Chapter 381: Chapter 381

The next day, Li Si and Leng Mochen went for a prenatal check-up and specifically asked about the condition of the baby in her belly. After the examination, the doctor told them it was all normal, nothing to worry about.

Leaving the hospital, the two drove directly to the Marriott Hotel, where Lei Ming’s parents were meeting with Mr. Leng and Mrs. Leng, the parents of the Leng Family.

By the time Li Si and the others arrived, everyone was already there. Lei Ming’s father was clearly an honest and straightforward man, his face full of smiles. His mother, though outwardly warm and talkative, gave Li Si a shrewd impression.

She was very cordial upon seeing Li Si with her big pregnant belly, showering her with compliments!

"This must be Xiao Ning’s sister-in-law! You’re so beautiful, and I can tell your personality is lovely too! Oh my, I’m certain the baby in your belly is a boy! Congratulations in advance!"

Mrs. Leng and Mr. Leng were delighted to hear this, and even more thrilled to learn that the prenatal check-up had gone smoothly. They were thinking, in just a few months, their precious eldest grandson would be born. The mood of the entire family was uplifted.

Leng Ning pulled Li Si to sit beside her, and the two whispered to each other quietly.

Originally, this meeting wasn’t planned so early. Lei Ming’s mother had suggested it several times, claiming that next year was a "widow year," and she hoped the two families could get to know one another and discuss arranging an engagement for the two children first. As for the wedding, that could wait until later!

Lei Ming, under his mother’s repeated urging, reluctantly spoke to Leng Ning about it. He didn’t put it as bluntly as his mother did; he merely mentioned that the families could have a meal together to strengthen the bond.

If both sides were satisfied, they could discuss the engagement.

Leng Ning thought that, since their relationship was going well anyway, getting engaged wouldn’t be a bad idea. Watching her brother and sister-in-law settle down after their engagement, she also felt a bit anticipatory.

And now, with her mom keeping such a close watch over her, perhaps after the engagement, her mom wouldn’t have as much to say about her choices!

When she brought it up to her mother at home, Mrs. Leng hesitated but didn’t object. Since Leng Qiankai happened to be back in the country, it was a good opportunity to meet the other family—not necessarily to confirm any engagement, but at least to get a sense of what kind of family the boy came from.

The reason Mrs. Leng didn’t oppose the idea of Leng Ning and Lei Ming was because of the lessons learned from Mochen’s situation.

Good or bad, it ultimately comes down to the children themselves; as parents, they could only give advice.

If they interfered too much, she feared Leng Ning might turn into another Mochen.

But if the other family was respectable, then they could function as genuine in-laws in the future. If the family was unreliable, though, she would certainly have a serious conversation with Leng Ning.

A girl’s marriage is a lifelong matter. It’s okay to marry a poor boy, but you have to look at the family’s values and upbringing!

This was Li Si’s first time meeting Lei Ming’s parents as well. Her instinct was that Lei Ming resembled his father, but his mother gave her an uneasy feeling.

How should she put it? It was as though the woman was overly sycophantic, always speaking in ways calculated to please others.

It wasn’t necessarily a flaw, but it left an impression of excessive smoothness and calculation.

Especially since Leng Ning was someone straightforward and pure-hearted, Li Si worried about the potential for future conflicts between her and her mother-in-law if things did progress.

Lei Ming previously seemed like someone dependable. Now it was apparent that he was very filial, especially obedient to his mother.

But being excessively filial wasn’t necessarily a good thing!

During the meal, Lei Ming’s mother repeatedly tried steering the conversation toward the two youngsters’ engagement, but Mrs. Leng always smoothly diverted the subject.

Leng Qiankai and Lei Ming’s father, however, seemed to get along reasonably well. Both were in the same age group and had lived through the same era, so they had quite a lot to talk about regarding the past.

Leng Mochen, as usual, barely interacted with Lei Ming. That aloof nature of his meant no one bothered to pick on him.

Meanwhile, Leng Ning kept whispering softly with Li Si, leaving Lei Ming powerless against his mother’s frequent signaling for assistance.

In truth, Lei Ming hadn’t intended for things like engagements to come up so soon. Ever since getting together with Leng Ning, he had planned that, after graduation, he would find a relevant job and work hard for two years before bringing up marriage.

Leng Ning was an exceptional girl, with a supportive family that hadn’t looked down on his own. He didn’t want her family to think he was with her because of their status.

Since Leng Ning never displayed any sense of superiority publicly, he had assumed that her father was merely a painter, her mother a stay-at-home housewife, and her brother successful in business—a man wealthy enough to give away cars as birthday gifts—but that didn’t concern him.

However, Lei Ming’s mother didn’t see things the same way. For such a wealthy family to have such an outstanding daughter, how could she not seize the opportunity to tie this girl down?

If they waited until after graduation, who knew if the girl would still be with her son?

That was why she found an excuse to arrange for the two families to meet, hoping to finalize the engagement. She knew very well that her son’s girlfriend’s family wouldn’t agree to marriage at such a young age.

But just being engaged shouldn’t be an issue. From her son’s comments, it sounded like Leng Ning’s family was quite satisfied with Lei Ming.

And hearing that Leng Ning’s brother, despite being so wealthy, married a girl from a modest, rural background, it only reinforced her confidence.

Although their family wasn’t well-off, they were local, born and raised in Beijing. Many girls from outside the city sought local boys to secure a Beijing residence.

So she did feel a sense of advantage—until today, when she observed the Leng family parents’ demeanor and realized her so-called advantage quickly transformed into inadequacy.

To be honest, she and Mrs. Leng were about the same age, but just look at her! Mrs. Leng was well-maintained, with only faint crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes. Her figure was elegant; if you saw her from behind, you might believe she was thirty. Her hand adorned with a diamond ring, carried itself with grace.

All of this deeply stimulated Lei Ming’s mother, filling her heart with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Same as women, but look at how effortlessly people like Mrs. Leng live their lives. Then compare it to herself, decked out in clothes and shoes she had specifically bought for this occasion, and yet she still felt utterly outclassed.

Turning her gaze to Leng Ning, animated and vibrant as she chatted with her sister-in-law, she resolved discreetly that she must secure this engagement at all costs!

Just thinking about the possibility of living a life like Mrs. Leng’s brought an involuntary smile to her face.

She eagerly followed up on the previous topic: "Xiao Ning’s mom, I truly adore that girl Xiao Ning. She’s not only stunning but also has such a wonderful personality! I wish my Lei Ming could marry her right now!"

Hearing this, Leng Ning’s face turned bright red as she shyly glanced at Lei Ming, catching him gazing at her with tenderness, which made her heart flutter sweetly.

Li Si, however, rubbed her cup thoughtfully. Lei Ming’s mother seemed noticeably anxious! While her concern might be understandable—encountering such an ideal match for her son, fearing it might slip away—Li Si doubted her desires would be fully realized. She carefully studied Mrs. Leng’s expression.

Mrs. Leng smiled faintly, saying, "No need to rush! The two children have only just started getting to know each other. They’re still young and in school—there’s plenty of time in the future!" Thɪs chapter is updated by novèlfire.net

Lei Ming’s mother squinted slightly, laughing heartily: "You’re absolutely right! The kids haven’t been dating for long, but their feelings are strong! My family is, without a doubt, 100% satisfied with Xiao Ning!"

"Oh, um, speaking of which, I heard an interesting rumor. Not sure if Xiao Ning’s mom has heard it?"

Mrs. Leng raised an eyebrow: "What kind of rumor?"

She became increasingly certain that Xiao Ning’s prospective mother-in-law was not someone easy to deal with. She would never allow her precious daughter to marry into such a household. (To be continued. If you enjoy this story, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)