Chapter 209 - Lu Xiaoman's Parents

“Oh, a colleague,” Lu Xiaoman’s mother sized up Ye Fan’s height and appearance, not entirely believing Lu Xiaoman’s words, “Young man, you’re quite impressive.”

Ye Fan smiled and said, “Thank you for the compliment, Auntie.”

Next, Lu Xiaoman’s mother turned her head to look at the small grocery store, waved her hand, and called out in a loud voice, “Old Lu, what are you dazing off for?

Come over and meet Manman’s colleague!”

Ye Fan immediately looked over and saw a man in his fifties, sitting in front of the small grocery among seven or eight people, then he walked over with a bit of shy restraint.

The man was around one meter sixty, dark-skinned and skinny, with high cheekbones, a flat nose, and wrinkled clothes that seemed faded from washing, giving the impression of being honest and a bit inarticulate.

“Father,” Lu Xiaoman called to the dark and thin man.

“Mm, daughter,” Old Lu replied, his eyes flickering slightly as he glanced at Ye Fan.

Ye Fan proactively greeted him with a smile, “Hello, Uncle.

My name is Ye Fan.”

“Hello, hello…” Old Lu responded, nervously repeating his greeting.

Ye Fan looked at Lu Xiaoman’s family of three and felt the contrast was extreme; Lu Xiaoman was clearly much taller than her parents.

But that wasn’t the most noticeable thing; the most striking was that Lu Xiaoman was beautiful like a flower in bloom, while her parents had very ordinary, even slightly homely, appearances.

“Are they really all related?” Ye Fan couldn’t help wondering.

Naturally, this was a question he couldn’t actually ask out loud.

After the introductions, Lu Xiaoman’s mother warmly said to Ye Fan, “Xiao Ye, since you’re already here at our doorstep, come up for a visit.

Have a glass of water before you go.”

“Mom, Ye Fan just gave me a ride as a favor; he has other things to do,” Lu Xiaoman quickly interceded.

Ye Fan did want to go up for a visit, but since Lu Xiaoman was not keen on it, it wouldn’t be right for him to insist on visiting.

“Ye Fan, you’ve reached my place, you can go back now,” Lu Xiaoman said promptly to Ye Fan, “Be safe on the road.”

“Hehe, alright.

Goodbye.

Uncle, Auntie, goodbye,” Ye Fan bid farewell to Lu Xiaoman’s family and then got into his car and drove away.

On the drive off, Ye Fan suddenly remembered that Lu Xiaoman’s mother was in reasonably good health, not the type who needed constant care.

“It looks like her excuse about staying home to take care of her mother is just that, an excuse.

The real reason must be her fear of encountering trouble outside,” Ye Fan mused.

Although he knew that Lu Xiaoman’s reason wasn’t really her mother, he couldn’t ask Lu Xiaoman to attend Shen Yan’s concert anymore.

It would make her feel too uncomfortable.

Since he had to look at renovation proposals for the martial arts gym, Ye Fan drove straight home.

After several comparisons, Ye Fan felt that the renovation plan from Sunshine Renovation Company was the best.

Even though Sunshine Renovation Company’s bid was the highest of the three, at three million two hundred thousand, Ye Fan decided to choose them.

Of course, the plan provided by Sunshine Renovation Company didn’t completely match his vision, and after deciding to commission them for the gym renovation project, he still had to propose some modifications to Sunshine Renovation Company.

Meanwhile, after Ye Fan drove off, Lu Xiaoman’s mother’s gaze lingered on the tail of Ye Fan’s car until it disappeared around the corner.

Lu Xiaoman showed displeasure at her mother’s behavior and called out, “Mom—”

Lu Xiaoman’s mother retracted her gaze and turned to Lu Xiaoman, “Manman, what’s Xiao Ye’s family background like?”

“Mom, what are you talking about?” Lu Xiaoman said, “I’ve already told you, he’s just an ordinary colleague.”

Lu Xiaoman’s mom said, “I raised you; do you think I don’t know what you’re thinking?

Speak up, don’t end up like your mother, marrying a poor chap and never being able to turn things around, suffering your whole life.”

Lu Xiaoman’s pretty face blushed as she pretended to say, “His family is very poor.

He and I are just ordinary colleagues.”

“But that’s not true,” Lu Xiaoman’s mother said, not believing her, “He clearly drives a small car.”

At that moment, old Lu glanced around and noticed that neighbors had gathered around to join in the bustle.

He suggested, “Let’s go home to talk.

It’s not good to cause a scene here.”

Lu Xiaoman immediately reached out to help her mother to the staircase, while asking, “Mom, why did you suddenly come downstairs to hang out?

It’s cool at night, and foggy too, which isn’t good for your health.”

“Ha ha, I was just feeling too stifled staying at home for so long, so on a whim, I had your dad help me come down for a breath of fresh air,” Lu Xiaoman’s mother said proudly, “I never expected this to be fate, and saw little Ye Fan driving you home.”

Hearing this, Lu Xiaoman couldn’t help feeling a wave of pessimism: My luck really is terrible, getting caught red-handed by fate the moment I tell a lie.

Back at home, though their belongings were worn, they were neatly arranged and clean.

After helping her mother sit down on the old wooden couch, Lu Xiaoman was about to do housework when her mother grabbed her hand and inquired about her relationship with Ye Fan.

Old Lu sat nearby, listening.

Left with no way out, Lu Xiaoman said, “Mom, actually, Ye Fan has only joined the company less than two months ago.”

“Little Ye does look quite young, seems even younger than you,” Lu Xiaoman’s mother mused, “So you’re saying you haven’t developed much with him?”

“What do you think?” Lu Xiaoman said ambiguously.

“Therefore,” Lu Xiaoman’s mother stated, “you should carefully consider everything.

While personal character is certainly the most important, his family’s economic situation can’t be too bad either.”

“Sigh, it’s all my fault for getting sick, spending so much money and owing so much debt,” she said, wallowing in self-pity, “In the future when you get married, we wouldn’t even be able to provide a decent dowry.”

Lu Xiaoman quickly comforted her mother, then said, “I won’t get married.

I’ll always stay by you and dad’s side, so there’s no need for any dowry.”

“Silly girl,” her mother said with a fond chuckle.

In the dead of night, inside the main bedroom of Lu Xiaoman’s family home, the door was firmly shut, but the dim light of a yellow tungsten bulb could still be seen.

An old, slightly yellowed desk fan squeaked as it spun, stirring the stuffy air.

After seeing to it that Lu Xiaoman’s mother lay down in bed, Old Lu was about to turn off the light to sleep when Lu Xiaoman’s mother suddenly said, “Old Lu, wait, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”

Old Lu turned back and sat on the edge of the bed, asking, “What do you want to talk about?”

“About Manman,” Lu Xiaoman’s mother said in a hushed voice, “Seeing Manman brought home by a car tonight, it dawned on me that Manman has grown up, she’s about to get married and leave us.

I can hardly bear the thought.”

Old Lu said softly, “Yes, I can hardly bear it either.

But having our daughter Manman for more than twenty years is already the greatest blessing, I am content.”

“Old Lu, do you ever regret marrying me and ending your family line?” Lu Xiaoman’s mother asked.

Old Lu laughed, “Never.

Why would I?

If it weren’t for you marrying me, Old Lu would still be a bachelor.

Besides, Manman is my daughter, how can that be considered ending the line?”

“Yes.

Manman is our daughter whom we’ve raised with great effort,” Lu Xiaoman’s mother nodded in agreement.