The marriage was quickly settled.
In addition to the previously agreed betrothal gifts, Xu Guilan even gave her own silver bracelet as a meeting gift for Song Yunlan.
This showed just how satisfied she was with this future daughter-in-law.
Song Yunlan had always known that Xu Guilan had a good personality, but she hadn’t expected her to be this warm and enthusiastic toward her.
Thinking back to her previous life, when Shen Zhiyan had delayed marriage for so long, Xu Guilan had even come to see her several times, subtly persuading her to marry into the Shen family.
Even when she had firmly and rudely refused back then, Xu Guilan had never taken it out on her because of Shen Zhiyan.
In this life, now that she was marrying Shen Zhiyan, she also hoped to get along well with her future mother-in-law.
It could be considered repayment for the kindness Xu Guilan had shown her in her past life.
After the formal matters were settled, Song Yunlan also followed tradition and insisted on keeping them for a meal.
Xu Guilan and Shen Jianjun politely declined at first, but eventually agreed after all, they also wanted to spend more time with their future daughter-in-law.
However, as they watched their son constantly hovering around Song Yunlan, the couple’s veins were practically bulging.
His eagerness to take over every task was almost unbearable to watch.
Especially with Li Lanxiang still present as an outsider.
Xu Guilan felt even more emotionally exhausted.
If they hadn’t come to propose marriage today, she never would have known her son could actually cook.
Judging from his skilled movements and the smooth way he handled everything, she was certain of one thing:
This was not his first time cooking at Song Yunlan’s place.
What a sin!
As his mother, she had never even eaten food he cooked.
And yet the first time ended up being at his future wife’s house.
But who told her to be unlucky enough to give birth to such a “debt collector” of a son?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She reached out and pinched Shen Jianjun hard at the waist.
“Hiss ”
Shen Jianjun had been enjoying watching their son show off when he was suddenly pinched by his wife. His face twisted in pain.
“Why did you pinch me?!”
Xu Guilan rolled her eyes.
“Look at your good son! I worked so hard raising him, and I didn’t even know he could cook!”
Hearing this, Shen Jianjun immediately understood his wife was jealous.
“That’s not fair,” he said. “I didn’t know either! Don’t be mad. We’ll get to eat soon anyway.”
“Besides, our son takes after me he knows how to love his wife. As long as the two of them get along well, we’ll have less to worry about.”
Hearing this, Xu Guilan glanced at him but said nothing more.
Soon, the meal was ready.
There were five people in the room, and together Song Yunlan and Shen Zhiyan made six dishes and one soup.
But among them, Song Yunlan only fried one egg the rest were all made by Shen Zhiyan.
When the dishes were served, Song Yunlan felt a little embarrassed.
After all, her future in-laws were right there watching.
She hadn’t expected Shen Zhiyan to be so fast and efficient she wanted to stop him, but simply couldn’t outpace him.
Even while busy cooking, Shen Zhiyan never stopped paying attention to her expression. Seeing her embarrassed look, he immediately understood.
He took off his apron and, very naturally, assumed the role of host.
“Dad, Mom, Aunt Niu, let’s eat. Try Yunlan’s cooking she specially prepared all of this for you. It’s all good stuff!”
The three elders looked at each other.
They weren’t blind they had been in the same room the whole time. How could they not know who actually cooked?
But seeing how happily their son was playing along, none of them said anything.
After all, the two of them would be living together for life. How they chose to live was entirely up to them.
Song Yunlan had just been slightly shy before, but now with Shen Zhiyan’s dramatic enthusiasm, she became even more embarrassed.
Seeing her future daughter-in-law’s discomfort, Xu Guilan shot her son a glare and quickly stepped in, taking Song Yunlan’s hand.
“Yunlan, you’ve worked hard today. You even went out to buy so many things. Come, let’s sit and eat.”
She added warmly, “Listen to Auntie if there’s work at home in the future, just order the third son around. If he disobeys or makes you angry, tell me and I’ll beat him with a broom.”
“Our Shen family men are born to dote on their wives.”
“I don’t ask for anything else just that you two live well together.”
With her intervention, the atmosphere relaxed significantly, and everyone became much more at ease.
They all enjoyed a lively and warm meal together.
After dinner, Li Lanxiang, Xu Guilan, and Shen Jianjun left first.
Only Song Yunlan and Shen Zhiyan remained.
Seeing Shen Zhiyan shamelessly inching closer to her, Song Yunlan immediately became annoyed.
She had always known he was thick-skinned and a bit of a rogue but today, she truly witnessed it firsthand.
“Move! Stay away from me! Why are you so close?!”
She rolled her eyes and pushed him away.
Shen Zhiyan smirked, then leaned back in again.
“Wife, don’t be mad. I’m doing this for your own good! Besides, we’re getting married soon anyway we’re family. What’s there to be shy about?”
Hearing this, she shot him another look.
“Watch your words we haven’t registered yet. Who’s your wife?”
She pushed him again.
But Shen Zhiyan suddenly pulled her into his arms, refusing to let her escape.
“You are. You are. You definitely are.”
“I already gave you all my savings how can you not be my wife? I’m calling you that anyway.”
Held tightly in his arms, she could clearly feel his heartbeat, and her face grew warm again.
“Let go of me. We still haven’t cleaned the table…”
Before she could finish, Shen Zhiyan kissed her.
“Mm…”
After the kiss, she gasped for breath and punched his chest lightly.
“You… rogue… shameless bully!”
Shen Zhiyan just smiled, took her hand, and kissed it again and again.
“I know you felt shy earlier because I insisted on cooking,” he said softly.
“But I just don’t want you to do any work.”
“And more than that I wanted my parents to see how much I care about you, how much I treasure you. That way, they’ll treat you the same way I do.”
“I want everyone to know that you, Song Yunlan, are my most precious treasure the love I’ve longed for all my life.”
“I can’t bear to let you suffer even a little. I won’t allow myself to, and I won’t allow anyone else to either. That’s my attitude.”
“So in the future, you can order me around as much as you want, even treat me like a servant I’ll have no complaints at all, and I’ll enjoy it willingly.”