To Sink Into You - Chapter 7

Ming Qian reluctantly pushed Zuo Lian away. “You’re soaking wet.”

Zuo Lian feigned hurt but remained undeterred. She shifted her attention to Wen Yuxi, saying, “Daughter-in-law, give your mother a hug!”

Hearing this term of endearment, Wen Yuxi’s face flushed crimson. She obediently hugged Zuo Lian. “It’s been so long, Auntie…”

Zuo Lian pinched Wen Yuxi’s cheek, her eyes crinkling with amusement. “You’re married now. Stop calling me ‘Auntie’—call me ‘Mom.'”

Wen Yuxi obediently replied, “Mom.”

Ming Yang chimed in, “What about me?”

Wen Yuxi’s blush deepened. “Mom.”

“Aww, so sweet!” Ming Yang beamed with satisfaction, joining in the cheek-pinching. “Look at our little Yuxi blossoming! She’s becoming more beautiful every day. Just look at all that collagen!”

Wen Yuxi mumbled, “Knot long nest…”

Ming Qian, feeling a headache coming on, rescued Wen Yuxi from her parents’ clutches. “Alright, you two go change quickly. Grandma’s almost finished her calligraphy. Let’s head back and chat there.”

Zuo Lian and Ming Yang exchanged amused glances, then linked arms and went to change.

The two women’s graceful figures, even nearing fifty, showed remarkably few signs of aging, their well-maintained appearances radiating a timeless, mature charm.

Time had not diminished their beauty.

Wen Yuxi couldn’t help but daydream: In twenty years, will Ming Qian and I be as devoted to each other as they are?

“Yuxi, let’s head back,” Ming Qian said. “It’s almost lunchtime.”

“Okay.”

As they returned to the main building and passed the dining room, they encountered Ming Yi, who was sipping tea at the table.

The elderly woman beckoned them to sit and asked calmly, “Where’s your mother?”

“Changing,” Ming Qian replied.

Ming Yi hummed in acknowledgment. “When are you going to the Wen Family?”

“After lunch,” Ming Qian answered.

Ming Yi’s tone left no room for argument. “Stay the night. Go tomorrow.”

Ming Qian didn’t respond immediately, turning to Wen Yuxi to gauge her opinion with a silent glance.

Wen Yuxi smiled sweetly. “Since Grandma says so, let’s go tomorrow.”

“Alright,” Ming Qian agreed with a smile.

Ming Yi glanced at Wen Yuxi, her expression unreadable, neither pleased nor displeased.

The dishes were brought to the table one after another. After a while, Ming Yang and Zuo Lian came downstairs, having changed their clothes, and the family began their lunch.

Zuo Lian used serving chopsticks to place food on Wen Yuxi’s plate, her face radiating affection as she asked with a warm smile, “Qiqi, have you two made any plans for a honeymoon?”

Wen Yuxi ranked seventh in the Wen family’s genealogy, being the youngest of her generation. Familiar elders occasionally called her “Qiqi” as a nickname, a term of endearment.

“I’m fine with whatever,” Wen Yuxi replied, maintaining her sweet and obedient smile. “It’s not like a honeymoon is essential. We can go or not, it doesn’t matter.”

“Darling, you’re on your honeymoon leave, right?” Zuo Lian said to Ming Qian. “Take Qiqi abroad for a few days. Enjoy your newlywed bliss and cherish your time together. Then hurry up and give me a granddaughter to play with! When are you planning to start a family?”

Ming Qian sighed softly. “Mom, Yuxi is still in school.”

“Didn’t the Empire pass new regulations a few years ago? Now university students get extra credits for getting married and having children,” Zuo Lian said to her wife. “Isn’t that right?”

Ming Yang nodded. “That’s right.”

Ming Qian disagreed. “Relationships need to be nurtured. How can you rush into having children? It’s irresponsible to the child.”

“Nurturing? What’s the point?” Ming Yang chuckled. “Your compatibility score is almost 90%. That’s incredibly rare—practically a match made in heaven.”

Ming Yang had chosen his own career path instead of joining the family business. As a high-ranking official at the Pheromone Supervision Center, he understood the significance of such scores.

According to data, only a small fraction of couples who tested their pheromone compatibility scored above 80%, placing them at the very top of the pyramid. Whether it came to marriage or offspring, the quality was exceptionally high.

“Exactly!” Zuo Lian chimed in. “Your mother and I only scored 93%, not much higher than you two. We had an arranged marriage with no emotional foundation, yet we had you in our second year. And look how well things turned out!”

Wen Yuxi’s lips twitched.

Are you seriously bragging right now?

Ming Qian remained firm, gently suggesting, “Let’s change the subject.”

“It’s been so long since we had a little one in the house. I miss it,” Zuo Lian pouted, turning to Ming Yang. “Honey, should we have another baby?”

Before Ming Yang could respond, Zuo Lian turned to Ming Qian. “Sweetie, do you want an Alpha sister, an Omega sister, or a Beta sister?”

Ming Qian sighed, rubbing her forehead. “Mom, you’re fifty years old. Stop talking like a child.”

Having had her fun, Zuo Lian blinked innocently and smoothly steered the conversation back on track. “So, are you two going on a honeymoon?”

“Not at the moment,” Ming Qian replied. “There’s still work at the company. Our wedding leave was cut short to three days, not enough time for a proper trip.”

“Only three days?” Ming Yang mused. “You haven’t even taken wedding photos yet. Will that be enough time?”

“You’re the boss, be flexible!” Zuo Lian said. “Wedding photos need at least a day, right? I’ll come with you.”

Because of a flight delay, the couple had missed Ming Qian and Wen Yuxi’s wedding, much to their regret. Taking wedding photos would at least allow them to see their daughter in her wedding dress, partially making up for their absence.

Ming Qian considered for a moment. “Alright, four days then.”

“Great!” Zuo Lian clapped her hands, drawing Ming Yi, who had been silently eating, into the conversation. “Mom, let’s all go together?”

Ming Yi set down her chopsticks, her expression unchanged. “We’ll see.”

After finishing her meal, Ming Qian went to her study to revise her itinerary. She instructed Qing Zeyya to deliver documents and a USB drive to her executive assistant at the company.

By the time she left the study, it was already evening. She rubbed her stiff neck, grabbed a quick bite in the dining room, showered in her bedroom, blow-dried her hair, applied her skincare routine, and leaned against the headboard to read the news on her phone.

Wen Yuxi had been dragged away by Zuo Lian for a long chat and didn’t return until nearly nine o’clock. After quickly washing up, she gulped down a glass of water and let out a long sigh.

“Oh my god, Aunt Zuo can really talk!”

A gentle smile played on Ming Qian’s lips. “She’s always been a chatterbox. I’m sorry you had to endure that.”

“Don’t be so formal!” Wen Yuxi sat beside her, emphasizing, “It’s a daughter-in-law’s duty to chat with her mother-in-law, right?”

Ming Qian smiled but remained silent.

Wen Yuxi sighed wistfully. “After all these years, Aunt Zuo and Aunt Ming haven’t changed a bit. It’s wonderful.”

Remembering something, Ming Qian said, “Grandma, on the other hand, has changed quite a bit.”

Wen Yuxi understood the implication but feigned ignorance. “Really?”

Ming Qian nodded, lost in thought.

In her memory, Ming Yi had always been kind to Wen Yuxi. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, their reunion after so many years had been marked by a sudden and complete reversal in the elderly woman’s attitude—a truly baffling turn of events.