Chapter 393 - 388: Family Banquet

Chapter 393: Chapter 388: Family Banquet

When Wang Ming and Shen Ying got home, it was Jiang Xia who opened the door.

"Well, well, the new couple is back?"

Jiang Xia’s gaze fell upon Shen Ying, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

"Why didn’t you give us a heads-up that you were coming to the Imperial Capital? Showing up all secret-like... Are we growing apart, Shen Ying?"

Shen Ying blushed, knowing he was just teasing her. "That’s not it, Boss," she said quietly.

"So it’s not that we’re growing apart, it’s that you’re growing too close to a *certain someone*. How was your day? Did you have fun?"

Shen Ying nodded gently. ’When you’re with the person you like, no matter what you’re doing, your heart feels full of sweetness.’

Just then, Lin Yanwan came out from an inner room. Overjoyed to see Shen Ying, she threw her arms around her in a hug.

"Wow, Yingying, you’re here! Oh my gosh, I’ve missed you so much!"

"Yanwan, I missed you too~"

"So, what do you think of the Imperial Capital?"

Shen Ying blinked. "It’s so much bigger and more bustling than Yu Du."

"Well, of course! This is the Capital, after all. So, are you planning to stay here for the summer and not go back?"

"Mhm, I said I was coming to the company to work with you all, hehe."

Lin Yanwan glanced at Wang Ming, teasing her as well. "I doubt it’s as simple as just work, right? Is it also to keep a *certain someone* company?"

"Oh, come on, Yanwan~" Shyness filled her eyes.

"Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you. Come on in, Auntie has been waiting for you for a long time."

Lin Yanwan giggled, leaning close to Shen Ying’s ear to whisper, "You know, she’s been busy at home all day getting ready to meet you."

Hearing this, Shen Ying’s cheeks grew even redder. She peeked inside the house but didn’t see anyone.

Hearing the voices, Li Weiya and Zhou Lu came out of the kitchen. Their eyes lit up when they saw Shen Ying, and they immediately walked over with warm smiles.

"Yingying!"

"Hello, Auntie." Shen Ying pressed her lips together, feeling a bit awkward. ’I was never this nervous before.’

’I guess your state of mind really does change along with your role, huh?’

"I bought this massage pillow for you. When you’re tired from work, you can use it to relax. I hope you like it." She handed over the gift she had spent so long picking out at the store.

"Thank you, Yingying." Li Weiya accepted it with a smile. "Oh, my neck and shoulders have actually been feeling a little stiff lately. You’re so thoughtful, Yingying."

"Come, let me introduce you. This is Zhou Lu. You can call her Aunt Zhou. She was the former chief editor at Yu Du TV Station, and now she’s the Chief Operating Officer at our D Station. You can ask her for plenty of advice on anything related to operations."

"Auntie, Aunt Zhou and I have actually met before," Shen Ying said.

Li Weiya paused for a moment. "Oh, really?"

"Yes. Near the end of summer break last year, we were rushing to get the second season of *Cat and Mouse* on the air. You took me to meet with people from several TV stations, and Aunt Zhou was one of them."

"Oh, right! Look at my memory. I remember now, that’s right," Li Weiya said in realization.

"Hello, Yingying." Zhou Lu nodded with a warm smile. She still had a strong impression of the young protégé who had been by Li Weiya’s side that day—well-mannered, polite, and eloquent. ’If I remember correctly, she was learning about operations back then, wasn’t she?’

’Looking at them all, she suddenly felt a wave of nostalgia. If she wasn’t mistaken, Qitian Animation had started out as just a ragtag team with these few people. A year had passed in the blink of an eye, and it had already grown into a nationally renowned animation company. And she herself had jumped ship from the TV station to work under Jiang Xia.’

"Hello, Aunt Zhou," Shen Ying said politely.

"Weiya, you go ahead and sit with them. I’ll handle the kitchen."

"Mm... alright. Thank you for the trouble."

"What’s there to be so formal about between us?" Zhou Lu replied with a small smile.

The group sat down on the living room sofa. Lin Yanwan poured a glass of water for both Wang Ming and Shen Ying, and Li Weiya asked with a cheerful smile, "So, how was your day?"

"We saw the Great Wall. It was much more magnificent than I’d imagined," Shen Ying answered honestly.

"That boy of mine didn’t give you any trouble, did he?"

Shen Ying couldn’t help but think of the condom that had slipped out of Wang Ming’s pocket that morning. A deep blush colored her cheeks. "Not at all. He took me to eat delicious food and see fun sights."

"As he should. Ah Ming still has a few days off, doesn’t he? Have him show you a good time," Li Weiya said with a smile, looking at Shen Ying with the unmistakable affection one reserves for a daughter-in-law.

Jiang Xia found the scene all too familiar. ’All mothers everywhere are probably the same in these situations.’

’At this moment, Li Weiya was feeling a strange mix of emotions herself. The promising junior she had thought so highly of was now her son’s girlfriend. She felt both happy and gratified.’

’She used to daydream about whether the two of them would ever become a couple, and now her dream had come true.’

"Mhm..." Shen Ying nodded shyly.

’Ever since seeing Li Weiya, the tips of her ears had been burning. She had thought she would be able to act as naturally as she had before, but who knew it would be a completely different story.’

’Her future mother-in-law was doting on her, and this kind of concern, reserved only for a daughter-in-law, made her blush more and more.’

’But she also felt an indescribable happiness in her heart. This counted as officially meeting his parents as his girlfriend, right? And it seemed like Aunt Li was very pleased with her.’

The future mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted for a little while longer before Li Weiya went into the kitchen to help. With the four original core members of Qitian Animation reunited, there was no shortage of things to talk about.

At seven in the evening, the family dinner officially began.

To welcome Shen Ying, Li Weiya and Zhou Lu had prepared a whole spread of home-cooked Sichuan dishes, which was perfect since all five of them were from Yu Du.

"Let’s all give a warm welcome to Yingying~"

"Thank you."

Beaming, they all raised their drink glasses and clinked them together.

During the meal, Wang Ming kept placing food on Shen Ying’s plate. Li Weiya nodded in approval at the gesture. ’Her son was finally growing up.’

"Yingying, are you planning to stay in the Imperial Capital for the whole summer?"

"Mhm, I’ll be working here," Shen Ying nodded.

Li Weiya placed a piece of fish in her bowl, and Shen Ying quickly replied, "Thank you, Auntie."

"That’s wonderful. That boy of mine has been looking forward to your arrival for a long time." She chuckled. "He even made sure to keep a desk saved for you."

Shen Ying turned to glance at Wang Ming, her eyes filled with a warm smile. "I know."

’He really did take her words to heart. Being with him, she always felt cherished and carefully looked after.’

"Do your parents know you’ve come to the Imperial Capital?"

"Yes, I told them..." Shen Ying lowered her gaze, telling a small lie.

"That’s good."

’The thought that Shen Ying had come all this way to the Imperial Capital for her son made Li Weiya feel deeply moved. In this day and age, it was rare to find a girl willing to sacrifice so much for love.’

"Yingying, dear," she said suddenly, her smile widening, "next time, have Ah Ming go back home with you."

"Next time," of course, meant for the New Year.

In other words, to meet her parents. After all, only after getting their approval could the relationship be considered truly official.

Shen Ying froze for a second, turning her head just in time to see Wang Ming looking at her.

She blushed and smiled, her voice filled with tenderness for her beloved.

"Okay."