Chapter 48: Meeting the Parents
Mu Lantu remarked, “I’ve heard Miss Meng has quite the reputation for playing around. It’s probably best to check if she’s caught anything. Otherwise, when the Meng family goes bankrupt, I worry she won’t even have money for a health checkup.”
“You lowlife! How dare you curse my family with bankruptcy?” Meng Jiaqi screamed and raised her hand to slap Mu Lantu, her sharp nails painted red—redder than blood.
But Mu Lantu’s slap landed first, with a crisp smack, showing no mercy. Meng Jiaqi’s face instantly turned red and swollen.
“Ah!”
Meng Jiaqi clutched her face in pain, both shocked and furious.
“You dare hit me?”
“Why wouldn’t I? Self-defense,” Mu Lantu replied, frowning at the sticky makeup on his hand.
Xu Huazhang took out a wet wipe and meticulously cleaned Mu Lantu’s hand.
“Why did you bother doing it yourself? Don’t you feel dirty?”
The gossiping bystanders lost interest—just another toxic couple, they thought.
Humiliation flooded Meng Jiaqi. She stared coldly at Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang, her mind racing with malice.
“Just you wait! I’ll make sure you suffer a fate worse than death!”
Mu Lantu feigned sympathy. “Poor girl, can’t even threaten people properly. You should’ve said you’d wipe out my whole family to sound more intimidating.”
The crowd burst out laughing. This guy was just like their favorite internet savage!
Mu Lantu ignored Meng Jiaqi and turned to Xu Huazhang. “Shall we go buy gifts?”
Xu Huazhang wrapped an arm around his waist as they walked away. “What kind of gift would be suitable for our little niece? What does she like?”
“No idea. She’s a little girl—maybe a Barbie doll?”
Ge Tao and Zhou Ye were also discussing what gifts to buy. Since they were joining the family banquet, they couldn’t come empty-handed.
“If Mr. Mu buys a Barbie, what should we get?”
“Backpacks? Books?”
The four of them left laughing, while the onlookers slowly dispersed.
But that casual departure stung Meng Jiaqi more than the slap. Her chest heaved with fury, eyes bloodshot. She hurled her handbag, knocking over a whole row of clothing racks.
“Ma’am, please—”
Hearing the commotion behind him, Mu Lantu smiled coldly.
[005, keep close surveillance on Meng Jiaqi.]
[Understood!]
—
The gift shop was filled with dazzling choices—business goods, home decor, crafts, electronics, plushies, Barbie dolls, smartwatches, backpacks, books, music boxes, and more.
Xu Huazhang couldn’t make up his mind after more than half an hour, so Mu Lantu kept him company.
After some murmuring, Ge Tao left briefly and returned with a Barbie and a plush toy.
Mu Lantu gave them both a side-eye.
They grinned sheepishly. Picking gifts was hard—it wasn’t their fault Mr. Mu and the boss were dragging their feet.
Mu Lantu also found Xu Huazhang indecisive, but he couldn’t rush him. Xu Huazhang was being so thoughtful only because it was Mu Lantu’s niece.
“Baby, think harder—what does your niece like?” Xu Huazhang asked with concern. They didn’t have young girls in their family for reference.
Mu Lantu recalled their last visit home. “She likes playing games.”
He remembered how, before and after meals, his nephew watched TV while his niece sneakily played games on a tablet.
“Should we get her a phone or tablet? Hmm… not ideal. Kids shouldn’t be glued to games,” Xu Huazhang muttered, still scanning the shelves.
Mu Lantu suggested, “What about a rolling backpack? Kids these days have so many books. Carrying a heavy backpack isn’t good. A rolling one is much easier.”
Xu Huazhang agreed and picked a pink Disney-themed one.
Mu Lantu, unsure what else to buy, chose a smartwatch. His niece already had one, but a spare wouldn’t hurt—she could give the old one to her brother.
“Baby, should we drive to your hometown or fly?” Xu Huazhang asked.
Mu Lantu’s internal alarm bells went off. “What do you think?”
“Drive,” Xu Huazhang replied confidently. “When we get to your hometown, we’ll need transportation to get around. Borrowing or renting is a hassle.”
Reasonable enough.
“We could, but it takes over ten hours to drive from the Capital to Qingning City.”
Just the thought was exhausting.
“No worries. Zhan Peng, Ge Tao, and Zhou Ye can take turns. We can drive, too.”
“Then we’d better leave Thursday. That way, we can take our time, rest when needed, and eat properly,” Mu Lantu agreed.
[Host, Meng Jiaqi is on the move!]
[Go on.]
[She found your rental address. Tried to buy the place to kick you out. The manager rejected her.]
[Keep watching. If this failed, she’ll try something else.]
[Yes.]
—
On Thursday, Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang went jogging as usual, then packed and headed downstairs.
Mu Lantu had already announced to his livestream audience that he would be offline for three days, so they wouldn’t be waiting in vain.
Downstairs, a luxurious white RV waited quietly. Everything about it—the body, headlights, tires—screamed wealth. The winged hood ornament silently declared its status.
Mu Lantu glanced sideways at Xu Huazhang. So this is why he wanted to drive?
“Baby, even though this isn’t a formal visit to meet your parents, as your boyfriend, I should show some respect.”
Mu Lantu muttered stubbornly, “Your future boyfriend.”
Xu Huazhang smiled dotingly. “Whatever you say.”
Mu Lantu warned, “There’ll be a bunch of brats at the banquet. Watch out, or they’ll rip that little golden man off your hood.”
“Not worried,” Xu Huazhang replied calmly. “It’s custom-made, special material. Not that easy to break.”
They boarded with their luggage. Mu Lantu eagerly explored the RV, not feeling jealous in the slightest. Nothing to be jealous of—he could always build one out of LEGO if he wanted. People with golden fingers had that kind of confidence.
“I’ll drive a while?” Zhan Peng asked.
Xu Huazhang nodded.
Mu Lantu drove for about half an hour to get a feel for it, then handed the wheel back to Zhan Peng.
With no time pressure, they reached Qingning City around noon the next day.
After lunch, they drove to Anfeng County.
The hotel they booked was the same one Mu Lantu had stayed in last time. He reserved suites for Xu Huazhang, Zhou Ye, and Ge Tao.
Ge Tao and Zhou Ye thoroughly inspected every corner, even using some small, obscure gadgets to ensure everything was safe before letting Xu Huazhang enter.
Mu Lantu also had 005 scan the place. Regardless of their relationship, Xu Huazhang had traveled far to visit his hometown. As someone important, Mu Lantu felt it was his duty to ensure his safety.
After a two-hour rest, Mu Lantu took them on a short tour—his former schools: elementary, middle, and high. The kindergarten had shut down long ago.
During the day, Mu Zhiguo called, just to check how their sightseeing was going—standard concern from a parent.
Mu Lantu had already informed them upon arrival that they wouldn’t meet until the banquet, using the excuse that both Mu Zhiguo and He Cuifang were busy. Which they were, managing the banquet while Mu Hongtu and his wife were still at work.
The real reason: Xu Huazhang felt it was more respectful to visit elders in the morning rather than the afternoon.
Mu Lantu mentally awarded him five points.
Qingning City had great food, so dinner was also in the city. It was only a half-hour drive from Anfeng County, very convenient.
The only unexpected event was that the golden-man RV caused quite a stir in the fifth-tier city, sparking online speculation about which rich heir had descended upon them.
Mu Lantu even saw the viral video on Douyin and, worried it might affect Xu Huazhang, showed him the clip.
Xu Huazhang watched it without comment. He didn’t react. All his information had been handled by the appropriate authorities. If he brought this car out, it meant it was safe to do so.
—
The next morning after breakfast, Mu Lantu led the group to the restaurant hosting the birthday banquet.
Mu Zhiguo and He Cuifang had arrived early to confirm the menu, set up the tables, and arrange the pre-meal snacks: sunflower seeds, peanuts, candies, cookies, fruit—eight types in total. There were also drinks, and each table got a box of cigarettes.
Mu Zhiguo wore a gray suit, red tie, and black leather shoes. He Cuifang had on a burgundy dress and black heels, carrying the designer bag Mu Lantu had previously gifted her. Both looked jubilant.
Seeing Mu Lantu enter with three guests—one of them dazzlingly handsome and elegant, the other two ordinary-looking but dignified—Mu Zhiguo and He Cuifang straightened their clothes nervously and welcomed them with broad smiles.
“Dad, Mom.”
“Ah, yes!”
They responded quickly.
He Cuifang looked at Xu Huazhang once, then again, momentarily speechless.
Xu Huazhang smiled gently and nodded politely.
Mu Zhiguo, being a businessman used to dealing with all kinds of people, cleared his throat and asked warmly, “Lantu, are these your friends?”
Mu Lantu introduced his parents to the three.
“These are my dad and mom.”
The three respectfully greeted them as “Uncle” and “Auntie.”
Zhan Peng remained in the car but had also prepared a gift for Mu Lantu’s niece, which Ge Tao brought inside.
Zhan Peng didn’t stay outside just to guard the RV but in case Xu Huazhang needed to leave quickly. Mu Lantu only found out that this was his rule as a personal driver after asking Xu Huazhang. In their community back in the city, Zhan Peng lived on the second floor—closest to the parking lot—for this very reason.
And now, back to the present.
