Chapter 689 - 334: Meeting Lin Shen’s Parents for the First Time
Chapter 689: Chapter 334: Meeting Lin Shen’s Parents for the First Time
Pedestrians passing by on the crosswalk all turned in unison to admire the car’s exterior, marveling at the sight.
They all thought, "So cool!"
Of course, that wasn’t the main point. The blue Modu A license plate was quite eye-catching; one look and it was obvious the car came from Modu.
Faced with more stares than usual, Lin Shen felt a bit embarrassed by all the attention. Fortunately, the car windows had a built-in privacy feature that allowed the tint to be adjusted at will—a high-tech perk of the S680.
"I’m starting to feel like I shouldn’t have driven the Maybach S680 back here," Lin Shen muttered. Being a bit socially anxious, he subconsciously rubbed his nose. Turning his head, he noticed that Qin Yuenan, who had been binge-watching a show for the entire trip, had stopped. Instead, she was touching up her makeup in the vanity mirror, occasionally practicing her smile.
She rarely smiled normally. Even when she kept a straight face, no one would criticize her; they would just say she had an aloof personality. Even if people distanced themselves from her because of this cold expression, Qin Yuenan didn’t mind. She simply maintained her indifferent demeanor.
But meeting Lin Shen’s parents was a different story. If she kept a straight face now, she probably wouldn’t score many impression points. Therefore, as they neared his home, Qin Yuenan constantly practiced her smile, trying to soften her facial expressions.
Seeing this, Lin Shen couldn’t help but laugh out loud. "Nan, what are you doing?"
"Nothing." Caught in the act, Qin Yuenan quickly composed herself. Averting her gaze, she changed the subject. "How much longer until we arrive?"
"About ten minutes." Lin Shen gestured forward with his chin. "After this intersection, take a left at the next traffic light, and you’ll see the entrance to the residential community."
"Mhm." Hearing from Lin Shen that she was only ten minutes away from meeting his parents, Qin Yuenan felt an unprovoked surge of nerves and anxiety. Back when she was the general manager of Pet Guardian Home, she hadn’t been this nervous even while speaking in front of hundreds of people. She was about to meet Lin Shen’s parents...
Qin Yuenan gently placed her right hand over her chest, feeling the THUMP THUMP of her racing heart. She took several deep breaths to adjust her mood and mindset. Seeing how nervous she was, Lin Shen reached over and chuckled. "How about I give it a rub to comfort you?"
"Get lost!" Lin Shen’s sudden hooligan behavior earned him an embarrassed and annoyed glare from Qin Yuenan. However, his tactic proved quite effective. After being teased like that, the previously nervous Qin Yuenan felt her emotions ease considerably. It was as if they had slipped back into their daily routine of bickering.
Of course, that was the main reason Lin Shen had said it. "Relax, just treat it like your own home. There’s no need to be overly formal or restrained. My parents are very easy to get along with," he said with a smile, only to receive another eye roll from Qin Yuenan.
"Hmph, it’s easy for you to make sarcastic remarks from the sidelines. I’d love to see you stay this calm if I made you come back to my home with me."
"Of course I would," Lin Shen said with utmost confidence. "When the time comes to go home with you, Nan, I’ll definitely treat your home like my own."
"I’ll remember you said that. I’m definitely going to use it against you when the time comes."
Qin Yuenan and Lin Shen bantered playfully in the car. Soon after, the vehicle pulled into a relatively modest residential community. The neighborhood didn’t even have a dedicated parking lot, so they had to park in one of the designated above-ground spaces.
Lin Shen parked below Building 5. After getting out, he loosened up his muscles, stretching deeply and twisting his waist. Then, he pointed up at a brightly lit apartment on the second floor and chuckled softly. "That’s my home up there."
"Mhm." Qin Yuenan opened the trunk and began pulling out the items one by one. She quickly realized there was no way they could carry it all in one trip.
"Maybe I should just go ask my parents to come downstairs and help us carry this." Lin Shen grabbed a fall jacket from the backseat and draped it over Qin Yuenan’s shoulders, adding with concern, "It gets pretty cold here at night. You’ll easily catch a chill dressed like that."
"Mhm." This time, Qin Yuenan didn’t say thank you. Instead, her gaze softened as she accepted Lin Shen’s kind gesture. It was indeed exactly as he had said; the temperature in Lin Shen’s hometown was about six or seven degrees lower than in Modu. It hovered around twenty degrees Celsius. Moreover, since the sun had already set and evening had fallen, the air carried a noticeable chill.
Qin Yuenan’s light and thin white dress certainly made her look a bit cold. That was why Lin Shen had prepared a jacket for her ahead of time. Besides, between couples, calmly accepting the other’s kindness often pleased them much more than polite expressions of gratitude.
Therefore, even though Qin Yuenan was deeply touched, she refrained from saying any words of thanks, opting to express herself through actual actions instead. She stood on her tiptoes and took the initiative to kiss Lin Shen on the cheek before saying softly, "There’s no need to make your parents come down. We’ll just carry it up in two trips, and then knock on the door."
"Okay." Lin Shen nodded.
***
"That should be just about all the dishes." After Lin Qinghai and Zhao Nuannuan carried all the food to the table, Zhao Nuannuan glanced up at the clock, which showed it was already past seven. She wondered aloud, "Didn’t they say they would be here before seven?"
"It’s the evening rush hour right now. It’s perfectly normal for the roads to be congested." Just as Lin Qinghai finished speaking, a knock rang out at the door.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
"Coming!" Hearing the noise, Zhao Nuannuan immediately went to open the door. Meanwhile, Lin Qinghai hurriedly took off his apron and pulled out his phone to tidy up his hair and clothes.
CLICK!
"Son!" The moment the door opened, the initially excited smile on Zhao Nuannuan’s face suddenly froze, her expression shifting to mild bewilderment. "Eh? Who are you looking for?"
Seeing his own mother ask such a question, Lin Shen’s brain blanked for a moment. His eyes widened drastically before he let out a helpless laugh. "Mom, I’ve only been gone for half a year. How do you not even recognize your own son?"
"You’re Shen?" Zhao Nuannuan looked so utterly shocked that she was left entirely speechless. Her jaw dropped and refused to close, and her eyes were as wide as saucers. It was because the young man standing before her didn’t bear the slightest resemblance to her beloved son!
The Lin Shen in her memory wore glasses and had a rather bloated, even overweight, physique. His hair was flat and unkempt, and his small eyes always seemed somewhat lifeless. Even his clothing was incredibly plain.
But the Lin Shen standing right before her was noticeably thinner—he must have lost at least twenty pounds! On top of that, he was much taller than he had been during the New Year. His posture was sturdier and more upright, and his physique was well-proportioned and strong.
He no longer wore glasses, yet his expression carried an inexplicable sense of confidence. The faint smile playing on his lips was incredibly handsome, highlighting his sharp and defined facial features. Paired with an American-style parted haircut, it made his whole person look completely full of spirit. Furthermore, because he had slimmed down, his clothes fit him much better. Even ordinary casual wear gave Lin Shen the aura of a fashion model.
This was why Zhao Nuannuan hadn’t recognized her precious son at first. It wasn’t until she heard his familiar voice that she exclaimed in pleasant surprise, "How did you lose so much weight?!" She hurriedly grabbed Lin Shen’s arm, looking him up and down repeatedly before calling out for Lin Qinghai. "Old Lin! Old Lin! Hurry up and come look at your son!"
"Coming." Lin Qinghai hadn’t understood why they weren’t just letting Lin Shen inside. But upon seeing the young man standing there, he was equally stunned, completely freezing up before blurting out, "Are you Lin Shen?"
"Yeah, Dad," Lin Shen replied with a laugh. "Have I changed that much?"
"You’ve changed so much I couldn’t even recognize you!" Lin Qinghai patted Lin Shen’s arm, observing him carefully before he couldn’t help but praise, "Son! You’re even more handsome than before! Hurry up and come inside!"
"Um..." Zhao Nuannuan hesitated, looking as if she wanted to say something but was holding back. Seeing her demeanor, Lin Shen knew exactly what she was thinking. He chuckled and said, "There’s someone else who came with me this time."
With that, Lin Shen stepped aside, revealing Qin Yuenan behind him. She nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, tightly clasped her hands in front of her, and gave a slight bow. A gentle smile—one Lin Shen had never seen before—bloomed on her face.
"Hello, Mr. Lin, Mrs. Lin. I’m Qin Yuenan. You can just call me Nan."