SM Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Those Are Your Parents, Of Course I Care

There were many things to pack for Finland. Although the audition for “The World on the Bough” was postponed, Ye Lai still stuffed the novel and script into his suitcase.

Ye Lai also went over the upcoming schedule with Zhang Yihao. Upon hearing that Ye Lai was going to meet Sheng Mingqian’s parents, Zhang Yihao seemed even more excited than him, asking Ye Lai if he and Sheng Mingqian were getting close to marriage.

As someone who had been married for many years, Zhang Yihao even offered Ye Lai advice on what to pay attention to when meeting the in-laws for the first time, listing out one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven, telling him to memorize them thoroughly.

After Ye Lai agreed to everything, Zhang Yihao scratched his head, thought about it in his mind, and realized that no matter from the perspective of personality or physique, Sheng Mingqian was definitely the one on top, while Ye Lai was the one on the bottom.

After giving his instructions, Zhang Yihao changed his mind and said, “Those points I just mentioned are wrong, don’t memorize them yet. Ye Lai, you’re meeting your in-laws, right? Then the precautions might have to change.”

Ye Lai: “…”

He listened carefully to one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven again, not knowing where Zhang Yihao had gotten his experience this time.

Zhang Yihao didn’t give up and asked again after giving his instructions if he was really going to marry Sheng Mingqian.

Listening to Zhang Yihao’s words, a misty haze gathered in Ye Lai’s eyes. He didn’t say that he and Sheng Mingqian were not only married, but were also about to get divorced. He vaguely said that he was just meeting the parents. With a few words, he detoured around this topic that was like a tangled mess of rope to him.

In addition to the things to prepare, the most important thing was to choose gifts for Sheng Mingqian’s parents. Ye Lai didn’t know what to bring. He didn’t have much experience in giving gifts to elders before. Every time he went back to the orphanage, he brought the director what she needed. He didn’t know what Sheng Mingqian’s parents liked, so he could only ask Sheng Mingqian.

“Mingqian, what do your parents like? What kind of gifts should I bring this time?”

Sheng Mingqian had already booked the plane tickets for next Wednesday, leaving only a few days. Ye Lai was a little anxious.

Sheng Mingqian casually flipped through the magazine in his hand and said nonchalantly, “You don’t need to prepare anything special.”

“That won’t do.” In Ye Lai’s mind, there was no reason to visit elders empty-handed.

Sheng Mingqian’s reply was perfunctory, and it took Ye Lai half a day of pestering him to get him to tell him what he should buy.

Sheng Mingqian’s mother liked ceramics, and his father liked red wine.

Ye Lai asked someone to rush-order a set of high-end ceramic crafts, and went to a familiar private winery to buy a rare vintage red wine.

On the plane, Ye Lai’s seat was next to Sheng Mingqian’s. The flight attendant recognized them and asked for a photo before getting off the plane. But Ye Lai could still tell that they all thought he and Sheng Mingqian were just coincidentally on the same flight and happened to be sitting in adjacent seats.

Sheng Mingqian didn’t like long flights. Every time he filmed in a distant place, he would drive if he could. He only took a plane when he had no other choice. After flying for more than ten hours, he had been sleeping with an eye mask on. There was almost no interaction or communication between the two of them. No one would think of their relationship in a wrong way.

When they arrived at Helsinki Airport, it was noon. Ye Lai could feel that Sheng Mingqian’s mood from the plane ride had reached its limit. He should want to rest and adjust to the time difference now.

As soon as they got off the plane, Sheng Mingqian’s cell phone rang. His parents said on the phone that they were already waiting for them at the pickup station.

After collecting their luggage, Ye Lai grabbed Sheng Mingqian and covered his pounding heart: “Mingqian, is my hair messy? Is this outfit appropriate? Is there anything I need to fix?”

Sheng Mingqian took out his hand, which had been in his windbreaker pocket, and expressionlessly smoothed a few stray strands of hair from Ye Lai’s forehead, then took half a step back, looked at him for a few seconds and said, “It’s fine.”

“Is there anything else I need to pay attention to? What kind of people do your parents like?” Ye Lai was still nervous, and didn’t know what to do with his hands.

Ye Lai’s words were like a small stone, thrown into Sheng Mingqian’s always deep and calm eyes. The water rippled, and his eyelids drooped slightly. He looked down at Ye Lai’s pert nose: “Do you care so much about my parents’ opinion?”

“Of course I care,” Ye Lai nodded, “Those are your parents, of course I care.”

–

–

There were many people waiting outside the arrival gate. Ye Lai noticed the conspicuous middle-aged Asian couple in the middle at a glance. He didn’t even need to guess to know that they must be Sheng Mingqian’s parents.

The woman was well-maintained and couldn’t tell her actual age at all. A cheongsam outfit set off her elegance and nobility. Her hair was pulled up high on the back of her head, and a delicate celadon hairpin was inserted into her hair, adding a bit of gentleness.

As they got closer, Ye Lai saw that the man beside the woman had six or seven points of resemblance to Sheng Mingqian in his eyebrows and eyes. He also couldn’t tell his actual age. Like Sheng Mingqian, he was tall and broad-shouldered.

The two of them were also holding wooden signs with Sheng Mingqian and Ye Lai’s names written on them, with a heart painted in the middle, filled with red paint. They waved the signs high after seeing them, more enthusiastic than most fans picking up people.

Ye Lai didn’t expect this kind of formation, and subconsciously grabbed Sheng Mingqian’s hand hanging by his side, squeezing it tightly in his palm: “Mingqian, those are Uncle and Aunty, right?”

“Yes.”

“They look so young, and so… enthusiastic…” Ye Lai’s Adam’s apple moved.

“They are very enthusiastic people.” Sheng Mingqian said as a matter of course.

Getting closer, Ye Lai adjusted the expression on his face and greeted them with a smile: “Uncle and Aunty, hello, I’m Ye Lai, I’m Mingqian’s…”

Ye Lai introduced himself, hesitated when he got to his relationship with Sheng Mingqian, and glanced at Sheng Mingqian out of the corner of his eye. He had just forgotten to confirm with Sheng Mingqian how he should introduce their relationship when he met his parents. He was in a dilemma at the moment. He was just about to say “friend” when Sheng Mingqian’s mother, Yuan Ling, interrupted him.

Yuan Ling was completely different from her outfit. She wasn’t the quiet and gentle type. She assumed that Ye Lai was embarrassed on their first meeting. Ye Lai was still holding Sheng Mingqian’s hand, so it was natural to know what kind of relationship they had without much introduction.

She stuffed the sign in her hand into Sheng Mingqian’s father’s hand, directly hooked her arm around Ye Lai’s, and sized him up from head to toe.

“We know, you are Mingqian’s partner. This child is really good-looking. I like him.”

Ye Lai had never been praised like this to his face before, and his face turned red, not knowing how to respond. Yuan Ling smiled and patted his arm, pushing the suitcase in Ye Lai’s other hand to Sheng Mingqian next to him.

Sheng Dehui’s attention was also all on Ye Lai, asking Ye Lai if they were tired on the way. After saying this, the two of them hugged Ye Lai and walked out, leaving Sheng Mingqian alone carrying two big suitcases and silently following behind.

Ye Lai turned his head to look for Sheng Mingqian’s figure every few steps. Yuan Ling followed his line of sight, waved at Sheng Mingqian, and urged him to keep up.

The weather in Finland in early September was clear and refreshing. The car windows were open all the way. Sheng Mingqian leaned against the back of his chair and slept. Sheng Dehui and Yuan Ling kept introducing the scenery along the way to Ye Lai: the steamships whistling in the harbor, the Baltic Sea in the midday sun, the art galleries at the street corners, the private farms leading to the suburbs. Finally, the car stopped in front of a house.

“We’re here,” Yuan Ling pointed out the window to Ye Lai, “This is our home. Little Lai, do you like the environment here?”

“I like it, Aunty. I like it here very much. It’s quiet and comfortable. I haven’t been this relaxed for a long time…”

Ye Lai looked out the window. The house was two stories high, with old European-style architecture, terracotta-colored exterior walls, and the doors and windows were painted a bright grass green. A lawnmower was parked on the lawn in the yard. A kitten was nestled under the roots of a tree, sunbathing. A white Labrador was playing with a cloth ball next to it.

Yuan Ling smiled: “Then come back and live with Mingqian for a while every year in the future. His father and I can have some fun too.”

Ye Lai didn’t know if he would be able to come in the future. He didn’t answer, just smiled at Yuan Ling, picked up his things and got out of the car with her.

From the moment he met Sheng Mingqian’s parents at the airport, Ye Lai had been thinking in his heart, how could such cheerful and lively couple give birth to a son like Sheng Mingqian who was so stuffy and serious? Genetics are really a magical and mysterious thing.

Or maybe Sheng Mingqian gave all his other emotions to his movies, Ye Lai glanced at the always quiet Sheng Mingqian beside him out of the corner of his eye.

Sheng Mingqian had just woken up, in a rare half-awake state. Sensing Ye Lai’s gaze, he turned his head to meet his eyes and frowned.

Infected by the enthusiasm of Sheng Mingqian’s parents, Ye Lai became more and more relaxed. Instead, he was amused by Sheng Mingqian’s inexplicable look at him. His eyes were bright and sparkling, and he smiled revealing his white teeth.

“What are you laughing at?” Sheng Mingqian asked.

Ye Lai was still smiling: “Nothing.”

After saying that, he stopped looking at Sheng Mingqian and strode to catch up with Yuan Ling.

Yuan Ling turned her head: “Mingqian, don’t always wear a straight face.”

Sheng Mingqian finally chimed in: “Mom, I’m your son. You haven’t asked me a single question yet.”

“Son, you should smile too. Don’t be so serious, acting like an old man at such a young age.”

Ye Lai still sided with him, refuting in his heart. Sheng Mingqian was not an old man. His energy and stamina were very good. Thinking of this, Ye Lai reached behind his back and touched his sore waist…