71: Home

The door opened.

“Mom, what’s wrong?”

Perhaps because she had been cooped up in bed for too long, Tang Xinyi’s complexion appeared a bit rosy.

Chen Yaqin’s gaze lingered on her daughter’s face for a moment, and she understood.

She must have fallen for him.

This girl still said nothing was going on, but she had clearly spent the night with Xu Zimo yesterday.

This had never happened before.

However, Chen Yaqin didn’t expose her daughter’s thoughts; instead, she said, “Find a time and invite Zimo to come over for dinner.”

“Mom, there’s really nothing between him and me.”

“See, you’re getting anxious again.”

Compared to Tang Xinyi’s agitation, Chen Yaqin seemed much calmer and continued, “He took care of you all night; what’s wrong with inviting him to dinner?”

Afterward, she placed the clothes bag in her daughter’s room and walked out.

Honestly.

Such a grown-up, and her mother still had to worry about her.

“Remember, give him a call.”

The main reason was that she didn’t have Xu Zimo’s contact information; otherwise, she would have invited him herself.

The door was closed again.

Tang Xinyi walked back to her bed, slowly sat down, and stared at her phone, a bit lost in thought.

Should she invite Xu Zimo to dinner?

She wanted to, but as a girl, her modesty made her hesitate.

After all, they weren’t in any official relationship yet.

But what her mother said wasn’t wrong; Xu Zimo took care of her all night, so inviting him to dinner seemed perfectly reasonable, right?

So, she picked up her phone and repeatedly edited a message until noon before sending it: “Zimo, thank you for taking care of me last night. I’d like to treat you to a meal, if that’s okay?”

She didn’t mention coming home because she was treating him to dinner as a thank you for his help.

It was logical and reasonable.

But Tang Xinyi felt inexplicably nervous.

Perhaps… she was afraid of being rejected?

Xu Zimo returned to Binjiang Bay. Since he had given his assistant a day off and Jiang Yuwei and Feng Fangfang had gone to school, he was bored and simply took a nap.

One in the afternoon.

After waking up, he originally wanted to order something to eat, but then he saw Tang Xinyi’s message and immediately replied, “Sounds good, I’m hungry.”

Originally, Tang Xinyi had started to feel anxious because he hadn’t replied. When she suddenly saw the message, she was stunned for a moment and subconsciously sent a reply: “Then come over.”

Come over?

To her house for dinner?

Xu Zimo had thought they would find a restaurant, so he certainly wouldn’t refuse an invitation to eat at her home.

He was already considering how to get closer to her.

“Okay.”

After seeing this message, Tang Xinyi was first happy, then she panicked.

Xu Zimo was coming over for dinner?!

She hadn’t prepared anything.

She rushed out of her room. In the living room, her mother Chen Yaqin was serving the stir-fried dishes, and her Father Tang Rong was dishing out rice.

“Mom.”

“What’s wrong?”

Chen Yaqin put down the stir-fried pork with chili peppers she was holding and looked at her, puzzled.

“Zimo… Zimo said he’s coming over for dinner.”

When she said this, Tang Xinyi clearly mustered some courage. After all, she had said that morning that there was nothing between them.

Only a few hours later, she was inviting someone over for dinner… it felt like meeting the parents.

“Who’s coming over for dinner?”

Tang Rong, who was coming over with a bowl of rice, asked curiously.

Compared to him, Chen Yaqin’s eyes lit up. “Oh, why are you only telling me now, child?”

Tang Rong had already sat down and picked up his chopsticks to grab some food, but his wife poked him: “Go to the wet market and buy a fish, and then buy a chicken and a duck. Get some beef too…”

“Huh?”

“Huh what? Go quickly.”

As she spoke, Chen Yaqin snatched the chopsticks from his hand and transferred five hundred yuan to him.

Tang Rong was stunned. He and his wife were retired, and their combined monthly income was less than five thousand, so they were already living frugally.

Five hundred for one meal?

Were they not going to live anymore?

“Spend it all!”

That’s what Chen Yaqin instructed.

Tang Rong was pushed out the door, still in a state of bewilderment.

He hadn’t heard clearly just now, only that his daughter said someone seemed to be coming over for dinner… Was this person that important?

A new boyfriend?

That wasn’t right either; if it were a boyfriend visiting, there wouldn't be such a grand reception, would there?

Although he thought this, he still went downstairs and walked towards the wet market.

“Old Tang!”

Tang Rong looked in the direction of the voice. It was Yang Heshan, an old colleague and neighbor from the same community.

Yang Heshan asked, “Where are you off to?”

“To the wet market to buy some groceries.”

“Perfect then, I have something to discuss; let’s talk as we walk.”

Yang Heshan seemed quite enthusiastic, but Tang Rong remained impassive.

“It’s truly upsetting that your family went through such a thing, but it’s also a good thing. Tang Xinyi is a good child; she won’t have trouble finding a good husband.”

Tang Rong looked at him.

“Ahem, it’s like this, you remember Section Chief He, right? His son is still single, and he’s now a manager at Xingcheng Bank in our district…”

“Old Yang.”

Tang Rong interrupted him, “The child hasn’t recovered yet; let’s talk about such things later.”

After speaking, he quickened his pace and left.

“Stuck-up old man.”

Yang Heshan cursed softly, “Isn’t it just having a pretty daughter?”

...Binjiang Bay.

Xu Zimo sent a message to Lu Jiaqi, asking about the surrounding commercial areas.

Since he was going to her home for dinner, he naturally couldn't go empty-handed.

However, bringing too much would seem too deliberate, so he needed to bring something, but it had to be small… and expensive.

For men, it was naturally a watch.

For women, it was a bracelet.

Since the intention was to show goodwill, he naturally had to buy something well-known.

Xu Zimo glanced at his balance. For the watch, he chose a Rolex 126334 Mint Green, valued at 90,300.

The bracelet was from a jade shop Lu Jiaqi recommended. He chose an ice-green one with beautiful floating patterns, valued at 128,000.

Holding the two boxes, Xu Zimo drove to Tang Xinyi’s house.

Since he had been there before, he knew the way well.

“Zimo.”

Tang Xinyi opened the door.

She had been waiting in the living room, and after seeing Xu Zimo, her complexion visibly brightened, accompanied by a shy smile.

Truly a divine beauty.

So beautiful.

Xu Zimo was mesmerized for a moment.

“Zimo, you’re here.”

Chen Yaqin, still busy in the kitchen, also leaned out to greet him.

“Auntie.”

Xu Zimo snapped out of it and smoothly entered the house.

“Have a seat first. There are two more dishes, and they’ll be ready soon.”

Chen Yaqin greeted him while pushing Father Tang, who was still helping in the kitchen, out.

Seeing the somewhat familiar Xu Zimo, Tang Rong was clearly stunned for a moment.

Fortunately, his wife Chen Yaqin whispered something in his ear again, and his expression softened slightly.

“Uncle.”

“Come and sit.”

Tang Rong didn't seem overly enthusiastic, mainly because he had a bad impression of Wang Qiang’s family, and he still harbored doubts about Xu Zimo.

But… why was his daughter so close to him?

It even seemed like she was protecting him.