87: Chapter 87 Sis, is this your boyfriend?

Hu Tian sat opposite her, looking up at her, just watching and waiting.

Zhou Waner moved the phone slightly away from her ear, looked at him, and lowered her voice, "My mom wants us to go over for lunch; she's making dumplings."

Hu Tian set down his bowl and nodded without hesitation, "Sure."

Seeing him agree so readily, Zhou Waner was actually stunned for a moment. She pressed the phone back to her ear, "Mom, he said okay. We'll be over at noon."

"Good!"

Lin Xiulan's tone immediately became lively, carrying a hint of undisguised joy, "Then come over early, don't make me wait too long. I'll make extra dumplings; he has a good appetite, right?"

"He can eat."

"That's good, that's good."

Lin Xiulan repeated it twice, her tone full of anticipation. Finally, she added another instruction, "Waner, change your clothes before coming. Don't wear the same outfit as yesterday."

Zhou Waner: ...

She couldn't catch her breath and said in a low voice, "Mom!"

Lin Xiulan chuckled softly on the other end, "Alright, alright, go get ready. See you at noon."

After hanging up, Zhou Waner turned off her phone and placed it on the table. She fell silent for a moment before looking up, catching Hu Tian's gaze.

The corners of Hu Tian's mouth were curved—not deeply, but noticeably.

Zhou Waner set down her chopsticks and sighed, "Stop smiling."

"I'm not smiling."

"You clearly are."

Hu Tian flattened his expression, looking serious, "I'm not."

Zhou Waner stared at him for two seconds. His serious facade actually made her lose her composure, and she let out a soft laugh before lowering her head and pretending to look at her bowl.

After breakfast, Zhou Waner borrowed one of Hu Tian's hoodies. It was much too wide for her, so she rolled the sleeves up twice, and the hem hung down to cover half her thighs, but it was comfortable to wear. She stood before the full-length mirror for a moment, adjusting the collar. Hu Tian walked up behind her, paused with his head near the crown of her hair, and then walked past to grab his keys. "Let's go."

Zhou Waner gave an affirmative response and followed him.

The car drove out of Yunding No. 1. As they passed the gravel path, Zhou Waner turned her head to look out the window. The pot of bougainvillea looked exceptionally vibrant in the morning light, its pinkish-purple flowers clustered densely together. A gentle breeze blew, and the flower branches swayed slightly before falling still again.

She turned her face back, resting her hands on her lap, her fingertips moving unconsciously. "My mom..."

She spoke in a flat voice, "Don't be nervous. She's a very good person, she just talks a lot and might ask you many things."

"Mm."

"Just answer her truthfully, no need to beat around the bush. She dislikes people who beat around the bush the most."

"Understood."

Zhou Waner tilted her head to look at him. Hu Tian was looking ahead with a steady expression, no different from usual. She watched him for two seconds. "You're not nervous?"

Hu Tian turned his face and gave her a very calm look. "Nervous about what?"

Zhou Waner fell silent again. "Meeting the parents doesn't make you nervous?"

Hu Tian withdrew his gaze and focused back on the road ahead, pausing for a beat. "I'm meeting your mom, not you."

Zhou Waner was stunned for a second, then gave a soft "mm" and turned her head toward the car window. Watching the shadows of trees and streetlights retreat rapidly, the tips of her ears quietly grew hot again.

The car became quiet, with only the low hum of the engine as it moved steadily forward.

Zhou Waner's fingers clenched slightly and then relaxed. Looking out the window, the corners of her mouth slowly curved up a bit—gently, carefully, like that pot of bougainvillea outside, blooming quietly and soundlessly in the wind.

The drive took about thirty minutes.

Leaving the city area, the road gradually widened. The green belts on both sides were replaced by low shrubs and scattered tall trees. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches, falling in dappled spots on the hood of the car.

Zhou Waner didn't say much more along the way, occasionally checking the navigation or looking down at her phone, though the screen didn't light up many times before she put it back on her lap.

Hu Tian focused on driving, neither rushed nor slow. He held the steering wheel steadily and maintained a uniform speed. When passing a bumpy section of the road, he slowed down slightly, and the car body only swayed minorly before passing through.

After another hundred meters, a row of villas appeared on the right. They had blue-brick walls covered in lush green ivy. The courtyard gates were made of solid wood painted deep brown, looking heavy and stable.

Hu Tian parked the car in front of a courtyard gate. Just as he turned off the engine and before he could push open the car door, the gate moved.

The gate was pulled open quickly from the inside with such agility that it seemed someone had been waiting behind it for a long time. A woman walked out with brisk steps and a spirited demeanor. She appeared to be in her early fifties, her hair combed neatly, wearing a lotus-root-pink knit cardigan that complemented her complexion. She had large eyes, and her features bore several resemblances to Zhou Waner; it was Lin Xiulan.

Standing at the entrance, her gaze immediately fell upon Hu Tian as he walked around the front of the car. Her steps instinctively faltered. Her eyes swept over him first, then stopped, sizing him up from bottom to top and back again—quickly, but with an irrepressible curiosity.

Since being transformed by the system, Hu Tian's entire state was fundamentally different from before.

The change wasn't superficial or supported by clothing; it seeped out from within. His bone structure was rugged, his features distinct, his brows sharp, and his jawline clear. Standing there, his back was straight and his shoulders relaxed; it wasn't forced, but he naturally carried an air of presence.

Today he wore a dark-colored light jacket over a simple white shirt. He hadn't fastened the top button of the collar, and his sleeves were casually rolled up once, revealing hands that were long, powerful, and well-defined. He appeared both clean-cut and masculine. His masculinity wasn't flashy but deep-seated, like a piece of heavy metal—unassuming, yet the weight was palpable the moment one drew near.

Lin Xiulan watched for two seconds, and the expression on her face relaxed. The corners of her mouth curved up quickly and genuinely.

Zhou Waner followed him around and immediately saw her mother's expression. She sighed inwardly and stepped forward. "Mom."

"Ah."

Lin Xiulan responded, withdrawing her gaze from Hu Tian to look at her daughter. She scanned her up and down, her gaze lingering on the oversized hoodie. Her eyebrows twitched slightly, but she said nothing, shifting her eyes back to Hu Tian. The smile on her face deepened as she took half a step forward and said briskly, "This must be Little Hu. Come, come, come inside quickly!"

Hu Tian nodded slightly, his tone steady. "Hello, Auntie."

With just those three words—low-pitched, unhurried, and neither humble nor arrogant—Lin Xiulan processed them in her mind. She nodded, the curve of her mouth rising further as she stepped aside to make way. "Good, good, good. Let's talk inside. Why stand outside? Come in quickly."

Stepping through the gate, they entered a sizable front courtyard.

The courtyard was kept clean with bluestone paving. Large ceramic pots were placed in the corners, filled with greenery. One pot of bougainvillea was in full bloom, fiery red and intensely vibrant.

Along one wall was a row of low boxwoods, trimmed neatly with sharp lines.

An off-road vehicle was parked on the right side of the courtyard. On the left, against the wall, was a set of stone tables and stools, with an unfinished cup of tea still sitting on the tabletop.

The main building was a three-story European-style villa. The exterior walls were painted cream-white with clean lines. Circular columns stood on either side of the main entrance, looking heavy and somewhat grand. The large floor-to-ceiling windows were polished bright, reflecting the scenery of the courtyard and the sky.

Lin Xiulan pushed open the main door to reveal an even more spacious interior. Stepping inside, the floor was light-colored marble, smooth and glossy, reflecting the lights overhead. The entrance was a wide foyer with symmetrical shoe cabinets and changing stools on both sides. Directly ahead was the living room, with a vaulted ceiling that made the space feel open the moment one entered.

The furniture in the living room was solid. The sofa was deep coffee-colored genuine leather, large and comfortable. The coffee table was dark solid wood, topped with a tea set. On the fireplace-style feature wall hung a landscape painting with flowing ink strokes, showing quite a bit of taste.

A small round table and two rattan chairs were placed near the window. The curtains were cream-white and currently drawn open, allowing sunlight to slant through the floor-to-ceiling window, making the interior warm and bright.

The hallway on the right led to the dining room. A fragrance was already wafting from the kitchen—a misty, warm scent of dumpling skin dough mixed with the freshness of soup base, making one feel grounded just by smelling it.

Lin Xiulan invited Hu Tian to sit on the sofa while she turned to the coffee table and skillfully lifted the teapot. "Would you like tea or water? Old Zhou brought back some Xianggu Liao Baihao a couple of days ago. Will you have some?"

"Tea is fine, thank you, Auntie."

"Ah, you're welcome."

Lin Xiulan poured the tea and then peered toward the stairs, raising her voice, "Shaochen! Shaochen! Come down!"

There was no movement from upstairs.

Lin Xiulan frowned and called out again, "Shaochen, your sister is here!"

This time there was a reaction. First came the sound of running from the stairs—fast, like a little cannonball. Then came the 'thud thud thud' of footsteps rushing down from the second floor. With a hand on the railing, a person half-slid and half-jumped off the stairs onto the floor. It was Zhou Waner's younger brother, Zhou Shaochen.

At sixteen, he had already shot up in height, standing a head taller than Zhou Waner. He wore an oversized basketball jersey over casual pants and slippers. His hair was a mess and uncombed, clearly showing he had just emerged from his room after playing games. However, his features carried a spirited energy; his eyes were bright, and his mouth was grinned in an irrepressible liveliness.

He bounded into the living room and saw Zhou Waner first, tilting his chin at her. "Sis, you're back."

Immediately, his gaze shifted to Hu Tian. He froze for a moment before quickly sizing him up. His eyes blinked, and he turned to Zhou Waner, lowering his voice though it wasn't quiet at all. "Sis, is this your boyfriend?"

Zhou Waner turned her face slightly and whispered, "Greet him."

Zhou Shaochen shrunk his neck, looked back at Hu Tian, walked forward two steps nonchalantly, shoved his hands into his pockets, and grinned. "Hello, Brother-in-law!"

That "Brother-in-law" was called out so crisply that the living room fell silent for a beat.

Zhou Waner: ...

She slowly turned her head to look at her brother. Her gaze was calm, but the temperature was approximately zero. "Zhou Shaochen."

Zhou Shaochen moved back half a step under that gaze, but he was still smiling. "What's the difference what I call him?"

Sitting on the sofa, Hu Tian glanced at Zhou Shaochen. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly. His gaze held a hint of scrutiny but wasn't harsh, landing steadily on him. "You must be Shaochen."