Loving With My Mind

"Be back soon...huh, Xiao Xin?" Li Qiaolian was hesitant to part with her eldest.

"We'll see, Mom. We're both busy...and I need to get back to work soon."

Zhao Mingzhe's eyebrow twitched with her words. He suddenly remembered that she intended to go back to her work soon, which was thousands of miles away from his. He needed to make her stay no matter what.

Han Yixin responded to the embrace but was the first to pull herself away.

"We need to go now...so that we will not be late for dinner at the Zhao's."

"Yes, yes...indeed. You take care on your way." Li Qiaolian turned to her son-in-law. "Mingzhe, Send our regards to your parents."

"Hmmn. We will." Zhao Mingzhe modified his reply to be inclusive of his wife.

Li Qiaolian tapped on her phone after the car had left. The call connected and a female voice was heard.

"Yes. You can send her back now."

...

Before Zhao Mingzhe could open the door to the Zhao estate, it suddenly opened with a loud creak of the heavy wood.

"Mingzhe!" Madam Zhao immediately hugged her son who appeared before her when she opened the door.

Zhao Mingzhe was a bit embarrassed as he leaned forward to accommodate the embrace. He is a tall man now, and is actually married.

"Mom..." he lightly pulled back.

"Oh...that's right..." Madam Zhao seemed to realize that she was embracing her boy in front of his wife.

She let go of him and turned towards the young woman.

"Xiao Xin..." she flashed a sweet smile and opened her arms to invite an embrace.

Though awkward, Han Yixin moved forward and returned the gesture. It would be rude to reject such a small request. After all, this woman is her mother-in-law. Auntie Jing is a much scarier presence anyway.

"Come on in...would you like some tea and snacks? The servants are still preparing dinner." offered Madam Zhao.

Zhao Mingzhe looked at his wife.

Han Yixin looked back at him, as if saying, 'What do you want me to do?!'

However, when Madam Zhao looked back at them, they both spontaneously flashed smiles.

"Xiao Xin...do sit down...I'll go get some snacks." Madam Zhao pointed towards the sofa. Then she looked at her son. "Mingzhe, come with me." Her voice was stern to her son but sweet towards her only daughter-in-law.

Indeed, Zhao Mingzhe is the only heir of the Zhaos. That was why they put a lot of effort in selecting his wife. They were fortunate to find him a woman with good background and excellent skills.

.

In the kitchen, Madam Zhao dragged her son to stand next to her as she sliced some fruits.

Zhao Mingzhe looked around. The servants are indeed busy cooking, but they left his mother a spacious work area. The water for the tea is on the stove to boil.

"Mingzhe..." Madam Zhao had a serious tone.

"Mom..."

"Are you treating your wife well?"

"Well...it was like, she is treating me better." he chuckled.

"I'm serious!" Madam Zhao chopped a pear loudly with her statement.

"So am I." Zhao Mingzhe's tone became serious as well. "Mom, you raised me. I believe you know me enough to know if I'm capable of hitting a woman, most especially MY WOMAN. Mom, I will never hurt her. And if you think about it, based on history, women were the ones to hurt me and not the other way around."

Madam Zhao nodded. It was indeed the case.

"So, how is this one...the one we chose for you?"

"Mom, she's great!" There was a twinkle in his eyes as he uttered his words.

"Good. I see you're satisfied." Madam Zhao finally broke into a smile.

"Also, your cooking cannot measure up to hers." Zhao Mingzhe teased.

"You ungrateful brat!" Madam Zhao raised her hand which was holding the knife.

"Woah, woah! Hey! You know I can get killed with that!" he dodged anyway, waving his hands as if to shoo away the knife.

"Dam***! I should've cooked the dinner myself." She sighed. "Will she look down on me?"

"Mom, she will never..." assured Zhao Mingzhe.

The water boiled and the pot brewed the tea leaves.

Zhao Mingzhe helped his mother on bringing the snacks into the living room.

When they went near Han Yixin, right after placing the snacks on the table, Zhao Mingzhe was mortified.

His wife found his growing up photo album and was suppressing a laugh.

"Where did you get that?!" he tried to snatch the book.

However, Han Yixin was swift to stand and keep the book in her hands.

Laughing, she replied, "It's under the coffee table. Does-doesn't that mean...it's...it's for visitors to see?"

"Mom!" his voice sounded like he was wronged.

"What? I'm proud of my boy." Madam Zhao pretended to be serious as she controlled a smile from coming out.

Han Yixin could not suppress her laugh.

"Gimme!" Zhao Mingzhe stretched his arm and hand in gesture towards his wife.

"But I'm not done looking!" Han Yixin had a wide grin.

Zhao Mingzhe sighed and sat on the sofa. He reached out to get a slice of pear and munched on it. Then he looked up at his wife who was still standing.

"At least sit here." he tapped on the space beside him.

Han Yixin was hesitant. For all she knew, he might just be tricking her into sitting beside him so he could get the album from her.

Madam Zhao cleared her throat. "I'll leave you youngsters for awhile. I'll just check on the food."

Han Yixin nodded in acknowledgement. Then, seeing her husband staying silent, she gave in and sat beside him.

As she silently sat beside him, Zhao Mingzhe raised his hand holding a slice to offer her some fruit.

Han Yixin bit her lower lip, then she timidly ate from his hand obediently.

After a few minutes of feeding his wife, he asked, "So, which one are you laughing at?"