Over the weekend, Chloe brought Ryan home to meet her parents for the first time.
Her father greeted Ryan warmly with a firm handshake and a kind smile. "Welcome, Ryan. Come on in, make yourself at home."
"Thank you, sir," Ryan replied politely, offering the bouquet of flowers he brought for Mrs. Reed and a box of health supplements for her father.
Chloe's mother, however, was noticeably more reserved. She accepted the flowers with a nod but didn't smile.
Once everyone was seated in the living room, Mrs. Reed didn't waste time.
"Ryan," she said, folding her arms, "why didn't you attend the engagement dinner that day?"
Chloe immediately tried to interject. "Mom, didn't I show up too? It wasn't just—"
"I'm talking to Ryan," her mother said firmly, cutting her off. "Don't interrupt. Go buy me a bottle of soy sauce from the store. I need to have a word with him."
Chloe looked at Ryan, a bit worried. He gave her a reassuring nod, and she reluctantly left.
The door clicked shut.
Ryan turned to face Chloe's parents, sitting upright with calm resolve in his eyes.
"Mr. and Mrs. Reed," he began, "I know my absence that day may have left a bad impression. I had an urgent meeting I couldn't leave, but I admit. I should've made arrangements to attend or properly explain myself. That was my mistake, and I'm truly sorry."
Mr. Reed nodded slowly, listening without speaking. Mrs. Reed kept her eyes on him.
Ryan continued, his voice steady and sincere.
"I know my marriage to Chloe was arranged by our families when we were young. At first, I wasn't sure how things would turn out. But after reconnecting with her these past few weeks, I've realized that Chloe is someone I deeply admire. I like her. Genuinely. She's kind, honest, and full of warmth. I want to build a future with her."
He took a breath and added, "I haven't told her yet, but I plan to propose soon. Before that, I wanted to come here and ask for your blessing properly. I want to marry your daughter, not because of the arrangement, but because I've fallen in love with her."
Mrs. Li's stern gaze softened slightly. "You said you haven't told her yet?"
"No, ma'am," Ryan replied. "But I will. I just wanted to make sure I had your support first."
Her silence stretched for a moment before she spoke again.
"Chloe has always been an obedient, good-hearted girl. She never complains, and she always puts others before herself. She may not say it, but she's sensitive and she carries hurt deeply. If you ever hurt her, I'll hold you personally responsible."
"I understand," Ryan said solemnly. "And I swear I'll never let her down."
There was a pause. Then, to Ryan's surprise, Mrs. Reed if x smiled for the first time.
"Enough of the 'ma'am.' If you're going to marry my daughter, you should start calling me 'Mom.'"
A flicker of relief crossed Ryan's face. He smiled back, this time with genuine warmth. "Yes… Mom."
"And don't worry," Mr. Reed added kindly. "You have our blessing. From today on, you're part of the family."
Later that evening, as soon as Chloe got into the car and buckled her seatbelt, she turned to Ryan eagerly.
"Well? What did you say to convince my mom?"
"Nothing much," Ryan said casually, starting the engine. "I just explained everything. Cleared up the misunderstanding."
"That's it?" Chloe blinked in disbelief. "She seemed really upset before I left…"
Ryan smiled to himself, eyes on the road. "Your parents are wonderful people."
Chloe raised an eyebrow, watching him with suspicion. "You're hiding something."
"I'm not," he said innocently.
"Then why are you smiling like that?"
"Maybe I just like the idea of calling your mom… Mom."
Chloe's cheeks flushed. She turned to the window and mumbled, "You're impossible."
Ryan chuckled. "You'll find out soon enough, anyway."
"Find out what?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
He glanced at her briefly and smiled.
"You'll see."