Sigh...
Actually, her father had quite a stubborn personality too.
He wasn't as overt as Zhu Wenyi, but he was definitely persistent. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so furious about that time she secretly took the household registry to get married without telling anyone.
Thinking about Long Yejue's instructions made Tang Mianmian feel conflicted.
She drove over to Fu Ranjanran's place. Fortunately, Qi Yunmo wasn't home.
Fu Ranjanran was curled up on the couch, sipping from a carton of milk and completely absorbed in a soap opera. She didn't even bother to greet her.
Tang Mianmian placed the fruit down, then flopped onto the couch next to her, clearly in a funk.
When the soap opera cut to a commercial, Fu Ranjanran finally turned her head to glance at her mopey friend. "What? The boss goes on a business trip and you catch a case of lovesickness?"
"I did not!" she protested weakly.
Fu Ranjanran raised a cold eyebrow. "Oh please, look at your eyes—all misty and yearning. If that's not lovesickness, I don't know what is. I should take a picture and show it to the boss—maybe he'll reward me."
Last time, Coco had tried to earn brownie points and ended up becoming the office joke. Now everyone was looking for ways to curry favor with the boss, hoping for a bonus three times bigger like Candy's.
That wasn't pocket change.
Tang Mianmian swatted her camera away and muttered, "I'm facing a dilemma."
"Hold on." Fu Ranjanran saved the photo before hugging her cushion and looking at her. "Let me guess—did the big boss assign you homework before he left?"
"…Homework…" Tang Mianmian was embarrassed.
But honestly, that was a pretty accurate description.
"Otherwise, why would you look so miserable? Don't tell me you miss me that much?"
"Fine, you guessed it." Tang Mianmian admitted, "He wants me to prep my parents before he gets back."
"Whoa, so he's planning to meet the parents?" Fu Ranjanran's eyes sparkled.
Tang Mianmian nodded earnestly. "Yeah, that's why I'm worried. You know how stubborn my dad is. He's not easy to deal with."
"That's where your charm comes in," Fu Ranjanran teased. "Besides, with a golden goose like the boss, what dad could possibly say no?"
"It's because he's rich that I'm scared to bring him home. And we had a flash marriage… I'm afraid my dad will kick me out."
Fu Ranjanran knew a bit about her father. He was the kind who never yielded, not to force or persuasion.
Just the fact that Tang Mianmian had to sneak off with the household registry said a lot.
"Then let your mom work her magic. Go home first, but don't tell your dad about the flash marriage yet. Let him accept you first, then your husband."
"I thought of that too. But Long Yejue only gave me a week. I'm not sure I can pull it off." That's what was really bothering her.
Convincing her dad in a week? Impossible.
Fu Ranjanran grinned mischievously and leaned in. "There's a simple solution—fight poison with poison."
"…?"
What kind of phrase was that?
Tang Mianmian looked at her, baffled.
Fu Ranjanran patted her belly with a sly smile. "Just turn the rice into cooked rice. Then it's too late to object."
"Uh…"
She definitely consulted the wrong strategist.
"Forget it, I'll call my mom first and test the waters," Tang Mianmian decided to go for a softer approach.
She left Fu Ranjanran's place and drove to a quiet park. Sitting down, she made the call.
She couldn't call from the Long residence—too many servants, and even Xu Quan popped in and out. She didn't want too many people to know.
Chen Qiuhua was cooking when she answered the phone and was pleasantly surprised, "Why the call today?"
"Just missed you guys," Tang Mianmian said sweetly, trying to cheer her up. "How have you both been?"
"We're okay. Your dad's got a cold though, keeps coughing."
That made Tang Mianmian anxious. "Did he see a doctor? What did they say?"
"He refused. I just bought him some medicine. He seems a bit better now."
"You should still get him to a doctor," she said, worried.
Chen Qiuhua glanced around cautiously, then lowered her voice. "How about you? How are things with Xiao Su?"
Xiao Su?
Tang Mianmian blinked, then realized she meant Su Shijie. She hesitated, then said, "Mom, actually… I didn't marry Su Shijie."
"You didn't? That's great! Your dad won't be mad then. Just come home and apologize."
But Tang Mianmian hesitated again, "But, but I…"
She didn't know how to explain that she'd married a stranger.
Chen Qiuhua sensed something was off. "Wait, didn't you say he treated you well? How could you not be married? Did he dump you?"
"No, mom. The man I mentioned isn't Su Shijie," she finally confessed. "I didn't marry him… I married someone else."
"What?" Chen Qiuhua was stunned. "Married someone else? Who?"
"Mom, please don't panic. Let me explain. I didn't know him before, but he's really kind to me."
"I still can't believe you married a stranger."
Tang Mianmian understood. That's exactly what she'd feared. "I didn't dare tell you. He's on a business trip and asked me to talk to you two. He wants to visit when he returns."
"Visit?! Your dad will explode! Don't let him come now!"
"I know. That's why I'm asking you to talk to Dad for me. You know how to handle him best."
"You child…" Chen Qiuhua sighed, exasperated. "How am I supposed to bring this up? It's too sudden."
Tears welled up in Tang Mianmian's eyes. "I'm sorry. I was being reckless."
"What's the point of saying sorry now? Back then, you were dead set on marrying that Su guy, and your dad wouldn't allow it. Now you marry someone else we don't even know. How am I supposed to break that to him?"
It was a tough spot.
Both mother and daughter fell silent for a while before Tang Mianmian spoke again. "Mom, I'll come home tomorrow and tell him myself."
"No, don't come back now. You want to get beaten? You know your dad's temper."
Despite her fear, she said firmly, "I have to. He's strict, but he loves me. I'll just act cute and plead."
All Chen Qiuhua could do was sigh again. "Fine, I'll try to talk to him tonight. Be prepared when you come back."
"Prepared for what?"
"Kneepads, of course."
"…"
Tang Mianmian couldn't hold back her tears.
Even now, her mom was still looking out for her.
There was no avoiding a kneeling apology. She mumbled a tearful "okay" and hung up after her mother's reminders.
She felt like she couldn't breathe from the stress.
A few people in the park glanced over curiously, and she quickly turned her back to wipe her tears away.
She kept fiddling with her phone.
By now, Long Yejue should be awake, right?
Should she message him?
No… better not. It might interfere with his work.
With a sigh, she stood up and walked back to her car, heading back to the Long residence.
At dinner, she told the old man she planned to visit her family.
Long Zhenfei immediately had someone prepare gifts, but she quickly stopped him. "Long Yejue already prepared some before he left. There's no need."
He nodded in approval and reminded her, "Have Master Zhang drive you. It's good to see your parents. Once Jue returns, we'll all have a meal together."
"I'll drive myself. No need to trouble him." She declined politely.
He looked at her and didn't insist. "Alright, do whatever works for you."
Tang Mianmian breathed a sigh of relief and was grateful. If her grandfather didn't support her, life here would've been much harder.
Long Yecheng asked, "Where's your hometown? Driving or flying?"
"I'll drive. It's just a small town in the next city."
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Be safe."
"Thank you."
After dinner, she returned to Nian Garden to pack.
There wasn't much to pack—Long Yejue had already prepared far too many gifts. She asked Uncle Xu to just bring a few out.
Uncle Xu hesitated, but since the young master had instructed him to listen to the young madam, he followed her orders.
Once everything was ready, she said, "Uncle Xu, please fill up the Audi A4. I'll drive that one tomorrow."
Uncle Xu paused, unsure. "You want to drive that one?"
It was the most low-profile of the three cars.
The others were an Aston Martin and a Maybach.
Compared to those, the Audi was practically modest.
Uncle Xu hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, but that one hasn't been used in a while. It's maintained regularly, but please be careful."
"I will," Tang Mianmian smiled, then went upstairs.
Uncle Xu fetched the Audi's keys and stared at them for a while before sighing. "If the young master can accept a red dress, then this car should be fine too."
That evening, as he went to refuel the Audi, he ran into Long Yecheng polishing his car. He was surprised and asked, "Young master, isn't this the servants' job?"
Long Yecheng replied as he polished, "You don't understand. To a man, a car is more important than a woman. This is my real wife—I've got to take care of her myself."
Uncle Xu found that odd but didn't press. As usual, he kept things low-key and went to fill up the Audi.
Long Yecheng glanced over and asked, "Someone finally using that car again?"
"The young madam said she wants to drive it home."
Uncle Xu didn't hide anything.
"Is that so?" A flicker of darkness passed through Long Yecheng's eyes.