Chapter 489: Chapter 489

Hearing that Chen Ke had actually agreed, Mai Qiqi was stunned. What was he thinking? And since when did he start speaking so pretentiously? It was so awkward!

She didn’t believe Chen Ke couldn’t understand the hidden meaning in her grandmother’s words. He must be doing this on purpose!

"Chen Ke, if you’re busy, go ahead with your work, and we can have tea some other time," Mai Qiqi said with a smile, while giving Chen Ke a knowing wink. Who knows what the future holds.

Ironically, this gesture was clearly caught by Mrs. Mai who understood her daughter well. She discreetly slapped her daughter, pulled Mai Qiqi behind her and wondered how she could have raised such a blockheaded daughter. Mrs. Mai then warmly invited Chen Ke to step further inside.

Watching the group enter the house, Mai Qiqi huffed irritably, catching the attention of Xiao Huaili and his sister. Erya extricated herself from Granny Mai’s grasp, ran over to Mai Qiqi, took her hand and asked softly:

"Mr. Mai, do you not like Uncle Chen?"

Mai Qiqi choked and quickly replied amiably, "No, no, not at all." She couldn’t set a bad example for the kids.

After they entered the living room, Chen Ke respectfully greeted Grandpa Mai and Granny Mai.

Grandpa Mai nodded: "No need to be formal, have a seat."

Mr. Mai actually called the nanny to make tea for Chen Ke, and Mrs. Mai organized for the nanny to take Xiao Huaili and his sister to wash up and eat. Then she pulled her daughter to sit in the living room and cheerfully chatted with Chen Ke.

"How old is Xiao Chen this year?"

Mother Mai was delighted, hmm, perfectly matched in age with Qiqi, old enough to know how to cherish someone.

"Is Xiao Chen married?"

"...Not yet." Chen Ke’s mouth twitched slightly, regretting agreeing to come in.

Mrs. Mai’s smile deepened, "Does he have a girlfriend then?"

"Uh, Auntie, I... should head back today." Chen Ke felt it was better for him to leave; he didn’t think he and Mai Qiqi could have any sort of connection.

"No hurry, no hurry; just tell Auntie if you have a girlfriend."

"...I’m too busy with work, and the nature of my job is rather dangerous, so I don’t have time for dating, and wouldn’t want to hold anyone back," Chen Ke reluctantly said.

It was clear to any perceptive observer that Mai Qiqi’s parents were very protective of her. They likely wouldn’t choose a son-in-law who was away for eleven months of the year and whose life was always on the line.

However, Mrs. Mai just smiled more kindly, "Hardworking, understanding, and considerate of others, you are a good child."

Chen Ke: "..." Who has seen a child at thirty? No, how come Auntie Mai’s way of thinking is somewhat different from others? Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by novèlfire.net

He made a swift decision, gulping down the tea in his cup. The sip nearly scalded him and he almost spit it out, but managed to force it down with a stiff-faced gulp.

Seeing this, Mai Qiqi looked down and suppressed a laugh, serves you right for trying to show off, insisting on coming in for tea, and now look what happened, haha...

"Grandpa, Granny, Uncle, Auntie, the tea was quite nice, I’m sorry but I must take my leave now."

Chen Ke glanced at Mai Qiqi trying to suppress her laughter, narrowed his eyes, and stood up gracefully. He bowed slightly to the Mai Family and then walked outside.

This time, Mrs. Mai laughed and exchanged a few more words, but she didn’t insist on him staying, just warmly reminded, "Come to visit us more often." Yet she thought to herself that this young man knew when to advance or retreat and was very tactful.

If Chen Ke heard what Mrs. Mai was thinking, he would definitely beat his chest three hundred times and resolve never to meet Mrs. Mai again.

Hearing her mother’s words, Mai Qiqi almost choked. She coughed twice, thinking why should he come to see you! Does he even know you well!

She rolled her eyes to the sky, well, thanks to her mother, she had embarrassed herself in front of Chen Ke again.

Seeing Chen Ke reaching the door and her silly daughter still sitting calmly on the sofa, Mrs. Mai glared at her daughter discontentedly and shouted, "Qiqi, go send Xiao Chen off."

"Mom, it’s just nearby..." Mai Qiqi staggered, speechlessly staring at Mrs. Mai.

Mrs. Mai cut her off, giving her daughter a fierce look behind Chen Ke’s back, "He traveled miles from the Northwest to bring you back, and you can’t even bother to walk him out? When did I ever teach you to behave like that!"

Alright, as the conversation turned more severe, Mai Qiqi quickly got up and followed Chen Ke out. They walked just a few steps to the car, and during this short journey, not a word was exchanged between them.

Chen Ke thought this silence was fine, while Mai Qiqi felt somewhat awkward and still said, "About what... my mom said earlier, don’t take it to heart, and um... thanks for everything on the way."

Chen Ke just responded with a "hmm", pressed the brake, and left.

Watching the car drive away, Mai Qiqi exhaled deeply and turned back to her house.

"Mom, what exactly are you trying to do? I just got back, can’t you let me catch my breath?"

Mrs. Mai glanced at her and said, "Why are you so worked up? I think Xiao Chen is quite a decent young man, knows how to act appropriately, and is considerate, suitable as a marriage prospect..."

"Mom!" Mai Qiqi shouted loudly, interrupting her mom.

Mrs. Mai blinked in confusion and said, "I was thinking of introducing him to Mai Miaomiao."

Mai Miaomiao was Mai Qiqi’s cousin. Mai Qiqi was taken aback and then laughed, "Miaomiao is only twenty and hasn’t even graduated from college. If you’re going to lie, at least make it a believable one."

Mrs. Mai didn’t respond and just pushed her towards the stairs, "Don’t worry about it, go and take a nice bath. Look at you, all covered in dust. Remember to add a few drops of essential oil."

Mai Qiqi sighed helplessly, thinking who really needed to stop worrying. She huffed and said to Grandpa and Grandma Mai,

"Grandpa, Granny, please don’t get involved in mom’s schemes." Then she turned to her dad, "Dad, you need to manage your wife, she is bullying your daughter."

Grandpa Mai and Granny Mai chuckled, while Mr. Mai laughed it off, "I’ll discuss it with your mom."

"What’s going on?" Mr. Mai asked his wife after their daughter had left, although he also had a good impression of Chen Ke, he didn’t understand why his wife was suddenly so enthusiastic about him.

Mrs. Mai laughed, "When we went out to welcome Qiqi just now, didn’t I take a phone call? That was Mayor Liu’s wife. She told me that she saw Qiqi registering her arrival at the gate."

At this point, her brow furrowed slightly and she continued, "That Mrs. An is really persistent. Just as Qiqi came back, she was confronted by a woman at the door trying to provoke her. If it wasn’t for Xiao Chen standing up for her, Qiqi would have been upset again."

Hearing this, the Mai Family grew tense. Grandpa Mai harrumphed, and Granny Mai asked, "What happened? Tell us more."

Mrs. Mai then repeated what Mayor Liu’s wife had seen and concluded, "Considering that Xiao Chen spoke up to protect Qiqi and then didn’t make a fuss about it, I think Qiqi and Xiao Chen should give it a try."