On a rainy night, the school beauty knocked on my door and asked for shelter

Everyone took their seats one by one.

Grandpa and Grandma naturally sat in the main seats. Chen Mo and Su Yuqing sat next to them on the left. Li Fengzhi and Li Gang sat on the other side with Li Mingyu. Su Chengfeng sat right next to Su Yuqing, across the table.

He tried to say something several times, but when his gaze met Li Fengzhi's silent warning look, and he recalled the conversation in the car, he swallowed his words and just forced a kind smile as he looked at Su Yuqing.

"Come on, Qingqing, Momo, try this steamed fish. This restaurant makes it really authentically!" Grandma enthusiastically picked up the serving chopsticks and served the two of them, instantly breaking the awkward silence.

"And this braised pork, your grandpa specifically told the chef to stew it until it's very tender." Grandma continued to serve the two of them with serving chopsticks, and soon their bowls were piled high with food.

"Thank you, Grandma." Su Yuqing and Chen Mo said in unison, smiled at each other, picked up their chopsticks, and began to eat heartily.

After being away from home for months, what I miss most is this familiar taste.

The fish is tender and melts in your mouth; the braised pork is fatty but not greasy, with a savory-sweet flavor that goes perfectly with rice; and the stir-fried vegetables are refreshingly light and flavorful... Every bite soothes the stomach and warms the heart of a traveler returning home.

"Mmm! Delicious!" Su Yuqing squinted her eyes with satisfaction, her cheeks bulging out like a cute little hamster.

Chen Mo looked at her greedy eating with doting eyes. He reached out and took a wet wipe to wipe her mouth, then ladled her a bowl of chicken soup: "Eat slowly and drink some soup."

Seeing Chen Mo's attitude towards Su Yuqing, everyone, including his grandparents, Li Fengzhi, and Li Gang, felt that it was a great blessing that the two children could be together.

Only Su Chengfeng felt that Chen Mo's behavior was very pretentious, just the typical rich young master's way of coaxing girls.

However, fearing that his daughter would be unhappy, he dared not say more.

During the meal, the conversation mainly revolved around the two of them's life in college.

Su Yuqing and Chen Momo deliberately skipped over the heavy anatomy class and the heavy academic pressure, only sharing the light and pleasant moments, which drew continuous laughter from the audience.

Li Mingyu's eyes lit up as he looked at the two of them and asked, "Sister, brother-in-law, is university really that fun? I want to go to university too!"

The child's innocent words made everyone laugh.

Su Chengfeng mostly listened quietly, occasionally chuckling in agreement.

He saw the radiance on his daughter's face as she spoke, a genuine joy and relaxation he hadn't seen in a long time.

He suddenly realized that after leaving him, his daughter was indeed doing very well under the care of Li Fengzhi and Chen Mo's family, and her smiles were even more genuine and natural than when she was with him.

This realization left him feeling somewhat uneasy.

There was a complex mix of guilt and resentment.

He wanted to interrupt several times to ask about his daughter's studies or life, but he was afraid of saying too much and making a mistake. In the end, he just silently turned the turntable in front of Su Yuqing so that she could more easily pick up her favorite dishes.

Su Yuqing noticed this little action.

She raised her eyes and glanced at her father, seeing the careful effort and undisguised concern in his eyes, and her heart stirred slightly.

She didn't say anything, but silently picked up a piece of the dish he turned to her and ate it slowly with her head down.

Li Fengzhi observed all of this and nodded inwardly, feeling that Su Chengfeng had finally done the right thing.

Repairing relationships takes time; maintaining distance and showing concern without overstepping boundaries is actually the best approach right now.

The welcoming banquet drew to a close in this atmosphere that was outwardly lively but inwardly turbulent yet generally harmonious.

After the meal, Su Chengfeng insisted on paying the bill, even after learning that the bill had already been paid in advance. He still demanded that the restaurant refund the money so he could pay it himself. However, Chen Mo's grandfather stopped him, saying, "This meal was supposed to be a welcome dinner for the two of us old folks. Don't argue. You mentioned during the meal that Yuqing's university banquet wasn't held. You can spend the money on this later."

Hearing this, Su Chengfeng was instantly moved. He withdrew his hand, looked at Su Yuqing, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Yuqing, look... you got into such a good university, and Dad didn't even know before, and I couldn't celebrate with you. In a few days... Dad will host a few tables at a hotel and invite all the relatives to have a meal together to properly celebrate with you, okay?"

His tone was consultative, and his eyes were full of expectation.

Su Yuqing remained silent for a few seconds.

She wasn't averse to the suggestion itself, and perhaps deep down, she even longed for her father's approval and blessing.

She looked up at Chen Mo, who nodded slightly to her, his eyes conveying support and a sense of "whatever you want."

She then looked at her mother, Li Fengzhi, who didn't say anything, but it was clear that she was leaving the decision to Su Yuqing.

"Okay." Su Yuqing finally agreed softly, "Just let me know when you've decided on the time."

A simple "okay" made Su Chengfeng beam with joy, and he repeatedly said, "Great! I'll let you know as soon as I've set the time and place! I promise it'll be a spectacular success!"

“But I want to go with Chen Mo.” Su Yuqing grabbed Chen Mo’s hand.

This made Su Chengfeng, who had just become excited, pause for a moment. He then glanced at Su Yuqing and saw that his daughter might change her mind if he didn't agree. So he could only nod and say, "Okay, you'll have to take care of her in the future anyway, so it's fine to meet her relatives in advance."

As I left the hotel, the night breeze was slightly cool.

Satisfied, Su Chengfeng drove away first.

After Chen Mo and Su Yuqing saw their grandparents and Li Fengzhi's family home, they slowly walked back to their own residential community.

The streetlights stretched their shadows long, making them intertwine.

"Finally home." Su Yuqing took a deep breath of the crisp air of her hometown and exclaimed with emotion.

Although her six months in Hunan and Sichuan were colorful, only the land beneath her feet was the reality where she truly felt rooted and belonged.

"Yes, I'm home." Chen Mo tightened his grip on her hand, their fingers intertwined. "What are your plans for the New Year?"

"Spend some quality time with Grandpa, Grandma, and Mom first." Su Yuqing leaned on his shoulder, her voice tired but content. "Then... I might need to preview next semester's courses? I heard next semester is going to be even harder."

Chen Mo chuckled: "No rush, the holiday is still long. Let's relax first. I mean, do you have any good places to go? Let's make the most of the holiday and have some fun."

"I haven't thought about that yet, I'll listen to whatever you say." Su Yuqing smiled sweetly at Chen Mo.

"Alright, I'll make the arrangements." Chen Mo smiled gently, reaching out to put his arm around her waist, allowing her to lean closer to him. (End of Chapter)