“Old Feng, it’s been almost three hours. Why hasn’t Yingzi brought the girl back yet? Could something have happened?”
He Hong watched as time ticked by, and her eldest daughter still hadn’t brought back her future daughter-in-law. Anxiety immediately welled up in her heart.
Feng Shengli, who sat on the living room sofa reading the newspaper, glanced at his wife’s anxious expression. He remained completely calm.
“You, stop overthinking it. Don’t you trust Yingzi to handle things? Anyone could have an accident, but not her.”
Even after hearing Feng Shengli’s words, He Hong’s heart didn’t settle. She kept muttering, “I should have gone with Yingzi just now…”
Just as He Hong muttered anxiously in her heart, a burst of cheerful footsteps sounded.
“Great-Grandma~ Great-Grandma~! I want to see Little Aunt~! I want to see Little Aunt~!”
That loud, booming voice told He Hong immediately that it was her precious great-granddaughter who had arrived.
Sure enough, the next second, a plump yet long-limbed little girl, about ten years old, with a bob haircut and wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, ran in.
Though the little girl was chubby all over, her facial features were very pretty and particularly endearing.
Round almond eyes, a perky little upturned nose, and full, rosy lips just like He Yingzi’s—beautiful yet cute, like a doll. She looked plump and blessed, especially likable to elders.
The only flaw was that the little girl’s skin wasn’t very fair; it seemed she often sunned herself, leaving her a bit tanned.
“Ningning’s here. Where’s your dad and your little brother?”
He Hong saw that her pretty and cute great-granddaughter He Anning seemed even more tanned and immediately felt a headache coming on.
No need to ask—her tomboy great-granddaughter must have been out running wild again, or she wouldn’t look like a little coal ball!
“Dad’s walking too slow carrying Little Brother! They’re still behind~!”
He Anning pouted disdainfully and muttered.
No sooner had her disdainful words fallen than a man in a white shirt and black suit pants entered, carrying a delicately carved, jade-like little baby bundle.
“Mom, Dad, are we a bit late?”
The man had upright features and an impressive bearing. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses on his high nose bridge added a refined, scholarly air.
In terms of looks and temperament, he and He Hong complemented each other perfectly.
“Jiang Zheng, perfect timing. Yingzi went to pick up Qiao Shu, but it’s been almost three hours and she still hasn’t returned. Why don’t you drive out and look for them…?”
Seeing her son-in-law arrive, He Hong perked up immediately and hurriedly wanted Jiang Zheng to go search.
“Jiang Zheng, don’t listen to your mom. I reckon Yingzi hasn’t come back yet because she’s probably taken the Qiao family girl shopping.”
Feng Shengli folded his newspaper and said to Jiang Zheng with some helplessness.
Hearing Feng Shengli’s words, Jiang Zheng understood that his mother-in-law was worrying excessively out of care.
She wasn’t usually so tense about He Yingzi, but today, with Qiao Shu added, she got nervous right away.
This showed that his mother-in-law really valued the Qiao family girl.
“Mom, don’t worry. Yingzi always handles things steadily. Besides, Baocheng’s there too.”
Yang Baocheng was Elder Feng’s guard, with exceptional skills. Otherwise, Elder Feng wouldn’t have sent him to pick up the Qiao family girl.
So Jiang Zheng wasn’t worried at all about any mishaps.
But even with the whole family reassuring her, He Hong still fretted.
Amid He Hong’s worry, a hearty laugh came from outside.
“Hahaha, good luck today—I caught a mandarin fish! Xiao Li, take this mandarin fish I caught to the kitchen. We’ll make Squirrel Mandarin Fish with it for the Qiao family girl today!”
Hearing that elderly voice from outside, plump little He Anning excitedly dashed out.
“Great-Grandfather! How could you go fishing without calling me? Ningning wants to go fishing for Little Aunt too!”
“You little monkey—if Great-Grandfather takes you fishing, how could we catch any fish?”
Amid the back-and-forth between grandfather and granddaughter, Elder Feng entered the living room holding He Anning’s hand.
But as soon as he entered, Elder Feng sensed something off.
“Huh, where’s the Qiao family girl? Hasn’t she arrived yet?”
Elder Feng saw only family members in the living room, missing He Yingzi and Qiao Shu, and asked puzzledly.
“Dad, Yingzi’s been gone three hours to pick her up, and she still hasn’t come home! I’m dying of worry!”
He Hong said immediately, her eyes full of concern.
“How could it take so long?”
Elder Feng’s brows furrowed slightly, and he grew a bit worried too.
After all, that was his old comrade and lifesaver’s granddaughter! His nailed-down granddaughter-in-law! How could he not worry?
“Dad, the Capital’s security is top-notch—what could happen? Besides, with Yingzi and Baocheng’s skills, nothing would go wrong. I bet Yingzi likes the Qiao family kid so much she took her shopping.”
It had to be said—no one knew a daughter better than her father. Though this was just Feng Shengli’s casual guess… it turned out spot on!
The reason He Yingzi took so long picking her up was precisely because she liked her little sister-in-law-to-be so much that she dragged her on a shopping spree!
“This one’s nice—Shushu would look great in it.”
“These shoes are good, real leather, soft soles, pretty and comfortable, no fatigue walking.”
“This one! This one! And this one! Wrap them all up…”
Qiao Shu looked at He Yingzi, who held her hand and shopped like an overbearing CEO, feeling utterly numb.
Heaven knew how He Yingzi had dragged her to the department store.
She’d thought getting in the sedan meant heading straight to the Feng Family for a lavish, delicious meal.
Who knew… He Yingzi hadn’t taken her home first but to the Capital’s largest department store instead…
“Sister, enough—these things, I already have some.”
Qiao Shu eyed He Yingzi’s dominant shopping mode and tugged her sleeve cautiously, saying softly.
“A girl’s clothes are never enough, Shushu. Don’t worry, I have money—no need to save it for me!”
He Yingzi patted Qiao Shu’s hand and declared domineeringly.
Faced with such enthusiasm—He Yingzi determined to spend on her, as if to buy out the whole mall—Qiao Shu was helpless.
She shot a pleading look at Yang Baocheng, who carried their shopping bags nearby.
Seeing Qiao Shu’s pitiful expression, Yang Baocheng’s heart softened. He cleared his throat lightly and bailed her out. “Sister Yingzi, we should head back soon. It’s about mealtime—dinner’s probably ready at home. And Comrade Qiao must be hungry by now…”
Before Yang Baocheng finished, Qiao Shu nodded like a chick pecking rice and chimed in coquettishly, “Mm-hmm, Sister, my tummy’s hungry—I can’t walk anymore.”
He Yingzi, who had planned to buy some jewelry next, saw Qiao Shu’s pitiful wide-eyed stare and cute coquettishness. She had no choice but to halt her shopping spree.
“Alright then, since Shushu’s hungry, let’s go home and eat first.”
Hearing this, Qiao Shu lit up immediately, her pretty watery eyes squinting into crescent moons.
Seeing Qiao Shu so delighted, He Yingzi paused slightly and wondered puzzledly in her heart, ‘Don’t girls all love pretty clothes? Why does Qiao Shu seem uninterested in nice outfits… like she loves food more???’
Soon enough, at the dinner table, He Yingzi understood—this cute, pretty little fairy sister-in-law really was more into eating~!
Yang Baocheng drove and soon arrived at the Military District Compound where the Feng Family lived.
As Elder Feng was the commander, the Feng Family’s residential building was the largest.
The black Hongqi Sedan quickly parked in front of a villa with a spacious yard and three stories high.
After stepping out of the sedan, Qiao Shu gazed at the large, beautifully landscaped villa and couldn’t help sighing. The Feng Family was indeed as wealthy and powerful as she’d imagined.
Look at this villa—how stunning.
Even by later standards, its design wouldn’t seem outdated!
Red brick walls, white European-style trim lines—elegant and beautiful.
Especially the red-and-white pairing, which made it look grand and imposing.
“Shushu, come on, let’s go home.”
He Yingzi affectionately took Qiao Shu’s soft, boneless little hand and said gently.
“Mm!”
Qiao Shu nodded tensely and followed behind He Yingzi into the villa.
Along the way, she’d learned from He Yingzi about everyone in the Feng Family.
She knew they all welcomed and looked forward to her arrival.
Even so, Qiao Shu still felt a bit nervous.
After all… these were the family she’d live with in the future…
He Yingzi, ever attentive to Qiao Shu, keenly noticed her cute little sister-in-law’s tension. She chuckled lightly and said affirmatively, “Shushu, don’t worry. The whole family will love you.”
She was certain of this! Her little sister-in-law was just too lovable!
And as He Yingzi said, Qiao Shu indeed won over the entire Feng Family.
From the seventy-something Elder Feng down to five-year-old Jiang Lekang, everyone without exception adored Qiao Shu…
“The meal’s all ready on the table, but Yingzi still hasn’t arrived. No, Jiang Zheng, you should still go look…”
In the living room, He Hong saw Wu Ma had prepared lunch and was just waiting for everyone to sit—yet He Yingzi still hadn’t brought Qiao Shu. She urged Jiang Zheng again.
But before she finished, He Yingzi’s voice interrupted.
“Grandpa, Mom, Dad—I’ve brought Shushu.”
Hearing He Yingzi’s clear voice, the Feng Family all turned toward the door in unison.
At the sight, everyone in the living room froze.
Regardless of age, gender, young or old—they were instantly drawn to Qiao Shu, whom He Yingzi held by the hand.
All eyes locked straight on Qiao Shu, on her fair, delicate, fairy-like beautiful face. They wondered if they were hallucinating.
Otherwise… how could they see someone so stunningly pretty?
Too unreal…
Elder Feng, with the strongest composure, recovered first. His weathered eyes widened, and he said incredulously, “Th-this is the Qiao family girl? The granddaughter-in-law set for a childhood betrothal with our A Xiao?”
The more he said, the less real it felt—after all—
“It’s fake, right! How could Big Head Qiao have such a fresh-faced, fairy-pretty granddaughter! Yingzi, you didn’t pick up the wrong person, did you?!”