Married in a Daze - Chapter 104

Chapter 104

Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun fooled around in the car for a good while before heading home. Yin Lanfang had been waiting by the door early on. Hearing the sound of the door opening, she sprang up from the sofa with a joyful expression and said to Qin Ye, "Zhenzhen's back."

Qin Ye walked out of the kitchen, his face beaming with a smile.

Qin Zhenzhen held Lu Ruyun's hand and greeted her parents, "Dad, Mom."

Lu Ruyun was still carrying gifts in her hand. She placed them on the coffee table and followed suit, calling out, "Dad, Mom."

Yin Lanfang was overjoyed.

Originally, she was already thrilled that Qin Zhenzhen had come home for New Year's after three years away. Adding Lu Ruyun to the mix made her so happy she didn't know where to put her hands, eagerly urging them, "Sit, sit, sit."

Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun sat down by the sofa. The entire house had been meticulously decorated, brimming with New Year's atmosphere and festive cheer. Qin Ye was busy in the kitchen; the dining table already held many prepared dishes—a lavish spread.

Yin Lanfang brought over some melon seeds, peanuts, and candies, placing them on the coffee table. "Come, come, have some candy, have some candy."

After saying this, she looked at Qin Zhenzhen. "How come you've lost weight again? Haven't you been eating properly?"

Qin Zhenzhen laughed at the familiar topic. "Losing weight means I can eat more when I come home."

Yin Lanfang's eyes reddened slightly as she muttered, "Cheeky."

Qin Zhenzhen smiled, nestling into her embrace and cooing, "Mom..."

Yin Lanfang, thoroughly mollified, still pretended to be stern. "Alright, alright, I won't say anymore."

Seeing this scene, a smile flickered in Lu Ruyun's eyes, tinged with a hint of envy. She lowered her eyelids, picked up a piece of candy from the coffee table, and put it in her mouth. It was sweet, yet also a little bitter.

After bustling alone in the kitchen for a little while, Qin Ye called out, "Fangfang, come give me a hand."

Yin Lanfang stood up and responded, "Coming!"

Lu Ruyun beat her to it, saying, "Mom, I'll go. You and Zhenzhen haven't seen each other in a long time; you should have a good chat."

Yin Lanfang's eyes, already slightly red, grew even redder upon hearing this. She waved her hand. "No need. I've seen her for over twenty years already; I've had my fill long ago. What's there to chat about?"

Qin Zhenzhen, hearing this, tugged at Yin Lanfang's sleeve with displeasure. "What! Mom, I'm so naturally beautiful, the center of attention wherever I go, and you say you've had your fill? No way, you have to take a good look!"

As she spoke, she winked at Lu Ruyun. "Go ahead, Teacher Lu."

Lu Ruyun nodded. "Okay."

Yin Lanfang, pulled back down to sit by Qin Zhenzhen, shifted uncomfortably and glanced toward the kitchen. "Zhenzhen, isn't it a bit inappropriate to have Ruyun do chores? She rarely visits our home."

Qin Zhenzhen held her fidgeting body in place. "What 'rarely'? Mom, you need to position her correctly. From now on, she's your daughter too!"

"There's no difference between her and me."

Yin Lanfang poked her arm disdainfully. "No difference from you? You're the laziest thing, always ordering takeout, never cooking properly..."

Hearing her launch into another long-winded lecture, Qin Zhenzhen quickly raised her hands. "Mom, mom, mom, I haven't had takeout in ages. Ruyun's cooking is great; we eat at home all the time."

Yin Lanfang clicked her tongue. "Well, have you learned any of it?"

Qin Zhenzhen felt an arrow strike her knee. "I've just been busy, haven't I?"

Yin Lanfang patted her back. "And Ruyun isn't busy? Busy filming, then coming home to take care of you. Can't you be a little more sensible?"

Qin Zhenzhen shot to her feet. "Mom!"

Yin Lanfang looked up, her demeanor not losing to Qin Zhenzhen's. "What?"

Qin Zhenzhen held her breath for a moment. "Well, you don't cook either."

Yin Lanfang opened her mouth, then her imposing manner deflated.

The living room was suddenly filled only with the sound from the TV. Hearing the mother-daughter squabble outside, Lu Ruyun's lips curled up in a smile. Qin Ye watched as she skillfully beat the eggs and assisted with the preparations, saying, "Do you do the cooking at home?"

Hearing his voice, Lu Ruyun glanced sideways, paused for a moment, and smiled. "Yes."

A look of relief appeared on Qin Ye's face, though his words said otherwise. "Ruyun, you mustn't spoil Zhenzhen. You should make her do what needs to be done. Household chores aren't for one person alone. It's only called a home when two people are together, and it's only called housework when done together."

Lu Ruyun thought these words would come from Yin Lanfang's mouth, never expecting Qin Ye to say them to her. She lowered her head with a smile. "Zhenzhen doesn't really like going into the kitchen."

Qin Ye's old face flushed slightly. He coughed lightly. "I know. It's all her mother's fault for spoiling her, always giving in to her whims. Don't be fooled by how grown-up she seems; when she encounters trouble, all she knows how to do is act cute and wheedle. As soon as she does that, her mother can't bear to scold her anymore. I'll talk to her later; she can't go on like this."

After hearing Qin Ye's words, Lu Ruyun couldn't help but laugh quietly to herself.

Her memory of her last visit to the Qin family was still fresh. The one who doted on Qin Zhenzhen, indulged her every whim, and nodded to everything as soon as she acted cute was none other than the man before her. Thinking of this, her expression turned serious. "Dad, I haven't thanked you yet for last time."

Qin Ye's busy hands paused. "For what?"

Lu Ruyun stirred the eggs with chopsticks and looked up. "Last time, when Zhenzhen and I went to get our marriage certificate without permission. If you hadn't spoken up for us, Mom would definitely still be angry. Thank you."

Qin Ye waved it off. "As long as you two are happy together, that's what matters. No need for all this thanking back and forth."

Lu Ruyun nodded. "Also, Zhenzhen and I would like to hold a wedding this year. There's a lot we don't understand yet, and we'd like to ask you and Mom for help."

The smile on Qin Ye's lips widened. "When?"

Lu Ruyun bit her lip. "We're thinking after Zhenzhen finishes her next drama."

Hearing this, Qin Ye couldn't help but laugh, repeatedly saying, "Good, good, good."

He worked even more vigorously.

Originally, when Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun got married, there was no hiding it from relatives and friends. Zhenzhen was a celebrity; everyone knew her every move. So, after learning about their marriage, people kept asking when they'd get to attend the wedding banquet.

But since Zhenzhen and Ruyun never mentioned a date, no one dared press too hard, afraid of disturbing their work.

As time went on, relatives initially kept asking when it would be, but now they'd started speculating whether the two hadn't really gotten married, that it was all an act. Some even said they were too stingy to throw a single wedding banquet, wondering if they didn't want to maintain family ties anymore.

Since they were technically in the wrong on this matter, the family had just brushed it off with vague replies.

They had been worried that visiting relatives during the New Year would inevitably bring up the topic again. Now that Lu Ruyun had taken the initiative to propose holding a banquet, how could he not be overjoyed!

In his happiness, he cooked several extra dishes for dinner. Qin Zhenzhen looked at the feast spread before them, somewhat astonished. "Can we finish all this?"

Qin Ye walked over, chuckling. "Let's eat. We'll be eating until late tonight; it'll get finished."

Qin Zhenzhen glanced at Lu Ruyun and whispered, "Do you know what 'keeping the watch' means?"

Seeing the sparkle in her eyes, Lu Ruyun smiled. "I know."

In the older generation's mindset, there was a custom of "keeping the watch" on New Year's Eve, so the meal on the 30th often lasted very late, waiting for the arrival of midnight.

Yin Lanfang also sat at the dining table and asked Lu Ruyun and Qin Zhenzhen, "Are you leaving on the third day?"

Qin Zhenzhen picked up a meatball with her chopsticks and nodded. "Morning of the third day, or maybe the evening of the second."

Yin Lanfang pointed to the refrigerator. "I made a lot of cured meat for you. Take it back with you when you leave. Don't you love it, Zhenzhen?"

Qin Zhenzhen wanted to say that even if she loved it, she rarely had time to eat at home, but seeing the expectant look on Yin Lanfang's face, she still nodded. "Okay."

Seeing her so obedient pleased Yin Lanfang. She glanced at Qin Ye and gave him a meaningful look. Qin Ye nodded repeatedly. "Right, right, right, we almost forgot to give you something."

Qin Zhenzhen looked up from her dinner to see Qin Ye and Yin Lanfang each holding a red envelope. She and Lu Ruyun exchanged a glance and shared a smile.

"Thank you, Dad! Thank you, Mom!"

As she spoke, she reached out to grab the red envelopes, but her hand was smacked away by Yin Lanfang.

"These aren't for you; they're for Ruyun."

Yin Lanfang handed the red envelope to Lu Ruyun, and Qin Ye did the same. Lu Ruyun looked at the envelopes being offered to her, a moment of bewilderment crossing her face. She blinked, accepted them, warmth blooming in her heart, and said softly, "Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom."

Qin Zhenzhen: "Favoritism."

She pouted and muttered. The "favoritist" Yin Lanfang and Qin Ye symbolically pulled out two red banknotes from their wallets and handed them to her. Qin Zhenzhen pursed her lips, took them, and her expression brightened again.

After dinner, a neighbor came visiting. Seeing Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun, the neighbor exclaimed in surprise, "Zhenzhen is home too!"

"Isn't this the one who acts in TV shows?"

Yin Lanfang greeted them. "Yes, that's right. Your memory is sharp as ever, Old Li. Zhenzhen, say hello to Auntie Li."

Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun greeted the visitor. "Auntie Li."

A young girl trailed behind Auntie Li, hopping along. "Mom, wait for me!"

Upon reaching Qin Zhenzhen's house, her eyes lit up. "Sister Zhenzhen!!!! Cloud Fairy!"

"Oh my god, am I dreaming?"

Qin Zhenzhen smiled at her exaggerated expression and walked over to her. "Xiao Xue, you've grown so tall."

Xiao Xue seemed a bit shy, looking somewhat embarrassed at Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun. "Sister Zhenzhen, could I... get an autograph?"

Auntie Li grabbed Xiao Xue's hand. "So rude."

Qin Zhenzhen laughed. "It's fine, it's fine. Xiao Xue, let's go inside and chat."

Xiao Xue's eyes were full of excitement. She couldn't help looking left at Qin Zhenzhen, then right at Lu Ruyun. Usually, when she said Qin Zhenzhen was her neighbor's older sister, no one believed her, saying she was daydreaming. Now, looking at Qin Zhenzhen right in front of her, she still felt a strong sense of unreality.

The unreal-feeling Xiao Xue followed Qin Zhenzhen into the room and obtained the autograph she had long dreamed of. After thinking for a moment, she still asked, "Sister Zhenzhen, could we take a photo together?"

Qin Zhenzhen glanced at Lu Ruyun and nodded. "Sure."

After the two of them took a photo with Xiao Xue, Xiao Xue hugged her phone, biting her lip, and asked Qin Zhenzhen, "Sister Zhenzhen, can I show the photo to others?"

Qin Zhenzhen smiled. "Of course you can."

Xiao Xue delightedly posted the photo in her class group chat, instantly causing an uproar.

---

—XiaoXiaoXiaoXiao Xue, who's standing next to you? Don't tell me it's Qin Zhenzhen???

—Xiao Xue, within five seconds, I need your current detailed address!

—Is that Cloud Fairy and Zhenzhen? Holy shit, am I seeing things?

—Xiao Xue, get me an autograph! Give her a big kiss for me! I so want to see Zhenzhen, wuwuwu, Yuan Yu has me completely enchanted.

---

Seeing Xiao Xue hugging her phone and laughing, Qin Zhenzhen was reminded a bit of herself when receiving a gift—a little smug, a little vain, but not in an unpleasant way.

It was the kind of little cuteness that belonged to this age.

After chatting with them for a few more minutes, Xiao Xue very considerately left the room. Qin Zhenzhen took Lu Ruyun's hand. "Come on."

Lu Ruyun let herself be pulled to sit on the bed, momentarily confused. "What for?"

Qin Zhenzhen raised her phone. "Taking photos, of course."

"It's New Year's after all; we should take a couple of photos together too."

Lu Ruyun suddenly broke into a smile, cooperating with Qin Zhenzhen's poses. When Qin Zhenzhen's cheek pressed against hers, she couldn't help but close her eyes and give her a light kiss—a gentle action, a reverent posture.

Qin Zhenzhen looked sideways. Fireworks outside the window soared into the sky in that instant, flashing with colorful, brilliant light, illuminating Lu Ruyun's slightly closed, lovely face, adding a touch of solemnity to it. She blinked, her heart bursting with joy.

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