Later that afternoon.
Slightly before 2 PM.
In the courtyard of the Wu residence.
The courtyard house door was unlocked, and Zhang Ye pushed it open to get in. "Auntie, Uncle, is anyone home?"
Li Qinqin came out from the northern house looking rather surprised. "Little Ye? When did you get released?"
Zhang Ye smiled and said, "I was let out this morning. Auntie, I bought you some fruit. I'll just place it out here in the courtyard." He left them on the stone table.
Wu Changhe also stepped out from the house. "What are you doing here, kid?"
Li Qinqin said, "Quick, let's go inside."
Zhang Ye said helplessly, "I came here to escape from the commotion at home. My parents will nag me if I go back. They've been nagging me the entire morning, and the studio is packed with reporters. If I go back there, wouldn't I just get bombarded with questions? So I can only make my way here to your place to lay low for a while. I've called Old Wu. She said that she'll be coming over in a while too."
Just as he finished speaking.
Wu Zeqing arrived.
"Whoa, that was fast!" Zhang Ye turned around.
Wu Zeqing smiled. "I saw you driving over here. I was right behind you."
Li Qinqin complained to Zhang Ye, "You really made us worried about you."
Zhang Ye chuckled and said, "Hai, Auntie, I'm fine."
Wu Zeqing made him go into the house. "My mom had to go around yesterday asking so many people to find out about your circumstances. She was really hoping that someone could help get you released. You don't even know how worried she was."
Zhang Ye was extremely touched. "Aiyo, Auntie, I'm terribly sorry about making you worry."
Wu Changhe said nonchalantly, "If you know how to be sorry, you shouldn't have taken part in a gang fight."
Li Qinqin gave her husband a small nudge. "Didn't you also check with many people regarding Little Ye's case? You even pushed for me to call up an old classmate who was working at a police station!"
Wu Changhe grunted, "I did that for my daughter."
Wu Zeqing laughed and said, "See how well my parents treat you."
"Thank you, Uncle. Thank you, Auntie." Zhang Ye thanked them sincerely.
Li Qinqin gave her daughter a sharp look. "Only you weren't worried."
Wu Zeqing said gently, "He can handle it himself. Why would I need to worry?"
Li Qinqin said unhappily, "What if something had happened?"
Wu Zeqing laughed. "He knows what he's doing."
"What does he know?" Wu Changhe said in a speechless manner, "Which list celebrity out there goes around taking part in gang fights? I've never even heard of that happening before!"
Li Qinqin added, "Right, don't be so impulsive next time!"
Zhang Ye did not know how to answer them.
Instead, it was Wu Zeqing who answered for him. "Since he handled it that way, he must have his reasons for doing so. Alright, let's not talk about this anymore." Then she looked at Zhang Ye. "Shall I make you something to eat?"
Zhang Ye put his hand on his belly. "Yeah, I didn't really eat lunch."
"Alright, give me a bit then." Wu Zeqing headed to the kitchen and busied herself.
Wu Changhe and Li Qinqin both rolled their eyes. Their daughter was really spoiling her boyfriend. After such a big incident, she didn't even direct a word of blame at him. Instead, she even spoke up for him? What was this! They were speaking in such harmony. If it went on like this, wouldn't there be bigger trouble in the future? And they weren't even married yet! If they really got married, wouldn't these two turn the entire Chinese entertainment industry on its head? A showbiz celebrity who loved making trouble, and a woman in a position of power who was coincidentally the authority of the entertainment industry, who could stop them in the future?
After lunch.
Wu Changhe went to power on the computer to play Go.
Wu Zeqing brought Zhang Ye to her bedroom in the west wing. Old Wu didn't live here usually but she would stay over sometimes when it rained after visiting her parents.
The decor in the room was middling, but it was quite clean and tidy.
The moment Zhang Ye stepped inside, he flopped onto the bed. "I'm exhausted."
Wu Zeqing sat next to the bed. "You didn't sleep well while you were in jail? Then get some rest while you're here. You can take off your shoes and put my slippers on."
Zhang Ye blinked several times and turned sideways. He hugged her waist and placed his hands on her leg. Through her black suit pants, he could feel the softness of her leg. "I've been too busy these days, commentating for the Olympics, releasing a music video single, and even getting arrested. I haven't seen you in such a long time. How is everything at work? Have you been busy?"
Wu Zeqing smiled and said, "It's the same as usual. You know, you really should take things a little easier in the future. Don't worry my parents anymore."
"I understand." Zhang Ye said, "Haha, I'll lie low for a while and work on my character. Your parents are really quite good to me. I really hadn't expected that."
Suddenly, the thud of footfalls approached.
It was Li Qinqin. "Zeqing?"
Wu Zeqing turned around. "Mom, come in."
Zhang Ye immediately pulled his hands back and sat up on the bed.
Li Qinqin came into the bedroom and said with a smile, "Is Little Ye tired?"
"No, I feel awake." Zhang Ye smiled.
Li Qinqin nodded and sat down as well. "Zeqing, I had a discussion with your dad just now. The relationship between you and Little Ye is more or less confirmed. I've been thinking of having a meal with Little Ye's parents someday to discuss you two and your wedding. How should it be held? Should it be a grand one or a simple one? Which day should we hold it on? All of that needs to be discussed. When I brought this up last time, the two of you didn't seem anxious about it, so I'm here to hurry you two along."
Zhang Ye grew spirited. "I'm anxious, Auntie, I'm anxious."
Li Qinqin was happy to hear that. "I'm anxious too."
Wu Zeqing smiled. "I still have to pay them a visit, don't I?"
Li Qinqin followed with, "Then when will you go over to Little Ye's place?"
Wu Zeqing thought about it for a moment before saying, "I have to check with my secretary first and see what my schedule's like, and when Little Ye and I can both get a day off to go visit them. Besides, I still have to buy a gift for them when I go over."
Li Qinqin smacked her lips. "Why does it have to be some other day? Aren't you two free today? There's no time like the present, so why don't you do it today? You don't have to worry about bringing a gift. I'll go and do it for you this afternoon. Each of you is busier than the other; do you think it'll be that easy for the two of you to find another free day together? Just do it today!"
Wu Zeqing smiled and looked at Zhang Ye.
Zhang Ye immediately understood that she was asking if he agreed. So he said with much anticipation, "I have no problem with that. My parents are both at home. I just need to call them to tell them."
Wu Zeqing nodded. "Alright then."
Li Qinqin said happily, "Great! Zeqing, when you go over, remember to speak nicely. This is your first time paying them a visit, so you have to pay attention and be considerate of everything. Don't forget your manners, understand?"
Wu Zeqing said, "Hur hur, would I not know that?"
Li Qinqin said, "Sure, you know everything!"
Wu Zeqing said, "I'll go and get ready then. I need to change."
Zhang Ye snapped his fingers. "I'll go and make the call!"
It was a rather big affair, but it was settled just like that.
Zhang Ye was getting very excited. Having a girlfriend and bringing her home to meet the parents were two very different things. So he went out to the courtyard and called home.
His father answered the phone.
The moment he heard Zhang Ye's voice, he said, "Where'd you go? You ran away just because we lectured you a little? Hurry up and come back. Your mother is still angry with you."
Zhang Ye laughed and said, "Dad, I'll be back in the evening. Tell Mom to tidy up the house a little. I'll be bringing someone home."
His father was taken aback. "Who are you bringing over?"
Zhang Ye said confidently, "My girlfriend."
His father was stunned. "You have a girlfriend?"
When his mother heard, she exclaimed as well. "What?"
Zhang Ye said, "I do. Didn't I tell the two of you a long time ago?"
His father immediately said, "OK, OK, we'll get ready. What time will you two get here?"
"Around 5 PM or so."
"OK, I'll let your mom know!"