Chapter 65: Who isn't a good kid?

"What? You're going to Xia Nuannuan's house tomorrow at noon?"

Zhang Peng exclaimed in disbelief.

Several Grade 12 students who had just finished school were startled and cast curious glances at the two of them.

"Keep it down, what are you shouting about?"

Qin Tian glared at him, annoyed.

Zhang Peng nodded vigorously, lowered his voice, and asked, "Brother Tian, has the secret been exposed?"

Qin Tian's mouth twitched a few times, and he wore an expression of utter disdain: "What are you talking about? Did your brain get caught in a door?"

"Uh... sorry, sorry."

Zhang Peng gave a sheepish smile and said seriously, "Could it be that Xia Nuannuan's dad wants you to see their immense wealth so you'll know to retreat in the face of difficulty?"

"You're overthinking it. It's just to thank me for the improvement in Xia Nuannuan's grades recently, so they're inviting me for a meal."

Qin Tian was unimpressed.

"I think you're taking it too lightly, Brother Tian. You need to take this seriously!"

Zhang Peng spoke in an earnest tone, his face solemn as he continued:

"Look, we only saw her dad last night, and today you're invited to their house for a meal. It's obvious: her dad knows you're eyeing his precious daughter and is about to make a move on you."

"Aren't there many plots like this in those TV dramas? A wealthy young master falls in love with a grassroots heroine, then his family opposes it and uses all sorts of methods to force the heroine to give up her improper thoughts."

"It's obvious that for you two, it's the other way around!"

After listening to this guy's speculation, Qin Tian rolled his eyes, speechless: "How come I never noticed before that you have such an active imagination? I think you could go write novels."

Zhang Peng curled his lips and said, "Anyway, I think it's highly likely. Brother Tian, this hurdle tomorrow won't be easy to get over!"

Qin Tian didn't waste any more breath on him, a thoughtful look appearing on his face.

He hadn't taken Zhang Peng's exaggerated imagination to heart.

After all, the mother-in-law should still be on his side; if it were truly as Zhang Peng said, there wouldn't be an invitation at all.

Of course, he also knew that tomorrow's lunch wouldn't be easy to eat.

Even if it was the mother-in-law's idea, that future father-in-law wouldn't let him enjoy a delicious lunch easily.

He had dated in his previous life, but he had never actually visited a partner's parents.

He hadn't expected that in this second life, this hurdle would come so quickly and so suddenly.

"Forget it, I won't think about it. I've already decided: let nature take its course."

Qin Tian really didn't have any experience in this area and couldn't figure out what difficulties he would face tomorrow.

And so, he simply gave up on thinking.

……

……

After parting ways with Zhang Peng, Qin Tian headed home.

His mother told him to sit in the room and watch some TV while she got up to go to the kitchen in the back to boil him a bowl of frozen dumplings for a late-night snack.

Qin Tian pondered whether to tell his mother about going to Xia Nuannuan's house, picked up his chopsticks, dipped a dumpling in some vinegar, opened his mouth, and ate it in one bite.

"Hoo... hoo..."

Distracted, he was burned by the dumpling and kept blowing air.

"Xiao Tian, what are you thinking about?"

Tang Xiuxia noticed her son had something on his mind and asked with a frown.

"Ah? Nothing!"

Qin Tian subconsciously played dumb, baring his teeth as he chewed the piping-hot dumpling in his mouth.

"Is that so?"

Tang Xiuxia folded her arms and looked him over with a meaningful gaze.

This was the flesh and blood she had carried for ten months and raised alone for over a decade; how could she not tell if her son was saying one thing but meaning another?

"Alright, alright, I'll confess."

Qin Tian felt a bit unnerved by his mother's gaze, which seemed to pierce right through him, so he simply laid his cards on the table.

Tang Xiuxia leaned back on the sofa, a faint smile appearing on her face.

"Go ahead, what surprise have you prepared for me this time!"

The surprise last night was a bit too big, and she still hadn't fully recovered from it.

She was afraid her son would hit her with another heavy blow, so it was better to sit firmly.

"Ahem."

Qin Tian cleared his throat with a fist to his mouth. After brewing for a few seconds, he looked at his mother sitting opposite him with a nervous gaze and spoke cautiously:

"Mom, it's like this: I have a girl I like, and I'm planning to go to her house for a meal tomorrow at noon."

As his voice fell, the room fell into a long silence.

Tang Xiuxia's eyes widened slightly, and she sat there motionless like a statue, as if she had been hit by the Monkey King's immobilization spell.

Thinking of last night's events, Qin Tian moved the bowl of dumplings on the coffee table closer to himself, watching his mother quietly with blinking eyes, waiting for her to come back to her senses.

After a good while, seeing that his mother still hadn't reacted, Qin Tian, with a strong heart, continued to eat his dumplings.

He ate two more dumplings at a steady pace and was just about to eat the third when—

Very abruptly, his mother's voice, which sounded like she was gritting her teeth, rang out:

"You're still eating quite happily, aren't you?"

Qin Tian's movements stiffened, the dumpling held by his chopsticks hung in mid-air, and he opened his mouth wide as he slowly raised his eyes to look at her.

"Give it to me."

Tang Xiuxia pointed at the bowl in front of him.

Qin Tian shook his head like a rattle, showing a pitiful expression, and said somewhat indistinctly: "Mom, I've only eaten three, I'm not full yet!"

Having said that, he hurriedly tried to stuff the dumpling on his chopsticks into his mouth.

"Stop!"

Tang Xiuxia barked.

Qin Tian's movements stalled again.

"Put it back. Until you've explained everything from start to finish, you're not allowed to eat a single one."

Tang Xiuxia pointed at the bowl in front of him, her tone an unquestionable command.

"Oh!"

Qin Tian hung his head and obediently put the dumpling back.

In front of his respected mother, no matter how old he was, he was still just a baby.

"Speak, explain it clearly. No more hiding anything. I want to see today what kind of 'good deeds' you've been up to at school, you little brat."

Tang Xiuxia said expressionlessly.

"Mom, you're exaggerating. I haven't violated any discipline!"

"Cut the crap, get to the point. Who is that girl? And why are you going to her house for a meal?"

"Don't be in such a rush, Mom. I'm telling you, I'm telling you!"

Qin Tian didn't dare to beat around the bush anymore and spilled the beans, telling his mother the whole story from beginning to end.

During this process, the expression on Tang Xiuxia's face changed constantly, which could be described as quite spectacular.

"And that's how it is."

After Qin Tian finished speaking, he looked down at the dumplings in the bowl and looked at his mother opposite him with an inquiring gaze.

Tang Xiuxia's eyes twitched, and she asked: "So, you're saying it's the mother of this... girl named Xia Nuannuan who invited you to their house for a meal?"

"Mm-hmm!"

Qin Tian nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

"Just to thank you for helping her daughter with her studies?"

"Mm-hmm!"

"So, are you two dating or not?"

Qin Tian subconsciously wanted to nod, but fortunately, he reacted in time and shook his head in a panic.

"No."

"Hmm?"

Tang Xiuxia frowned.

"Not yet."

Qin Tian added with a sheepish smile: "We've made an agreement that after the college entrance exam... well... you know."

"Don't wink at me."

"Oh!"

Qin Tian immediately restrained his expression and adopted a serious attitude. ===== CHAPTER 66 =====