Mi Xue’s mother, Wu Fenglan, was a simple woman, an elementary school teacher. Mi Xue used to go to school with her mother when she was little. Seeing Zhang Yang constantly moving things around, Wu Fenglan quickly called out to him.

"Sure thing, thanks, Auntie!"

Zhang Yang grinned, made himself completely at home, walked straight to the living room, grabbed a water glass, and downed the contents. He was truly parched.

Initially, Zhang Yang was a bit nervous. Meeting the parents was entirely new territory for him, but the moment he arrived, that tension completely vanished. After all, Zhang Yang had the psychological fortitude that came from living two lifetimes.

"Auntie, this is a gift for you. Mi Xue mentioned you love reading, so I specifically bought some books for you. I hope they suit your taste!"

Zhang Yang pulled out a cardboard box from a bag. It was filled with various books—all foreign classics that had been translated. He had carefully asked Mi Xue, knowing her mother was an intellectual who disliked flashy jewelry and gold, preferring foreign literature above all else. Zhang Yang had specially purchased a dozen volumes.

Indeed, Wu Fenglan’s eyes lit up the moment she saw the books, and a smile spread across her face.

"Xiao Zhang, how could you? These books must have cost quite a bit!"

Wu Fenglan was genuinely pleased. She loved reading and often bought books for herself, but very few people ever gifted them to her. In the local mindset, giving books now seemed outdated; people preferred to give more valuable, yet utterly useless, decorative items rather than books, unless it was for a child.

"Mom, it wasn't much. It’s Zhang Yang’s thoughtfulness; please accept them!"

Mi Xue smiled sweetly, linking arms with her mother, speaking intimately. Zhang Yang also chuckled. Mi Xue’s mother was indeed a very simple person. In truth, these books hadn't cost much—a mere fraction compared to other gifts—but because they struck the right chord with her, she became concerned about the expense. A box of books was only about two or three hundred yuan.

"Alright then, I’ll keep them. Don't just stand there talking; sit down and rest!"

Wu Fenglan opened the box and looked inside, her smile deepening. There were several books in there she had recently wanted to buy. A gift so perfectly suited to her taste was bound to bring joy.

"Mom, where's Dad?"

Mi Xue asked again. Zhang Yang straightened up in his seat. Getting the future mother-in-law’s approval seemed fine, but he wondered about the father.

Wu Fenglan sighed, "Oh, him? Meetings all day, busy with work. You won’t see him until evening!"

Mi Xue wrinkled her nose and murmured, "Still the same? Drinking every day?"

"Yes, despite his bad stomach, he drinks every day. I worry he’ll end up with real problems eventually!"

Mentioning Mi Xue’s father caused Wu Fenglan’s smile to fade considerably. At this point, Zhang Yang was even more certain that Mi Xue’s father held an official position. Constant socializing over drinks was typical for businessmen, or those in government circles. Given the size of this government family compound, Mi Xue’s father was likely someone of considerable rank.

"Da Ben, whose Da Ben is that? Mom, do we have guests?"

A loud shout suddenly came from outside—the voice sounded young and slightly excited.

"Xiao An is back!"

Mi Xue instantly jumped up, excitement coloring her face. Xiao An was Mi An, Mi Xue’s younger brother, a high school sophomore still taking supplementary classes during summer break to prepare for next year's Gaokao. Mi Xue hadn't seen her brother in nearly half a year, and hearing his voice made her restless.

Wu Fenglan also rose. The front gate swung open, and a young man, nearly six feet tall, rolled a bicycle inside. The young man still looked quite boyish, clearly young, but his height was undeniable. In this era, in this place, he definitely stood out as tall.

"Xiao An!"

Standing at the living room entrance, Mi Xue called out. The incoming young man paused slightly, quickly parked his bike, and rushed over excitedly.

"Sis, when did you get back? I asked Mom today why you weren't home yet even though school was out!"

Mi An was taller than Mi Xue, but the siblings looked quite alike. Mi An had very fair skin and was clearly a handsome boy.

"I just arrived. You've gotten thinner!"

Mi Xue looked her brother up and down with a hint of maternal concern. He was tall and good-looking, but painfully thin—at a quick glance, he looked like a telephone pole.

"How can I not be thin? Non-stop tutoring, tutoring, tutoring!"

Mi An pouted, only then noticing Zhang Yang beside him, and immediately asked, "Sis, who is this?"

"Xiao An, right? I’m Zhang Yang, your sister’s classmate, and her boyfriend!"

Before Mi Xue could speak, Zhang Yang took the initiative to introduce himself. Mi Xue gave Zhang Yang a grateful look; introducing a boyfriend to her brother was much less awkward than introducing him to her mother, which had made her truly shy.

"Boyfriend? Sis, you’re dating?"

Mi An sounded utterly astonished, exclaiming loudly as if something utterly unbelievable had happened.

"What are you shouting about? Zhang Yang bought you a mountain bike, see if you like it!"

Mi Xue’s face flushed bright red, and she pinched her brother. Zhang Yang quickly retrieved the gift for Mi An—a brand-new, top-of-the-line geared mountain bike. The bike was red, Mi An’s favorite color, and he was immediately captivated the moment it was revealed.

Mi An loved bicycles, especially racing ones like this, but his family wouldn't buy him one. He had mentioned this to Mi Xue during casual chats, and Mi Xue had relayed it to Zhang Yang. Mi Xue had forgotten, but Zhang Yang had kept it in mind and specifically bought the bike this time.

"Sis, you’re the best!"

Mi An cheered, immediately grabbing the bicycle, constantly examining it and fiddling with the gear shifters.

"If anyone’s the best, it’s Zhang Yang; he bought it for you, not me," Mi Xue smiled, shaking her head, and saying softly.

"Brother-in-law, you're the best!"

Mi An shouted again, and by the time he spoke, he was already straddling the bike, riding toward the door. His single word, "Brother-in-law," made Mi Xue’s face turn red again. Watching her son cheerfully ride off, Wu Fenglan could only chase after him, cautioning him to be careful and not ride too fast.

Wu Fenglan returned to the living room, her face still beaming—it was clear she was genuinely happy. Yet, beneath the bright smile, a trace of worry lingered.

"Mom, can you call Dad and ask him to come home tonight?"

Mi Xue linked arms with her mother and spoke softly. This was Zhang Yang’s first visit, meeting her family; everyone should be present for the formal introduction.

"Alright, I’ll call," Wu Fenglan nodded, walking over to the telephone. Her brow furrowed briefly, and she finally let out a soft sigh before dialing the number.

Mi Xue’s father was named Mi Zhiguo; he was indeed a government cadre, the deputy county magistrate. Even if he wasn't on the standing committee, an ordinary deputy magistrate was a significant official in the eyes of the common people. This explained why Mi Xue’s living conditions were generally better than others', enabling her to afford a costly pager like the one Zhang Yang possessed. After all, having a father who was an official put them a step ahead. However, Zhang Yang didn't know this yet; Mi Xue had only told him her father was working, not his actual rank.

The call concluded quickly. Wu Fenglan looked up and smiled at Mi Xue, "Your father is very happy to hear you’re back. He’ll be home right away!"

"That’s wonderful! I’ll go out and buy some groceries; we’ll have a feast tonight!"

Mi Xue exclaimed happily. Her father’s presence meant a family reunion, allowing her to formally introduce Zhang Yang and secure their tacit approval.

"Your Uncle might be with him; he might come too," Wu Fenglan added. Mi Xue’s brow immediately furrowed in displeasure.

"Why would he come? What’s he doing here?"

"You shouldn't talk like that; he is your uncle. He’s with your father now, and since he heard you were here, why shouldn’t he come to see you?" Wu Fenglan said quietly. Mi Xue's face fell completely.

Zhang Yang, standing nearby, felt a slight twitch in his own brow. Mi Xue had told him about many relatives, but never this uncle, and he hadn't prepared a gift for him.

"Xiao Xue, don't go out. You two sit here; I'll go buy the groceries!"

Wu Fenglan insisted. Mi Xue offered to go with her, but Wu Fenglan refused, telling her to stay and keep Zhang Yang company. Since this was Zhang Yang’s first visit and he was a guest, he shouldn't be left alone. Besides, the market was very close, and buying groceries wouldn't take long.

"What’s the deal with your uncle?"

Once Wu Fenglan left, Zhang Yang asked quietly.

"It’s nothing; let’s not talk about him. My dad will be back soon, so you must be careful—he’s an old stick-in-the-mud!"

Mi Xue offered a slight smile, steering the conversation away.

"Don't worry, I can handle any old stick-in-the-mud," Zhang Yang laughed. Seeing Mi Xue reluctant to elaborate, he didn't press further. Every family had its difficult issues; his own family had plenty of unresolved matters.

"Don't worry, Dad dotes on me the most. As long as I like you, he definitely won't object!"

Mi Xue walked over and sat on Zhang Yang’s lap, giving him a light kiss. The pair looked exceptionally sweet together.

Before long, someone returned to the house. Mi Xue quickly stood up, a slight flush still on her cheeks. When they were alone, they had been hugging, holding, and kissing. Being at home felt entirely different from being outside; they both experienced a unique sense of thrill.

The first to return was surprisingly Mi An. He had ridden his bike around the block and came back, seemingly realizing that riding off so abruptly had been impolite. Upon returning, he lavished Zhang Yang with thanks, repeatedly calling him "Brother-in-law," which made Zhang Yang roar with laughter. Mi An already knew that Da Ben referred to Zhang Yang, and he begged Zhang Yang to take him for a spin, as Da Ben was much cooler than his mountain bike.

Mi Xue quickly vetoed the idea before Zhang Yang could agree; the rest of the family would be back soon, and they couldn't leave now. Mi An was disappointed and quietly settled down to wait.

First chapter done, 55 votes! Only 14 more votes needed for ten chapters. Xiao Yu continues writing; the next update is expected around nine o'clock.