"Don't worry. I am marrying you… and I only respect those who do the same for me."

  And then she guffawed. "I am a really convincing person, okay? I doubt I can't make him believe me. Moreover, you should be the one speaking!"

  Mo Qingchen felt a smile tug on his lips. "Nervous about meeting the parents?"

  "Anyone would be! That's the biggest challenge in a relationship, didn't you know? Good thing your family can't throw money at me and ask me to leave you." She pouted.

  "Would you?" he asked casually. They were close to the Mo's ancestral house already.

  "If they threw money at me? I would take it." She glanced at him and saw his sour expression. "They asked me to leave you… That doesn't mean I can't give in if you ask me to come back." She shrugged.

  "Shark," he bit out.

  When they pulled up in the long driveway of the Mo house, Qian Meng was glad to not see any cars out front. She knew the whole family would be there any minute, but she was thankful for the moments of peace.

  "Ready?" Mo Qingchen asked as he shut the car off.

  "No," she said honestly.

  "The sooner we do this, the better. They don't know I am bringing you over so you will have an element of surprise over them," he analyzed.

  Qian Meng gaped. "You're just surprising them with a fiancé? You didn't even tell them? You really know your business tricks," she chuckled.

  "So, don't be nervous. We have a clear advantage of power and knowledge over them."

  She took a deep breath and got out of the car. She walked around to go over to Mo Qingchen as he locked the car and then together, they walked up the sidewalk to the front door. She couldn't wrap her mind around how Mo Qingchen didn't seem nervous at all.

  Was he not worried about what his family would think or say? He walked right in the front door without knocking and Qian Meng started to chew on her lip nervously.

  "Mo Qingchen, honey!" Qian Meng heard an older woman's voice coming from the end of the long hallway. She couldn't see past Mo Qingchen's broad frame, but she knew the woman was smiling warmly for the tone of her voice and how she hurried over to give him a hug.

  Mo Qingchen returned her hug and kissed her cheek, which surprised Yun Qian Meng further. And then she saw the face of the woman.

  "Yun Qian Meng?" she asked, confusion and delight in her voice. "It's lovely seeing you at my home, dear!" she said quickly, composing herself. She looked curiously at her son.

  "Professor Li," Qian Meng responded quietly. She tried her best not to show her shock. It was the Head of the Department of the Business Application department at the university she attended. A woman who was the epitome of grace. Qian Meng particularly loved this woman because of her teaching style and interaction with students.

  It was safe to say Li Li Hua was her favorite teacher throughout her life. Moreover, Professor Li's favorite student had always been this Yun Qian Meng, the youngest but brightest in all her classes.

  Funnily enough, Qian Meng hadn't even known the woman was married or had children. She had sat next to Mo Yize and hadn't known they were mother and daughter.

  Suddenly, she felt sour on Yize's behalf. She didn't know why.

  "I…" Qian Meng didn't know what to say.

  "Did Yize invite you to family dinner? She hasn't come home yet," Li Li Hua said, looking behind Qian Meng with a frown.

  Before she could respond, Mo Qingchen helped her out. "Actually, mother, Qian Meng came with me tonight," he said.

  "Oh," Li Hua pulled back and gave Qian Meng a hug. She looked back and forth between the two youngsters. "I wasn't aware that the two of you spent time together," she said, sounding surprised.

  "Mm. We do. But we will talk about that later." He gave his mother a reassuring smile.

  "Does Yize know you are coming?" Li Hua asked, still seeming to be confused.

  "No. I spoke to her a few days ago," Qian Meng answered.

  "Are you unwell?" she asked, looking a little concerned. "You look flustered."

  "I'm fine!" Qian Meng claimed even though she felt a little suffocated.

  "Well, I will leave you two here. I am going to call your father, Qingchen. Take Qian Meng into the living room and get her something to drink, will you?" Li Hua said before walking off down the hall.

  No sooner was she gone than Mo Qingchen turned to her. "Relax. You look like you just witnessed a murder."

  "I didn't even know Professor Li was your mother," she whispered. "Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded to know.

  "Well, it sounded like a nice surprise. You've never seen my mother at parties because she keeps her status private and doesn't want her students to know where she comes from. Something about professional and academic ethics."

  Qian Meng slapped his hand. "You should have told me. Well, your mother does love me," she commented with a broad grin.

  "Growing more confident in your charm now?" Mo Qingchen asked, taking her by the waist and leading her into the living room.

  "Sit here and wait for me. I'll bring you a drink, okay?"

  Mo Qingchen left for the kitchen and Qian Meng sat there like a nervous bird, looking around the living room. The decoration was similar to the Paris building and she knew instantly that it was according to the Mo Patriarch's taste. Professor Li seemed to enjoy the smaller pleasures in life and would surely not like these gaudy accessories.

  Mo Qingchen appeared in the room after a few minutes, holding a drink for him and one for her. His drink looked… alcoholic which was good, considering he would be driving them home. She had to restrain herself, though. Meeting the parents was a huge deal. It wouldn't be good to let her nervousness turn her into a big idiot.