Chapter 24 part 1: Father Lin's attitude

Lin Li deeply appreciated the advantages of having the right "connections." An appointment with a specialist—which normally wouldn't have been available until the following Tuesday—had been secured so quickly that all the test results were ready in less than a day. The best news was that her father’s condition hadn't worsened; his recent cough and other symptoms were merely due to the flu. Once the flu cleared up, the cough would vanish, and there were no other underlying issues.

When Dr. Li reviewed the results and explained the situation, Lin Li was overjoyed; she hugged her father tightly for a long moment before finally letting go.

Since the tests revealed no serious problems, hospitalization wasn't necessary. After leaving the hospital, Zhou Han drove his "in-laws" and Lin Li straight back home.

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

When they arrived, Zhou Han’s mother was still there, sitting on the living room sofa and helping little Xiao Bin with his writing practice. Seeing them return, she hurried over and asked with concern, "Is everything alright with your father?"

In contrast to Zhou Han’s mother’s warmth and concern, Lin Li’s father appeared somewhat aloof and awkward. Her mother, however, seemed more at ease; she smiled and told Zhou Han’s mother, "The results show no issues—it’s just the flu. He’ll be fine once he recovers." 

She then looked sincerely at Zhou Han’s mother and added, "Thank you so much for today. If you hadn't helped arrange everything, we probably would have spent another two days worrying."

Zhou Han’s mother stepped forward and took Lin Li’s mother’s hand, saying, "Why mention it? We’re going to be one family soon; there’s no need to draw such clear lines between us."

Lin Li’s mother simply smiled without replying. She glanced at her husband, who was standing nearby and looking away, clearly feeling a bit embarrassed.

Noticing this, Zhou Han’s mother continued, "It’s a rare treat to have you both here. You should stay in Jiangcheng for a few days this time—let Lin Li spend some quality time with you."

Lin Li’s mother nodded with a smile. She didn't know much about Zhou Han yet, but she really liked his mother. She was nothing like that haughty socialite from Cheng Xiang’s family; at the very least, she didn't look down on people or treat them with disdain. 

Mother Zhou glanced at her watch, then looked up at Mother Lin with an apologetic expression. "I really ought to stay and chat longer with you, but it’s getting late. Lao Zhou didn't know you were coming today and will be getting home from work soon; I need to go back and start dinner, so I’m afraid I can’t stay any longer. I hope you’ll forgive me."

Mother Lin replied politely, "It’s no trouble at all, really."

Mother Zhou smiled and nodded, then, as if a thought had just occurred to her, added, "Now that Zhou Han and Lin Li are married, Lao Zhou and I had been meaning to find time to visit your family. Your visit here makes things much more convenient for us. How about our two families get together for a casual meal tomorrow evening? What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Mother Lin didn't answer immediately; instead, she turned to look at Father Lin. In their household, Mother Lin handled the minor matters, but major decisions were always up to Father Lin.

However, Father Lin was still nursing a grievance; setting aside the question of a joint family meal, he still harbored some deep-seated reservations about Zhou Han. 

Seeing that Lin’s parents remained silent, Zhou’s mother smiled and said, "Look at me—so impatient. You’ve just arrived and have had a tiring day; you certainly need some time to rest. As for a meal together, there will be plenty of opportunities for that here in Jiangcheng." 

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

She then turned to young Zhou Jiabin, who was sitting on the sofa, frowning as he held a pen. Bending down slightly, she stroked his head and asked with a smile, "Xiao Bin, how about coming back to Grandma’s place with me tonight?"

The little boy looked up without saying a word; he glanced at Zhou Han, and only after seeing Zhou Han nod did he turn back to Mother Zhou, nod, and whisper, "Okay."

Mother Zhou took his uninjured hand—making sure not to forget his Transformers toy—and smiled as she said goodbye to Lin’s parents. She reminded Lin Li to watch her diet, given her sensitive stomach, and finally asked Zhou Han to drive them back to the government housing complex.

Once Zhou Han and the others had left, only Lin Li’s family remained in the apartment.

Lin’s parents sat on the sofa, while Lin Li went to the kitchen to pour two cups of tea.

As he took the tea from Lin Li, Father Lin gestured for her to sit down.

Lin Li sat down on the sofa opposite them; feeling a twinge of guilt, she grew uneasy. She couldn't seem to find a comfortable way to sit, dreading the moment her parents might ask a question she wouldn't know how to answer.

Father Lin glanced at her mother, took a sip of tea, and then looked at Lin Li before slowly asking, "Lin Li, tell me the truth: did you marry him out of spite?"

Almost instinctively, Lin Li shook her head. She looked at her father and said earnestly, "No, I didn't marry out of spite." Although her experience with Cheng Xiang had shattered her faith in love, that had nothing to do with her marriage to Zhou Han. 

She had given the matter serious thought beforehand—albeit in a rather clinical, business-like manner. That didn't mean she was acting out of spite; she had simply approached marriage as a job. Yet, that didn't mean she would accept just *any* job; she had carefully considered the role, decided she was capable of handling it and that it suited her, and only then agreed to sign the "partnership contract."

Just because their reasons for marrying weren't purely romantic didn't mean she wasn't taking it seriously.

"How long have you known him? Aren't you afraid you'll regret such a hasty marriage?" her father continued.

Lin Li shook her head. Fixing her gaze on her father, she said, "I haven't known him long, but I can tell he’s a good person. He may seem cold and stern on the surface, but he has his own way of showing care and offering comfort. I don't know if I'll regret this decision later, but right now, I have no regrets about marrying him." 

She didn't know what Zhou Han had been like in the past, but after spending time together, she could sense a sensitive, considerate heart beneath that icy exterior. Their relationship was business-like, and while she wasn't exactly brilliant, she wasn't stupid either; she could recognize his expressions of concern, even if he voiced them in a cold, emotionless tone.

If anyone were to ask whether she regretted this whirlwind marriage so far, she knew her answer would undoubtedly be no.

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