Chapter 22 part 1: A heartfelt confession

Mother Zhou sternly reprimanded Zhou Han: "How could you two get married —such a major life event— without notifying either set of parents? What was the point of us raising you all these years? It was simply to see you get married and have children. Yet, you didn't even let us know about the wedding! Did you ever stop to consider our feelings as parents? What you did was absolutely outrageous!" Perhaps genuinely furious, she abandoned her usual dignified demeanor; her words came out as a near-roar.

Lin Li was taken aback and stared fixedly at Mother Zhou. In their previous meetings, Mother Zhou had always treated her kindly—her sincerity and genuine warmth were palpable. This was the first time Lin Li had seen her lose her temper; while she wasn't exactly frightened, she was more startled.

It wasn't just Lin Li who was stunned by Mother Zhou’s outburst; Lin Li’s parents, who were sitting nearby, were also dumbfounded and took a long moment to collect themselves. Realizing that arguing further would make them appear ill-mannered, Lin Li’s father gave a soft cough, stood up from the sofa, glared at Lin Li, and said, "Come with me!" He turned to head toward Lin Li’s room but stopped halfway—he had no idea where the room actually was.

He shot Lin Li another glare. Understanding the situation, she hurriedly stepped forward to lead the way, guiding her parents toward her room.

After Lin Li and her parents left, only Zhou Han and his mother remained in the living room. His mother’s expression hadn't changed; she looked truly intimidating in her sternness.

Zhou Han rubbed his nose and scratched his head, trying to avoid his mother’s gaze. Mother Zhou glanced back at the door to Lin Li’s room—which had just been opened and then closed again—before her expression softened. She gave her son’s thigh a sharp, exasperated slap and said, "Just look at the mess you’ve made!"

Zhou Han gave an awkward cough and looked away, avoiding his mother’s gaze; how was he supposed to know that Lin Li hadn't fully explained the situation to her family before marrying him?

"Think about it: they have only one daughter, whom they cherish like a treasure. And you? You just whisked her away without so much as a word. Is that any way to behave?" Mother Zhou could fully empathize with how Lin Li’s parents must be feeling. It was fortunate she didn't have a daughter herself; if Lin Li had been her daughter and had gotten married without a single word of notice, she might well have fainted from sheer anger.

In truth, this situation was not unlike the time Zhou Han had fallen out with the family over Ling Ran and taken her to the United States. Back then, he had whisked Ling Ran away to the U.S. overnight without telling a soul. 

His family had spent a frantic month searching for them before he finally called to say where he was. He hadn't breathed a word about his subsequent marriage or the birth of his child, either; it wasn't until he returned from the U.S. seven years later that she discovered her grandson was already so big. Others might not understand the bitterness and heartache involved, but she understood it all too well.

----- please read the translation from https://irisatdusk.blogspot.com/

Zhou Han reached for the briefcase sitting on the low coffee table, intending to take out the documents inside and look them over. He had originally planned to work late at the office, but the memory of the child clutching his hand so tightly the night before had prompted him impulsively to pack up and come home. 

He hadn't expected to arrive just as Lin Li’s parents were visiting, though judging by Lin Li’s reaction, it was clear she had been just as blindsided by the surprise visit. The documents were suddenly snatched from his hands; looking up, he saw his mother glaring at him, her tone conveying deep exasperation and disappointment: "Just look at the situation we're in—and yet you still have the mind to look at those papers!"

As she spoke, she slammed the documents onto the low table with such force that the teacup sitting there nearly toppled over; fortunately, Zhou Han was quick enough to steady it just in time to prevent a spill.

"Mom, what are you doing?" Zhou Han rubbed the bridge of his nose wearily; between the heavy workload at the company over the past few days and the situation with Ling Ran, he was truly exhausted.

"You're asking *me* what I'm doing? I should be asking *you* what you think you're doing!" Zhou's mother rolled her eyes at him in exasperation. She stepped forward, pulled him to his feet, and said, "Get in there right now! You're about to lose your wife—how can you still be looking at documents?" As she spoke, she began to push him along.

"Where are we going?" Zhou Han asked, letting his mother push him forward listlessly.

"Your wife is in there getting an earful, and here you are, in the mood to work and review files. Get in there immediately." She gave him a firm shove, quickly ushering him to the door of Lin Li's room. Just before knocking, she whispered a final instruction: "When you go in, speak properly to your in-laws."

"What to say?" Zhou Han asked, looking at her.

Mother Zhou glared at him, feeling as though he was deliberately giving her a hard time. "Just tell them you'll take good care of Lin Li and won't mistreat their daughter. What else do parents want? They just want their children to be safe and happy!"

Zhou Han rubbed his nose. Under his mother's stern gaze, he knocked on the door and then pushed it open to enter.

----- please read the translation from https://irisatdusk.blogspot.com/

When Zhou Han walked in, everyone in the room was startled and turned in unison to look at the doorway.

Zhou Han cleared his throat and closed the door behind him. Then, under the gaze of six eyes, he walked straight toward Lin Li, took her hand, and held it tightly.

Lin Li stared at him blankly, then glanced down at the hand he was clutching so firmly; she couldn't quite process the situation. Instinctively, she tried to pull her hand away, but she was no match for his strength and couldn't break free. Lin Li’s parents were momentarily stunned by his sudden entrance and stood there, gazing fixedly at him.

Ignoring Lin Li’s struggles, Zhou Han used a bit of force to pull her closer against his body, his arm wrapping firmly around her waist to hold her in place.

At a height disadvantage, Lin Li had to tilt her head back to look at him. "Zh—Zhou Han, what... what are you doing?" she asked, squirming in an attempt to break free from his embrace. Her face flushed involuntarily; she thought to herself that the man had truly lost his mind—her parents were right there, yet he was holding her so brazenly. 

Even back when she had dated Cheng Xiang for ten years and was on the verge of marriage, they had never dared to be so bold in front of her parents!

Zhou Han turned his head to look at the woman struggling in his arms; his gaze was so tender it seemed to melt with affection. "I’m here to speak to Mom and Dad," he said.

----- please read the translation from https://irisatdusk.blogspot.com/