Taking Castorice to Meet His Parents

After deciding to take Castorice home to meet his parents, Luo Li clearly sensed that a hint of... nervousness had quietly crept into his Castorice's cool and ethereal aura.

Specifically, this manifests as:

She would stare blankly at the few pieces of casual wear and loungewear in her closet, mostly bought for her by Luo Li, her brows furrowed, as if she were agonizing over which one would be more suitable for "meeting the parents."

She began cleaning the already dust-free room more frequently, her movements so meticulous it was as if she were performing some kind of sacred ritual.

Even when Luo Li tried to sneak a kiss, she absentmindedly pushed him away with her elbow, her purple eyes filled with a rare, unrelated annoyance. "Don't be silly... I'm thinking about something."

Looking at her anxious yet trying-to-hide expression, Luo Li found her both adorable and heartbreaking.

"Castorice, relax."

He couldn't help but hug her from behind as she was wiping the windowsill, resting his chin on her shoulder and reassuring her with a smile, "My parents aren't vampires, they won't eat you."

They were just two ordinary middle-aged teachers. They were too happy to be smitten with such a beautiful and sensible girl like you.

Castorice Die relaxed slightly, leaning against him, but still sighed softly, "I... don't know what to do to be 'proper'."

Luo Li's heart softened. She turned her around, cupped her face, looked into those slightly bewildered purple eyes, and said earnestly, "There's no need to do anything deliberately, Castorice —you are you. Just be yourself."

My mom values sincerity the most.

"Just answer her questions politely and smile occasionally, and she'll be overjoyed."

He paused, then added with a mischievous grin, "Of course, if you could act a little... well, a little more dependent on me, making her feel that her son is taking good care of me, that would be a huge plus."

Castorice understood the implication in his words. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she glared at him reproachfully, but the tension in her eyes seemed to dissipate somewhat.

To put Castorice's mind at ease, Luo Li made a special phone call home beforehand.

His mother, Zhou Wan, answered the phone.

"Hey? Xiao Li? You're back from the front lines?! Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

Zhou Wan's voice, as always, was filled with urgency and deep concern.

"Mom, I'm fine, I'm perfectly alright. I just got back yesterday," Luo Li quickly reassured her.

"It's good you're back! It's good you're back! You scared me to death! I heard the fighting on the front lines was fierce..." Zhou Wan rambled on for a while before remembering the crucial question, "By the way, that girl you mentioned last time... Castorice, did she... come back with you?"

"Yes, she's with me."

Luo Li spoke with natural certainty.

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a burst of excited voice. "Really?! Oh my! That's wonderful! Then... when are you going to bring that girl home for dinner? Let Mom meet her!"

Luo Li could imagine his mother beaming on the other end of the phone. He glanced at Castorice, who was unconsciously perking up her ears and tensing slightly beside him, and said with a smile into the phone, "How about tomorrow night? Let's go over for dinner."

"Tomorrow night? Sure, sure! No problem! I'll go grocery shopping first thing tomorrow morning! I'll cook your favorite dishes!" Zhou Wan's voice was full of enthusiasm. "By the way, what does Miss Castorice like to eat? Are there any dietary restrictions?"

Luo Li covered the microphone and asked Castorice in a low voice, "My mom asked you what you like to eat?"

Castorice paused for a moment, then subconsciously replied in a low voice, "... Anything is fine, I'm not picky."

Luo Li chuckled and said into the phone, "Mom, she's not a picky eater, just cook what you're good at—though she might prefer a lighter flavor."

"Okay, okay, light is good, healthy! Mom knows!" Zhou Wan happily agreed, then gave a few more instructions on safety before hanging up the phone, satisfied.

After hanging up the phone, Luo Li gave Castorice a "done" gesture. "See, my mom is so looking forward to seeing you."

Castorice gave a soft "hmm," and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved upwards slightly, as if a weight had been lifted from her heart.

The next day, starting in the afternoon, Castorice clearly entered a state of "preparation for battle".

She took a shower, combed her long, silvery-purple hair until it was smooth and shiny, and changed into a light blue dress that Luo Li thought best suited her temperament. The dress reached her knees, revealing her slender, fair legs.

She wasn't wearing makeup, but her naturally beautiful skin looked even more radiant against the backdrop of her dress, and her purple eyes were like jewels immersed in water, clear and captivating.

Luo Li watched her walk out of the room, and her eyes lit up.

His Castorice, with just a little makeup, is absolutely stunning.

"How is it?" Castorice asked uncertainly, tugging at her skirt as she looked at Luo Li.

Luo Li stepped forward, circled her once, stroked his chin, and commented with a serious expression, "Hmm... she's pretty, but..."

Castorice's heart leaped into her throat. "What is it?"

Luo Li suddenly leaned closer and quickly pecked her lips, smiling like a cat that had just stolen some cream, "You're just a little too beautiful. I'm afraid my parents will think I'm not good enough for you."

Castorice was taken aback at first, then realized that she had been teased by this guy again. She punched him lightly in embarrassment and annoyance, but a faint smile appeared in her eyes, and her tension was relieved a lot.

In the evening, the two of them, carrying some fruit and health products that Luo Li had bought in advance, arrived at the neighborhood where Luo Li's parents lived.

This is a teachers' family compound located in the old city of Jiangcheng. The environment is quiet, and most of the neighbors know each other.

As Luo Li climbed the slightly worn stairs and arrived at his front door, he could clearly feel that Castorice's grip on his arm tightened slightly.

He patted her hand reassuringly, took out his keys, and opened the door.

"Dad, Mom, we're back."

"Hey! Here it comes!"

Wearing an apron and holding a spatula, Zhou Wan immediately came out of the kitchen to greet them.

Her face was kind and her eyes were bright. When she saw Castorice next to Luo Li, her eyes lit up instantly and her smile became even more radiant.

"This must be Castorice! Wow, she's even prettier in person than in the videos! Come in, come in!"

Castorice bowed slightly, a little reserved, and tried to make her tone sound gentler in her ethereal voice, "Hello, Auntie, sorry to bother you."

"No, no, no! Please come and have a seat!"

Zhou Wan warmly took Castorice's hand and led her into the living room, her gaze scanning her quickly and discreetly—Hmm, her looks are impeccable, her temperament is good, quiet and reserved, she's clearly a good girl! My son has good taste!

Luo Li's father, Luo Mingyuan, also came out of the study. He wore glasses, had a refined and scholarly air, and didn't say much. He simply nodded gently to Castorice and said, "You've arrived. Please have a seat."

Although he didn't say much, the kindness in his eyes was obvious.

The living room wasn't large, but it was clean and tidy, and full of life.

Castorice was pulled to sit on the sofa by Zhou Wan, feeling somewhat at a loss.

Zhou Wan then began her "routine questioning":

"Castorice, where is your home?"

(Luo Li had given Zhou Wan a heads-up beforehand, saying she was a distant cousin whose parents had passed away, so Zhou Wan asked very cautiously.)

Following Luo Li Li's instructions, Castorice softly replied, "... in a faraway village, right now... with Luo Li."

Zhou Wan immediately showed a pained expression. "Good child, this will be your home from now on!"

What kind of work are you doing now?

"Working as an assistant at... research institute." That's the truth.

"A research institute? Great! Cultured people! They'd complement our Xiao Li perfectly!" Zhou Wan grinned from ear to ear, then looked at Luo Li.

"Look at Castorice, how quiet and refined she is! And look at you, you're never serious!"

Luo Li: "..."

Okay, so here comes the comparison and denigration.

Seeing Luo Li's discomfiture, Castorice couldn't help but smile gently.

That smile, like the first melting of snow, made Zhou Wan even happier, thinking that this girl was not only beautiful but also gentle in nature.

The atmosphere became much more relaxed afterward.

Zhou Wan was busy preparing food in the kitchen, while Luo Mingyuan chatted with Luo Li about the situation at the front lines (omitting the bloody parts), and occasionally asked Castorice a few gentle questions, such as "Are you getting used to Jiangcheng?" and "Has Xiao Li bullied you?"

Although Castorice didn't talk much, she always answered seriously, with a soft voice and respectful attitude, which made Luo Mingyuan nod in approval.

During the meal, Zhou Wan enthusiastically kept putting food on Castorice's plate.

"Come on, Castorice, try this braised pork ribs, it's Auntie's specialty!"

"This steamed fish is very fresh, have some more!"

"And this leafy green vegetable..."

The bowls in front of Castorice quickly piled up into a small mountain.

She looked at the bowl full of food, then at Zhou Wan's expectant eyes. A hint of helplessness flashed in her purple eyes, but she still ate in small bites, trying her best, and occasionally looked up at Zhou Wan to give her a faint smile of gratitude.

Zhou Wan's heart melted as she watched her eat obediently, and she became more and more satisfied.

Luo Li watched this scene from the side, feeling warm inside. She secretly put some of Castorice's favorite dishes on her plate, earning her a reproachful yet slightly dependent look in her eyes.

After the meal, Castorice took the initiative to get up and help clear the dishes.

Zhou Wan quickly stopped her, "Oh, no need, no need! Go sit down and rest! Let Xiao Li do it!"

But Castorice persisted, and although her movements were a little clumsy, she did it meticulously.

Zhou Wan watched her slender figure busy in the kitchen, pulled Luo Li aside, lowered her voice, and said with undisguised joy, "Son, this girl... Mom really likes her! She's beautiful and sensible! You have to treat her well! Do you hear me?"

Seeing the genuine joy in her mother's eyes, Luo Li nodded firmly. "Mom, don't worry."

When leaving her parents' house, Zhou Wan stuffed a large red envelope into Castorice, insisting that she accept it.

Unable to refuse, Castorice looked at Luo Li somewhat helplessly.

Luo Li smiled and nodded at her, "It's from Mom, so just accept it. It's a custom."

Castorice blushed and softly thanked Zhou Wan, "Thank you, Auntie."

On the way back, it was already late at night.

Castorice held the thick red envelope in her hand, gazing at the dazzling city lights outside the car window, remaining silent for a long time.

"See? I told you, my parents are easy to get along with."

Luo Li held her hand, her tone relaxed.

Castorice turned her head, her purple eyes shining brightly in the night. She leaned gently on his shoulder, her voice soft yet carrying a sense of peace and relief. "Yes... Auntie and Uncle are both doing well."

She paused, carefully put the red envelope away, then looked up at Luo Li, a faint but genuine smile curving her lips:

"I love so much."

Seeing the soft light in her eyes as she integrated into her new family, Luo Li felt a great sense of satisfaction.

He lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on her smooth forehead.

"They like you very much too, my Castorice."

The warmth of home seemed to be gradually dispelling her alienation from this other world, bringing her closer to his world and their future.

However, at this warm and cozy moment, Luo Li received a message from an unknown number labeled [Murong] on her personal terminal.

The message contained only four brief words, yet it caused Luo Li's brows to furrow instantly.

Let's talk.