Chapter 71: Is a Ugly Daughter-in-Law Meeting Her Mother-in-Law?

The next morning, Ceng Li was using Wu Yuchen’s phone to make a call.

“Teacher Chang, I got food poisoning last night and am now lying in the hospital. Could you reschedule today’s exam for me?”

“Food poisoning? What happened? Is it serious?”

“I ate kidney beans in the school cafeteria last night—maybe they weren’t cooked through…”

“Ah, that’s impossible. The third round is only held today—no other time available. If you can’t come, you’ll be considered to have withdrawn. Ceng Li, I can at least arrange for you to go last in the talent segment. But you still need to get here as soon as possible—the third round includes group performances!”

“Alright then, Teacher Chang, I’ll do my best to come. Thank you!”

After Wu Yuchen took back his phone, he asked: “Still going?”

Ceng Li nodded: “I’ve prepared for so long—I have to go. I’m feeling much better than last night.”

Wu Yuchen smiled and said:

“Luckily, you already took your third round at Beidian the day before yesterday. Relax your mindset—maybe the exam question will be to perform a sickly beauty.”

“How could there be such luck~” Ceng Li chuckled softly at that.

“I’ll go ask the doctor what precautions you should take when you leave.” Wu Yuchen walked out of the ward.

A moment later, someone entered the room. Ceng Li thought it was Wu Yuchen returning, but when she looked up, she saw an unfamiliar middle-aged woman holding a stainless-steel thermos, staring intently at her.

Ceng Li felt embarrassed under the gaze and asked: “Auntie, who are you looking for?”

The middle-aged woman studied Ceng Li’s pretty face and gentle expression, then smiled warmly: “Girl, you’ve got food poisoning, right? Your complexion still looks awfully weak.”

“Ah, uh…” Ceng Li assumed this was a well-meaning woman who’d mistaken the room and just nodded vaguely.

“Little girl, your name is Ceng Li, right?” The woman smiled kindly.

Ceng Li was puzzled—she didn’t know this auntie at all.

When Wu Yuchen returned to the ward, he saw his mother, Zhou Shulan, standing beside the bed: “Mom, what are you doing here!”

Both women turned their heads at his voice.

Zhou Shulan still wore a smile: “Your friend’s this sick—I had to come check on her.”

But Ceng Li was stunned—her heart tightened instantly, as if a plain daughter-in-law were meeting her future mother-in-law for the first time. Her expression changed, and she hurried to sit up:

“Auntie, hello—I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize you were…”

Zhou Shulan quickly reached out to stop her: “Ah, don’t get up, Ceng Li. You’re still weak—just rest properly.”

Wu Yuchen also stepped forward to prevent her from rising.

Zhou Shulan handed the thermos to her son: “I brought you some—steamed buns and pickles.”

“Mom, she can’t eat any of this right now.”

“I know better than you. The bottom layer is white porridge—let her sip a little once she’s feeling better.”

“Ceng Li, rest well. I can’t stay long—I have to get back to work!”

Zhou Shulan smiled again at Ceng Li.

“Thank you, Auntie! Goodbye, Auntie!” Ceng Li forced the brightest smile she could muster.

Wu Yuchen noticed his mother giving him a look, so he set the thermos on the table and followed her out.

As soon as Wu Yuchen stepped out of the ward, Zhou Shulan pulled him aside and scolded:

“You brat, you’ve been dating a girlfriend and hiding her all this time—how much longer were you going to keep it secret until something happened?”

“Mom, we’re just…”

“Enough with your excuses. Nurse Li already told me: ‘Those two are so affectionate!’”

Zhou Shulan mimicked the nurse’s tone perfectly, leaving Wu Yuchen gaping, speechless.

“Is she your classmate?”

“No, just a friend. Mom, don’t ask anymore—just go to work!”

Zhou Shulan knew her son was grown; she couldn’t pry too much. She gave his arm a light slap:

“Fine, fine, I’m leaving. Go eat your food—do you really think I brought this just for your little girlfriend?”

Zhou Shulan didn’t linger further and walked toward her department.

Wu Yuchen watched his mother’s back and felt warmth in his chest. Though she nagged, she feared her child would go hungry—even one meal. Isn’t that what mothers are like?

When Wu Yuchen reentered, Ceng Li was already sitting up against the bed, wrapped in a coat. Seeing him, she looked flustered and asked:

“Did my mom say anything about me?”

“Nothing. Just told you to rest well.”

Ceng Li’s face fell: “Oh no—I didn’t even greet her properly, didn’t get up, my hair was a mess, I looked sickly… I must’ve looked awful…”

She felt she’d made a terrible impression meeting Wu Yuchen’s mother. The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became—even forgetting about the upcoming exam.

“Uh, Li Zi, don’t overthink it. My mom’s extremely kind-hearted—she won’t care about any of that. Look, she even brought you porridge.”

Wu Yuchen opened the thermos: on top, a bowl of steamed buns and pickles; below, white porridge.

He took out the bowl, poured some porridge into it, then brought it to Ceng Li’s lips:

“I asked the doctor—you can drink a little now. I’ll get you a small IV bag of saline before we leave.”

Ceng Li’s earlier regret faded slightly as the food reached her lips. She already had some strength in her hands, but she wanted to savor being fed by Wu Yuchen—her heart felt sweet.

At the entrance to the Central Drama Academy’s third-round audition hall, a teacher saw a man and woman approaching—the woman looked weak, an IV needle in her arm, the man holding an IV bag. He asked:

“What’s going on here?”

“Teacher, she’s the third-round candidate Ceng Li. She had food poisoning last night—we just came from the hospital. May I accompany her inside?”

“Oh, you’re Ceng Li? Quick, go in—the exam has already started.”

The door creaked open as they entered; every eye turned toward them. The handsome man and beautiful woman, with the IV bag between them, left a deep impression on everyone present.

Examiner Chang Li immediately recognized Ceng Li—but the handsome guy beside her? Was he a candidate too? Why didn’t she remember him?

Chang Li noticed the disruption in the hall and tapped the table with her finger:

“Focus, everyone. Continue with the performance.”

All candidates quickly returned their attention to the stage.

“Candidate No. 543!”

Wu Yuchen’s attention snapped to the candidate’s northeastern accent—he stared closely. Wasn’t that big, slightly clueless guy Liu Ye?