Yue Ling remained glued to her chair as she watched Lu Tian approach their table. She couldn't help but struggle a gulp. It was like the man was the grim reaper and each step he took made her entire figure shrink smaller and smaller.
Just when he took the final step and was standing behind the gap between her and Madam Lu, she (Yue Ling) returned to her senses. She force a smile and chuckles sarcastically.
"Tian, we just arrived and haven't ordered our food yet."
Hearing her words, Lu Tian almost stumbled in his own standing. The space between his brows crease into three tight lines and he looks at the table that only had 4 menus and 4 glasses of water.
It was already past 7pm. He thought that by now, they were already done with dinner and were planning to leave home.
As he thought this, his lip slightly purse with displeased written on his face. How dare his mother, aunt, and cousin invite his wife out and not feed her dinner on time.
Without saying a word, he grabs his wife by the arm. His other hand pulls her chair back and he gently yank her up.
"We can eat somewhere else."
He hasn't eaten dinner too, so on the way home, they can grab something to eat together.
"…"
Yue Ling was dumbfounded more than ever by the aloof man. He was treating her like a person who hadn't eaten in days and he was the hero coming to save her.
However, knowing that words will not get pass him, she turns to look at the other three women for help.
"Tian! What do you think you are doing?!"
Madam Lu read the plead for help in Yue Ling's eyes. She abruptly stood up and intervenes.
Luckily, there were no one else on the roof with them to see such a scene unfold. If they did, who knows what kind of news would surface the next day.
Her nostrils flare angrily, and she yanks her daughter-in-law out of her son's grasp. Of course, she made sure not to pull too hard as she didn't want to hurt Yue Ling.
"Are you really not going to give, I, your mother any face at all?"
Once Yue Ling was standing behind her, Madam Lu stuck out her chest and glares with dangerous eyes at her son.
"I am your mother and I know what you are thinking."
Both her hands curl into fists and she place them on the sides of her hips.
"After paying for all of our things today, at least let us compensate Ah Ling with dinner."
"…"
Each time Madam Lu spoke her words, Madam Zhao, and Zhao Ya'Er nodded their head like the woman was a righteous figure making a point. However, when they heard the woman's last sentence, both mother and daughter choked on their own saliva.
Their eyelids turned extremely heavy as they stare at Madam Lu. It's not that they were using Yue Ling for money, they didn't want Lu Tian to know because they know how protective he is towards the girl.
And just like the cousin and aunt had thought, Lu Tian's eyes dimmed ten shades darker than it already is. He stares at his mother and spoke in an almost growl.
"What did you say?"
His words were petrifying that anyone who heard would cower in fear. However, Madam Lu was not the least bit affected by it all. She heaves a sigh then rolled her eyes.
"I said—"
"Let's eat here."
Before Madam Lu was able to continue her words, Yue Ling quickly steps in. She knows that it was a disrespectful thing to cut off an elder while they are speaking, but if she didn't, who knows what will become of the mother and son.
One look and anyone can see that Lu Tian's face at this moment is as black as the bottom of a burnt pot.
She swiftly steps in between the pair of mother and son. Turning to look at Madam Lu's whose face is turning red due to anger, she (Yue Ling) smiles and helps the woman sit down.
"Mother-in-law have a seat. We can discuss about this after dinner."
Madam Lu was fuming with rage at her son but hearing Yue Ling call her 'mother-in-law' for the very first time, her eyes widen in surprise. She quickly ignores her son with a bashful chuckle and sits down.
"Aiya, my daughter-in-law is such a smooth talker. Look at this old me, I'm blushing."
As Madam Lu's demeanor quickly turns into one full of happiness, Yue Ling smiles a chuckle. Turning to look at Lu Tian, she could only sigh inside and reach out to hold his hand.
Doing the same thing as how she did to Madam Lu, she smiles with her teeth.
"Darling, you sit down too. Let's have dinner first then go home.
Lu Tian was angry at his mother, aunt, and cousin. He knows that with the three of them together, they can spend money like its nothing. However, to have his wife pay for their things, he cannot help but be bother by it.
He wanted to take his wife home and tell her not to hang out with them anymore, but when he heard her call him 'darling', everything changed. That one word was the only thing he heard and all the negative energy around him quickly disperse into thin air.
Staring at her for a long minute, he raise his hand and pinch the space between his brows. He puts on a contemplating expression to hide his happiness from the other three women. If they know that he is happy, they will continue to use his wife to scare him.
As he lower his hand, his straight face returns, and he nods his head.
"Alright."
Yue Ling sighed in relief knowing that she had calmed the beast. However, when she turned to sit down, she was astounded by the mother and son, whom she had just coaxed.
Madam Lu was now sitting in her (Yue Ling) chair on the right end while Lu Tian sat on the left end side.
She sighs inside and decides to sit in the middle. It was better to do this, so she can stop the mother and son if they have another childish dispute.
Zhao Ya'Er remained glued to her seat as she stares at Yue Ling with awe and amazement. A cheerful smile curls on her lip and she chuckles.
"Wow Yue-yue. You are amazing! I have never seen my aunt and cousin listen to anyone."
In her entire life, no matter where they are and what ever the reason is, no one has been able to break the controversy between the mother and son. However, one word from Yue Ling and two obeyed like little obedient children.
Especially her aloof cousin who never listens to anyone. The moment Yue Ling called him 'darling', she (Zhao Ya'Er) knew that all the words that followed after only went in one ear and out the other.
Not wanting the good mood to be spoiled, both Lu Tian and his mother cast a sharp glare at Zhao Ya'Er. Neither spoke a word, but their dark eyes were enough to silence the woman.
At the same time, Yue Ling kept her own silence, but she smiles with her teeth at her friend. She leisurely picks up the menu and lowers her head to see what she wants to eat for dinner.
