The sky collapsed, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself transported to Nanluoguxiang.

During the meal, Li Kaixin's family barely ate anything, their attention entirely focused on Song Anting.

As soon as Song Anting put down her chopsticks, her mother, Qin Xiuli, who was at the head of the table, hurriedly asked, "Daughter, have you finished eating? Would you like Aunt Qin to get you some more rice?"

"No need, Aunt Qin, I really can't eat anymore right now." Song Anting waved her hand, her face flushed.

"Alright!" Mother Qin Xiuli didn't insist, and stood up with a smile: "Daughter, you wait here first, I'll pack some food for your parents."

Upon hearing this, Song Anting was about to refuse when Li Kaixin, who was beside her, grabbed her hand.

"An Ting, listen to my mother, don't be so formal."

"But my parents said..." Song Anting was still hesitant, but before she could finish speaking, Li Kaixin interrupted her again.

"No buts, let's go together later. I'll talk to Aunt Lu."

As he spoke, he gently rubbed the back of her hand twice with his thumb.

Song Anting felt the warm pressure, her face turned even redder, and she didn't say anything more.

The mother, Qin Xiuli, moved quickly and soon brought out two food containers filled with vegetables from the kitchen.

"Here, Kaixin, quickly take this to your mother-in-law and the others." She said, handing the food box in her hand to her eldest son.

Li Kaixin took it, nodded, and without further delay, took Song Anting's hand and walked towards the door.

Along the way, the four women from number 93—Aunt Wang, Aunt Zhao, Aunt Sun, and Aunt Liu—all saw her and gave her meaningful looks, making a few teasing remarks.

Li Kaixin responded with a smile, which was a direct way of clarifying his relationship with An Ting.

Although Song Anting was shy, she tightened her grip slightly.

She hadn't ignored what Aunt Yu said this morning; she was also afraid that the other girls in the alley would steal her boyfriend away.

Besides, she's not stupid; she knows that her boyfriend is asserting his ownership of her by doing this.

The two walked hand in hand out of courtyard number 93 and headed towards courtyard number 94.

In the front yard of No. 94, Lu Chunhua pulled up a stool and sat under the eaves of her house.

She would glance at the courtyard gate every now and then, a faint smile always on her face.

Just as I was looking towards the door countless times, two figures walked in from outside.

Lu Chunhua immediately stood up from the stool and went to greet her.

"Kaixin, Anting, you're here?"

Upon seeing her mother, Song Anting instinctively tried to pull her hand out of Li Kaixin's palm.

"Mother, why are you sitting outside like this?"

"It's too stuffy inside, I thought I'd come out for some fresh air."

Lu Chunhua smiled and agreed, but her gaze inadvertently fell on the two food boxes in Li Kaixin's hands, and she frowned.

"Kaixin, why did you bring something over again? Is it An Ting...?"

"No, no!"

Li Kaixin quickly waved his hand and explained with a smile, "My mother was worried that you and Uncle Song weren't here today, so she asked me to bring you two some dishes to try."

After saying that, he handed over the two food boxes.

"Oh, I see. Then I'll shamelessly accept it."

Lu Chunhua took the food box, glanced at the two of them, and then suddenly changed the subject.

"But I'm happy. Next time you want me to go with your Uncle Song, it'll have to be to discuss your engagement date with An Ting."

Li Kaixin blushed slightly, but said without hesitation, "Aunt Lu, no problem. I'll come and invite you both personally once Uncle Song's leg is healed."

Hearing these words, Song Anting's face turned so red it looked like it could bleed.

"Great! I'm excited, then I'll be waiting for this day."

Lu Chunhua nodded in satisfaction, then winked at her daughter: "An Ting, you can spend some more time talking to Kaixin alone. I'll go back to my room now."

Upon hearing this, Song Anting stamped her feet in embarrassment: "Mother, what are you saying!"

Lu Chunhua smiled and ignored her, turning around and running into the house, closing the door behind her.

The courtyard fell silent, leaving only the two people standing side by side.

Li Kaixin took Song Anting's hand again, her voice gentle: "Anting, you haven't been to our future home yet, have you? Would you like to go and see it?"

Song Anting did not refuse and nodded in agreement.

Li Kaixin didn't hesitate and pulled her towards his room.

Upon reaching the door, he took out his key from his pocket, opened the door, and then turned to the side, extending his other hand: "Future mistress, please!"

Song Anting blushed again at his words and couldn't help but whisper reproachfully:

"What mistress? I'm not married to you yet."

However, even as she said that, she had already stepped across the threshold.

Because Li Kaixin doesn't live there often, the corners of the walls are covered in dust.

Fortunately, the kang (heated brick bed) and the tables and chairs were relatively clean.

Song Anting stood in the middle of the room, looked around, and a smile appeared on her lips.

At this moment, Li Kaixin also noticed the situation inside the room and felt somewhat embarrassed:

"I usually just come back at night to sleep, so I haven't cleaned much of the place."

"It's okay, Kaixin-ge!" Song Anting smiled and shook her head. "If you don't have time in the future, I can come and clean when I have time."

Her mother had said that truck drivers generally weren't very hygienic, so she had mentally prepared herself beforehand, but she hadn't expected her boyfriend to be so much cleaner than she had anticipated.

"Then I'll have to trouble you."

Li Kaixin didn't refuse and handed over the key in her hand, "An Ting, this is the key to the house, you can take it."

"Brother Kaixin, what's this?" Song Anting stared at the key for a moment, not immediately reaching out to take it.

"An Ting, you don't have a key, how can you come and clean?"

Li Kaixin smiled and directly placed the key into her hand: "Besides, it's only a matter of time before you become the mistress of this house."

Song Anting did not refuse again, and gripped the key a little tighter.

Seeing Song Anting like this, Li Kaixin felt a surge of warmth in his heart and pulled her towards the kang (heated brick bed).

When he got closer, he bent down, took out a wooden box from the corner of the kang (a heated brick bed), and handed it to Song Anting.

"This is my salary for the past year or so. If you want to buy anything in the future, or add any furniture to the house, you can use it."

Upon seeing this, Song Anting instinctively took half a step back: "I really can't..."

"An Ting, don't be in such a hurry to refuse."

Li Kaixin interrupted her, her expression turning serious:

"I'm going on a long-distance road trip tomorrow, and I won't be back for at least two weeks. You don't want our family's savings to be stolen while I'm gone, do you?"

After listening, Song Anting remained silent for a moment.

She reached out and took the wooden box, nodding solemnly, "Okay, Kaixin, I'll definitely keep it safe for you."

"That's more like it." Li Kaixin smiled and put his arm around her shoulder.

Song Anting, holding the wooden box, obediently nestled her head into his arms.

The two of them sat quietly together on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).