Proofreader&Editor:Lotas
Gu Li nodded, her body aching so much that she passed out the moment she closed her eyes.
At the same time, Qiu Rong was helped up by the servants and seated on the sofa.
His face was dark and gloomy, and the servants didn't dare utter a word. They silently offered him tea and respectfully withdrew.
Before Qiu Rong could recover, a large group of people burst into the living room. Looking up, he recognized a familiar old acquaintance leading the pack…
Lin Feng's trusted aide, A Hua.
Qiu Rong, supporting his waist, stood up: "I wasn't aware of A Hua's esteemed visit. What brings you here?"
A Hua didn't beat around the bush and handed Qiu Rong a document: "Mr. Qiu, take a look. This is your guarantee. Your son has lost a total of 600 million at the casino. You have three days to pay it back. I'm here to inform you. If you can't pay, we'll have to take over the Qiu family's assets. As for you, Mr. Qiu… you should know the consequences, right?"
Qiu Rong's face turned ashen. He thought he had heard wrong: "How much did he lose?"
A Hua repeated with a smile: "Six hundred million."
After speaking, A Hua left the document and… a few bodyguards before turning around and leaving with the others.
"Don't even think about running away, Mr. Qiu, or the consequences… you won't be able to bear them."
Qiu Rong suddenly felt a dull pain in his chest, his acute myocardial infarction acting up, and he nearly couldn't breathe, collapsing onto the sofa.
The servants rushed over to administer emergency medication to Qiu Rong, and it took a while before he recovered, his face full of despair.
***
While the Qiu and Su families were in chaos, He Ju's side was filled with joy.
Originally, Fatty had suggested going out for a meal, but Bai Yan, with his keen insight, immediately declined, and the meal was called off.
He Ju then took Si Hua back home.
As soon as they arrived, He Ju, unable to wait, pushed Si Hua against the door and leaned in for a kiss, even bending his knees slightly to lift her legs around his waist.
Si Hua was in a panic, not expecting He Ju to… She pushed against his face, stammering, "Wait… wait a minute…"
He Ju wasn't listening, kissing her while his hands roamed, the soft touch and scent at his nose making him insatiable: "Wait for what? Husband can't wait any longer, whatever you have to say can wait till later…"
After speaking, He Ju tore open Si Hua's collar and eagerly began to nibble, finally allowing Si Hua to breathe, as she kept slapping his back: "Dad… Dad…"
He Ju chuckled: "Baby, calling for dad won't help…"
Si Hua's face flushed completely red, and she immediately covered her face: "Your parents are here!!!"
What?
He Ju's spine stiffened suddenly, his mind going blank.
Si Hua took the opportunity to jump down from his arms, turned her back to He Ju, and quickly straightened her clothes.
Thankfully she was wearing pants today; she couldn't even imagine the scene otherwise.
He Ju quickly stood up straight, shielding Si Hua completely: "Why… why didn't you say so earlier?"
Si Hua glanced at him with feigned annoyance, and with that look, He Ju felt his heart wrench, his voice soft and tender: "Did you even give me a chance to speak?"
He Ju was left speechless…
The two of them tidied themselves up and turned around, only to see He Ju's mother standing there, dumbfounded, and not far from them, He Ju's father holding a spatula, also… dumbfounded, seemingly just out from the kitchen.
He Ju's toes curled so tightly… he felt like he could dig out a three-bedroom apartment.
He Ju, feigning composure, walked over with Si Hua: "Mom and Dad, when did you arrive? Why didn't you tell me? I would have come to pick you up."
Si Hua, too embarrassed to speak, quickly headed upstairs to the bedroom.
He Yu glanced at He Ju: "I'll continue cooking, dinner will be ready soon." With that, he dashed back into the kitchen.
Tian Zhen also snapped back to reality, awkwardly unsure where to put her hands and feet: "I… I'll go help your dad."
With that, Tian Zhen also slipped into the kitchen.
In the spacious living room, only He Ju stood there, foolishly rooted to the spot.
He Ju closed his eyes; he could die, but not like this!
He Ju: "God! Strike me down with lightning!!!"
Soon, the meal was ready.
Si Hua had regained her composure, though her cheeks were still flushed, making He Ju want to kiss her fiercely, but with his parents around, he had to restrain himself.
The meal was lavish, with three meat and three vegetable dishes, and a seaweed soup that was simply too fragrant.
Everyone tacitly avoided mentioning the earlier incident, just enjoying the meal together happily.
Tian Zhen: "Since it's the weekend, your father and I thought we'd come to see you two. We brought some cured meats and ribs, all hand-cured by us, absolutely delicious."
Si Hua's eyes lit up: "The cured meat smells wonderful, thank you, Uncle and Auntie."
Tian Zhen immediately beamed with joy, having thought that Si Hua, a city girl, might not be used to such food. Seeing her genuine liking, she was even more satisfied with her daughter-in-law: "No need to thank us, if you want more, we'll bring it, or let He Ju drive over to our place to pick it up…"
Si Hua smiled sweetly: "Thank you so much, Uncle and Auntie. Auntie, you're beautiful inside and out~"
With that one sentence, Si Hua had Tian Zhen grinning from ear to ear: "We brought plenty, not sure if your parents would like it, thought we'd also give them some…"
He Ju: "Si Hua's parents are abroad."
Tian Zhen: "That's a pity, they'll miss out."
Si Hua chuckled: "We can freeze it, they can have some when they come back. My parents also love these, Uncle and Auntie, don't worry, they're easy-going and easy to talk to."
Tian Zhen nodded: "Alright, alright, let's eat, Hua."
Si Hua's words were like a preemptive inoculation for the elderly couple, making their trip to deliver the household registration book all the more worthwhile.
He Ju looked at Si Hua, then at his parents' happy faces, and couldn't help feeling…
Something was off.
But what exactly was off, He Ju couldn't pinpoint.
After dinner, He Yu washed the dishes, Si Hua got busy with work, and Tian Zhen pulled He Ju aside in the living room for a talk.
Tian Zhen: "Son, your mother wants to ask you, do you want to marry Hua?"
He Ju's brow twitched, and he honestly replied: "I do…" then quickly added: "But now's not the right time…"
Tian Zhen had anticipated this response, but she only needed one answer from He Ju. As for when to get married, that wasn't for He Ju to decide.
Tian Zhen's heart settled, she needed to hurry back to prepare for the guests.
Everything…
Depended on the daughter-in-law now!