Better Than Summer: A Marriage Before Love Romance - Chapter 19

The lively living room featured a dining table laden with dishes—eight meat and eight vegetarian dishes plus two soups. Though the variety was abundant, the portions were modest, emphasizing richness over quantity.

All six were seated. Xi Chengnan occupied Shen Tingchao’s usual spot, sitting directly across from Shen Tingxia’s father.

Regarding the gifts Shen Tingxia and Xi Chengnan brought, Shen Luying called it a “waste of money.” Ordinary people wouldn’t normally drink Moutai or smoke Chunghwa cigarettes; cheaper alternatives would have been more practical, he said.

Shen Tingxia took the “blame,” claiming it was her idea. She explained it was their first time meeting the parents and they had no experience or friends to ask for advice. Still, Shen Tingxia could tell her father was secretly pleased.

After sitting down, Shen Luying directly opened a bottle of Moutai, filled a small cup, and handed it to Xi Chengnan.

Shen Tingxia saw this and stretched out her hand towards her father. “Dad, he doesn’t drink. Give it to me. I’ll drink with you.”

Shen Luying looked doubtfully at Xi Chengnan. “Dr. Xi doesn’t drink?”

Xi Chengnan answered respectfully, “Uncle, I don’t drink. Please, just call me Chengnan.”

Hearing “Uncle” again, Qu Xianglan and Shen Luying exchanged a glance. Qu Xianglan corrected him, “Hey, why are you still calling him ‘Uncle’? Isn’t it time to address us differently?”

Xi Chengnan paused for a second, then reacted. He smiled faintly and called out, “Dad.”

Hearing this “Dad,” Shen Luying’s face lit up with joy.

Shen Tingxia, however, looked surprised. It felt strange—she was now sharing the title “Dad” with someone completely unrelated to her by bl00d.

At some point, Shen Tingxia saw her father pull out a red envelope and hand it to Xi Chengnan. He said earnestly, “My daughter here is picky, headstrong, and full of little tantrums. But she’s also smart, efficient, and has no problems with social interactions. When you two live together in the future, be understanding with each other. You’re the man, so be a bit more accommodating.”

Xi Chengnan glanced sideways at Shen Tingxia. The Shen Tingxia in her father’s eyes differed slightly from the one he saw. He didn’t doubt it; after all, the persona he presented to his own parents wasn’t his complete self either. That was normal.

Shen Tingxia thought Xi Chengnan looked at her because he felt awkward accepting the red envelope. So, she reached out and unceremoniously took the envelope from her father’s hand. “Dad, I’ll take it for him.”

Shen Luying released it, beaming happily at his daughter and son-in-law, then looking at his wife, his face full of contentment. “Oh, you…”

Since she’d already taken it, Xi Chengnan could only agree, “Yes, I will.”

Shen Tingxia looked at her mother, a smile playing on her lips. “Mom, Dad’s given a red envelope. Aren’t you going to show your appreciation too?”

Qu Xianglan had long wanted a son-in-law. Though their situation was unconventional, she was genuinely happy, as if the most important matter in her heart had been settled. Soon, Qu Xianglan also produced a red envelope from her pocket, laughing merrily. “Chengnan, take this red envelope. It’s not much money, but it’s a token of our feelings, welcoming you to our big family.”

Shen Tingxia reached out to take it, but Qu Xianglan dodged her hand, swatting it lightly with the envelope. “This is for Chengnan. Don’t think I don’t know that once this envelope reaches your hands, Chengnan won’t see a penny of it!”

“…” Do you have to know me so well?

Seeing this, Shen Tingxia nudged Xi Chengnan’s arm, lowering her voice just enough for the whole family to hear. “Take it.”

Xi Chengnan extended both hands and accepted the envelope. “Thank you, Mom.”

Qu Xianglan’s smile widened, her mouth seemingly unable to close.

However, once he took it, Xi Chengnan discreetly passed the envelope under the table to Shen Tingxia.

The dinner table was filled with warmth and harmony. Whether it was Shen Tingxia or her siblings, they spoke freely. Her parents never interrupted their chatter; sometimes they’d even talk back, but it all passed in playful banter.

It was completely unlike his family, where even sharing a meal was a serious affair.

During the meal, Qu Xianglan asked when their parents could meet.

Shen Tingxia tactfully replied, “It’s hard to say. His parents are also doctors, everyone’s quite busy. Meeting… we’ll see.”

Truthfully, she really didn’t want to meet. It was too much trouble.

Hearing this, the smile instantly vanished from Qu Xianglan’s face. She stopped looking at Shen Tingxia and turned her gaze to Xi Chengnan.

Xi Chengnan understood and said with a smile, “I’ll arrange it.”

Hearing this, Qu Xianglan smiled contentedly again.

After the satisfying meal, they gathered around the table drinking tea and chatting. The cozy house was filled with the warm atmosphere of everyday life.

Shen Luying chatted casually with Xi Chengnan, while Qu Xianglan mentioned offhandedly, “Ye Xuan and Jingjing came over at noon.”

Shen Tingxia, who was sipping tea, choked abruptly. Xi Chengnan handed her a couple of tissues. She took them, wiped her mouth, and looked up at her mother incredulously. “What were they doing here?”
“Didn’t you tell them I was in the hospital?!”

“…”

She remembered now. Yes, that had happened yesterday.

Shen Tingxia immediately pulled out her phone and typed in their group chat: [You two didn’t say anything to my parents at noon, right?!]

I Want Quiet: [Sealed]

St: [So did you say anything or not?]

Fire Kid: [Of course not! Our lips are sealed. Relax, Sister Xia!]

Seeing this message, Shen Tingxia finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Shen Tingchao suddenly spoke up, “Sis, add brother-in-law to our family group chat.”

Shen Tingxia, flushed from the alcohol and the recent scare, had a rosy tinge to her cheeks that carried a subtle, unconscious allure.

However, she had long seen through Shen Tingchao’s motive. Operating her phone while speaking, she said, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re scheming, Shen Tingchao. No matter how many people are in our family group chat, you’ll still be the one with the least status.”

Shen Tingchao pondered this and realized it was probably true. He pouted and said nothing more.

After adding Xi Chengnan to the family group, making it six members, Shen Tingxia exited the chat. She saw a WeChat message from Kevin sent an hour ago, informing her he wouldn’t be at tomorrow’s meeting, but Mr. Lin would be listening in, so she needed to be fully prepared.

Seeing this message, Shen Tingxia rolled her eyes. Couldn’t he avoid sending work messages during time off? It just made her anxious in advance, ruined her relaxation, made her dread overtime, and killed her motivation to work.

She looked up. They were engaged in easy back-and-forth conversation. She hadn’t realized Xi Chengnan could talk this much either.

She checked the time again: already quarter past ten. She stood up and said, “Mom, Dad, it’s getting late. We should head back. We both work tomorrow.”

Qu Xianglan tried to persuade them to stay, “Don’t go back. Stay the night here.”

Shen Tingxia stated the obvious, “I could stay, but can he? There are no spare clothes for him here.”

Xi Chengnan chimed in appropriately, “We should go back. I have an early shift tomorrow.”

Shen Luying also said, “The kids have their own lives. Besides, where would they sleep?”
Their home only had three bedrooms. If Shen Tingxia stayed alone, she could share a room with Shen Tingtang. But with Xi Chengnan added, unless he slept with Shen Tingchao, there was no solution. Qu Xianglan seemed to realize this too and didn’t press further.

As she saw them off, she told them to come home for meals more often whenever they could.

Sitting in the car, Shen Tingxia felt the world go quiet.

After a moment, she fastened her seatbelt.

Xi Chengnan started the car and asked, “Your place or mine?”

Shen Tingxia had drunk quite a bit today. Though not drunk, her head was definitely uncomfortable. To grab a few extra minutes of sleep tomorrow morning, she chose: “Yours.”

Xi Chengnan had no objection and set the GPS for his apartment.

The car was quiet on the road. Passing under the streetlights one after another, Xi Chengnan’s mind involuntarily replayed the evening’s events.

He had always sensed Shen Tingxia’s vibrancy—her loyalty, her boldness in speaking and acting, her refusal to stir trouble but also her refusal to back down. But before, he hadn’t known about her upbringing. Now, experiencing her family’s atmosphere, he understood the origin of her personality better and saw another side of her: a family that could genuinely connect and joke together.

Arriving at a crossroads, the light turned red for straight traffic. Xi Chengnan braked and glanced at Shen Tingxia. He hadn’t noticed when she’d fallen asleep, but her brows were tightly furrowed, seeming uncomfortable.

Understandable. After drinking that much, comfort was unlikely.
This was also the first time he realized Shen Tingxia could hold her liquor so well—downing three liang (approx. 150ml) of 53% proof liquor.

The light turned green, and the car moved forward.

After crossing the intersection, Xi Chengnan changed lanes to the right, scanning the roadside for a pharmacy.

He didn’t drink, so he didn’t keep hangover relief pills at home. He wasn’t sure if Shen Tingxia needed them, but he decided to buy some, just in case.

Driving along, he spotted a pharmacy. He pulled into the service lane and parked in front. Getting out quietly, he returned within minutes.

Shen Tingxia was awake when he got back. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she looked at him, her voice hoarse. “Where did you go?”

Xi Chengnan placed the box of hangover pills and the box of condoms he’d bought onto Shen Tingxia’s lap. Nodding towards the pills, he asked, “Want to take one now? There’s water in the car.”

Shen Tingxia did feel awful. She wasn’t one to be coy. She immediately pried open the pill box.

Seeing this, Xi Chengnan got out again, retrieved a bottle of sparkling water from the trunk, got back in the driver’s seat, unscrewed the cap, handed it to Shen Tingxia, and restarted the car.

Shen Tingxia swallowed the pill with the water, took a few more sips, and her parched throat felt much better.

She screwed the cap back on, placed the water bottle on her lap, and picked up the condom box. She scrutinized the text, but didn’t see the words “raised dots and ridges.” It just said “ultra-thin.”

Shen Tingxia chuckled, tilting her head to ask him, “Did the pharmacy not have the kind we used last night?”

The car merged back onto the main road. Xi Chengnan also turned his head towards her.

Streetlights passed one by one, their light shifting and changing as it streamed through the car windows. In the dimly lit interior, Xi Chengnan could see the brightness in Shen Tingxia’s eyes. They locked gazes briefly.

“Do we need external aids?” he asked. Then he shifted his gaze back to the road ahead.

The kind they used at last night’s party… he’d only bought one box that time at the supermarket. He’d deliberately chosen it after seeing Shen Tingxia walking alongside her blind date, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint his motivation then.

What they usually used was the basic kind. They hadn’t explored many variations in condom choices.

Xi Chengnan’s repertoire of “tricks” relied more on his hands.

Suddenly, Shen Tingxia felt her cheeks grow warm. Thankfully, the car interior was dark, so Xi Chengnan wouldn’t notice. She feigned calmness. “Dr. Xi is quite confident, huh?”

Xi Chengnan curled the corner of his mouth into a faint, amused smile but said nothing more.

Once home, before showering, Shen Tingxia handed both red envelopes from her parents to Xi Chengnan. “You shouldn’t have called them ‘Mom and Dad’ for nothing.”

Xi Chengnan didn’t need the few thousand yuan, but he found himself accepting the envelopes anyway. Remembering their warm hospitality, he complimented, “Mom and Dad are really nice people.”

“No kidding,” Shen Tingxia retorted, her tone and expression laced with pride. Her parents were great—that was a fact. Even though “Madam Qu” often caused her trouble, it didn’t negate that her mother was a wonderful mom.

Moving past that topic, Xi Chengnan added, “If we’re going to be staying here regularly, I’ll find time to move my things from the master bedroom to the spare room. You sleep in the master bedroom; it’s more convenient.”

Shen Tingxia didn’t care which room she slept in. “No need for the hassle. It’s all the same.”
Xi Chengnan insisted, “You take the master bedroom.”

The hangover pill had kicked in. Shen Tingxia felt more alert, and her headache had eased significantly. They each went to their respective rooms to shower.

After drying her hair, Shen Tingxia went to the living room, pulled her laptop from her bag, and started refining the materials needed for tomorrow’s meeting.

If the meeting were in the afternoon, she could have worked on it tomorrow at lunch. But the weekly Monday meeting was stubbornly scheduled for 11 AM. Starting work at 10 AM left only one hour—way too tight. Even Shen Tingxia, a master of deadlines, wouldn’t dare cut it that close. Especially with Mr. Lin attending tomorrow, she absolutely couldn’t afford to be careless.

If it weren’t for the reality of the situation, who in their right mind would be working overtime past midnight?!

After staring at the screen for over half an hour, she had only perfected slide 11 of her PowerPoint. The further she went, the more restless she felt. She was working with simmering frustration, unable to fully calm down.

Finally, approaching 12:30 AM, Shen Tingxia finished perfecting the presentation. She slammed her laptop shut with a mix of anger and relief.

Heading back to the spare bedroom, she noticed the light was still on in the master bedroom. Carrying the residual bad mood from work, she felt unable to shake it off. If she didn’t release this pent-up frustration, she’d probably be awake past 2 AM.

Instead of going to her room, Shen Tingxia stood at the door of the master bedroom and knocked.

A moment later, the door opened from within, and Shen Tingxia instantly met a pair of dark, deep-set eyes. They locked gazes.

Xi Chengnan stood there in simple black loungewear, his tall frame radiating a lazy, pre-sleep aura.

Shen Tingxia wasn’t interested in admiring his physique right then. Tipping her head back, her expression a mix of frustration and something almost plaintive, she asked bluntly:
“Xi Chengnan. Feel like doing it or not?”