Free Web NovelChapter 306: Chapter 306: Future Mother-in-law
Wu Qihua was the type of person who just wasn’t meant for the kitchen. Even if she used the exact same ingredients and followed a recipe to the letter, whatever she cooked would turn out exceptionally awful.
Wu Sheng put on an apron and sighed to himself. "My life isn’t easy. Ever since I was a kid, just to get a decent meal, I had to be in the kitchen while everyone else was out having the time of their lives!"
Because his mom’s cooking was so bad, he had to fight to be the one cooking every day. Was his life easy?
Unaware of Wu Sheng’s muttering inside, Wu Qihua peeled an orange and chatted with Su Li.
"When Wu Sheng told me he was bringing a girl home to meet me, I was so curious. But he wouldn’t tell me a thing about you, just that we should meet and get to know each other ourselves."
She smiled. "I bet Wu Sheng didn’t tell you anything about me either, did he?"
Su Li nodded. "No, he didn’t."
’If it weren’t for that whole mess with Ye Xilan, Wu Sheng wouldn’t have said a single thing, would he?’
’And even then, he only gave me the bare minimum.’
Seeing Su Li nod, Wu Qihua gave a knowing smile. "I knew it. That boy..."
She popped a slice of orange into her mouth. "Strictly speaking, Wu Sheng took my last name. Some things happened back then, and I wasn’t able to give him a complete family. But fortunately, I’m capable enough to be both a father and a mother to him."
Wu Qihua straightened her back. "Have you heard of the Imperial Capital Music College?"
Su Li nodded. "I have."
Wu Qihua nodded back. "I’m the current principal there."
Su Li couldn’t hide the shock and surprise on her face. "You’re amazing!" freeweɓnøvel.com
The Imperial Capital Music College... Even though it wasn’t the absolute top music school, it was still very, very famous.
’Wu Sheng’s mother is the principal? A principal! That’s just incredible.’
"Thank you. I think I’m pretty amazing, too." Wu Qihua was pleased by Su Li’s praise.
Su Li couldn’t help but laugh at that. ’They really are mother and son,’ she thought. ’They even talk the same way—so confident.’
"I’m usually busy with work, so I might not be like a typical mother-in-law," Wu Qihua said, then asked Su Li, "What about you?"
Su Li immediately sat up straight. "I’ll be twenty after the New Year. I’m a freshman at Huaguo Communication University."
Wu Qihua clapped and gave her a thumbs-up. "You’re amazing too! Twenty... so young. That’s the best age."
’That boy of mine did well. He’s really something, finding a girl ten years younger than him!’
Wu Qihua’s praise made Su Li a little bashful. "I’m not nearly as amazing as you."
"Oh, please, look at my age," Wu Qihua said, waving her hand dismissively. "You’ll be even more amazing than me in the future."
Su Li couldn’t agree with that. "Auntie, actually, if it weren’t for politeness, I’d want to call you ’Big Sis.’ You look so young!"
Wu Qihua looked at Su Li and burst out laughing. "Really? ’Big Sis’?"
Su Li nodded vigorously. She wasn’t lying one bit.
"It’s true! You look so young and have such a great presence. If you hadn’t said Wu Sheng was your son, no one would believe you have a son that big."
"If you two went out together and didn’t say anything, people would definitely think you were sister and brother!"
Su Li was being completely honest. She thought Wu Qihua’s condition at her age was truly wonderful, and she hoped to be like that too!
Wu Qihua was grinning from ear to ear. "Oh my, you’re such a smooth talker! Goodness, sister and brother... HAHA."
She let out a hearty laugh. "I can’t. I have to try it out sometime. I need to see if it’s true."
She decided then and there. When the time was right, she was going to pretend to be that boy’s older sister instead of his mom.
Wu Qihua wasn’t just saying it for fun; she genuinely wanted to do it. The restless excitement in her eyes was impossible to miss. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Su Li was very supportive, nodding repeatedly. "You should!"
In the kitchen, Wu Sheng, who had been eavesdropping the whole time, couldn’t take it anymore.
"That’s enough, you two! What’s this about sister and brother? Stop fooling around. Su Li, you..."
He was truly exasperated. His mom was already a playful person, and Su Li, who didn’t know her at all, was giving her ideas!
’I’m the one who’s going to suffer later!’
"Why are you always eavesdropping on us? Mind your own business and hurry up and cook for your ’sister’."
Wu Qihua said impatiently, already referring to herself as his sister.
Su Li let out a soft laugh. At that moment, she finally, truly relaxed.
She also finally understood why Wu Sheng had said they should get to know each other on their own terms.
If you don’t meet someone face-to-face, how can you ever know what they’re really like?
She recalled what Wu Sheng had said before, and as she watched and listened to Wu Qihua, she felt like a complete picture of the woman was forming in her mind.
Although they had just met, she suddenly understood why Wu Sheng had said it was ’impossible.’
Regardless of whether Wu Qihua supported her relationship with Wu Sheng, she would never act like Ye Xilan or say the kinds of things Ye Xilan had said.
Wu Sheng knew his mother, which was why he kept saying it was ’impossible’ and ’shouldn’t be.’
Now, Su Li agreed with him.
After the joking was over, Wu Qihua asked, "What’s your major? And what are your plans for the future?"
"I’m a journalism major. I want to be a reporter in the future," Su Li answered.
"A reporter, huh? That’s great. As long as you love it and have a passion for it." Wu Qihua nodded. "Take me, for example. I’m obsessed with music. Being able to work in this field my whole life feels wonderful."
Su Li nodded emphatically. "Yes, I feel the same way."
"So, where is your family from?" Although Wu Qihua didn’t want to interrogate her like a typical mother-in-law, she couldn’t help but be curious about these things.
Su Li gave a simple answer, then hesitated for a moment before speaking frankly.
"Actually, Auntie, I dropped out of middle school because my family didn’t support my education."
Wu Qihua made a soft sound of acknowledgment. "They didn’t support it?"
"Right." Su Li nodded. "My father later arranged a marriage for me. I got married right after I came of age."
Su Li looked at Wu Qihua candidly, her gaze unwavering. "The man worked in the city. After we married, I didn’t move with him. I stayed in our hometown to take care of his mother and the child from his previous marriage."
"A lot happened back then. I loved reading and learning, and I had my own dreams. I wasn’t willing to just let my life go to waste. So, I studied on my own, did everything I could to take the college entrance exams, and finally managed to get into the university I’m at now."
Wu Qihua looked back at Su Li. There was astonishment in her eyes, but no contempt or rejection, so Su Li continued.
"Then, because of various issues, it ended in divorce. I came here to finalize the divorce proceedings and then enrolled in school. But later..."
Su Li briefly explained the subsequent events. "...So, I’m currently raising a child. He’ll be seven after the New Year."
After hearing everything, Wu Qihua nodded slowly. She glanced at Wu Sheng, who had poked his head out of the kitchen at some point and was watching them nervously, and shook her head.
"No wonder Wu Sheng didn’t tell me anything before. So this is the situation."
Su Li nodded. "I wanted to tell you about these things first."
’Not just anyone, and not just any family, would be able to accept someone like me.’
Wu Qihua looked at Su Li and nodded. "I know what you mean. You’re waiting to see what my opinion is."
She reached out, took Su Li’s hand, and patted it gently in her own.
"I don’t know what other families might think, but as for me, I have no objections. Or rather, I respect Wu Sheng’s decision."
"He likes you, wants to marry you, and wants to build a life with you. If he chooses you, that’s his choice. This is your life, for you two to decide."
"Only the wearer knows if the shoes fit. How can an outsider know how you feel? So, I won’t say a thing."
’Whether he minds that Su Li is divorced, or that she has a child—Wu Sheng should be the one who cares most about those things.’
