When we knocked on the door, Liang opened it and quickly ushered us in. I walked straight to her mother and greeted her with a warm smile.
"Auntie," I said, "look who I brought with me."
Her eyes lit up the moment Lu stepped inside. She stood up, grabbed his hand affectionately, and guided him to sit on the couch.
"At last!" she exclaimed, beaming. "I finally get to meet my daughter's future husband."
Liang and I exchanged looks and folded our arms as we stood nearby, amused. Her mother's enthusiasm was on full display as she looked between Lu and Zhichen, who sat side by side, clearly a little shy.
"You two look wonderful together," she said, placing her hands together in a prayer gesture. "One is a professional horticulturist, and the other, a doctor. Ah, such achievements! I must have done something right in my past life!"
Then, without missing a beat, she asked, "So, when are you getting married?"
Lu laughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck. "Once I take her to meet my mother, she'll arrange our marriage. She's ready to welcome Qin into the family."
Liang's mother turned to Zhichen with an arched brow. He glanced at Liang before answering softly, "When Liang is ready, I'll marry her."
All eyes turned to Liang.
"Ma~" Liang groaned, "I told you already! I'm still young. I'll marry him when the time is right."
Her mother huffed. "So, what—when you turn thirty?"
I burst out laughing, unable to hold it in. Liang elbowed me hard and gave me a glare that said shut up or die.
Her mother turned back to the boys, patting both of their hands affectionately. "Lu, Zhichen, just like Liang and Qin are my daughters, from now on, think of me as your mother too. I'll care for you like my own sons."
She looked at them seriously. "When you marry and settle down, life won't always be easy. Sometimes it'll be soft, sometimes it'll be rough. But whatever happens, don't let anything separate you."
Both men nodded earnestly. "Auntie," Lu said, "we'll take care of them like they're our hearts. Even if they're angry, we'll never leave them."
Her mother chuckled and stood up. She disappeared into the bedroom and returned with two red envelopes.
"I was supposed to give you these on New Year's Eve," she said. "But these two never brought you over."
Lu and Zhichen quickly stood up. "Auntie, you don't need to—please keep it," Lu said politely.
But she waved them off. "Just take it. Think of it as a mother's blessing."
After a moment of hesitation, they finally accepted the red envelopes with grateful smiles.