178: Chapter 178 I really... really like it.

"No need to prepare anything deliberately; she doesn't care about those things."

"That won't do."

Zhou Waner was very insistent. "It's my first time visiting, I must bring something."

Hu Tian thought for a moment. "She likes flowers and also enjoys collecting some old items, but you don't need to prepare these specially; I'll take you to pick them out when the time comes."

Zhou Waner noted these points down one by one, then asked again. "And what about Uncle?"

"My dad..." Hu Tian paused. "He doesn't talk much, but he isn't fierce either; he just looks rather serious."

Zhou Waner was a bit nervous. "Then, will he not like me?"

"He won't."

"How do you know?"

"Because you are you."

Zhou Waner was stunned for a moment, her face turning even redder. She lowered her head and whispered, "Then what does he like?"

"He likes fishing, reading, and listening to opera."

Zhou Waner continued to take notes. "Fishing... reading... listening to opera... then could I get him a nice set of fishing rods? Or... ancient books?"

"He already has many fishing rods, but as for ancient books..." Hu Tian thought for a moment. "If you really want to give him one, I can help you pick a suitable one."

"Okay."

Zhou Waner breathed a sigh of relief and asked again. "Then will they... feel...? Or... that I'm not good enough for you?"

Hu Tian looked at her. "They won't."

"How do you know again?"

"Because I say so."

Zhou Waner looked up at him, her eyes brightening slightly. "Really?"

"Really."

She felt a bit more reassured, put away her phone, and asked again. "Then does your family... have any rules? Like what to pay attention to when eating, or... what not to do when elders are present?"

Hu Tian felt a bit helpless. "There aren't that many rules; just be yourself."

"That won't do." Zhou Waner was very serious. "It's the first time meeting the parents; I must make a good impression."

Hu Tian looked at her nervous expression and reached out to ruffle her hair. "Relax, my parents aren't the type who are difficult to get along with."

Zhou Waner was still a bit nervous. "But... what if they don't like me?"

"Then we'll let them learn to like you slowly."

"What if they never like me?"

Hu Tian was silent for a moment, then looked at her earnestly. "That doesn't matter; me liking you is enough."

Zhou Waner's heart warmed, but she still muttered softly. "How can that be..."

"It is enough."

Hu Tian's tone was calm but very firm. "But rest assured, they will like you."

Zhou Waner looked at him, her eyes slightly moist, but she held it back and just nodded.

After a moment of silence, she asked again. "Then do you... have any siblings?"

"No, I'm an only child."

"Oh..." Zhou Waner let out a sigh of relief, but then felt a bit nervous again. "Then will they have very high expectations of me? After all, you're an only child..."

"They won't." Hu Tian was very certain. "They only hope I live well; as for who I'm with, they won't interfere."

After hearing this, Zhou Waner felt a bit more relaxed, but she couldn't help but continue asking. "Then what's the atmosphere like in your family? Is it very serious, or relatively relaxed?"

"Relatively relaxed." Hu Tian thought for a moment. "My mom talks a lot, and my dad talks little, but they get along very well. During meals, my mom talks about many things, and my dad just listens on the side, occasionally responding."

Zhou Waner imagined the scene and thought it was quite heartwarming; the nervousness in her heart faded a bit more.

"Then... what about when you were a child? Were they strict with you?"

Hu Tian recalled. "It was okay; not particularly strict, but they wouldn't leave me to my own devices either."

"Then were you naughty when you were a child?"

"Not really."

Zhou Waner smiled. "I guessed as much; you don't look like the type who would be a troublemaker."

Hu Tian didn't speak, just looked at her with a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Zhou Waner felt a bit embarrassed by his gaze and changed the subject. "Then... do your parents know about me?"

"They know a little."

"Know what?"

"They know you are my girlfriend."

Zhou Waner's face flushed again. "Then... what did they say?"

"They didn't say much, just told me to bring you back during the National Day holiday."

"Just like that?"

"Yeah."

Zhou Waner couldn't quite believe it. "Aren't they... curious about what I do for a living? What I look like? What my personality is like?"

"My mom did ask." Hu Tian said, "I told her your personality is great and that you are very pretty."

Zhou Waner covered her face. "That's all you said?"

"Yeah."

"Then how did your mom reply?"

"She said, 'Then hurry up and bring her back for us to see.'"

Zhou Waner lowered her hands, her eyes brightening. "Your mom... sounds very easygoing."

"She is quite easygoing."

Zhou Waner breathed a huge sigh of relief and relaxed significantly, leaning back on the sofa and looking at the ceiling. "That's good... I thought it would be really difficult..."

Hu Tian watched her relax and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

After a moment of silence, Zhou Waner sat upright again and looked at him. "Then... should I prepare in advance? For example... learn more about the customs and habits of your hometown?"

"No need, just treat it like a trip."

"That won't do..." Zhou Waner was very serious. "I need to appear polite."

Hu Tian looked at her. "You are already very polite."

"That's different." Zhou Waner insisted. "Everyday is everyday, meeting the parents is meeting the parents."

Hu Tian felt a bit helpless but went along with her. "Then how do you want to prepare?"

Zhou Waner thought about it. "Can I learn a little of the local dialect there in advance?"

"Sure, but you don't need to force yourself to learn it; my parents both speak Mandarin."

"I still want to learn a bit." Zhou Waner said, "It will seem more intimate that way."

Hu Tian looked at her serious expression and nodded. "Alright, I'll teach you."

"Great!" Zhou Waner immediately perked up, took out her phone to take notes. "Teach me some common phrases first."

Hu Tian thought for a moment. "For example, 'Have you eaten?' In our hometown, we say..."

He said it in dialect once. Zhou Waner was completely confused, tried repeating it a few times, but her pronunciation wasn't quite right.

Hu Tian patiently taught her over and over, and Zhou Waner learned very earnestly. The two practiced like this for over half an hour, and Zhou Waner was finally able to say a few decent phrases in the dialect.

"How was that?" She was a bit proud. "I learned it pretty well, right?"

"Not bad." Hu Tian nodded. "It'll be even better if you practice more."

Zhou Waner was very satisfied and reviewed the notes on her phone again, confirming she hadn't missed any important information.

After reading, she asked again. "Then... where will we stay during the National Day holiday? At your house?"

"Yeah, at home."

"Then..." Zhou Waner was a bit embarrassed. "Which room will I stay in?"

"What do you think?"

Zhou Waner's ears turned red, and she covered her face and nuzzled further into Hu Tian's embrace.

Zhou Waner was quiet for another moment, then suddenly asked. "Brother Hu Tian, do you think... if I don't make a good impression, will your parents forbid us from being together?"

Hu Tian looked up at her. "They won't."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I said it; I like you, and they won't object."

Zhou Waner looked at him, her eyes slightly moist, but she held it back and just whispered. "Thank you, Brother Hu Tian."

Hu Tian didn't speak, just reached out and ruffled her hair.

The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and the lights in the room came on. The two lay there quietly, neither breaking the tranquility.

Zhou Waner was leaning on Hu Tian's shoulder when she suddenly remembered something and sat up straight. "Oh right, Brother Hu Tian, I have to go back to school tomorrow."

Hu Tian was stunned. "So soon?"

"Yeah." Zhou Waner nodded, her expression somewhat helpless. "My supervisor called me this afternoon and said there's an academic exchange activity tomorrow afternoon that I must attend."

"What kind of exchange activity?"

"Prof. Lin Ru is taking us to a university and a museum for an exchange; it seems to be a seminar on ancient bronze restoration technology."

Zhou Waner explained, "The supervisor said the experts coming this time are the top in the industry, and I must go to learn."

Hu Tian heard the reluctance in her tone. "Then how long will you stay?"

"At least two days." Zhou Waner sighed. "And two days later, I have to follow the supervisor back to Jinling; there's a batch of artifacts waiting for restoration in the research group, and the supervisor is pushing very hard."

Hu Tian was silent for a moment. "So that means we can't see each other for the next few days?"

"Yeah..." Zhou Waner lowered her head, her voice somewhat muffled. "I originally wanted to spend more time with you, but then..."

"It's fine, your studies are important." Hu Tian said, but there was still some disappointment in his tone.

Zhou Waner looked up at him, her eyes slightly red. "I don't want to leave either... but I really can't turn down the supervisor, and this exchange is indeed quite important."

"I know." Hu Tian reached out and held her hand. "Go with peace of mind; it's not like I don't understand."

"But..." Zhou Waner bit her lip. "We haven't seen each other for so long; we finally got to meet, and now we have to separate... I really... quite cherish you."

By the end, her voice was a bit choked up.

Hu Tian looked at her state and felt bad too, but he still pretended to be relaxed and said, "It's only for a few days; it's not like we won't see each other again."

"But..." Zhou Waner looked up, tears already welling up in her eyes. "I just can't bear to part..."

Hu Tian was silent for a moment, sighed, and pulled her into his arms. "Don't cry, you being like this makes it even harder for me to let you go."

Zhou Waner leaned on his chest, and tears finally fell, wetting his shirt. "I know I'm being overly sentimental... but I just can't help it..."

"You're not being sentimental." Hu Tian gently patted her back. "I don't want you to leave either."

Zhou Waner stayed in his arms for a while, her emotions calming down a bit. She looked up, her eyes still red. "Then... after I leave, will you miss me?"

"Yes."

"How much?"

"A lot."

Zhou Waner wasn't satisfied with that answer. "Be more specific."

Hu Tian thought for a moment. "Enough that I can't sleep."

Zhou Waner was satisfied then, the corners of her mouth curving slightly. "Then you must call me every day."

"Okay."

"And send me messages every day."

"Okay."

"And..." Zhou Waner thought. "And send me photos of what you're doing."

"Alright, I'll do whatever you say."

Zhou Waner finally broke into a smile through her tears, wiping them away with the back of her hand. "Then it's a promise; you're not allowed to lie to me."

"I won't lie to you."