Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Maternal Home

Qian Jia slapped her forehead. “That’s right! I can’t believe I kept forgetting to ask about that!”

“…” Seeing that all eyes were on him now, Xu Ran glanced at Xi Zirong in the driver’s seat. Xi Zirong was still smiling broadly, which made Xu Ran’s lip twitch. “He protects his girlfriend like she’s the most precious thing in the world. Do you really think he’s going to tell us anything?”

Xu Ran said, “Back in the dorm, someone asked him what it was like to date the campus belle. Our esteemed class president just shot them a disdainful look and didn’t say a word, terrified someone might try to steal his girlfriend away.”

“That sounds like something God Xi would do.” Huang Feng nodded. “He’s just not the type to show off.”

To be precise, Xi Zirong was far more mature than his peers and completely lacked the flashy arrogance typical of his age.

Instead of parading his girlfriend around, he preferred to hold his treasure close, content in knowing for himself just how wonderful she was.

’The girl I like is becoming more dazzling by the day. Do I not have enough rivals already? Why would I go around showing her off?’

…

Xu Su had warned that the country roads were rough, so Xi Zirong had specifically chosen one of his family’s SUVs for the trip.

Now, sitting in the passenger seat, Xu Su felt that compared to the rickety public bus, not only was the car itself more stable, but Xi Zirong’s driving skills were also excellent.

The road was flanked by mountains and fields. They occasionally passed through villages of mud-brick houses, all of which looked impoverished and remote.

Huang Feng and Xu Ran gazed out the window, fascinated. It was their first time in the countryside and their first time seeing terraced fields, and they were very excited.

Qian Jia was much calmer. Having grown up in the countryside, she felt that all rural fields looked more or less the same.

After they passed a three-way intersection and Xu Su gave another direction, she said with a smile, “We’re almost at my grandma’s house.”

She had called ahead for this trip, letting them know she would arrive before lunch.

So, the moment the car stopped on the main road, Chen Ni, who had been waiting for a while, came running down in a flash. Following behind her were Grandma Xu, Uncle Xu, and the others.

Xu Su, Huang Feng, and the others got out first. The second she was out, Chen Ni threw her arms around her in a tight hug. The young girl’s bubbly personality hadn’t changed one bit; she was overjoyed to see Xu Su back.

Xi Zirong drove the car into Uncle Xu’s courtyard, parked it, and then got out.

The young man wore a white shirt and black pants. With his handsome features and tall, slender figure, he drew everyone’s gaze just by standing there.

Xu Su cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s eyes away from Xi Zirong, and began to introduce her classmates to her family.

When it was Xi Zirong’s turn, he smiled warmly and followed Xu Su’s lead in greeting everyone, looking every bit the part of a well-bred young man.

Her two aunts from the Chen family kept their eyes glued to him the entire time, almost completely ignoring the other male classmate, Xu Ran.

…

’Seeing her family act this way, Xu Su began to wonder if she’d just gotten too used to seeing Xi Zirong every day. She didn’t think he was *that* stunning, so why did both of her aunts look so incredibly satisfied?’

Thankfully, her grandmother still doted on her the most.

Grandma Xu took her by the hands and looked her over carefully. A kind smile bloomed on her wrinkled face. “You’ve gotten a little taller since last year. Our Susu looks like a young lady now.”

Xu Su leaned in to hug her. She was more than a head taller than the petite old woman. “It’s not just ’looks like,’ I *am* a young lady now,” she said with a playful smile. “Grandma, I’m already eighteen.”

“Good, good.” The old woman was overjoyed, patting her granddaughter on the back. “Come on, the food’s ready. Let’s eat.”

Lunch was at Uncle Xu’s house. Knowing Xu Su was bringing a few classmates, the family had set up two tables, and her younger uncle’s family had also joined them.

Unlike the Xu Family, which segregated tables by gender, the Chen Family had no such rules. After confirming that none of Xu Su’s classmates drank alcohol, they arranged for the young people to sit at one table and the adults at another.

There was no distinction between a “main” table and a secondary one; both were standard square dining tables.

Xu Su sat with her classmates and cousins, with Chen Ni right beside her. She looked at the table laden with farmhouse dishes, every single one a flavor she loved.

She picked up her chopsticks and said to Huang Feng and the others, “Go ahead and eat. My Uncle Xu probably made all of this himself. He’s a great cook.”

“Susu, you can tell just by looking, without even taking a bite?” Chen Ni asked, a little shocked.

Xu Su replied, “Because I know that whenever I come back, Uncle Xu always cooks for me himself.”

’Both of my uncles are wonderful, countless times better than my own father, Xu Weiping.’

’If it weren’t for my two wonderful uncles making up for that lack of fatherly love, I probably would have grown up to be timid, insecure, and cowardly, wouldn’t I?’

Chen Ni feigned anger. “My dad adores you! When he heard you were coming, he was overjoyed for days. I’m starting to suspect you’re his real daughter.”

Xu Su put a piece of stir-fried pork with dried bamboo shoots into her cousin’s bowl. “Then just think of me as your real big sister, eat your food, and I’ll check your homework when we’re done.”

“…” Chen Ni stared at the food in her bowl, annoyed. Suddenly, it didn’t seem quite so appetizing.

The atmosphere at the dining table was lively. Everyone was around the same age—even the youngest, Chen Jun, was already fifteen—so by the end of the meal, they had all gotten to know each other well.

After lunch, Xu Su and her friends got their backpacks and spare clothes from the trunk of the car.

Grandma Xu had already prepared the rooms in advance. Xu Su led the group into the main house and explained, “This is the room I’ve slept in ever since I was little.”

An old-fashioned, high-frame bed was covered with a woven cooling mat. The whole room was neat and tidy. On the desk against the wall was a lamp, and piled on top were books Xu Su had used back in elementary and middle school.

Xi Zirong walked over to the desk and his eyes immediately landed on a framed photo on the wall. The little girl in the picture was smiling sweetly, already showing the first hints of a young woman’s beauty.

The others gathered around to look.

“Susu, is this a picture of you? When was it taken? You look so young!”

“…Seventh grade, I think. I was thirteen or fourteen.” Xu Su wrapped an arm around Huang Feng’s neck, feigning anger. “Fengfeng! Are you saying I’m old now?”

“Mercy, mercy! You’re still young now, I misspoke!”

Xi Zirong smiled, watching them horse around. He then asked Xu Su, “Are there any more? I’d like to see your childhood photos.”

Xu Su shot a quick glance out the door. Thankfully, Chen Ni and the others hadn’t followed them in, and her grandmother was still at Uncle Xu’s house.

She glared at Xi Zirong. “There are no more! It’s not like I have that many photos!”

Over a decade ago, life in the countryside was tough. Unless it was absolutely necessary, very few families would go out of their way to have photos taken.

Even now in Chen Family Village, not many people go to get pictures taken on a whim.

Xu Su had very few printed photos from her entire childhood, and most of them had been lost in some forgotten corner long ago.

Xi Zirong idly flipped through the books on the desk, his mind filling with an image of a little girl sitting right there, studying day in and day out for years on end.

His heart softened. He carefully flipped through a notebook he was holding. Even back in middle school, Xu Su’s handwriting was already very neat—the unmistakable script of a diligent student.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep