Heartthrob, Your Image is Crumbling!

Chapter 374: The Mother-in-Law's Change of Heart

Pan Min asked Su Qing to apologize to Li Yan, saying that Su Qing had frightened him.Su Qing clearly did not give Li Yan a pleasant look, feeling that this middle-aged man in front of her was harassing her mother.

Meanwhile, Li Yan kept insisting that it was fine, completely fine.

"Your daughter is still young, she probably just learned how to drive," Li Yan said, taking a few extra glances at the small Mercedes-Benz. He was puzzled. 'Pan Min's family conditions aren't that great, so how can they afford to drive a Mercedes-Benz?'

At this moment, Zhou Yuwen stepped out of the front passenger seat, but Li Yan did not bother to consider his identity.

Su Qing pulled Pan Min's arm and said, "Let's go, let's grab something to eat first, Mom."

Pan Min did not want to have any further interaction with Li Yan either, so she said, "Then Principal Li, we will be taking our leave."

"Ah, wait, there's no rush." Li Yan blocked their path, forcefully trying to stuff two boxes of sausages into their hands, claiming that no one at home would eat them and that they should just take them.

Pan Min kept refusing.

But Li Yan chuckled and said, "If you don't eat them, let the child have them."

"Right, Susu?"

"When there's time, uncle will treat you to a meal."

"You mother and daughter don't have much going on for the New Year, and I am just one person, so we should share a table together."

Li Yan spoke while standing in front of Pan Min and Su Qing, completely ignoring Zhou Yuwen.

Zhou Yuwen then patted Li Yan on the shoulder from behind.

"Principal Li, long time no see."

"?" Li Yan turned around and stared at Zhou Yuwen for a good while, but could not recognize who he was.

However, looking at Zhou Yuwen's age, he figured this must be a graduated student. Pushing up his glasses, he asked, "And you are?"

Zhou Yuwen smiled and replied, "Do you not recognize me? Back when you and Principal Zhang visited my home, I even poured tea for you."

The mentioned Principal Zhang was the Head Principal of this school.

Speaking of which, that was something from several years ago. They had happened to have some business and went to Zhou Yuwen's home to visit Zhou Guobin.

"Visited your home?"

Li Yan furrowed his brow, thinking hard for quite a while, but he simply could not recall who Zhou Yuwen was.

Zhou Yuwen was very polite as he explained, "My father is Zhou Guobin, from the Procuratorate."

Hearing this, it was as if Li Yan suddenly remembered something. He let out an "Oh!" and quickly grasped Zhou Yuwen's hand. "Director Zhou's son? You have grown so tall? I remember you were just..."

As Li Yan spoke, he gestured slightly to measure a height.

In truth, he had completely forgotten about Zhou Yuwen's existence. He only remembered that a child had indeed come into the study room to pour tea, and Zhou Guobin had mentioned him in passing. At the time, the group had cheerfully asked Zhou Yuwen where he was studying.

Failing to remember was one thing.

But Zhou Guobin's status was undeniable.

With Zhou Yuwen taking the initiative to greet him, if Li Yan did not play along and exchange some pleasantries, his many years of social maneuvering would have been in vain.

"You were still in middle school back then, I remember."

"Yes, time flies so fast. I am already in university now," Zhou Yuwen replied.

"And right now you are...?" Li Yan meant to ask why he was here.

Zhou Yuwen smiled and pointed at Su Qing, saying, "I accompanied my girlfriend to pick up Aunt Pan."

The moment Li Yan heard this, he instantly understood. "Oh, oh, Susu is your girlfriend? Good,"

"Good, very good. Teacher Pan, your daughter is quite fortunate. Young Master Zhou is a man of striking appearance." After a long, thoughtful pause, Li Yan delivered this compliment to Pan Min.

Pan Min did not reply to his remark.

Li Yan then realized—was the small Mercedes-Benz in front of them actually Young Master Zhou's?

'The family of someone from the Procuratorate truly is wealthy,' he mused inwardly.

To already be driving a Mercedes-Benz.

Wanting to offer a few words of flattery, Li Yan asked, "I see this is a new car?"

"Yes, indeed. A new car. Does it look nice?"

Without waiting for Li Yan to nod.

Zhou Yuwen continued, "I bought it as a gift for Su Qing."

"You bought it for Su Qing?" Accustomed to life in a small town, Li Yan was nearly shell-shocked by these words. They had only been dating for how long, and he was already gifting her a car? Didn't that mean their relationship was practically set in stone?

'In other words, Pan Min will become a family member of the Procuratorate in the future?'

However, Li Yan was still staggered. 'I mean, your dad is the vice director, but do you really have to be this high-profile?'

Zhou Yuwen grinned at Li Yan and asked, "I heard Principal Li mention just now that you wanted to treat my mother-in-law's family to a meal for the New Year?"

"Well, our family was just planning to host them as well. Why doesn't Principal Li treat us all together?"

"No, no, Young Master Zhou must be joking."

Li Yan hastily waved his hands. Bullying a widow and an orphan was something he could brazenly do behind people's backs, but if it was brought to the forefront, wouldn't he just become a laughingstock to those with status?

"Anyway, I suddenly remembered that I still have some matters to attend to at the school, so I will head inside first. You all take your time chatting. Teacher Pan, you all chat, I am leaving."

After Li Yan finished speaking, he waved his hand and scurried back into the school, fleeing as if escaping.

Seeing this unfold, Su Qing burst into a fit of giggles.

Pan Min, however, shot her a sharp glare.

Pan Min was indeed still brooding over what happened yesterday, but she was a woman of good self-cultivation. She turned to Zhou Yuwen and said, "Little Zhou, thank you for this time."

Zhou Yuwen chuckled lightly and said that it was nothing, Aunt Pan.

"These are things I ought to do."

"Exactly, Mom. Why are you saying thank you to your own son-in-law?" Su Qing playfully rested her chin on Pan Min's shoulder as she spoke.

Pan Min scolded, "You really have the nerve to laugh."

"I haven't even scolded you yet. Is this car Yuwen's?"

Pan Min had noticed the vehicle earlier when she heard Zhou Yuwen say he was giving it to Su Qing. It looked like a completely new car, still sporting a temporary license plate.

It was likely just bought.

Pan Min certainly would not believe that Zhou Yuwen had actually given this car to Su Qing as a gift.

But what truly angered Pan Min was that Su Qing's driving just now had been much too erratic.

Far too reckless and jittery.

"This is someone else's car, and a new car at that. If you bump or scratch it, can you afford to pay for it?" Pan Min coldly lectured Su Qing, secretly aiming to knock some sense into her.

Su Qing was naturally unyielding. "How is this someone else's car? This is my own car!"

"Your own car? Is your name written on it?" Pan Min demanded.

"Of course my name is on it! If it's not my name, could it possibly be yours!?" Su Qing retorted.

Seeing her daughter's stubborn attitude, Pan Min did not know what to say for a moment, and could not be bothered to argue further.

'What does she mean her name is written on it?'

'Just because her name is written on it means it is hers?'

Su Qing knew exactly what her mother was thinking. She immediately dug out the purchase contract from the car. "Right here, it has my name! Once the purchase tax is paid, this is my car."

"Don't think I don't know what you're imagining. Zhou Yuwen is not like those men you are thinking of!"

With that, Su Qing shoved the purchase contract directly into Pan Min's arms. "?"

Pan Min froze for a moment, looking down at the agreement.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yuwen tugged at Su Qing slightly, signaling her not to go overboard.

Su Qing herself was, of course, exceptionally proud at this moment.

She knew her mother definitely wouldn't believe it, but the facts were laid out right in front of her.

A 360,000-yuan car, gifted just like that!

Zhou Yuwen truly viewed her as his wife.

'Did you think he was just casually playing around with me?'

After reading over the contract, Pan Min was genuinely left speechless. Feeling a suffocating lump form in her throat, she looked up at her daughter again.

"Hmph!"

She saw her daughter crossing her arms over her chest, wearing an immensely proud expression.

This left Pan Min feeling rather awkward. She admitted she might have spoken too harshly just now. After all, initially, she had merely been afraid that her daughter was being deceived, but the contract right before her eyes was crystal clear.

360,000 yuan, explicitly written under Su Qing's name?

In 2014, the typical bride price in Northern Jiangsu was only around 99,000 yuan.

Material wealth did not mean everything.

But having such material wealth would indeed cause most people to look at someone with new eyes.

Looking back toward Zhou Yuwen, she saw him offer a gentle smile. "Aunt Pan, this is no place to talk. Let's get in the car first."

Pan Min originally wanted to say something.

But seeing that Zhou Yuwen had already opened the car door for her.

She eventually climbed in.

A high-end Mercedes-Benz with brand-new trimmings.

Let alone being a young girl's dream car, even for someone of Pan Min's age, it was probably something she longed for even in her sleep.

Pan Min maintained a degree of reserve, looking around the interior of the car before muttering, "This car costs 360,000?"

Sitting in the front passenger seat, Zhou Yuwen turned back and said, "It wasn't quite 360,000, actually. But after paying the purchase tax, it will be close enough."

"The purchase tax hasn't been paid yet? Was it just bought?"

"Yes, it was just bought today."

"Did you look at it previously?"

"We hadn't looked at it. Actually, I was accompanying a classmate to look at cars today, and then Su Qing liked it, so we bought it," Zhou Yuwen explained.

These short three sentences shocked Pan Min so much that she did not know what to say for a while.

A car she had never even dreamed of driving in her entire life, was reduced by Zhou Yuwen to a mere 'your daughter liked it, so I bought it'?

Seeing her mother's silence in the back seat, Su Qing, who was driving, felt incredibly smug.

Her mother's mindset was simply too old-fashioned and slow to adapt, but she would definitely bring her a good life in the future. Brimming with pride from the front, she asked, "Mom, this car isn't bad, right?"

Pan Min remained silent, unsure of how to respond.

Su Qing told Pan Min that she actually preferred BMWs, but when they wandered into the Mercedes-Benz dealership, they happened to have an in-stock vehicle, so they bought it.

"Mom, when I leave, this car will stay at home for you to drive."

This was what Zhou Yuwen and Su Qing had agreed upon.

Only upon hearing this did Pan Min, sitting in the back seat, startle and exclaim, "Why would I drive it? I won't drive it. It only takes a few minutes to get from home to the school, there's no need to drive. Besides, this is the car Yuwen bought for you. What do you mean by leaving it for me?"

Listening to her mother fire off one sentence after another, Su Qing could not help but giggle.

Zhou Yuwen chimed in with a laugh, saying, "Aunt Pan, we discussed this early on. Su Qing is still studying and won't have much use for a car on a daily basis. Furthermore, her heart aches for you. The weather is so cold, and you ride an electric bicycle all day long. It's better to drive a car; it'll make your daily routine much easier."

The tone of Zhou Yuwen's voice completely placed him in the role of a son-in-law. Pan Min certainly felt that things were progressing far too rapidly, but both Zhou Yuwen and Su Qing treated it as a matter of course.

Pan Min originally wanted to refuse, but before she could even open her mouth—

Zhou Yuwen interjected, "Auntie, please say no more."

"The car is already bought. Even if you refuse now, we can't return it."

This single sentence firmly blocked off Pan Min's protests.

Su Qing also laughed from the front, adding, "Are you satisfied now, Mom? Let me tell you the truth—this car was specifically bought for you by Zhou Yuwen!"

"For me?"

"Yes! Didn't you say yesterday that I was being too arbitrary? You said that Zhou Yuwen might just be casually playing around with me and might not necessarily take responsibility."

As these words tumbled out, Pan Min's face showed obvious discomfort. She glared at Su Qing through the rearview mirror, thinking, 'This wretched girl, she just blurts out everything!' "I never said such a thing. What I meant was that you are both still young and need to take your time getting to know each other."

"Alright, Mom. Zhou Yuwen is not an outsider, I've already told him everything," Su Qing said, completely refusing to cover for her mother.

This made Pan Min's expression turn incredibly sour, and she felt too embarrassed to even face Zhou Yuwen.

Su Qing continued, "Then Zhou Yuwen told me that the reason you distrusted him was because you felt we hadn't been together long enough, and he hadn't shown the corresponding commitment. So, he wanted to show you exactly what his attitude is."

"This car was originally supposed to be registered under your name, but he figured you wouldn't agree, so it was put under mine instead. You can just drive it with peace of mind."

Hearing this entire speech, Pan Min truly felt that she had been shallow. She looked over at Zhou Yuwen again.

However, she only saw Zhou Yuwen smiling gently beside them.

Pan Min felt that her daughter had indeed found a rather excellent boyfriend. After carefully weighing her words, she said, "Yuwen, when Auntie said those things, she didn't mean it the way you think."

"I know, Auntie. You raised Su Qing all by yourself as just one person. It is perfectly normal for you to be uneasy about entrusting her to someone else. But Auntie, my feelings for Su Qing are much deeper than you might imagine."

"Although we only officially got together in university, we actually knew each other back in high school. Academic pressures were intense at the time, so we didn't tell you."

Zhou Yuwen spoke with a mild, comforting tone.

Hearing this, Pan Min thought, 'Oh, they've been together since high school?'

Zhou Yuwen continued, explaining that while he was with Su Qing, he had also heard her talk about her.

"Auntie, things certainly haven't been easy for you. Just drive this car with peace of mind. Once Su Qing graduates, I will buy her an even better car."

Let alone bringing peace of mind to Pan Min, even Su Qing was delighted to hear this. Chuckling cheerfully as she drove, she declared, "Zhou Yuwen, you said it yourself! I want to drive a Porsche 911!"

Zhou Yuwen teased, "You want to drive a 911? I think you look like a 911."

"You're so annoying!"

Su Qing reached out to playfully slap Zhou Yuwen.

But Zhou Yuwen warned her to focus on driving properly.

Observing the two young people in front of her who clearly had such a wonderful relationship.

Pan Min wondered to herself, 'Did I really overthink things?'

Her daughter bringing Zhou Yuwen home and even doing that sort of thing had indeed made Pan Min furious, making her feel that her daughter lacked proper decency.

But watching the scene unfold before her eyes, Pan Min felt once again that Zhou Yuwen genuinely loved her daughter.

But why...

Pan Min still harbored a lingering sense of unease in her heart.