"Erm… Mu Zhichen, my mom must have returned from the company. Do you want to say hi to her? We can eat dinner at home instead of eating out." Lu Meili asked with little confidence. Would he think she was rushing things and jumping from one relationship to another thoughtlessly?

On the contrary, Mu Zhichen was so happy he could fly to the sky. "Of course. I can't wait."

Just like that, they arrived at Southside Villas in tow. Lu Meili felt her cheeks heat up. Who knew she would one day bring a man home to introduce him as her future husband? How time flies.

Mu Zhichen was multiple times more excited. He was in Lu Aotian's villa. And as the son-in-law to be? Aaah! Please don't wake him up. He would kill anyone who woke him up from this sweet dream.

His ears couldn't believe it the moment he heard Lu Meili say, "Mom, you have already heard about Mu Zhichen before. He is now my soon-to-be fiancé."

Wan Jia nodded routinely.

As the successor of his family's business, he had interacted with Lu Aotian many times before so he was not scared. But as no one would expect, he froze before Wan Jia. Why didn't Wan Jia look too pleased?

"Meili, show Zhichen around. Dinner will be ready soon." Lu Aotian broke the awkwardness.

"Alright daddy. Mu Zhichen, let's go. I'll show you my beautiful flowers."

...

As soon as they were out, Lu Aotian hugged his wife. "Honey, you don't like him?"

Wan Jia looked a little sad. "He's a nice young man and I can tell he really cares about our Little Li. I'm only jealous because he's taking my baby away."

Lu Aotian felt emotional too. "This was bound to happen one day. Our kids are growing up. We, parents, are powerless." As though knowing that she might be worried, he reassured. "His father is my good friend. You don't have to worry about Meili getting bullied by her in-laws."

"I know. As long as my baby is happy."

___

In the garden.

Lu Meili happily showed Mu Zhichen her flower garden. She had spent many years taking care of this garden – since she was just a little girl – and even if the flowers withered, she would grow new ones.

If one were to see how happy she was showing them off, they would think they had known each other for many years. They were getting along quite fast.

"Heh.."

"Why are you laughing?"

Mu Zhichen plucked a flower. "When I first met you, you were not even as tall as these flowers. Who knew you would grow tall so fast? Although you are a head shorter than me, you are still considered tall compared to that time."

Lu Meili was embarrassed. "You! How dare you shame my past height? I was a little girl, okay? While you, old uncle, were too tall for your age. The next time I see you, I will call you Uncle Zhichen."

Mu Zhichen didn't mind the word anymore. In fact, it made him happy. Lu Meili was no longer so reserved in his presence. Even if he didn't manage to win her heart in the end, interacting with her in such a friendly manner was enough.

But he still retaliated. "I'm only turning thirty. How am I an uncle?"

"You are one if I say you are."

"Then that makes you an auntie."

"Take that back."

"Why? What do you call your uncle's wife?"

___

"Is there any mother who spies on her children like you do?" Lu Aotian was rendered speechless by his wife's shamelessness. Wan Jia was blatantly spying on the duo that went to the garden and trying to read their lips.

"What's wrong with spying? I only want to know if they are really getting along. You know that our Meili is an actress and can put on a happy act before us."

Lu Aotian lost to her logic. Well, she was right in a way.

"At this rate, it won't be long before I become a grandma."

Lu Aotian: "…" I take that back.

___

In the backyard, the duo spent a long time as there was a lot to see.

"This is where my dad and I used to play when I was a child."

"This is my favorite spot. Xian Li and I fought over it repeatedly."

"This was my best hiding place when we played hide and seek with my cousins. No one could ever find me here."

Taking advantage of the moment, she led him out of Southside villas using an inconspicuous gate.

Mu Zhichen followed on like a good tourist.

"This… eh? Did you hear that?" Lu Meili cocked her head, trying to listen closely.

"I heard it. I think it was a purr."

Lu Meili curiously checked trough the bushes.

"Careful. I'll check it out, stay behind me." Mu Zhichen didn't want any accidents happening.

In the next second, Lu Meili's mouth widened and so did her eyes. "Oh… how cute! How am I so lucky today? I met two cute things in a row."

Mu Zhichen took the little cat out. "It's a stray cat?"

"It doesn't look stray to me. Perhaps it got hurt and couldn't get home. " She took it into her embrace. "Hey little buddy, are you lost?"

She checked its neck to see a note attached to the collar.

[Hello kind mister or miss,

Whitey is a nice and obedient cat but my new mommy hates little animals so I cannot keep him. Could you please help me take it to that place where pets are kept?]

It looked like a little girl's handwriting and she must have written it over a long time. There was even a teardrop on it. Lu Meili felt her heart ache for that little owner. Couldn't her new mommy help her give it up for adoption? 

Letting a child leave a pet like this, it could have gotten into an accident. 

"It's a coincidence. I really love cats, I will keep him."

Mu Zhichen saw how happy she looked and didn't retaliate. "But you should vaccinate it first."

"Sure sure. Urgh…"

"What happened?"

"My sister is super allergic to cats. Rashes will break out all over her body if a single wisp of fur gets in contact with her. I can't keep him."

Mu Zhichen didn't know what to say. She was giving up just like that? But he could tell how much she already liked the cat. "I don't have anything against pets. I can help you raise it temporarily." 

"Temporarily...?" 

"Of course. When you become my owner, it will naturally become yours again." Mu Zhichen didn't mind making it sound like he was a pet. In fact, he looked like he was really looking foward to that.