Chapter Eighty-Two

(Yawn Brother: Happy April Fool’s Day~ “No update tonight” is just a joke, failing to finish on time is already a grave offense, how could Xiao Ha dare to stop updating? Here are three chapters for you~)

That morning, Boss You woke up unusually early. Yi Xiaoyu was still asleep when he entered the bathroom to brush his teeth, wash his face, and shave. He examined his face in the mirror from every angle dozens of times before finally deciding his eyebrows were too thick. Carefully, he trimmed them with a razor, but was startled when Yi Xiaoyu suddenly appeared at the door and called out to him, causing his hand to tremble and slice off half an eyebrow.

“Damn, damn!” Boss You howled at his reflection. “I look like a bear now. How am I supposed to meet my father-in-law like this?”

Yi Xiaoyu, yawning and with arms crossed, leaned lazily against the bathroom doorframe, watching Boss You’s misery with a playful smile. “Fatty, did you get up this early just to doll yourself up? Heh, should I prepare a full makeup kit for you?”

Boss You was still mourning his eyebrow, blinking at his reflection for a long time before saying, “Maybe I’ll borrow an eyebrow pencil from Aunt Li next door and draw something. I look like an idiot.”

“It’s fine, it’ll grow back in a few days. Besides, it looks pretty unique.”

“No way, this is my first time meeting my father-in-law. I have to be serious.”

Yi Xiaoyu couldn’t help but laugh. “Fatty, relax. As long as you don’t get drunk and make a scene in front of my dad, I guarantee he’ll be very satisfied with you as his son-in-law.”

“By the way, Xiaoyu,” Boss You paid no attention to Yi Xiaoyu’s words. “What should I wear? Why don’t we go to the mall later and you pick something out for me? Oh, and does your dad prefer someone mature or humorous? I…”

“Alright, alright.” Yi Xiaoyu rubbed his head, then walked in and pushed Boss You out of the bathroom. “Don’t worry, Fatty. Even if you still look like a polar bear from two years ago, as long as I like you, my dad will support you.”

Boss You was extremely pleased. “Wife, you’re the best. Come, let your husband have a kiss.”

Yi Xiaoyu pinched Boss You’s outstretched lips. “Go make breakfast.”

On the way back, Yi Xiaoyu told Boss You about his father Yi Dongjun and his stepmother, candidly admitting that for over twenty years his relationship with his family had been very strained, especially with his stepmother, Pei Xiang.

“The reason I never wanted to bring you to meet my family is because I don’t feel much affection for them. I don’t want my father to know anything about me. I once even wanted to cut off our father-son relationship. But… but before my mother passed away, she made me promise to be filial to him…”

“Watching him grow old day by day, those resentments seem to fade,” Yi Xiaoyu said, turning to gaze out the window, recalling what Pei Xiang had said to him that day, his expression complex. “Maybe things weren’t as I understood them. I was too young then, believing only what I saw and heard. When I grew up, I was too stubborn, refusing to believe any explanation that could redeem that woman.”

“Xiaoyu…” Boss You said softly, “No matter what you think, I’ll always be on your side.”

Yi Xiaoyu smiled. “Fatty, honestly, when we secretly married back then, I never expected to stay with you for so long. You kept pestering me, and I thought I’d just wear you down and force you to leave. But unexpectedly, heh, we ended up together.”

Boss You snorted twice. “After we got the marriage certificate, you spent less than two days trying every trick to make me divorce you. Luckily I was thick-skinned and persistent, or where would you find such a perfect man?”

Yi Xiaoyu propped his elbow on the car window, resting his head and tilting it to look at Boss You in the driver’s seat, the corners of his lips curving into a smile. “Yes, it’s lucky you were so thick-skinned.”

That’s the only reason I didn’t miss you.

Boss You bought a pile of gifts for Yi Dongjun and Pei Xiang, and greeted them warmly as soon as he saw them, calling out, “Mom and Dad.”

Pei Xiang was somewhat taken aback, but when she saw that Yi Xiaoyu showed no sign of discomfort, she smiled in response to Boss You’s greeting.

Lunch was eaten at home. It seemed Pei Xiang wanted to win Yi Xiaoyu’s favor, so she joined the servants in the kitchen, preparing several of her signature dishes.

Before the meal, Yi Dongjun and Boss You chatted in the living room. Yi Dongjun was more than satisfied with Boss You’s tall and handsome appearance, and, as any father would when meeting his son’s spouse, he asked many questions.