You're my wife, don't doubt it!

"..." Shen Tianyun was speechless: "Although it is indeed not bad... but who would praise their own cooking so highly, as if it were the first time they had eaten it? And don't you think it's bland?"

"What do you know? Less oil and less salt is healthier. Besides, can't you give me some positive feedback?" Xiao Yao said, dissatisfied.

"Good, good, good! I didn't expect you to be such a great cook at such a young age. You're born to be a live-in son-in-law." Shen Tianyun gave a thumbs up.

Xiao Yao deliberately frowned.

Shen Tianyun's nonchalant attitude made him wonder if the elementary school student's essay he had seen before was just a misunderstanding based on wishful thinking.

Instead of guessing every day, why not lay it all out in the open? Now seems like a good time.

So, where should we begin?

"Oh, I was just kidding..." Shen Tianyun patted Xiao Yao's arm, but the latter pulled his arm away.

"Where did you go last night?" Xiao Yao squinted, sat up straight, and switched to "strict good father" mode.

"I thought you were more open-minded." Shen Tianyun raised her eyelids and reached for a leftover Orleans chicken wing with her chopsticks.

"Whether I'm open-minded or not, you didn't only find out today, did you? And does being open-minded mean I can stay out all night without anyone asking?"

"What do you mean by not going home at night? It's my classmate's birthday, let's go to karaoke together. You'll be ostracized if you don't participate in group activities," Shen Tianyun said with a grin.

"Who's being isolated?" Xiao Yao was taken aback by this counterattack, unsure whether it was intentional or not: "Ahem... I say, that hair color of yours, you've dyed it, haven't you?"

"Born that way, born that way."

"Bullshit! Shen Jie and I both have jet-black hair," Xiao Yao held up one finger. "Is your hair some kind of genetic mutation? Wash it right now and read the 'Middle School Student Code of Conduct' and the 'Middle School Student Daily Behavior Norms'..."

"Getting excited, huh?" Shen Tianyun said impatiently. "Even my dad has never bothered with my hair—"

“Your dad’s right here.” Xiao Yao pointed to his nose with his thumb and said, “Put your feet down. Who taught you that? Putting them on the chair next to you?”

"What's wrong with my mom?" Shen Tianyun remained seated.

"Your mom doesn't do that!"

"You're not even familiar with her," Shen Tianyun muttered, rolling her eyes.

"I... I'm not familiar with her?" Xiao Yao choked a little.

Shen Tianyun raised her eyebrows, giving him a "what else?" look.

"Um..." After a few seconds of silence, Xiao Yao awkwardly picked the shrimp out of the fried rice. "Tell me, what kind of wife will Shen Jie be in the future? And also," he paused, finally asking the question, "what will I be like in the future?"

“Shen Jie,” Shen Tianyun said, reaching out with her chopsticks to take the shrimp from Xiao Yao’s chopsticks.

Xiao Yao realized he had broken his composure—what happened to his strictness?

"Why are you picking at the food like that!" Xiao Yao scolded.

“Actually, my mom is pretty good, but she’s too domineering towards you,” Shen Tianyun ignored him and continued to put the shrimp in her mouth. “She’s a bit of a domineering person, and sometimes you’ll complain that she’s like a mother or a teacher.”

Is this the fate of a son-in-law? For the first time in a week, Xiao Yao felt resentful about this future.

“She was quite strict with me when I was little, but later… as I grew up, she gradually became better.” Shen Tianyun continued, “As for you… you are a loving father, always speaking up for me and protecting me, so our relationship is still very good.”

"A submissive stay-at-home husband, huh?" Xiao Yao chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"Don't make it sound so scary, it's not that exaggerated," Shen Tianyun handed over the empty bowl: "Anyway, I won't be like you now, playing house and getting addicted to being the dad, bossing me around—get me a bowl of rice!"

"...It's gone!"

"Who are you trying to fool?" Shen Tianyun stood up, holding the empty bowl.

"I'm already giving you more than enough," Xiao Yao said, but he didn't stop her. "How much do you expect a young lady to eat? Is it going to be the Tang Dynasty in 30 years?"

"Mind your own business! I'm growing!"

"Everyone's still growing, and I don't even eat as much as you!"

"Are you a sports student? I need to train, not stay at home like you? You don't even cook more meals."

"Okay then," Xiao Yao muttered, "I'm just worried you'll get too fat and won't be able to get married—"

"I'm thinner than you, okay?" Shen Tianyun retorted, "I have tons of guys chasing after me!"

"Really?" Xiao Yao was taken aback, sensing a dangerous atmosphere: "You're in a relationship? Your classmate celebrating her birthday, is she male or female?"

"

"Can't we date?" Shen Tianyun asked playfully as she returned after refilling the rice bowl.

“I’m saying…” Xiao Yao put the bowl in his hand on the table and sat up straight again.

"What are you saying? You think only officials are allowed to do this, but commoners aren't allowed to do that?"

"no……"

Suddenly, Shen Tianyun chuckled.

She stared at Xiao Yao with her bright, curious eyes: "Hey, Dad, are you jealous?"

"Why would I be jealous?! Why would I be jealous?!" Xiao Yao felt his cheeks burning.

"Alright, I was just kidding," Shen Tianyun said seriously, "I'm not in a relationship—not yet."

"That's good," Xiao Yao patted his chest. "I was thinking about this too. Your mom's angry for a reason. Who knows if you were with some boy—"

"I really did go to the karaoke bar with everyone." Shen Tianyun put down her chopsticks and raised her right hand as if to swear.

"It's fine to date," Xiao Yao said earnestly, "but you're a girl, so you must protect yourself."

"Oh~~~~~~~ I understand!" Shen Tianyun spread her palms out to Xiao Yao: "Did Shen Jie teach you to say these things? Give me your phone!"

"No way! Why should I let you see it!" Xiao Yao put his phone in his pocket.

"Oh—" Shen Tianyun drawled, as if confirming her guess: "Then you shouldn't play with my phone anymore."

"Stop messing around," Xiao Yao backed down, "After the exam, I still need to continue reading 'The Three-Body Problem,' I haven't finished reading this yet."

"I bought it for you," Shen Tianyun gestured towards the green sofa in her room, "It's a deluxe edition!"

"Damn, you actually bought it." Xiao Yao turned to look at the sofa: "Thanks."

"Hmph~~Hmph~~~" Shen Tianyun smiled smugly.

Where's the promised strictness? Xiao Yao sighed inwardly and gave up on the futile struggle.

"Hey, let me talk to you properly." After a moment of silence, Xiao Yao turned his chopsticks around and poked Shen Tianyun's arm.

"Ah."

"You have to consider Grandma's feelings, right? If you don't dye your hair back and dress like this, how can Grandma stand it? She's complained several times already, thinking you're a delinquent. What will you do if she forbids me from seeing you again?" Xiao Yao said earnestly.

"What am I dressed like?" Shen Tianyun looked down at herself in surprise.

"Don't you think the pants are a little too short?" Xiao Yao said helplessly.

"Isn't controlling the head and feet enough? Now you're bringing up the pants too, huh?" Shen Tianyun was a little angry: "Dad, what exactly are you trying to say today? Are you planning to save a wayward girl?"

"It wasn't me, it was your great-grandmother—"

“Let me tell you, I wear this to school training. In this heat, I have to run on the track. Your great-grandmother is so old-fashioned and doesn't understand the pain of the situation—” Shen Tianyun pouted, “If she's not satisfied, then I won't go to your place. Why don't you come to my place?”

You're not going to listen to either soft or hard approaches, my daughter's classmate.

Xiao Yao clenched his fists under the table and leaned back weakly in his chair.

"Huh? Where are the shrimp?"

"You ate all the shrimp," Xiao Yao said irritably. "You should eat some vegetables too, or you won't grow tall."

"You didn't eat a single vegetable either, and you're still criticizing me?" Shen Tianyun put down her chopsticks and stood up.

“That’s quite like my daughter.” Xiao Yao and Shen Tianyun exchanged a glance and laughed together.

"Xiao Yao, I'm leaving now."

"You're going out again so late at night?" Xiao Yao asked as Shen Tianyun pulled a pair of shorts out of the closet.

"Yes, we're going to square dancing." Shen Tianyun held up the pants against her body. "Aren't these pants long enough, Dad?"

Xiao Yao pretended not to notice the teasing tone in the word "Dad": "Come back soon—square dancing? What kind of old-man hobby is that?"

“What old-fashioned person? You’re so out of touch,” Shen Tianyun said, pulling on her pants and then taking out a pair of green socks. “These are the most fashionable socks right now, the new style of the 30s!”

"Trends really are cyclical," Xiao Yao thought to himself as he watched Shen Tianyun gracefully strike two poses.

"I mean... what kind of socks are these? Why don't they have any cuffs?"

"What?" Shen Tianyun sat on the edge of the bed and pulled the other sock down to below her ankle: "These are boat socks, also called invisible socks. Who wears those long ones now? They're so outdated."

Xiao Yao retorted angrily, "I've never seen you before! You're the one who's truly hideous!"

Shen Tianyun put on her sneakers and lightly stomped her foot: "Don't show the edges of your socks, it makes your legs look longer, don't you understand?"

"Don't look at your phone when you cross the street, and be careful when you go out!" Xiao Yao reminded him.

"Okay, okay, I'm off."

"This is such a headache..." Xiao Yao held his head in his hands and slumped onto the table. "Wait, wasn't I supposed to be laying my cards on the table?"

Chapter 23 People's Words