286: Chapter 286 Socially Anxious Father-in-Law

As soon as she saw Shen Yan, Liu Hui’s eyes lit up several shades brighter.

"AYan!"

Shen Yan nodded, slipped on the slippers the middle-aged woman had placed out for him, and walked into the living room.

It was only when he entered the living room that he saw Liu Hui’s father sitting in the corner sofa.

"Hello, Uncle."

The other person put down his phone, nodded at him, and said, "Hello, Xiao Shen. It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time."

After they shook hands, Shen Yan turned to the middle-aged woman who was busy in the kitchen and asked, "Auntie, do you need any help?"

The middle-aged woman chuckled and replied to Shen Yan, "No need, no need. Just sit over there."

After hearing this, Shen Yan sat down obediently on the sofa.

Liu Hui glanced at him, got him a cup, placed a glass of water in front of him, and walked to his side to whisper, "You don't need to be so reserved. My parents are very easygoing."

Shen Yan lightly curved the corner of his mouth. "Okay."

Since Liu Hui needed to help her mother cook, Shen Yan and Liu Hui’s father were left alone in the living room for a while.

"Cough, cough... Uncle, I heard A Hui say you like to drink. I brought you two bottles of Maotai."

Hearing this, Liu Hui’s father put down his phone and nodded at him, saying, "Thank you, Xiao Shen. That’s very thoughtful of you."

Shen Yan shook his head. "You're welcome. This is what I should do."

As soon as the words fell.

Silence fell upon the living room again.

Before coming, Shen Yan had imagined the personalities of Liu Hui’s parents. He had considered them enthusiastic, and he had considered them cold, but he never considered them socially phobic.

That’s right, socially phobic.

He didn't see any trace of unhappiness or unwelcomeness on Liu Hui’s father’s face; he only saw a hint of awkwardness.

He had spent almost his entire life interacting with people.

So, he could immediately perceive that Liu Hui’s father was not very good at dealing with strangers.

In order not to offend or startle Liu Hui’s father,

Shen Yan didn't chat much with Liu Hui’s father until Liu Hui’s mother finished cooking.

"Oh my, why are you two just sitting here? Not chatting, not even having tea?"

The middle-aged woman hadn't expected that as soon as she walked out of the kitchen, she would see these two men sitting stiffly in the living room like two trees, not drinking anything or speaking.

What she had intended was to use the time while Liu Hui helped her cook to let Shen Yan and her husband communicate more and gauge Shen Yan’s personality. But she never expected her husband to be so tight-lipped.

Her husband had been in the living room with her future son-in-law for over ten minutes and still hadn't shown any intention of speaking to Shen Yan.

The middle-aged woman grew increasingly annoyed, so she directly chased her husband into the kitchen.

"Alright, alright. Hurry up and go help Xiao Hui in the kitchen."

Hearing this, Liu Hui’s father looked relieved, got up, and went to help in the kitchen.

Seeing his back as he left without looking back, Liu Hui’s mother shook her head and said apologetically to Shen Yan, "Oh my, Xiao Shen, please don't take offense. My husband is just that kind of person."

Shen Yan smiled and nodded. "He's quite nice."

Seeing that Shen Yan didn't feel they were being inhospitable or dismissive, Liu Hui’s mother breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good, as long as you don't think there's a problem. By the way, how did you and Xiao Hui meet? When did you start dating?"

Shen Yan scratched his head and replied to Liu Hui’s mother, "Actually, it’s a bit embarrassing to say. A Hui and I met in a lottery shop."

Hearing this, Liu Hui’s mother was clearly stunned for a moment.

"A lottery shop?"

"Do young people like you have that hobby too?"

Shen Yan smiled and replied, "I just happened to be passing by at the time and wanted to scratch one ticket just to see. I personally don't have a hobby of scratching lottery tickets."

Liu Hui’s mother blinked her eyes and nodded with satisfaction.

Although the hobby of scratching lottery tickets sounded insignificant, she watched the news and had heard stories about people getting into debt because they were addicted to lotteries, putting all their money into them, and ending up bankrupt.

If Shen Yan liked scratching lotteries, she would have to sternly instruct her daughter to keep a close watch on Shen Yan’s money.

But since Shen Yan didn't have that hobby, she had nothing more to say.

Thinking this, she asked Shen Yan again, "Then how did you get in touch later? When did you start dating?"

Just as Shen Yan was about to answer one by one, Liu Hui walked out of the kitchen and said to her mother in a displeased tone, "That's enough, Mom. Can you stop being so nosy?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Liu Hui’s mother said to Liu Hui, "How can you call this being nosy? I call this caring!"

"Besides, your personality is just like your dad's. Whenever something happens, you keep it bottled up inside. If I don't ask others for information, I won't know what’s going on at all."

Once this topic came up, Liu Hui’s mother had a belly full of things to say. She complained to Shen Yan, "You have no idea how much worry this daughter of mine has caused me since she was little!"

"Whether it was school or work, once she decided on something, neither her dad nor I could change her mind!"

"Because she chose to study medicine, we argued with her countless times!"

Liu Hui pursed her lips, walked over, and sat down next to Shen Yan. "That’s ancient history from so many years ago. Aren't you afraid of losing face bringing it up now?"

Liu Hui’s mother rolled her eyes.

"Xiao Shen is our future son-in-law. There's no rule about not airing family secrets to him. What’s wrong with me telling him?"

Liu Hui couldn't refute her mother’s words and could only pout and sulk to herself.

Seeing that Liu Hui stopped talking, Liu Hui’s mother continued telling Shen Yan about Liu Hui’s past.

"This daughter of mine has always been very strong-willed since she was little. No matter what we said, if it wasn't her idea, she wouldn't do what we told her to do."

"It was precisely because of this that we worried about her constantly growing up. But despite the arguments and fuss, we family members are quite protective of our own."

When she said this, Liu Hui’s mother’s tone became somewhat serious.

Shen Yan understood that Liu Hui’s mother meant for him to treat Liu Hui well.

He replied very seriously to Liu Hui’s mother, "Don't worry, Auntie. I am also very protective of my own people. I absolutely will not let outsiders bully A Hui, and that includes myself."

As soon as he said this, Liu Hui’s mother immediately smiled.

She hadn't intended to make the atmosphere too serious in the first place.

Seeing that Shen Yan was so perceptive, she didn't say any more warning-like things.

"Just like I just told you, my daughter has been very opinionated since she was little, including when it comes to dating."

"Sigh, whenever I talk about this matter, I can't help but feel melancholy..."