Chapter 6: Unexpected Encounter (3)

"Actually, you are doing well," Ye Ran said with a forced smile.

Zhu Wen looked at Ye Ran after hanging up the phone and hurriedly said: "Ye Ran, it's already noon, how about we have lunch together?"

Well, every ugly daughter-in-law must meet her in-laws. Yaran, why don't you meet Zhu Wen's mother first to understand his situation? That would be quite good! The aunt noticed Yaran biting her pale lips and hurriedly spoke some polite words.

Mother, how did you come here on such a hot day

"That is my mother!" Zhu Wen, recovering from his initial shock, explained to Ye Ran with a smile.

Ye Ran came to her senses, pouted her lips, and innocently said: "I am quite accustomed to being startled, but my poor little waist..."

Ye Ran no longer knows what words to use to describe her current mood; the word "embarrassment" is completely insufficient!

"Excuse me, what is your name?" Zhu Wen's mother asked seriously as she sat down, pointing at Ye Ran.

Do not think of me as a nuisance, as an old man, with me taking care of you, you can save a considerable amount on hiring a nanny. Of course, if you give me money, I will accept it, and I will save it for my grandson... Zhu Wen's mother spoke incessantly

"After you get married, buy a house here and let her family buy you a car. The house doesn't need to be too good, just that new development, the connected villas in Green Lake Garden. As for the car, Wenwen, buy whatever brand you like!" Zhu Wen's mother said matter-of-factly, and then added in a low voice, "Don't be too frugal for them... we can't shortchange ourselves!"

Mom, let's talk about this later! Zhu Wen was clearly feeling a bit overwhelmed by his mother.

Yeran's expression became even more innocent, to be honest, she had never really considered this issue, especially when thinking of Zhu Wen as a potential partner

"Well, it's not that I dislike your age; what I actually want to say is that you don't look like you're twenty-eight. At most, you seem to be around twenty-three or twenty-four." Zhu Wen's face was tightly drawn as he explained to Ye Ran in a serious manner. Of course, after finishing, he did not forget to ask Ye Ran for his opinion, "So, Ye Ran, what do you think of me?"

This question is indeed difficult to answer

I didn't see it, but Kemi's cousin saw it. Just as he called to mention you, I thought I would give you a call to check in! Mina laughed a few times on the phone, her tone laced with subtle sarcasm, "I'm quite curious about that brother with the flowery smile. When will you bring him over for me to take a look?"

Oh, no, thank you! I have other matters to attend to and need to hurry back!

Bang! Ye Ran was suddenly jolted out of the chair and collided with something, then instinctively bounced back. Rubbing her sore forehead and waist, she muttered to Jiang Hao, "Why are you driving so fast? Be careful, or the tire might burst again"

"Auntie, give me some space to take a look together!" Another delicate voice chimed in, followed by the entrance of a young lady, her face flushed with excitement, indicating that she had rushed over at great speed.

Yeran felt a sudden dizziness, her legs weakened, and she almost fainted. She kept patting her chest to self-soothe, reminding herself not to stoop to the level of this old woman... Calm down

"Model? You mean the kind that takes off their clothes for photos?" Zhu Wen's mother involuntarily raised her voice, and her expression darkened instantly

"Mom, her name is Ye Ran!" Zhu Wen approached and gently squeezed his mother's shoulder, not waiting for Ye Ran to respond, and answered on her behalf.

Jiang Hao chuckled and said, "I am in a hurry to go eat."

Ye Ran was so exhausted that he could hardly respond. Without even mentioning Zhu Wen's internal and external conditions, just having such an exceptional mother made Ye Ran think of two words: elimination

Ye Ran did not speak again, and the two remained silent, creating an awkward atmosphere in that moment

Mother Zhu ignored her aunt and continued to speak for herself, "After getting married, whether we live in your house, our house, or if you buy another house, I will definitely follow to take care of my son... I will live with you all!"

"It is unacceptable to take photos for others! This is not something a proper girl would do!" Zhu Wen's mother spoke with great determination, "Son, come out, I have something to say to you!" She firmly pulled Zhu Wen and dragged him out of the private room

Auntie smiled and replied: "Yeran, she is the manager of a company, very capable."

My father runs a small business, and my mother is a full-time housewife. Ye Ran honestly replied to Zhu Wen's mother.

Oh, alright

Are you the only one in your family? An only daughter? Zhu Wen's mother slightly furrowed her brows, seemingly expressing some dissatisfaction

Zhu Wen kindly pulled her mother once again into the private room, smiling at Ye Ran in a flattering manner, "Ye Ran, my father passed away early, and my mother endured a lot of hardships to raise me, so she speaks quite plainly. I hope you don't mind!"

The night here was already filled with darkness, and unable to contain myself, I cleared my throat and coughed once to remind the two people who were speaking privately. The voices of the two outside immediately fell silent.

Upon hearing this, Ye Ran was nearly choked, looking innocently at Zhu Wen's mother with wide eyes

He is my sister's cousin. Ye Ran casually explained to Zhu Wen while brushing aside the loose strands of hair from her forehead, thinking to herself: Mina and Nami can be considered family, so Nami's cousin can also be regarded as Mina's cousin.

Zhu Wen's expression instantly reflected disappointment and regret, yet he did not say anything further

I haven't seen you at all; I have been busy watching a movie with my family, Mimi

Yeran suppressed his displeasure and offered a smile to Aunt Zhu Wen, "Hello, Auntie."

"Of course not," Jiang Hao hurriedly flattered, "How could someone like you, who is loved by everyone, makes flowers bloom, and even causes cars to burst their tires, possibly have such a small temperament?"

"By the way, Yaran, what do you do?" After a moment, Zhu Wen's mother asked with concern again

Zhu Wen urgently grabbed Ye Ran, her eyes naturally scanning Jiang Hao, and with a hint of ambiguous hostility, she asked: "Do you know him?"

Son, isn't it all for your own good? You now have a stable job, and when choosing a wife, while looks are important, it's sufficient if she is just passable. Having a woman who is too beautiful at home can cause trouble both inside and outside. " As Zhu Wen's mother spoke, she glanced at Ye Ran, her gaze unmistakably suggesting that Ye Ran would surely be restless and seek affairs outside the marriage in the future

Ye Ran looked at her great-aunt with a smile that seemed to be both a smile and not a smile, then turned to glance at Cuihua, whose face was flushed red. Did the two outside not know that the curtains in this private room were made of bamboo and had no soundproofing effect

Zhu Wenruo glanced thoughtfully at Jiang Hao, then turned to Ye Ran and said, "Then please leave me your phone number."

His aunt ... ... "Auntie tugged at Zhu Wen's mother's arm, directing her gaze towards Ye Ran.

"Oh dear, you two seem to be having quite a pleasant conversation!" At the same time as the voice of the aunt reached them, another short and plump woman squeezed into the not-so-spacious private room.

Let me see what kind of girl you are! Zhu Wen's mother cast a faint glance at Ye Ran, her attitude neither warm nor cold

Ye Ran looked at the flashing name "Mina" on her phone, glanced at Zhu Wencai, and pressed the answer button: "Hello! Nana... what's wrong?"

Ye Ran nodded and said, "I am the only one in my family!"

Jiang Hao shrugged nonchalantly, ignoring Zhu Wen's exasperation, and smiled at Ye Ran, asking, "Can we leave now?"

Just as Ye Ran opened his mouth to speak, a small electric scooter carrying a passenger suddenly darted out onto the crosswalk. Jiang Hao urgently turned the steering wheel, sharply swerving to one side and slamming on the brakes.

If you say you love me, then walk with me, through wind and rain, to the ends of the earth...

"Then how do you know I am on a blind date on XX Road?" Ye Ran murmured.

It is only natural for the elderly to rely on their children for a comfortable life. The old lady, with determination, once again took on the role of a matchmaker, trying to mediate the situation.

"So are you planning to get married and move out, or will you be bringing someone into the family?" Zhu Wen's mother glanced at her aunt and asked again

Plain? Is it reality! Ye Ran muttered sulkily in her heart

"I am picking up a friend on the way," Jiang Hao said with a cheerful smile as he looked at Ye Ran

Ye Ran glared at Jiang Hao with annoyance, rolling her eyes at him.

Auntie kindly poured a glass of water for Ye Ran and introduced, "Zhu Wen's father is a soldier, but he left when Zhu Wen was very young. It was Zhu Wen's mother who raised him single-handedly, which is no easy task!"

"Let me take you back!" Zhu Wen said with a shy smile, scratching his head.

"If it is just a friendship, then of course there is no problem. As for anything else, I am sorry, but I feel we are not quite suitable for each other." Ye Ran replied with a serious expression. To be honest, apart from his somewhat regrettable appearance, Zhu Wen is actually a simple and honest person at heart, making him a suitable candidate for a husband. However, his mother is truly exceptional, and Ye Ran cannot withstand such a mother-in-law.

Jiang Hao idly toyed with the trumpet, pressing it a few times forcefully

No need, it is very convenient to take a taxi here

Zhu Wen furrowed her brows and shot him an annoyed glance

Yeran, wait for me! Zhu Wen ultimately quickened his pace and chased after Yeran.

Ye Ran slightly parted her lips, momentarily at a loss for words

"Well, you see, can we get in touch again?" Zhu Wen asked, her face flushed with embarrassment.

"Wait a moment, let your cousin give you a ride on the way; we will have dinner together," Mina hurriedly said before hanging up the phone.

"Yeran, what does your family do?" Zhu Wen's mother asked lightly as she took the cup of water from her aunt.

Zhu Wen's mother slightly cooled her expression and turned to ask the girl, "Cuihua, what is that magazine you mentioned?"

Yeran forced out a smile that was even uglier than crying, and said to Zhu Wen's mother: "As a twenty-eight-year-old old girl, I am not suitable for your country's officials! I have things to attend to, so I will take my leave now! Goodbye, auntie!"

Ye Ran only felt a softness under her feet; fortunately, she was sitting down. Otherwise, if she had fallen, it would have been quite a sight to behold!

Ye Ran rubbed his aching forehead, the throbbing temples subtly conveying discomfort

Zhu Wen's mother let out a cold snort from her nose, "At twenty-eight years old, she's still acting so proud? In our day, she would be considered a leftover flower, an old yellow flower that no one wants!"

"That's just how my mom is, please don't take it to heart," Zhu Wen said awkwardly, with a sense of helplessness.

"So why are you 28 years old and still not in a hurry to find a partner and get married? Is it that your standards are too high, or are your parents' expectations too high?" Zhu Wen's mother asked sharply.

Jiang Haoyue became increasingly enthusiastic, pressing several times in succession, implicitly urging Ye Ran to speed up

Then, within Ye Ran's ears, the voice of Zhu Wen's mother clearly resonated, "Wenwen, when marrying a wife, she shouldn't be too beautiful; she should be capable of managing the household. A wife is not just a decorative vase to be brought home; she should be practical. As for this Ye Ran, no matter how I look at it, I just feel he is not suitable for you!"

Ye Ran smiled faintly and replied insincerely, "Alright."

Zhu Wen's mother was clearly frustrated and complained to her aunt: "You see, this child, once he has a wife, forgets his mother! How unfortunate I am!"

Zhu Wen sighed upon hearing this, touched his face, and said meaningfully: "Although I am younger than you, I appear more weathered than you... There is no helping it, during my time in the army, I trained under the sun and wind without considering proper care. Now that I have come to work at the cultural bureau, I want to take care of myself but find that there are simply too many areas that need attention, leaving me feeling somewhat at a loss."

Aunt, it's not that exaggerated!

Ye Ran could only feel that the gazes of the two were scrutinizing her up and down with a certain level of pickiness, their eyes burning as if they could bore a hole through her. She felt a bit of a chill run down her spine and froze in place, awkwardly looking towards her grandaunt, who had poked her head halfway into the private room, and asked in a tone of desperation: Who are these two?

I must clarify that regardless of whether you marry out or my son comes to live with you, you must have two children!" Zhu Wen's mother said seriously, ignoring Ye Ran's astonished expression, "One must take your family name, and the other must take our family name! Of course, if you want to have three or four, as long as your family can afford it, you can have as many as you like!

Zhu Wencun finished the call and said to Ye Ran: "Another day when you have time, let's have a meal together"

I have heard that it is quite good, with several properties!" Zhu Wen's voice lowered slightly.

Ye Ran has not replied yet, and Mina's clear voice continued: "That brother has an average appearance, an average height, and a smile like a flower, but under your torment, he seems quite dejected now, wearing an unhappy expression!"

Ye Ran's lips twitched slightly; such harmless jokes had long since become commonplace. "Tch, I can't be bothered to chat with you, I'm hanging up!"

Yeran's heart skipped a beat, and he broke out in a cold sweat, secretly exclaiming how dangerous it was

Zhu Wen was somewhat displeased, standing in front of Ye Ran, accepting Jiang Hao's gaze, and said justly: "If you are picking up a friend, you cannot park so casually. Not only are you violating traffic rules, but what if you hit someone?"

After Yaran waved goodbye to Zhu Wen, she turned and sat down in the passenger seat, where the door had already been opened for her. As soon as she closed the door, Jiang Hao stepped on the gas and sped away, only to slam on the brakes at a red light ahead

Auntie watched as Ye Ran was unable to provide a clear answer, and quickly sat down beside Zhu Wen's mother, smilingly saying: "Aunt, this question doesn't seem to be important, does it"

Zhu Wen reluctantly watched Ye Ran elegantly step out of the private room, hesitating between pursuing and not pursuing

Yeran's smile had long since frozen on her face, with her facial muscles twitching in succession.

Zhu Wen then pleaded in a flattering manner, "Mom, please do not judge a person by their appearance. Ye Ran's eloquence and cultivation are quite good, and their abilities are also commendable. It's just that they are a bit older than I am, but they don't look old at all..."

I am truly sorry, but I really don't have time to have dinner with you today. I must leave now!" Ye Ran said apologetically to Zhu Wen

"Just kidding, just kidding, please don't be angry." Jiang Hao held the steering wheel, his eyes glancing at Ye Ran with a playful smile as he apologized

Ye Ran blinked and nodded

Are you on a blind date

The name is quite good! Zhu Wen's mother nodded, offering a candid assessment

Zhu Wen's mother hesitated for a moment before choosing to speak up, saying: "After you get married, you should not go to work anymore. What does a woman need to be a manager for? It sounds like she is not a virtuous woman at all"

I think you seem quite composed..." Ye Ran pondered for a moment before subtly expressing this.

Zhu Wen could no longer hold back and interrupted his mother, "Mom, in today's society, men and women are equal! Your ideas are outdated and obsolete."

Let's have a meal together, it won't take much of your time! You wouldn't deny me this little favor, would you? Zhu Wenzhi was thinking of inviting Ye Ran to dinner

Ye Ran looked up at the ceiling, rolled her eyes, and took a deep breath. Does she think she is a sow, living like this

This person indeed possesses self-awareness and even knows to describe themselves with the term "vicissitudes"

"Yes, what is it?" Ye Ran retorted.

Ye Ran forced a smile and said softly, "Well, old man, let's leave it at that."

Zhu Wen's footsteps immediately came to a halt, then he turned around and smiled obsequiously at his mother, "Mom, a girl is leaving, I have to see her off! I'll be back soon!"

Ye Ran glanced at Zhu Wen with a hint of helplessness, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a white BMW slowly driving past. He hurriedly dialed Jiang Hao's number on his phone, and just as the ringtone played a couple of notes, the white BMW dramatically reversed and came to a stop right in front of Ye Ran.

Jiang Hao sighed and said with a hint of apology, "I am sorry for startling you again"

Ye Ran looked at Zhu Wen, who was out of breath and sweating profusely as he blocked her path, with a puzzled frown, "Why are you out here?" His mother was at odds with Ye Ran, and there was definitely no chance for them.

"Ah, is it really you? You look even better in person than in the magazine!" The girl eagerly grasped Ye Ran's hand, her face full of admiration

Ye Ran awkwardly shrank back, not quite accustomed to the touch of strangers

Fortunately, that little electric scooter passed safely, and there were no cars nearby, allowing us to continue on our way without any danger

Zhu Wen's mother had an expression of displeasure on her face. She glanced at her son, ultimately pursing her lips and saying, "It is acceptable to send her off, but I do not want a daughter-in-law like this! Unless she is willing to listen to me!"

Zhu Wen urgently pulled on Ye Ran, as if fearing she would be hit by a car. When the BMW came to a stop and he saw Jiang Hao's head poking out of the window, he disapprovingly scolded, "I say, how can you drive like this? Don't you see this is a pedestrian crossing?"

The girl who arrived at the same time had a fit of dry coughing, successfully interrupting Zhu Wen's mother's words. As she noticed everyone's attention shifting to her, she finally spoke up and asked: "Ye Ran, is that cover girl from the last issue of 'HE' magazine you?"

Ye Ran was taken aback for a moment, then reluctantly recited his phone number.

This cannot be said in the future; what if her family defaults on the payment? Everything must be agreed upon in advance. If it can be done, then great; if not, then so be it. After all, she is a twenty-eight-year-old unmarried woman who cannot afford to wait! Son, you are a respectable state official; how many people are vying for you!

Jiang Hao turned his face and carefully scrutinized Ye Ran, curling his lips in disagreement and saying: "With that waist of yours, you still call it a slender waist? It is clearly H-shaped, commonly known as a barrel waist!"

Do I look like such a petty person?

Ye Ran lazily yawned and replied to Jiang Hao, "As long as you know." Then, she quietly gazed out of the car window, and Jiang Hao also fell silent, focusing intently on driving.

She is the cover girl from the book, the model

Ranran, are you currently on XX Road?

If you want to know about our Wenwen's situation, feel free to ask, I, as her mother, know everything! Zhu Wen's mother replied in a carefree manner.

What are her family's circumstances like? Zhu Wen's mother asked hesitantly

Did you see me?" Ye Ran turned her head, looked around, and checked if Mina was nearby, speaking vividly.