Mother Lin had a hint of suspicion on her face. It wasn't that she didn't trust her son, but he was still at the age of about to graduate. Even if he found a job, how much could he possibly make? Supporting these two babies wasn't something that could be done with just words. As parents, how could they not be worried about their child?
"Mom, I didn't want to worry you before, so I didn't tell you," Lin Yang said, trying to explain. "Actually, when I was in school, I made some investments. And recently, those investments have done well, I even made a bit of profit. This house, for example, is mine. I also bought a car."
Lin Yang knew that his mother's hesitation was due to concern, which came from a place of maternal love. He patiently explained everything to her.
"How could that be?" Mother Lin was skeptical. "You can't be just telling me this to make me feel at ease."
She was doubtful because, even though Jiangcheng was not a super top-tier city, it was still a first-tier city. The housing prices were incredibly high. This house was in the suburbs of Jiangcheng, but it would still cost over two million to buy. Neither of them had saved that much, and Lin Yang was still a student. How could he possibly have earned that much money?
"You see, here's the property deed," Lin Yang said, pulling out the deed from the master bedroom drawer and handing it to his mother.
Mother Lin skeptically flipped open the deed and immediately saw her son's name. Her eyes widened.
"Did you really make all this money?" she asked, now astonished.
"Yeah, Mom, you and Dad don't have to be frugal. Spend it however you want. When I start earning more, I'll take care of you both," Lin Yang said seriously. He wasn't joking.
"Good, my son has grown up and is being thoughtful," Mother Lin's eyes shimmered with happy tears. She was even happier than if she had earned the money herself.
"By the way, this is something passed down from your grandmother," Mother Lin said suddenly. "It's our family heirloom. Since we're meeting for the first time, I don't have anything else to give, but you can give this to Yaoyao. From now on, she's the daughter-in-law I've chosen."
Mother Lin took out a small wooden box from her pocket. Inside was a jade bracelet, clear and translucent, which looked valuable.
"Okay," Lin Yang agreed without hesitation, taking the bracelet and inspecting it before placing it back in the box.
Just then, the sound of a baby crying came from the baby room.
"Mom, I'll go check on the baby," Lin Yang said, rushing toward the baby room.
Mother Lin smiled and called to her husband, "Our son is really growing up now!"
…
Lin Yang arrived at the baby room and saw that it was Xing Xing who was crying. Yun Yun, on the other hand, was lying quietly and staring at the ceiling, looking both obedient and confused.
"Xing Xing just pooped, didn't she?" Lin Yang asked. "Why is she crying again?"
Normally, babies cry when they're hungry or need to be changed. But this time, the babies had just eaten and were clean.
Newborns couldn't express their feelings, so it was hard to figure out the reason behind their cries.
"I don't know," said Shu Mengyao, tearfully sitting beside the crib. "Lin Yang, do you think the baby is sick?"
She was panicking, unsure what to do, and just looking to Lin Yang for reassurance.
"Yaoyao, don't worry, it's probably not that serious," Lin Yang reassured her as he gently picked up Xing Xing.
"Why is the baby crying so much? Is she not feeling well?" Lin Yang spoke softly, trying to calm the baby, his voice soothing.
Xing Xing, who had been crying so loudly, suddenly stopped upon hearing her father's voice. Her clenched fists relaxed, and she lay quietly in his arms, no longer crying.
Shu Mengyao stared at the scene, relieved that the baby wasn't sick, but at the same time, she felt a bit hurt.
"It seems like the baby likes you more," she mumbled, unsure if she was feeling jealous or just being playful.
"I still like you," Lin Yang said, sensing her mood. He smiled slightly.
After Xing Xing fell asleep in his arms, Lin Yang gently placed her back in the crib. Then, he took the small wooden box his mother had given him.
"Yaoyao, this is the heirloom my mom gave you. By accepting this, you're officially our family's daughter-in-law," he said with a grin, handing her the box.
The box had intricate carvings, looking quite exquisite.
Shu Mengyao hesitated, then took the box. It felt heavy in her hands, as if it carried great significance. Opening it carefully, she pulled out the jade bracelet.
"It's such a beautiful bracelet," she said, raising her hand in excitement. "Can I wear it?"
"Of course, it's yours now," Lin Yang replied, nodding with a smile. He then ruffled her hair.
Shu Mengyao carefully put the bracelet on. It fit perfectly and gleamed warmly against her wrist.
"Does it look good?" she asked, beaming and holding out her wrist for his approval.
"Looks great," Lin Yang said without hesitation.
…
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Mother Lin was busy blanching the chicken and plucking the feathers.
"Old man, you're so slow. Hurry up and chop some vegetables," she ordered Father Lin.
"This soup has to be stewed for a long time; if it's too short, it won't be as delicious, and the nutrients won't be fully extracted," she continued.
Father Lin, though a university professor, wasn't much of a cook and clumsily helped with washing and preparing the ingredients.
Lin Yang, seeing the scene, couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, Dad, let me take over here. At this rate, we won't even have dinner on time."
"You sure you can handle it?" Mother Lin asked with a hint of doubt. "You and your father, both of you are spoiled and never cook at home."
"This is because your cooking is so good. I don't need to cook," Father said innocently, a remark that made Lin Ma smile brightly.
Lin Yang, amused, gave his dad a thumbs-up. It was clear that only Mom could control Dad, and only Dad could handle Mom!
"Mom, things are different now," Lin Yang grinned. "Want me to show you a trick?"
He rolled up his sleeves, ready to help.