answered obediently, "Auntie, I’m from the Nanshan District of Sucheng."

Xia Qin had heard of Sucheng before and smiled. "From Sucheng? That’s a big city, and not too far from Northern Anhui. It’s just a five or six-hour drive."

"By the way, sweetheart, how many siblings do you have?"

Zhong Tingyue looked at Li Yuan with a puzzled expression, seeking help. He cleared his throat and explained, "She means how many brothers and sisters you have. It’s a local dialect term."

"Oh, Auntie, it’s just me. My mom only has me."

A hint of unease flickered across Zhong Tingyue’s face. I wonder if she’ll look down on me because of my family situation.

"Just you? An only child, then," Xia Qin asked, surprised. "By the way, sweetheart, do your parents know you’re dating? What do they think of Yuan?"

Recalling her mother’s positive attitude toward Li Yuan—how she had even proactively created opportunities for them—Zhong Tingyue nodded shyly.

"My mom really likes Li Yuan!"

"That’s good, that’s good!" Xia Qin quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She was about to ask more when Li Yuan interrupted her.

"Ahem, Mom, stop prying and let’s eat. Tingyue has classes this afternoon."

Xia Qin was taken aback for a moment, then remembered that they were both still college students and had to attend class.

"Oh, yes, you have class. Then let’s eat quickly."

Zhong Tingyue glanced at Li Yuan gratefully, silently relieved. If my future mother-in-law kept prying like that, I really wouldn’t have known how to answer.

Li Yuan chuckled and stealthily reached under the table to stroke her long leg.

Zhong Tingyue’s face turned red, and she quickly squeezed her legs together, trapping Li Yuan’s hand between them.

She hadn’t expected Li Yuan to be so bold, his hands wandering even in this situation. Feeling a bit guilty, she glanced at Xia Qin before lowering her head and quickly shoveling rice into her mouth.

Xia Qin thoughtfully placed a piece of blackfish into Zhong Tingyue’s bowl and said caringly, "Sweetheart, don’t just eat rice; have some more fish."

"Mm, thank you, Auntie!" Zhong Tingyue’s face flushed, and her legs clamped even tighter, because Li Yuan’s large hand had started to wander again.

「Inside the Jinxiu Villas complex.」

Li Yuan said to his mother, "Mom, you can head home. Tingyue and I will go back to school together."

Xia Qin didn’t even turn around, not bothering to acknowledge Li Yuan. Instead, she kept her hands tightly clasped around Zhong Tingyue’s, liking the girl’s shy, blushing face more and more the longer she looked.

"Tingyue, if you have time, you must come and visit me more often.

"If Yuan ever dares to bully you or treat you badly, just tell me. I’ll give him a good beating.

"He’s as stubborn as his dad. Don’t take anything he says to heart. Just tell me, and I’ll stand up for you.

"You must come visit me at home. I’m all alone in Modu, I don’t know anyone, and it’s so boring..."

Zhong Tingyue nodded shyly. In the course of a single meal, Xia Qin had become so enthusiastic that it was almost frightening. It seemed she was already being treated as a true daughter-in-law, which made her feel both moved and apprehensive. She wasn’t Li Yuan’s only girlfriend, after all. Would his mother still be so warm toward me after meeting his other girlfriends?

For a moment, she couldn’t help but think, If only I were the only one...

Seeing Zhong Tingyue looking lost, Li Yuan couldn’t help but ruffle her hair.

Zhong Tingyue snapped back to reality and gave Xia Qin a sweet smile.

"Auntie, don’t worry. I’ll definitely come to see you more often when I have time."

Xia Qin waved, smiling. "Alright, alright. You two better hurry to school. Don’t be late."

After his mother left, Li Yuan pulled Zhong Tingyue aside, opened the trunk, and handed her a set of gold and silver jewelry and a set of SK-II cosmetics.

"Little Moon, these are gifts for Mrs. Gu. Let’s go deliver them to her."

"Senior, you really shouldn’t have spent so much." Zhong Tingyue looked conflicted. Although she knew Li Yuan was doing this to please her mother for her sake, she didn’t want him to think she was a materialistic girl.

Li Yuan smiled and ruffled her hair. "It’s just a small gesture. Now be good and take them."

Zhong Tingyue gazed deeply at Li Yuan, then smiled and nodded. "Mm-hmm!"

Li Yuan checked the time and urged, "Let’s hurry then. We’re really going to be late!"