“Hey, do you think this is alright?” Lily looked at her reflection on the full body mirror. She turned and frowned at her dark blue dress. “Maybe it’s too formal?”
In response, Zhou Jingren hugged her from behind. He buried his head at the crooked of her neck, “You look perfect,” he whispered, his arms nestled around her waist.
“Are you sure? What if… maybe I am too underdressed?”
“Are you nervous?” he asked.
“No. Not really. I just want to look perfect. You know… create a favorable impression.” Lily avoided his eyes and cleared her throat. “This is for business purposes.”
He chuckled. “Being anxious doesn’t suit you.”
“Really?” she asked as she started putting on a thin makeup. “It’s your mother. I have to look as pretty as possible. I don’t want her to think that your standards are too low.”
He kissed her neck. “As I said…”
“Well Mr. Zhou, beauty is in the beholder’s eye. I might be perfect for you, but women are different. We tend to be more… strict.”
“Strict?” He lifted an eyebrow. “Or competitive?”
“Does it matter?” she retorted and pouted. “I am just trying to look my best. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Of course.” He laughed as he examined her reflection. “Then remove the scarf.”
Lily eyed her A-line tulle dress. Before she nodded and removed the silver scarf that she put around her neck. Lily originally wanted to cover her neck because of little burn scars that are still visible. “Then the…”
“Don’t worry about it. If you are too embarrassed, you can use your hair to cover it. Tomorrow, we will visit a skin specialist that could help you with that.” He assured her. She nodded in response and eyed her reflection.
“Alright, what do you think will happen if she won’t like me?” Lily couldn’t take her mind off the fact that Zhou Jingren’s parents might not like her. “What if they gave me an envelop with millions and asked me to stay away from you?”
Her words earned a burst of boisterous laughter from Zhou Jingren. “I never thought I would see you like this.”
“Like what?”
“Like a teenager meeting her boyfriend’s parents.”
Lily frowned in response, “What teenager?” she rolled her eyes. “I just thought… it would be nice to have a relationship with them. Like you know… a normal one. They are my in-laws, after all.”
“Then stop being anxious. If my guess is right, then they should be the one who is afraid to meet you.”
“Why would they fear meeting me?” she asked.
“Let’s see… hmmm… because you can end my relationship with them in a few words? Because you are intimidating and are not afraid to say your thoughts? And lastly, because you are too perfect, you could easily remind everyone of their imperfections.”
“Stop flattering me,” she cringed. “I am only acting like a normal daughter-in-law meeting their in-laws for the first time.”
“Hmmm… that kind of normal is too abnormal for you.” He teased as he smiled. “Just be yourself. Everyone loves a genuine person.”
“Maybe you’re right.” She let out a sigh and smiled. “Let’s go?” she turned towards him and give his black suit a nod of approval.
“Hmmm.” He held her hand and together they walk out of their room.
………………………………
M International Hotel, Hong Kong
“Do you think she will like us?” Zhou Dae Un asked as she helped her husband with his ties. “What if…”
“She will.” Zhou Wu Ye assured him. He leaned to kiss his wife’s forehead and gave her a smile full of assurance. “Stop worrying too much. She is a smart woman.”
“That is what I’m worried about. Smart women are very hard to deal with. What if… she won’t like us? What if she tells our son to avoid us?”
“You are overthinking,” he laughed and used his hand to nudge his wife’s nose. “Lily is not like that. She is not that shallow.”
“Alright, it’s done.” She said. “How do I Look? Maybe… I have too much makeup on? Do you think my dress is too much?”
“You look perfect.” He answered as he eyed his dark blue dress. “Stop worrying too much. This will only give you more wrinkles. Just enjoy the dinner. I’m sure we will have a lot of fun together.”
A sigh escaped her lips. To be honest, Zhou Dae Un was more anxious about meeting Lily than Zhou Jingren. Lily was everything that she wasn’t and for some reason, this fact seemed to scare her.
“Doesn’t she intimidate you?” she asked as her husband grabbed his phone and keys.
“She does.” He said. “But isn’t she perfect for our son?”
A gentle smile flashed in Zhou Dae Un’s eyes. “She is.” Lily and Zhou Jingren are like each other’s backbone. They are perfect for each other.
“Good. Now, breath and relax. Enjoy the dinner.” He held her hand and gave her an assuring smile.
………………………………
“They’re here,” Zhou Jingren nudged Lily. Both of them looked at the couple approaching them. They stood from their seats and gave both Zhou Wu Ye and Zhou Dae Un a smile. “Just act normal,” Zhou Jingren whispered.
She pursed her lips and eyed her husband. “Is there something wrong with my smile?”
“There is…” he leaned closer to her ears. “You look like you are about to destroy someone’s life.”
She widened her eyes in response. How could Zhou Jingren say something like this? She leaned towards him. “Just wait until we get home,” she responded as she clenched her jaw. “You are sleeping on the couch tonight.”
Zhou Jingren laughed, attracting the attention of the few people sitting on the other table.
“Jingren?” Zhou Wu Ye said as he approached them. He then looked at Lily and gave her a pleasant smile.
“Father.” Zhou Jingren nodded. “Mother.”
His hand curled around Lily’s waist, tugging her closer to him. “This is my wife. My Lily.” He beamed, pride apparent in his eyes.
