My Little Boy is Always Teasing Me | Chapter 68 | Meeting the Parents | Novela.app

Chapter 68 - Meeting the Parents On the twenty-ninth day of the lunar month, the atmosphere at Nancheng International Airport was thick with the frantic energy of the impending New Year. Flight after flight of fully booked planes descended upon the tarmac, disgorging waves of travelers that flooded the arrival halls. The exit gates were a sea of bobbing heads and raised signs as families and friends waited to reunite for the holidays. Xie Chengnan stood amidst the throng outside the VIP channel, his tall, commanding presence acting like a breakwater in the crowd. He held Jiang Yuan’s hand firmly, his other hand occasionally rising to check the time on his watch. The flight carrying Xie Xun and Lin Yin had been delayed by an hour, and having arrived early to ensure they wouldn't miss them, the two had now been waiting for nearly two hours. The initial spike of adrenaline-fueled anxiety that had gripped Jiang Yuan earlier had begun to ebb, replaced by a heavy, bone-deep lethargy. His limbs felt leaden, and a dull ache throbbed in his lower back and legs. To clear his schedule for the arrival of Xie Chengnan’s parents, he had pushed himself through a grueling forty-eight-hour marathon of work immediately following his business trip. He had only finished processing the final documents late the previous night, catching a mere few hours of fitful sleep before rushing to the airport. Seeing Jiang Yuan stifle another yawn, his eyes watering from fatigue, Xie Chengnan couldn't help but reach out. He pulled the younger man into the circle of his arms, tucking him against his chest. "Don't," Jiang Yuan murmured, though he didn't pull away with much conviction. He gave a weak nudge against Xie Chengnan’s solid torso. "What if your parents see us? It’ll look strange." Xie Chengnan arched an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Even if you aren't leaning against me, they’re going to find out about us the moment they walk through those doors. Does it really make a difference?" Jiang Yuan considered this. Logically, it didn't. Yet, a sense of propriety tugged at him; he felt that being caught in such an intimate embrace during their very first meeting might make him appear frivolous or lacking in decorum. Xie Chengnan, however, gave him no further chance to protest. He tightened his hold, shielding Jiang Yuan from the bustling crowd and providing a steady pillar for him to rest against. They drifted into a low, rhythmic conversation, the quiet murmur of their voices acting as a balm that made the remaining wait feel less like a chore. When Xie Xun and Lin Yin finally emerged from the terminal, they spotted their son almost instantly. At over 190 centimeters, Xie Chengnan was impossible to miss, especially since he was currently acting as a human pillow for a slender, handsome young man. The sight was so striking that it stopped the elder couple in their tracks. They exchanged a look of profound, unadulterated shock. Years ago, when Xie Chengnan had first decided on his research direction, he had called them back from abroad for a serious discussion. It hadn't been much of a dialogue; rather, it was a unilateral declaration of his life's path. He had told them quite plainly that he was asexual and intended to remain unmarried, effectively extinguishing any hopes they had for a daughter-in-law or grandchildren. He had even suggested, with his characteristic bluntness, that they might want to consider having another child if they were worried about their twilight years. At first, they hadn't quite believed him. They assumed that a young man in his early twenties would eventually succumb to the natural desires of the flesh or the need for companionship. But as six years passed and Xie Chengnan remained resolutely single—without so much as a whisper of a partner or even a casual fling—they had finally resigned themselves to his solitary nature. To return to China after only a few months and be greeted by this scene was beyond their wildest expectations. Seeing the protective way Xie Chengnan held the boy, and the tenderness that softened his usually sharp features, an answer—absurd yet undeniable—leaped into their minds: their son was in love. The only unexpected variable was the gender of his partner. Xie Xun and Lin Yin’s emotions were a complex swirl of bewilderment and relief. Having lived in the UK for over a decade, where same-sex marriage was a legal reality, they didn't view the situation as a moral catastrophe. Moreover, Xie Chengnan had been financially independent and fiercely autonomous for years. As parents, they could offer advice, but they had long since lost the ability to dictate his life. More importantly, after years of watching him live like an ascetic monk, the fact that he had finally opened his heart to someone was a miracle in itself. If he was happy, the gender of his partner seemed like a secondary concern. Composing themselves, they took a closer look at the man in their son's arms. He looked young—hardly more than a boy—with a lithe, elegant frame and strikingly beautiful features. He was currently looking up at Xie Chengnan, a bright, effortless smile lighting up his face as they spoke. It was the kind of smile that was instinctively likable. Sensing eyes on him, Xie Chengnan turned his head toward the exit and finally spotted his parents standing by their luggage carts. Jiang Yuan followed his gaze. His heart did a sudden, violent somersault as he saw a middle-aged couple whose features bore a clear resemblance to Xie Chengnan. The man, likely in his early fifties, was tall and possessed an air of natural authority. His hair was peppered with grey at the temples, cut in a sharp, clean style that matched his expensive overcoat and three-piece suit. In both stature and sartorial taste, he was the mirror image of his son. The woman beside him looked to be in her early forties, a testament to her meticulous self-care. Having spent years in the cutthroat world of international business, Lin Yin exuded an aura of refined competence, though a hint of gentleness appeared in the corners of her eyes when she smiled. Jiang Yuan’s nerves returned with a vengeance. His fingers curled into the fabric of Xie Chengnan’s coat as he tried to create some distance between them, but Xie Chengnan simply caught his hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "Don't be afraid," Xie Chengnan whispered. He led Jiang Yuan forward, stopping before his parents. With a gravity that signaled the importance of the moment, he spoke. "A-Yuan, these are my parents." Then, turning to Xie Xun and Lin Yin, he said, "Dad, Mom, this is Jiang Yuan. My boyfriend." "Hello, Uncle. Hello, Auntie," Jiang Yuan said, his face flushing a soft pink. He was a bundle of nerves, trying desperately to project an image of calm maturity while fearing he looked like a mere child in their eyes. Xie Xun was a man who had dealt with titans of industry; he could see right through Jiang Yuan’s fragile composure. However, the young man’s earnestness was endearing rather than irritating. He consciously softened his own intimidating aura. "A-Yuan, is it? I am Xie Xun, Chengnan’s father. It is a pleasure to meet you." Xie Chengnan’s eyebrows shot up. His father usually spoke to him like a superior addressing a subordinate—rigid, formal, and humorless. This was the first time he had ever seen the man act so graciously. "And I am Lin Yin, Chengnan’s mother." Lin Yin studied Jiang Yuan, the name sounding familiar. "Are you... the child from the Jiang family in Nancheng?" In this city, there was only one Jiang family that mattered. Jiang Yuan nodded, confirming her suspicion. "My mother was Zhang Yuehua." Lin Yin’s expression softened further. Although she hadn't known Zhang Yuehua intimately, she felt a debt of gratitude toward the woman because of the role she had played in Xie Chengnan’s life. Knowing Jiang Yuan was her son made her feel an immediate sense of kinship. "Let me look at you," Lin Yin said, stepping forward to place a hand on Jiang Yuan’s shoulder. She smiled warmly. "You have your mother’s eyes. You’re a very handsome young man." Her smile faltered slightly as she added, "Chengnan told us about what happened to Yuehua. Please, don't dwell too much on the sadness." Jiang Yuan shook his head gently. "It’s in the past now. You must be exhausted after such a long flight, Uncle, Auntie. Let’s get to the car so you can rest." He reached for Lin Yin’s suitcase, but before he could take the handle, Xie Chengnan’s hand was already there. "I’ve got it," Xie Chengnan said simply. He then reached over and took his father’s suitcase as well, making it clear he had no intention of letting Jiang Yuan exert himself, as if pulling a suitcase might cause the younger man to collapse from exhaustion. Lin Yin watched her son’s solicitous behavior with a mix of wonder and amusement. Her gaze flickered between the two of them as a thought occurred to her. "I remember... when A-Yuan was born, wasn't Chengnan already in primary school?" Professor Xie, suddenly confronted with the reality of his age, remained silent. Seeing Xie Chengnan’s stoic expression, Jiang Yuan answered for him. "I am ten years younger than Brother Xie." Lin Yin had guessed he was young, but a ten-year gap was significant. Her gaze toward her son shifted, now carrying a hint of suspicion that he had somehow "led astray" a much younger man. Xie Xun also straightened his posture, casting a disapproving glance at his son, clearly having reservations about this "old cow eating tender grass" scenario. Xie Chengnan kept his face expressionless and quickened his pace. This was a topic he had no intention of engaging with. On the drive back, Lin Yin and Jiang Yuan did most of the talking. The elder couple had been away for over a decade, and the route from the airport to the city center was now lined with new developments that made the landscape unrecognizable to them. Jiang Yuan acted as a tour guide from the passenger seat. As they passed the industrial zone, he remarked, "The city has consolidated all the factories in this district now. Brother Xie’s factory is just over there." Xie Xun finally showed some interest, looking out the window with a sigh. "This area has developed remarkably well. The Old Man had a good eye for potential back then." Lin Yin added with a touch of melancholy, "Father simply tried to move too fast." The conversation touched upon the sensitive topic of the Xie family’s bankruptcy. Jiang Yuan, knowing the dark truths behind that event, lowered his eyes and toyed with his fingers, unsure of how to respond. The car fell into a sudden, heavy silence. Xie Chengnan glanced at Jiang Yuan and, sensing his discomfort, pivoted the conversation. "The hotel is right next to our residential complex. You can rest for a bit, and then we’ll all have dinner together tonight." The parents' attention was immediately diverted. Lin Yin caught the phrasing. "You two... live together?" Jiang Yuan wasn't sure how to answer that, so he shot a look at Xie Chengnan, signaling for him to take the lead. "Yes, we live together," Xie Chengnan said with complete nonchalance. "When I first returned to the country, I had nowhere to stay. I happened to run into A-Yuan, and he took me in." Lin Yin immediately thought of the idiom 'inviting a wolf into the house.' Her expression grew even more complicated. "A-Yuan, you don't live at home?" "It’s closer to the university," Jiang Yuan explained. "I didn't want to live in the dorms, so I moved out on my own." Nineteen. Still a student. Lin Yin felt a pang of worry for her son. Young people were often fickle; who knew how many brilliant, attractive people Jiang Yuan would meet in the future? Her son was so stiff and lacking in romantic flair—she wondered if he could truly hold onto the heart of someone so young and vibrant. Xie Xun, less concerned with the romantic dynamics, asked, "Are you studying here in Nancheng?" "Yes," Jiang Yuan replied politely. "I’m majoring in Business Administration at Nanda." Xie Chengnan suddenly interjected, "A-Yuan ranked third in his entire major this semester." His tone was flat, but Xie Xun and Lin Yin could clearly hear the underlying note of boastful pride. "I didn't realize A-Yuan was such an academic star," Lin Yin said with a laugh, not missing the chance to tease her son. "Your father used to sound exactly like that whenever he talked about your grades." Xie Chengnan: "..." Jiang Yuan let out a muffled laugh, realizing that Xie Chengnan’s mother was actually quite delightful. Without realizing it, the tension that had gripped him all morning finally began to dissipate.