Chapter 93: The Two Queens Meet
Chapter 93: The Two Queens Meet
The door opened, and Yu Meilin greeted with a smiling face, “Chuntao, come in quickly.”
Mu Chuntao walked in from the entrance. She wore a red spaghetti strap dress and jewel-blue high heels. Already 1.75 meters tall, the high heels made her seem well over 1.8 meters, even more tall and outstanding—with a slender waist, long legs, just like a female volleyball player. Combined with her carefully made-up peach blossom face, she was indescribably pleasing and beautiful.
This peach was fully ripe, as if it would release juice with just a touch.
If not eaten soon, would it rot?
“Sister Meilin, I missed you after just a few days apart,” Mu Chuntao gave Yu Meilin a warm hug as soon as she entered.
Li Zian had been about to turn back to the kitchen to bring out the pot of Great Benefit Phoenix Claw Soup, but seeing this scene, he found he couldn’t move his legs.
What was happening?
“After just a few days apart, I feel your complexion is much better than before. Could it be you found a boyfriend and are being nourished by love?” Yu Meilin said while hugging Mu Chuntao.
“Not at all. If I had a boyfriend, I’d bring him to see you first, to let you check him out,” Mu Chuntao said with a smile.
Even from over ten steps away, Li Zian could smell the scent of fake sisterhood.
Mu Chuntao let go of Yu Meilin and walked over, glancing at Li Zian but just a casual glance, not daring to look longer.
Li Zian greeted, “Chuntao, good evening.”
Mu Chuntao smiled and returned the greeting, “Hello, brother-in-law.”
Li Zian was slightly taken aback.
Out of nowhere, why did she suddenly call him brother-in-law?
This form of address also caused a bit of confusion in Yu Meilin’s reaction.
Mu Chuntao said with a smile, “Meilin and I are good sisters. Meilin is a bit older than me, so naturally she’s my sister. I’m calling you brother-in-law, right?”
Yu Meilin smiled, “Right, you can call him whatever you like.”
Just then, Lin Shengnan came down the stairs with Li Xiaomei.
Li Xiaomei said in her sweet, childish voice, “Aunt Tao, you should call him boss. My dad is your boss.”
Mu Chuntao walked over, reached out, and picked up Li Xiaomei. She first kissed Li Xiaomei’s cheek and then said with a smile, “Xiaomei is so clever. From now on, I’ll call your dad boss, and I’ll call you little boss.”
“Hmm!” Li Xiaomei nodded happily.
Lin Shengnan asked, “Zian, is the soup ready?”
Li Zian replied, “It’s ready. I’ll go bring it out now. It’s time to eat. Please take your seats first.”
When he brought out the pot of Great Benefit Phoenix Claw Soup, the five were already seated. The Old Matriarch sat at the head of the table, Mu Chuntao and Mu Long sat on the left side, and Yu Meilin and Li Xiaomei sat on the right. He placed the soup pot near the Old Matriarch’s spot, then took a ladle to serve soup for the Old Matriarch.
“You sit down, I’ll do it,” Yu Meilin stood up and took the ladle from Li Zian’s hand.
Li Zian didn’t say anything polite. He took off his apron and sat down beside Li Xiaomei’s high chair.
Li Xiaomei scooped a small piece of cucumber from the cold cucumber salad and put it into Li Zian’s bowl, then said, “Dad, eat.”
Li Zian couldn’t help but smile. He suddenly realized that in this world, besides Mu Chuntao caring for him, there was another woman who cared for him—his little cotton-padded jacket.
Mu Chuntao said with a smile, “Xiaomei is so well-behaved. I wish I could have such a cute and obedient daughter in the future.”
Li Xiaomei said, “Aunt Tao, you can go fish from the river. I was fished out from the river.”
Mu Chuntao giggled, “Who told you that you were fished out from the river?”
Li Xiaomei said, “Dad told me.”
Mu Chuntao said with a smile, “Then I’ll go fish one out from the river tomorrow.”
Yu Meilin placed a bowl of freshly served Great Benefit Phoenix Claw Soup in front of Mu Chuntao and said with a smile, “Chuntao, you’re not that young anymore. There should be quite a few boys chasing after you. Don’t you want to find a boyfriend?”
Mu Chuntao didn’t even dare to glance toward Li Zian. She looked down at the soup and said, “Those guys are all unreliable. I don’t like any of them. Besides, I’m still young. I want to play around for a few more years.”
Yu Meilin said, “Uncle Mu, you should pay more attention to this matter. I know many excellent people who are compatible with Chuntao in every way. If needed, I can introduce them.”
Mu Long glanced at Mu Chuntao and sighed, “I can’t control her. If you think it’s suitable, bring them for her to see. If she’s satisfied, I’m satisfied.”
Suddenly, Li Zian felt someone kick his foot under the table.
Across from him sat only two people: Mu Long and Mu Chuntao. Mu Long hadn’t even started drinking yet, so he definitely wouldn’t kick him. That left only Mu Chuntao. This kick made his heart race—my peach, Yu Meilin is still here!
Even though he was kicked, he had to pretend nothing happened. To cover up his embarrassment and nervousness, he quickly picked up his chopsticks and put a piece of steamed sole into Li Xiaomei’s stainless steel bowl, “Xiaomei, have a piece of fish. It’s good for your brain.”
As a result, he got kicked again.
Indeed, Mu Long couldn’t control Mu Chuntao. In such a setting, she dared to play tricks under the table. No one else had such nerve.
But thinking about it, she was the kind of woman who would jump out of an airplane with a parachute. Was there anything she didn’t dare to do?
Yu Meilin placed another bowl of soup in front of Li Zian and said gently, “Husband, have some soup.”
Mu Chuntao’s expression also changed slightly, similar to Yu Meilin’s earlier reaction—both fleeting, leaving behind only an innocent smiling face.
Li Zian wanted to say thank you, but thought it might seem too formal in front of Mu Long, so he didn’t say anything, just smiled at Yu Meilin.
Yu Meilin served herself a bowl of soup and sat down, “Chuntao, I know a very outstanding young man. He’s a Cambridge graduate and currently works as an executive at the Asia headquarters of GlaxoSmithKline. He’s very excellent. If you’re interested, I can arrange for you two to meet.”
Li Zian felt a bit uncomfortable and also thought it was inappropriate—did you invite them here for a meal or to play matchmaker?
But if he objected now, even if he expressed his disapproval indirectly, wouldn’t Yu Meilin—being so smart—realize he was jealous and figure out his secret with Mu Chuntao?
Mu Chuntao looked up at Yu Meilin and gave a beautiful smile, “Alright, I trust your judgment, Sister Meilin. If you think he’s suitable, he must be good. Later, send me his photo and information, and I’ll decide whether to meet.”
Yu Meilin said, “Okay, I’ll have him take a few good photos and send them to me, then I’ll forward them to you. Don’t worry, his name is Qin Song. He has both looks and talent, and his career prospects are quite good.”
Mu Long’s eyes lit up, “I’m taking this seriously. Meilin, send me a few photos later too. I also want to check him out.”
Yu Meilin smiled, “No problem. I promise Uncle Mu will like him.”
Mu Chuntao rolled her eyes at Mu Long, “If you like him so much, why don’t you marry him yourself?”
Mu Long glared at Mu Chuntao, “How are you speaking to your father?”
Mu Chuntao picked up a piece of braised pork rib and put it in Mu Long’s bowl, “Dad, have a piece of rib.”
Mu Long had a mix of laughter and tears expression; he truly could do nothing with his precious daughter. He couldn’t even stay angry.
Lin Shengnan said, “Men should marry when grown, women should wed when of age. I think this is reliable. If the other party is suitable, you should settle it. Otherwise, the good ones will be taken by others.”
Mu Chuntao smiled at Lin Shengnan, “Grandma is right. If he’s suitable, we should settle it.”
Lin Shengnan praised, “Chuntao is such an obedient child. I like her.”
Mu Chuntao glanced at Li Zian out of the corner of her eye.
Li Zian didn’t dare to move. This topic was dangerous, and that look was dangerous too.
But remaining silent the whole time didn’t seem right either.
Li Zian stood up, picked up the liquor bottle, and poured some for Mu Long, “Uncle Mu, let’s drink.”
Mu Long smiled, “I’ve been wanting to have a few drinks with you for a long time. Today, we must drink well.”
Li Zian said, “Alright, I’ll have a few drinks with Uncle Mu.”
But before he could raise his glass for the first toast with Mu Long, Li Xiaomei grabbed his finger, stopping him from touching the glass, and said with great displeasure, “Dad, you can’t drink. You still need to tell me my bedtime story.”
Li Zian felt a headache coming.
Yu Meilin said, “Xiaomei, tonight Mom will tell you the bedtime story. Let Dad have a few drinks with Uncle Mu. Dad works hard all day; drinking a little helps him relax.”
Li Xiaomei let go of his hand, “Oh, okay then. Dad, you can drink.”
Lin Shengnan drank two bowls of soup, ate a little, and then went upstairs.
Li Xiaomei treated eating like playing—not serious at all. After eating just a little, she insisted on going upstairs.
Yu Meilin also stopped eating, put down her bowl and chopsticks, and carried Li Xiaomei upstairs.
Only Li Zian, Mu Long, and Mu Chuntao remained at the table.
As soon as Yu Meilin hadn’t even reached the staircase, Mu Chuntao’s foot stretched out from under the table and lightly kicked Li Zian’s calf, then she took off her shoe and pinched him with her stocking foot. This time she really used force, and it hurt a bit.
What kind of woman who agreed to a blind date was this? Li Zian figured it out; she was just putting on a show for Yu Meilin.
See, you said you’d introduce someone to me, and I agreed. What reason do you have to suspect I’m having an affair with your man?
She even had an explanation for Mu Long—see, your daughter is so proper and ambitious, already trying to find you a wealthy son-in-law. What more can you worry about?
But in reality? Yu Meilin hadn’t gone far before she couldn’t hold back and showed her true colors.
The only one suffering was Li Zian. On one hand, he worried about being discovered by Yu Meilin; on the other, he had to endure the pain and harassment, not daring to show the slightest flaw. Tonight’s meal felt like a Hongmen Banquet to him.
“Come on, come on, Uncle Mu, let me toast you again,” Li Zian raised his glass and drank it all in one go.
It was Feitian liquor, the soy-sauce aroma type. Drinking like this could easily get him drunk, but to hide his unease, he couldn’t care less.
Mu Long said, “Take it easy, Xiao Li. No rush. There’s plenty of time. We can drink slowly.”
He raised his glass and took a small sip.
He really was an old fox.
Just then, Yu Meilin stopped walking, turned around, and said, “Chuntao, let’s go upstairs and chat.”
Mu Chuntao hesitated for a moment, then stood up, smiling as she walked over, “Sure, it’s been a while since we sisters had a good chat.”
“I want to chat too,” Li Xiaomei said.
Mu Chuntao reached out and touched Li Xiaomei’s little face, smiling, “Alright, let’s three women have a chat.”
Li Zian felt inexplicably nervous again.
What would these two women talk about behind his back?
Would one declare sovereignty while the other deny it, leading to a battle?
His head was really starting to feel dizzy.