Chapter 115 Dinner with the In-Laws: A Lesson in Awkwardness
"Yan Yan, let's head back." Li Xin finished packing, ready to return to their previous apartment with Yan Ruozhe.
"Your sister asked us to stay for dinner. She said your parents want to meet me." Yan Ruozhe felt a knot of nervousness tighten in her stomach at the thought of dinner.
Li Xin smiled. "Isn't meeting the parents nerve-wracking for any future daughter-in-law?"
"Li Xin!" Yan Ruozhe frowned. This woman was never serious. Of course, Li Xin was fine, but Yan Ruozhe's own past felt like an embarrassing weight. Having spent so much time at the hospital when Qian Shaowen was ill, she was quite familiar with Li Yuandong. The last time he'd inquired about her relationship with Li Xin had already been incredibly awkward. Regardless of her past and present identities, tonight was bound to be even more uncomfortable. The thought of dinner left Yan Ruozhe feeling constantly on edge.
"They've already accepted my being Lesbian. Now, they just hope I find a reliable woman to keep me in line. And Yan Yan, you're so wonderful, they're bound to be happy. They're just like you – very serious and always working. You know what they say, birds of a feather flock together. They'll definitely like you," Li Xin said reassuringly.
But Li Xin's words did little to ease Yan Ruozhe's anxiety. Her own complicated past and present were a heavy burden, not to mention the five-year improper relationship she'd had with Li Xin. She doubted any parents would be thrilled about that.
That evening, Yan Ruozhe met Li Xin's family: Li Yuandong, Li Xin's older brother Li Yi, and Li Xin's mother, Yao Shuwen. She'd encountered them all at the hospital, and she'd interacted with Li Yuandong quite frequently. The better she knew them, the more awkward Yan Ruozhe felt. Even Li Yuandong and the others seemed a little uneasy around Yan Ruozhe. Ever since Li Xin had proposed returning home as a doctor, her condition had been that her sexual orientation be respected. They had all tried their best to mentally prepare themselves for the day their exceptionally beautiful daughter brought a woman home. When that day finally arrived, the psychological impact was still significant, especially since this woman was someone they already knew.
"Qian... Miss Yan, please, have a seat. Don't be nervous..." Yao Shuwen managed to stop herself from saying "Madam Qian," knowing it would only amplify the awkwardness. In truth, when Yan Ruozhe was still Madam Qian, Yao Shuwen had held her in high regard. Yan Ruozhe had taken such meticulous care of Qian Shaowen back then. Despite her capable demeanor, she exuded a gentle and quiet grace. Yao Shuwen had considered her a good woman. But the sudden shift from Madam Qian to her own daughter's lover was a transformation Yao Shuwen still struggled to process. Nevertheless, she was also relieved that the woman Li Xin had chosen was Yan Ruozhe. After Li Xin had come out as Lesbian and been kicked out by her husband for several years, Yao Shuwen had specifically researched lesbianism. Thanks to the internet, she, who had previously known nothing about it, even understood the T and P classifications. She had automatically categorized Li Xin as a P because of her daughter's childhood preference for playing with more boyish girls. So, Yao Shuwen had been deeply worried that Li Xin might bring home someone pretending to be a man. Now, seeing Yan Ruozhe, despite the lingering awkwardness, she felt an inexplicable sense of relief.
Yan Ruozhe sensed Yao Shuwen's good intentions, but the palpable awkwardness between them was truly uncomfortable.
"Ahem..." Li Yuandong, ever the head of the family, cleared his throat a few times, seemingly on purpose, trying to diffuse the tense atmosphere.
"Let's eat. Miss Yan, please don't be so reserved. Make yourself at home," Li Yuandong said.
"Don't call her Miss Yan, it's too formal. Just call her Yan Yan or Ruozhe. You can think of her as your daughter-in-law or son-in-law," Li Xin chimed in, oblivious to the discomfort of her parents and Yan Ruozhe, and inadvertently making things worse.
Hearing this, Yan Ruozhe's fair complexion flushed crimson, and she silently wished she could tape Li Xin's mouth shut. Li Yuandong, who had initially been faking his cough, now genuinely started coughing and shot a disapproving glare at his disappointing eldest daughter. She'd been practically at death's door before going out, but now she was bursting with energy again, which only frustrated Li Yuandong. All she ever thought about were these frivolous love affairs. If she dedicated that energy to medicine, he was certain Li Xin would become a leading expert in no time. Yao Shuwen looked at Yan Ruozhe, her own embarrassment rendering her speechless. Even Li Yi, who had just walked in, couldn't help but glance sideways at Yan Ruozhe. Li Yao shook her head, sometimes finding her older sister incredibly dense.
"Older brother's back too. It's good that the whole family's here. Let's eat," Li Yao said considerately, breaking the strained silence.
"Yan Yan, let me warn you, my brother is really quiet, and my sister is super nosy," Li Xin said, attempting to bridge the gap between Yan Ruozhe and her family by introducing their personalities. However, Yan Ruozhe merely offered awkward smiles to Li Yi and Li Yao. Clearly, Li Xin wasn't helping; in fact, she was making things more awkward. Yan Ruozhe seriously questioned Li Xin's social skills.
Li Yao felt a wave of helplessness wash over her regarding her older sister. Her sister was only meticulous in the operating room and the kitchen, and utterly clueless at any other time.
Several people experienced indigestion after the meal, but Li Xin ate with gusto.
After dinner, Yan Ruozhe felt a significant weight lift off her shoulders. While the atmosphere had been undeniably awkward, she hadn't sensed any malice or disgust. On the contrary, Li Xin seemed like an anomaly in the family, both in looks and personality. In reality, not all the Li family members were as strikingly beautiful as Li Xin. Their mother wasn't particularly beautiful, but she possessed a unique charm that many women her age lacked. Li Yi perhaps resembled her in appearance and wasn't particularly handsome, but he was tall and slender, wore glasses, and had a refined air about him. Li Yao was also pretty, though not nearly as stunning as Li Xin. The other four were all rather introverted. At least, when they were out, they projected the calm and reassuring demeanor of doctors. Li Xin, however, was enthusiastic and outgoing, and sometimes quite thoughtless, which was another observation Yan Ruozhe made.
Li Yuandong was also quite pleased with Yan Ruozhe. She had a disciplined personality, knew how to conduct herself appropriately, and despite his reservations about her past, she seemed like a respectable woman. At least when she was with Li Xin, she appeared to be the more responsible one. Most importantly, Li Xin seemed to listen to her, and it appeared she could keep Li Xin's undisciplined nature in check. Thinking about Li Xin's two-month absence from work, Li Yuandong felt a surge of annoyance towards his daughter.
"Tonight, you two stay home." Since his eldest daughter had grown up, the number of times she'd stayed home in a normal state, without being heartbroken, could be counted on one hand. So, he genuinely hoped she would stay home more often.
"No need, it's not far from here anyway." Li Xin's mind was consumed with the thought of spending alone time with Yan Ruozhe. She disliked staying home and was also worried Yan Ruozhe might feel uncomfortable.
"Sister, you haven't been home in five years. Mom misses you and wants you to spend more time with her." Li Yao was not only a considerate younger sister but also a thoughtful daughter, voicing her mother's feelings.
"Li Xin, you stay and keep your mother company tonight," Yan Ruozhe said suddenly. As an orphan, she actually envied Li Xin for having a complete family, loving parents, a caring older brother, and a considerate younger sister.
"What about you?" Li Xin asked Yan Ruozhe, not wanting Yan Yan to go back alone.
"I'll stay too." Seeing Li Xin's worry, Yan Ruozhe abandoned the idea of returning alone.
"I'll keep Mom company tonight," Li Xin said, acting playfully affectionate towards her mother, relieved that Yan Ruozhe was also staying.
Her daughter staying made Yao Shuwen happy, but also a little disappointed. Her own request couldn't compete with Yan Ruozhe's words. Yao Shuwen must have felt a pang of disappointment, but having long recognized Li Xin's tendency to prioritize others, she quickly composed herself.
That evening, Li Xin and Li Yao, the two daughters, kept their mother company, chatting about personal matters until late into the night, when Yao Shuwen finally told her daughters to go back to their rooms to sleep, and also asked Li Xin to bring Yan Ruozhe along next time.
Li Xin returned to her room to find Yan Ruozhe already asleep. Looking at Yan Ruozhe's sleeping face, a feeling of contentment filled Li Xin's heart. She quickly lifted the quilt and snuggled into Yan Ruozhe's embrace, greedily inhaling Yan Ruozhe's scent. Thinking about her insomnia over the past two months, she felt a playful urge to tease Yan Ruozhe. Who told her to sleep so soundly? It just wasn't fair.
Yan Ruozhe vaguely felt someone stirring beside her. She slowly opened her eyes to find the beautiful Li Xin gazing at her.
"You're back?" Yan Ruozhe asked sleepily.
"Yan Yan, I'm hungry," Li Xin said, looking at Yan Ruozhe with eager eyes.
Seeing the playful glint in Li Xin's eyes, Yan Ruozhe's still-sleepy brain finally registered Li Xin's intentions, and she instantly woke up, all traces of sleepiness vanishing.
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