The Homely Bride Meets the In-Laws

Suddenly, she felt a soft towel gently rubbing her hair. Her hands froze momentarily.

When she raised her eyes, they met Tang Mianmian's doe-like gaze.

Her soft, delicate hands continued drying his hair, though her eyes held a trace of nervousness. She mouthed an explanation, almost inaudibly, "Your hair isn't dry."

He simply stared at her, watching every movement, forgetting even the man on the other end of the phone.

It wasn't until Qi Yunmo roared through the line, "Long Yejue, are you messing with me? Why call if you're just going to stay silent?"

The voice was so loud that Tang Mianmian overheard it. Embarrassed, she quickly reminded the blank-faced man, "Your call."

Only then did he glance down and speak indifferently. "That woman?"

"Fu Ranyan," Tang Mianmian whispered.

He cleared his throat and repeated, "Fu Ranyan?"

Qi Yunmo let out a cold snort. "So that's her name? She's gone home. Left her phone and other stuff here. Tell your woman to come pick it up tomorrow. She's driving me crazy."

With that, Qi Yunmo hung up.

Long Yejue's eyes narrowed slightly, a sharp gleam flashing within.

"How is it? How is it?" Tang Mianmian asked, her concern evident.

"She's fine, back home." He sounded displeased by her concern for someone else, pausing her movements. "Your hair isn't dry yet."

"Uh…"

Relieved that Ranyan was safe, she continued drying his hair. She wasn't used to such gestures and felt awkward.

She reassured herself inwardly, chalking it up to repaying him for saving her life—and for the luxury car she had ruined. The damages were beyond calculation.

When his hair was finally dry, her hands felt weak. Tang Mianmian wanted to cry. Aren't I the patient here?

Why is the patient tending to the healthy one?

Since her minor injuries prevented her from taking a full bath, she merely freshened up in the bathroom before collapsing onto her bed, falling asleep almost instantly. The day had been utterly exhausting, leaving her nerves frazzled.

Listening to the quiet from the neighboring room, she pursed her lips. The image of his breathtakingly handsome face—so devoid of warmth—flashed in her mind.

If this man ever smiled, he'd be lethal to countless people.

No, wait. Even without a smile, he's already lethal!

Realizing where her thoughts were going, Tang Mianmian panicked and patted her cheeks. "Tang Mianmian! What are you thinking in the middle of the night? Sleep!"

When the lights went out, the world plunged into darkness.

Meanwhile, in the next room, Long Yejue waited until everything was quiet before picking up his phone to call An Yi.

"Investigate the cause of today's car accident, including every detail about her visit to the capital. Leave nothing out."

His icy voice cut through the night, carrying a hint of menace.

An Yi, who had been about to drift off, snapped to attention. "Master Jue, do you suspect foul play?"

"Hmm."

Based on the woman's account, it was almost certainly deliberate.

He had many enemies, and with Tang Mianmian driving his car, it was easy for her to be mistaken as a target.

His concern wasn't misplaced.

But if he found out who had orchestrated such a plot against his woman, they would pay dearly.

Even through the phone, An Yi could feel the chilling aura emanating from him. He quickly responded, "Don't worry, Master Jue. I'll investigate thoroughly and give you a full report."

Hanging up, Long Yejue frowned, gazing silently at the garden shrouded in darkness.

The Next Morning

Tang Mianmian planned to get up early to make breakfast but was flustered to find that he had already prepared it.

It was a simple bowl of congee, yet its subtle aroma awakened her appetite. Still, she felt guilty.

I'm his wife. I should be doing this. How has he ended up cooking two mornings in a row?

The sensation of being taken care of left her slightly uneasy.

Long Yejue sipped his coffee while glancing at his tablet. Every movement was so graceful it made her want to cry.

In stark contrast, she felt like a country bumpkin—no table manners, fumbling even with her breakfast.

Men like Long Yejue, born with a silver spoon, were taught social etiquette as a matter of course. His refined demeanor reflected this upbringing in every detail.

Watching him, she couldn't help but wonder, How did I end up marrying someone like this?

Am I lucky, or just plain unlucky?

Lowering her head, she quietly drank her congee, not daring to meet his gaze for fear of losing focus and being caught.

"Prepare yourself to go home later," he said suddenly, still focused on his tablet.

"Uh… cough, cough, cough—"

Startled, Tang Mianmian choked, coughing violently.

Long Yejue glanced up, frowning slightly. He pulled a tissue and handed it to her.

"Th-thank you," she stammered, utterly embarrassed. Who even chokes while eating?

But the main issue wasn't her embarrassment. What did he just say?

"You're going home?" she asked cautiously.

"We're going home," he clarified.

Tang Mianmian felt awkward, her eyes darting nervously. "Am I going with you now?"

He set aside his laptop, raising an eyebrow. "Why? Is it inconvenient? We're already married."

She had asked the question, and he had given the answer—what else could she say? Feeling helpless, she nodded. "Alright then. Should I prepare anything? Like, bring some gifts?"

"Gifts?" Long Yejue's expression turned slightly strange, as though the word was foreign to him.

Tang Mianmian hesitantly asked, "Isn't it customary to bring gifts when meeting the elders?"

His brows furrowed slightly, as if recalling something. How long had it been since there were "gifts" in his family? During past holidays, his parents would simply give money. Later, it was his academic achievements. And now, the performance of his company served as the best gift.

Her suggestion made him realize he hadn't bought gifts for his family in a long time. His thin lips curled into the faintest of smiles. "Just buy something casual."

Tang Mianmian felt like crying. Casual? That's the hardest kind of gift to pick!

Nevertheless, she obediently returned to her room, changed into something appropriate, and applied light makeup to look more presentable.

"I wonder what kind of daughter-in-law his parents prefer," she muttered to herself, examining her reflection in the mirror.

After turning and adjusting herself a few more times, she finally convinced herself that she looked fine and headed downstairs. Despite her preparation, she was still anxious, her hands clasped tightly behind her back, twisting her fingers into little knots.

Long Yejue glanced up briefly and saw her figure. His dark eyes narrowed slightly, a faint trace of approval flashing through them. However, his face remained indifferent.

Tang Mianmian tugged at her dress a few more times before nervously asking, "Is this okay?"

Her posture resembled a student timidly seeking a teacher's approval—adorably nervous.

His lips curved faintly, a glimmer of amusement flickering in his deep black eyes. "It's fine."

In fact, "fine" could be replaced with "beautiful." But as someone who rarely complimented others, that simple acknowledgment was already high praise.

If An Yi were here to hear this, his jaw would surely drop.

Of course, Tang Mianmian didn't think so. She had hoped for at least a "not bad," but the lukewarm "fine" only made her more uneasy.

This was the most effort she'd ever put into dressing up!

She had no prior experience meeting in-laws. Back when she was with Su Shijie, she had suggested meeting his parents, but he had always declined.

In hindsight, his evasiveness back then was a clear sign that his feelings had already strayed. The nerve of that scumbag to claim now that he'd always loved her!

Did he think she was blind?

Well, she had been blind. Once.

"What are you thinking about?" Long Yejue's calm voice broke her train of thought, snapping her back to reality.

Blushing, Tang Mianmian shook her head hurriedly. "Nothing, just a bit nervous."

"Relax. Be yourself. There's no need to overthink it." His deep gaze lingered on her briefly before he rose to put on his jacket.

No need to overthink it… Easier said than done! How could she not be nervous?

"We haven't bought any gifts yet…" she murmured, staring at her toes. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "And I don't have money to buy gifts."

Long Yejue frowned slightly. After fastening the last button on his coat, he retrieved a card from his wallet and handed it to her. "Take this. Use it to buy whatever you need."

"…"

Why did this feel like she was being… kept? The thought left her uncomfortable.

But desperate times called for desperate measures. Broke and unable to assert herself, she reluctantly accepted the card, muttering awkwardly, "I'll pay you back later."

Just as he was about to step out, Long Yejue froze mid-stride. Turning back, his gaze grew cold. "What did you say?"

His voice was icy, devoid of warmth.

Tang Mianmian shrank back, realizing she might have offended him. She quickly waved her hands. "Nothing! I didn't say anything!"

Despite her attempt to defuse the situation, his expression remained grim. With a sharp turn, he strode out of the hall, leaving her dumbfounded.

Why is he angry again?

It seemed like she managed to irritate him every single day.

Sigh… I really have no talent for talking.

With a resigned sigh, she hurried to catch up.

Long Yejue had already pulled the car around. This time, it was a more understated Maybach, unlike the flashy Lamborghini from before. His displeased expression made her hesitant to get in.

However, his steely gaze left her no choice but to climb in.

"Where should we go to buy the gifts?" he asked curtly as he started the engine.

Tang Mianmian thought for a moment before cautiously asking, "What hobbies do your parents have?"

"None that I know of."

"…"

How could he say that so confidently?

Seeing her skeptical expression, Long Yejue uncharacteristically explained, "I moved out of the family estate in high school and rarely go back."

Tang Mianmian nodded in understanding. "Alright. Then tell me how many people are in your family, and I'll figure out what to buy."

His brows furrowed slightly as he gave her a long, thoughtful look. Finally, he replied, "Fifty-nine."

Tang Mianmian: "…"

Her lips twitched uncontrollably. Did I hear that right?

"Why… are there so many people in your family?"