Chapter 27: Interrogation

The car door opened, and Yu Jianbang, Yu’s father, stepped out first. Of medium height and slightly stout, he wore a semi-worn but impeccably pressed jacket. He carried a heavy canvas travel bag, his sharp eyes scanning the upscale entrance of the residential complex and its lush, tree-lined surroundings. His brow twitched almost imperceptibly, as if he were assessing the "cost-effectiveness" of the place.

Yu’s mother, Li Xiulan, followed close behind. Plump and kind-faced, she carried several bulging supermarket bags; even through the plastic, one could smell the rich, pungent scent of hometown pickled vegetables and cured meat.

"Oh, Lingling! Chenchen!" As soon as Li Xiulan saw her daughter and son-in-law, her face broke into a radiant smile, and her voice grew bright. "Have you been waiting long? Traffic was a bit heavy!" She thrust the bags into Zhao Chen’s arms. "Chenchen, take these! Mom brought you some homemade spiced beef, sausages, and the dried fish your father made! You can’t find this taste anywhere else!"

"Thank you, Mom!" A look of pleasant surprise and genuine emotion instantly lit up Zhao Chen’s face. He took the heavy bags with steady, practiced hands, his demeanor respectful and earnest—the very picture of a son-in-law flattered by a thoughtful gift from his mother-in-law. His acting was flawless. "Dad, give me your bag!" He freed one hand and, with a natural gesture, reached for the travel bag on Yu Jianbang’s shoulder.

Yu Jianbang did not let go immediately. He scrutinized Zhao Chen’s "plain" attire and his clean, refreshing aura, then glanced at the out-of-place, rustic shopping bags in his hands. A look of satisfaction finally crossed his stern face, and he released his grip. "Well, thank you, Xiao Zhao."

"It’s my pleasure, Dad!" Zhao Chen smiled with guileless warmth. With the heavy bag on his shoulder and the bulging grocery bags in his hands, he led the way with a steady gait. "Dad, Mom, this way. Lingling has been talking about you for ages."

Yu Ling watched from the side, a complex mix of emotions roiling within her. This guy... he was acting so convincingly! The "economical, dependable husband" outfit, the humble and polite attitude, the perfectly timed surprise and sincerity... if she hadn't seen the truth with her own eyes last night, she would have believed it all!

The family entered the building and took the elevator. The cabin was spotless and quiet. Looking at the gleaming metal walls, Li Xiulan whispered to Yu Ling, "Lingling, this complex looks quite high-end. The rent can't be cheap, right? Are you two... struggling under the burden?"

Yu Ling’s heart skipped a beat. Just as she was racking her brain for a reasonable explanation, Zhao Chen stepped in, his tone carrying the casual frankness of a young man facing life's pressures, mixed with a hint of quiet pride. "Mom, it’s not too bad! It’s mostly because it’s close to Lingling’s office, so her commute is easier and she suffers less. The rent is a bit of a stretch, but Lingling and I are both working hard, and if we scrimp a little, we can manage. Right, Lingling?" He turned his head and winked at her, his smile warm and sweet, like a young couple weathering life’s challenges together.

Yu Ling could only nod stiffly in agreement: "...Yes, that’s right." Inside, she was fuming: *Scrimp a little? That Michelin private kitchen meal you bought for your "friend" yesterday cost enough to keep an average family going for half a year!*

The elevator stopped on the 16th floor. Zhao Chen walked out first, pulled out his keys, opened the door to 1601, and stepped aside to let his parents-in-law enter. "Dad, Mom, please come in! It’s a small place, I hope you don't mind."

The door opened to reveal a bright and cozy living room. The light beige fabric sofa was soft and comfortable, covered with a simple, tasteful plaid cushion. On the light-wood coffee table, a transparent glass vase held a few stems of fresh white eustoma and pale purple daisies, emitting a faint, delicate fragrance.

The dining area was small, covered by a clean plaid tablecloth, next to a semi-open kitchen that was organized with meticulous care; even the spice jars were perfectly aligned. The entire space was bright and airy, with sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, filling the room with a warm, lived-in atmosphere. There was not a single trace of luxury—those expensive ornaments, art pieces, and overly refined daily items had all vanished overnight!

Yu Ling was dumbfounded. This... it was like an entirely different apartment! The understated luxury of last night had completely disappeared, replaced by the grounded, cozy feel of a home built through hard work. This guy... when on earth did he arrange all this?!

"My, it’s so clean in here!" Li Xiulan exclaimed the moment she entered. Her gaze swept over the tidy living room, and she nodded in satisfaction. "This little home is so cozy! Chenchen, Lingling, you two really know how to live!" She changed into the soft-soled slippers Zhao Chen had prepared, stepping onto the polished floor.

Yu Jianbang said nothing, but his sharp eyes scanned every corner of the room—from the material of the sofa to the style of the curtains, and the set of ordinary-looking but polished stainless steel cookware in the kitchen. His tense expression eased significantly. He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looked out at the tree-lined courtyard and the ordinary residential buildings in the distance, and nodded. "Well, the environment is good, and the lighting is nice. It’s just a bit high up." His tone was a preliminary sign of approval.

"Dad, Mom, please sit and have some water to rest," Zhao Chen said, putting down the luggage and bags. He moved quickly to the kitchen to pour water. He brought out two mugs with cute bear patterns—Yu Ling remembered buying these at a supermarket sale; they came in a set of four, and the other two were likely gathering dust in the back of a cabinet. Zhao Chen had actually dug them out! And washed them until they sparkled!

"Dad, Mom, here’s your water." Zhao Chen placed the cups on the bear-themed coasters (also a supermarket giveaway) in front of his parents-in-law, his smile shy and attentive.

"Good, good. Chenchen, you sit down too, don’t busy yourself," Li Xiulan said with a smile as she took the cup. Looking at the adorable bear on it, she felt this son-in-law was truly both thoughtful and grounded.

Yu Ling sat next to her parents, watching Zhao Chen work in the small living room while wearing that "youthful" shirt—pouring water, sorting the hometown specialties into the refrigerator (the expensive imported fruits and ingredients were long gone), his movements as practiced as if he did this every day. He even took a moment to fluff the cushions on the sofa to make them look neater. Every detail perfectly fit the persona of an economical, reliable, and family-oriented "ordinary employee." The absurdity of the situation grew stronger in Yu Ling’s mind; if not for the intense experience of the previous night, she would have suspected she was having a bizarre dream.

"Chenchen," Li Xiulan said after taking a few sips of water and setting the cup down, moving to the main topic with concern. "How is work lately? Is everything going smoothly? I heard from Lingling that you work at a tech company as... what was it, a programmer?"

"Mom, I’m a software development engineer." Zhao Chen sat in the armchair nearby, his posture upright, hands neatly on his knees. He answered with earnestness and the passion of a young man for his career. "It’s going well. It gets a bit busy when we’re pushing for deadlines on projects, and I work overtime occasionally. But our boss is quite good; we get time off in lieu or overtime pay." His tone was calm and devoid of complaint, radiating a sense of contentment.

"Oh, oh, an engineer is good, an engineer is good! You have a skill and make your living by your own ability!" Li Xiulan nodded repeatedly, her face full of relief. "And your company... the pay is decent, right? You and Lingling have high expenses in this big city; the pressure must be significant, isn't it?"

Yu Ling’s heart jumped back into her throat, terrified that Zhao Chen might "accidentally" let something slip.

"Mom, don't you worry." Zhao Chen revealed a slightly embarrassed, yet proud smile, as if sharing a small family secret. "Our company’s compensation is above average in the industry, and with Lingling working hard too, we manage to save a little every month if we scrimp. Look," he gestured to the living room, "we’re even planning to save for another two years to see if we can put together a down payment on a small place!" His eyes were filled with longing for the future and the motivation to strive, perfectly embodying the image of a hardworking husband planning for his little family.

Yu Jianbang, who had been quiet, nodded slightly and took a sip from the bear mug, acknowledging Zhao Chen’s "ambition" and "planning ability." Clearly, Zhao Chen’s simple ideal of "saving to buy a house" hit the mark for the core requirements of a father-in-law: stability, responsibility, and the ability to provide a secure future for his daughter.

Yu Ling listened in a daze. Save for a house? In two years? He could buy several apartments in the city center with just one of his cars, couldn't he?! These lies flowed off his tongue so naturally and with such sincerity that even she was almost convinced! She secretly glanced at her father’s softened expression, marveling at the sheer mastery of Zhao Chen’s "playing the pig to eat the tiger" act.

At dusk, the doorbell suddenly rang, with a hurried, rather impolite rhythm.

Yu Ling’s heart sank, a wave of foreboding washing over her. Zhao Chen, who was in the kitchen washing fruit, wiped his hands and walked out, exchanging a look with Yu Ling.

Yu Ling took a deep breath and went to open the door.