Chapter 358: Worshipping the Mother-in-law
"Little Point’s birthday is the day after tomorrow, right?" Wu Sheng asked Su Li for confirmation once they were on the road.
"Yes, June 29th." Su Li nodded. "Will you have time to come celebrate with him?"
"Of course. I’ll make time even if I don’t have any." Wu Sheng nodded. "Mom is coming too."
Su Li: "..."
’He’s dropping the ’my’ again.’
’He used to say ’my mom’ when he talked about Wu Qihua. Now it’s just ’Mom.’’
’He’s acting like we’re already family.’
"I’m very happy that your mother can come," Su Li replied, deliberately stressing the formal address.
’Even though I accepted his proposal, we’re not officially engaged yet. It’s too soon to change what I call her.’
’Some people start calling their in-laws ’Mom’ and ’Dad’ once they’re engaged, but most wait until after the wedding.’
’I can’t possibly start calling her that so soon.’
Wu Sheng caught her emphasis and glanced over at her. "You’ll be calling her that sooner or later. Wouldn’t it be better to get used to it now?"
Su Li huffed softly. "I don’t need to get used to it."
’I’m not falling for that trap.’
"Your mother really likes cold wood ear mushrooms and chilled lotus root slices. I’ll make some for her," Su Li said, already starting to plan the menu for the party.
Wu Sheng listened for a moment before chiming in, "And what about me? What are you making for me?"
"Don’t you eat pretty much anything?" Su Li replied nonchalantly.
Wu Sheng gave a resigned laugh. "Hey, Su Li, you can’t do this to me. You’re starting to like Mom more than you like me."
Su Li blinked, resisting the urge to reply, ’I already do.’
Wu Sheng turned to look at her. "Su Li, why do you like Mom so much? It’s almost like you worship her."
Su Li turned to him with a smile. "It’s a secret. I’m not telling you."
The reason for this all went back to the day the case was decided.
Su Li never saw how Wu Sheng had infuriated Bai Xinyue, but... she had accidentally witnessed Wu Qihua’s sheer, commanding presence in front of Ye Xilan—an aura that could dominate the entire worldly society.
That aura made Wu Qihua seem six feet tall. Seeing Ye Xilan trembling and shaking, Su Li was completely dumbstruck.
After Ye Xilan fled in a panic, Wu Qihua told Su Li, "Ye Xilan is just a typical bully—she preys on the weak and fears the strong. If she ever dares to bother you again, don’t hold back. I’ve got your back."
Those words—"I’ve got your back"—made Su Li feel an incredible sense of security.
The saying ’every bane has its antidote’ was truly a universal truth.
In any case... Wu Qihua was probably the one person in the world who could completely and utterly dominate Ye Xilan.
It was only after witnessing that scene that Su Li finally understood why Ye Xilan—that delusional woman who considered herself Wu Sheng’s mother—hadn’t dared to come and snatch him away.
Wu Sheng had grown up now; he was capable and could protect Wu Qihua. But Su Li had seen how Wu Qihua was also protecting *him* from behind the scenes. How could she not hero-worship a woman like that?
Seeing the slightly mischievous, reminiscent smile on Su Li’s face, Wu Sheng shook his head with a resigned sigh.
"Secrets again..."
He looked resigned, but his eyes were brimming with amusement.
’It’s a good thing that Wu Qihua and Su Li get along so well. A very good thing.’
"Popsicles."
Spotting a vendor on the side of the road, Wu Sheng got out, bought two popsicles, and handed them both to Su Li.
"Here. One for you, one for me."
As the car got moving again, Wu Sheng kept his eyes on the road, slightly turning his head and opening his mouth. "Ahh."
Su Li pursed her lips but, with practiced ease, put the popsicle to his mouth.
It was a comfortable routine they’d developed recently. Su Li hadn’t noticed at first, only realizing belatedly that Wu Sheng had stopped initiating much close physical contact. Instead, he was gently guiding her to be the one to initiate it.
Once she was comfortable, he would slowly start to pat her head or take her hand.
Su Li took a bite of her own popsicle, her gaze resting on Wu Sheng’s profile. A soft, yet complex feeling bloomed in her chest.
She had always tried to hide her issues, and she thought she’d succeeded. But it had slowly dawned on her recently that she hadn’t fooled Wu Sheng at all.
He never said a word or pressured her. Instead, he silently used his own methods, subtly guiding her out of the shadows of her past.
Thanks to Wu Sheng’s quiet efforts during this time, she no longer tensed up uncontrollably around him.
When he occasionally patted her head or gently squeezed her shoulder, she was able to stay completely relaxed.
And she was growing more and more used to initiating contact with him, just like now.
"All gone. Ahh," Wu Sheng prompted, and Su Li fed him another bite.
When a piece of the popsicle broke off as he bit it, Su Li was able to naturally brush it away for him.
Although she was still repulsed by the proximity of other men, although she still had nightmares, although she sometimes still felt a compulsive urge to shower or wash her hands, Su Li knew she was getting better.
And it was all because of Wu Sheng.
Su Li turned to face forward again, took a big bite of her popsicle, and looked at the road ahead, a smile gracing her lips.
"Ahh," Wu Sheng said.
Su Li ignored him.
"Ahh, ahh, ahh," Wu Sheng called out. "All gone."
Only then did Su Li speak. "You can ’ahh’ all you want, it won’t work. I’ve decided this popsicle is exceptionally delicious, so I’m not giving you any more."
Wu Sheng glanced over, just in time to see Su Li take a bite from the popsicle he had been eating.
A flicker of amusement crossed his eyes. "I’ve eaten from that one."
Su Li tilted her head. "So what?"
Wu Sheng grinned. "Nothing much. I just wanted to tell you that if you want to kiss me, you can just say so. No need to be indirect about it."
Su Li’s face flushed. "Oh, shut up! Stop talking nonsense. Fine, I won’t eat it then, is that better?"
The words had barely left her mouth when Wu Sheng grabbed her hand, leaned over, and quickly snatched the popsicle from her fingers with his mouth.
"If you won’t eat it, I will." Wu Sheng crunched down on the popsicle. "I don’t mind your germs."
"You..." Su Li started to say, but in the next second, she burst out laughing.
Wu Sheng swallowed the popsicle, shot Su Li a look, and huffed. "Coveting my handsome looks all day long, yet you still won’t admit it."
Su Li, who was just taking the last bite of her own popsicle, nearly did a spit-take.
’Covet his handsome looks?’ Su Li was speechless. ’...’
"Before you throw around words like ’handsome,’ maybe you should wipe off your sweat first."
It was June and the weather was getting warmer. Wu Sheng’s forehead was covered in sweat.
"If I have to wipe my own sweat when I’m with you, that’s just not very romantic, is it?"
Wu Sheng pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned to her. "Come on, take out your sweet-smelling little handkerchief and wipe the sweat for your dear old me."
Su Li: "..."
’Sweet-smelling... little handkerchief...’
They chatted the whole way home, arriving just as the sun began to set.
Wu Sheng parked the car, and they went upstairs together.
Su Li unlocked the security door, then the iron gate, and then one more lock, before finally getting the door fully open.
’Ugh... these layers of doors were all Wu Sheng’s handiwork.’
The windows were the same, not just the doors.
Now, every time he brought her back, Wu Sheng would insist on walking her all the way up. He’d watch her go inside, make sure nothing was out of place, and only leave after he saw her lock the door securely.
He had even run a test with her before, deliberately disguising his voice and asking her to open the door. He was only satisfied when she refused.
Once inside, Wu Sheng had a drink of water and asked, "Your internship starts with the summer break?"
Su Li said, "It’s not really an internship. More of a practicum."
"The practicum runs from this summer through my junior year. The official internship doesn’t start until after my junior year ends."