When Chi Wu saw the old lady washing rice in the basin, he confidently declared that the meal must have been made by her.

The old lady chuckled, "Wu Zi is the best; look how he knew right away. This rice is indeed my cooking. Those two brothers of yours could never tell."

Cheng Ying watched Chi Wu, thinking this young man didn't just have good taste; he had exceptional insight, complete with independent analysis and bold conjecture.

Cheng Ming remarked, "I've been so thoroughly accustomed to serving as your background board that I've become the mere accompaniment."

The meal was essentially the stage for the old lady and Chi Wu; there was no opening for Rong Sao to interject.

Chi Wu did, however, manage to pass a few dishes to his own wife a couple of times, prompting the old lady to tell him not to fuss over her, as she could manage for herself.

Cheng Ying thought to herself that even if she hadn't been "picked up," she was certainly well on her way to becoming so.

She mused how the old lady’s view of Chi Wu had shifted—from perhaps a potential grandson-in-law to now a genuine one. After all, not just anyone would plunge into such a massive fire to search for someone. This young man was truly devoted to her granddaughter.

For Chi Wu, the treatment was so good it was as if he were the primary grandchild; the grandsons and granddaughters were now secondary, with the grandson-in-law planted firmly in the middle.

That evening, back in their room, Chi Wu admitted the old lady’s kindness, warning, "She’s good to me because I haven’t asked for it; you can’t retaliate against me because you find me displeasing. Harboring resentment like that is small-minded."

Cheng Ying scoffed, "Hmph, as if I’d bother with that. You really have such a low opinion of my character."

Turning quickly, the ostensibly broad-minded Cheng Ying bit Chi Wu twice on his arm until she felt satisfied—a clear illustration of her own definition of character.

Chi Wu conceded, "Biting is better than keeping it bottled up and constantly needling me. My wife’s pettiness isn’t new; others might not know, but I certainly do. Once this burst of anger is out, things should settle down."

As they settled into bed, Chi Wu blushed. "Should I really show my wife my magnificent form?" He was still preoccupied with their earlier conversation from before dinner.

For Chi Wu, whether to reveal himself was a genuine quandary. For Cheng Ying, looking was never the issue; she considered herself an admirer.

Chi Wu, possessing romantic inclination but lacking the boldness to act, fussed about for a long time before finally falling asleep.

Cheng Ying sighed, realizing she wouldn't have to agonize over it; he hadn't offered the view.

She had watched his agonizing facial expressions while undressing. He had stared down at his flowered boxers for so long that an observer might have suspected something entirely different. Cheng Ying knew exactly what he was thinking during that lengthy hesitation.

"You were so daring back then; why are you so timid now? No reward for me, you coward."

Cheng Ying felt Chi Wu was deliberately teasing her, a calculated slight. She gave his rear end a solid kick before settling down to sleep.

Perhaps Chi Wu was truly exhausted from driving. He didn't even stir in response to such violence.

However, his wife's attitude toward him the next day was noticeably colder, though Chi Wu couldn't fathom why.

If Cheng Ying were to explain, it would be: "You built up my expectations, but that’s all it was—just expectation, with no follow-through. Absolutely no progress."

Still, the following Sunday was lively. The Chi family elders had never been so forward, actually showing up with their belongings to visit Chi Wu themselves. Cheng Ying felt a jolt of surprise; why were the Chi family elders suddenly so unreserved?

Of course, Cheng Ying didn’t realize the extensive psychological groundwork the Chi elder had laid.

They weren't going to allow Cheng Ying any chance to distance herself from them—all because the old lady had managed to charm him so thoroughly.

The old lady summoned Uncle Gan, Aunt Gan, and the entire Chi Yong family; two large tables were set, and they enjoyed a boisterous reunion all day long.

Halfway through the meal, Chi Wu realized this was a celebration for his selection as one of the Top Ten Youths. How could he have forgotten such a thing?

Seeing the blushing Chi Wu, not only Cheng Ming but even Uncle Gan felt a pang of envy. To forget something so significant and yet be so celebrated—it felt like a deliberate jab at the rest of them. They were certainly trying to needle him.

The only solace was that even in his joy, Chi Wu wasn't allowed any alcohol, as he had to drive back to school that evening.

Cheng Ying felt a pang of sympathy. The time he spent driving back and forth was longer than the time he actually spent at home. She thought about how hard the boy worked, yet if it was just to steal a few glimpses of her, she felt her current appearance wasn't worth such an effort.

She regretted not using her spatial water to spruce up her face, wishing she could have at least conjured an extra red rash just to give him something more visually interesting to focus on.

She felt she didn't live up to the dedication Chi Wu showed. Cheng Ying wasn't sure if she was being slightly melodramatic, but she felt fundamentally insufficient.

Consequently, when Cheng Ying reappeared to see Chi Wu off, she was strikingly beautiful.

Chi Wu's immediate reaction was confusion: "Why are there so many people here? Do I need this many escorting me? Can’t I just have a moment alone with my wife?"

He felt an overwhelming frustration for all the single men present. Having such great rapport and such a large family only made Chi Wu feel superfluous.

He couldn't tear his eyes away from his wife’s gaze.

This caused the Chi family old lady to reassess Cheng Ying. She realized that when dressed up, the girl wasn't entirely unpresentable, nor was she completely unsophisticated.

The Cheng family old lady beamed with pride, looking at her granddaughter. She also marveled at how Cheng Ying had managed to transform herself so completely in just a short while—a true testament to her upbringing; if she were working in the fields back home, she’d surely be the most capable one there.

Seeing Chi Wu staring fixedly, the Cheng family old lady grew even happier. Heh, my granddaughter looks good everywhere she goes.

While Chi Wu was reluctant to leave, Cheng Ying felt a sense of vindication: "It wasn't a wasted trip for you, then. I see I still look appealing after all that effort."

"Even if our meeting wasn't a fleeting glance achieved after five hundred years of prayer before the Buddha, I still went to this much trouble specifically for you."

The Chi elder patted his grandson's shoulder, remarking with disdain, "Such a lack of maturity, boy. Alright, drive carefully."

Chi Yong thought the blame shouldn't fall on his son. Looking at his daughter's appearance, he sensed she was intentionally challenging her mother. He was mistaken; Yingzi had no need to go to such lengths for the Chi elder lady; she was dressed up for Chi Wu.

As Chi Wu drove away slowly in his newly purchased off-road vehicle, looking back with evident reluctance, Uncle Gan muttered sourly, touching his mouth, "That vehicle isn't all that great. At least the starting sequence isn't impressive."

The two old ladies didn't grasp the mechanics of starting the car, but Cheng Ying and Chi Yong both shot harsh glares at Uncle Gan—why was his mouth so venomous?

Chi Yong thought to himself, My son hasn't seen his wife in half a year; what business is it of yours how reluctant he is to leave?

I've disliked you for a long time now.

Looking at his daughter’s expression, Chi Yong realized that if he didn't take advantage of this moment to put this boy in his place, he’d be letting down his son’s agonizingly slow engine start. Only someone with exceptional skill could drive an off-road vehicle away while stopping to look back three times at every step.

Chi Yong fixed his "buddy" with a look of sincerity while delivering a sharp blow: "Oh, I heard Yingzi's staff dormitory construction is almost done. The outer wall is up too. Brother Sun, when are you coming over to test it out? How’s the courtyard wall holding up?"

The moment he finished, everyone stared at Sun Fatty, except for Cheng Ying, who was simply enjoying the spectacle. Seeing her man being mocked, and not immediately stepping in to defend him, was already showing him considerable respect.

The old lady interjected, "Why does Uncle Sun need to come over and test it?"

What was that supposed to mean? Chi Yong was usually so perceptive; why did his words sound so strange today?

Even the old lady picked up on the odd tone. It wasn't a misunderstanding; Chi Yong never spoke idly.

Cheng Ying clarified with a bright smile, "My dad means that given Uncle Gan’s physique, testing the wall might give a better assessment of its climbing resistance."

Sun Fatty clutched his chest, overcome with emotion. He had done so much for this girl, yet there was no such praise for him. But with this single cutting remark, this girl called him 'Dad' in front of so many people! It was incredibly moving. This child wasn't looking down on Wu Zi quite as much as he thought.

Seeing such vigorous support, Sun Fatty realized he had deeply offended someone. What heinous crime had he committed to cause this father-daughter relationship, even a non-biological one, to solidify so much that she started addressing him as 'Dad'?

Aunt Gan felt her husband deserved a reprimand. Furthermore, given his close relationship with the old lady, keeping secrets felt completely wrong. She just watched with amusement.

The only ones feeling slightly awkward were the Cheng elders, watching from the side. This was truly embarrassing, spilling out in front of outsiders.

Sun Fatty treated his past involvement as a tightening headband; the longer the time passed, the more he feared being reminded. "Buddy, remember to treat me later. Without me, your daughter wouldn't have been able to change how she addresses you for all these years."

Chi Yong thought, If you hadn't said that out loud, I might have treated you. But saying it like that slaps my daughter’s face. Doesn't the child have thin skin? She might feel embarrassed.

Chi Yong realized, after all these years with his wife, he still underestimated his 'cheap' daughter. Cheng Ying never struggled with matters of face; it simply wasn't an issue for her.

Facing Sun Fatty, he declared, "I truly worry you too much, Uncle Gan. Rest assured, even if it were my own father, whether from Wu Zi or Xiao Ye, I would still have to call him 'Dad.'"

With that, he strode off with his neck held high.

Chi Yong felt a pang of disappointment. He had been married to this woman for so many years, yet he was riding on his son’s coattails for his daughter to call him 'Dad.'

She was treating him like a father-in-law.

Yang Zhi tugged at the moody Chi Yong. Everyone else had left; why was he still standing there, perhaps stunned by happiness?

Truly, Yang Zhi only ever took things literally; she never considered any meaning beneath the surface.

Chi Yong glanced at his wife. Why bother agonizing? Regardless of the origin, his daughter called him Dad, and she did it in front of a crowd—that was reason enough to be happy. As for the source, Chi Yong considered dwelling on that to be the mark of an idiot.

Of course, he didn't admit to himself that he had been agonizing just moments before.

The Cheng family old lady was certainly one who could keep her composure. Knowing the conversation outside had been awkward, she waited until everyone else had left and only their immediate family remained before speaking.

The old lady didn't dare question Uncle Gan; instead, she turned to Cheng Ying, "What were you all saying out there?"

Cheng Ying felt it wouldn't be right to badmouth Uncle Gan in front of Aunt Gan. She decided to let Uncle Gan confess his own dark history. Her own mother, she noted, was quite reasonable. She turned and walked out.

It remained a mystery where Cheng Ying got the impression that her own mother was so reasonable.