Parents

Yang Liu felt a rush of surprise as she read her mother's message. Deciding it was best to wait until she got home to reply, she pushed the thought to the back of her mind and focused on the drive instead.

Once home, Butler Ling helped the driver carry all the shopping bags inside. However, as they entered the house, he immediately noticed that Yang Liu seemed particularly distracted today. Sensing her preoccupation, he instructed the maid to put away the madame's things before approaching her.

"Madame, is something troubling you?" he asked gently.

Startled, Yang Liu snapped back to reality, contemplating whether she should share her concerns with Butler Ling. Looking into his caring eyes, she sensed that he was genuinely worried about her well-being.

Taking a deep breath, she decided to be honest. "It's just that my parents asked if I could have dinner with them today," she confessed, scratching her head nervously. She took the plunge, revealing everything at once. "And my mother asked if I could bring my husband and Han Wei with me."

Butler Ling smiled sympathetically and said, "Madame, I think you should talk to your husband about this."

Anxiety crept in as Yang Liu thought, But will he help me? After all, this isn't a real marriage. And I'm worried about how I'll behave in front of the original Yang Liu's parents.

Sensing her hesitation, Butler Ling sighed and encouraged her, "Madame, you should talk to the master; he'll surely understand."

Yang Liu looked at him, gratitude shining in her eyes, and nodded in agreement.

Taking her phone from her purse, she typed out a message to Han Chen.

To Han Chen:

My parents invited us for dinner at their house tonight. Is that okay with you?

After hitting send, Yang Liu felt a wave of relief wash over her. However, just as she put her phone away, it vibrated again.

Taking a deep breath, she checked the new message.

From Han Chen:

I'm a bit busy today and not sure when I'll finish, but you can take Han Wei with you, and I'll drop by later to meet your parents. Is that okay with you?

Yang Liu's face lit up, and she began jumping for joy right in front of Butler Ling. Giddy with excitement, she immediately replied to Han Chen, That's fine.

Then, turning to Butler Ling, she engulfed him in a grateful hug, exclaiming, "Thank you so much! You've helped me a lot."

Butler Ling felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him but managed to respond, "You're welcome, madame; it's my job."

Feeling buoyant with happiness, Yang Liu ascended the stairs, heading straight to her room. She intended to respond to her mother and choose the perfect outfit for the evening.

Meanwhile, in his office, Secretary Jian entered to find Han Chen smiling at his phone, a sight that made him pause. Adjusting his glasses, he thought, Why does it seem like the boss smiles more since he got married? He shook his head, clearing his thoughts, and coughed to get his boss's attention.

Han Chen, hearing the noise, looked up, coughed again to hide his embarrassment, and quickly pocketed his phone. "You should take some medicine since you're coughing," he joked, his tone light-hearted.

Secretary Jian scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed by the teasing.

However, the mood shifted as Han Chen's expression turned serious again. "Let's speed up the work; I need to leave early today," he stated, his voice resolute.

Secretary Jian nodded in understanding, but his shock was palpable. He suddenly shouted, "What? You're leaving early today?"

Under Han Chen's steady gaze, Secretary Jian swallowed hard and quickly corrected himself, saying, "I understand; I'll organize everything, sir."

Feeling a rush of anxiety, Secretary Jian left the office, a mix of fear and determination propelling him back to work.