Chapter 117: A Joyful Family Gathering

Peng Min had initially been unhappy to hear that her aunt’s family, and especially Lu Min, would be visiting today. However, upon learning that this was Lu Min’s first time bringing her boyfriend to the house, she glanced at Huang Yu, who had been listening to their conversation, and a smug smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as a thought crossed her mind.

Even if Lu Min was talented and beautiful, she did not believe that the man she had chosen could be more outstanding than her own partner, a master’s graduate from ZJ University. Having stepped into society several years ago, she had learned that the world was a harsh reality. Cinderellas finding princes only existed in fairy tales, unless the Cinderella was truly celestial in beauty, and Lu Min had not reached that level.

Even she herself had never imagined she would end up with Huang Yu, even after they had become intimate. She had approached their relationship with the mindset of enjoying each day as it came; even if Huang Yu were to leave her one day, while she would be reluctant to let go, she would accept it with composure.

"Finally, I have something to hold over her. I really want to see the looks on my aunt’s family’s faces when I introduce Huang Yu." Even before they arrived, Peng Min was secretly relishing the thought of their reactions. She wasn’t sure how other families interacted, but in her own, while relatives spoke of hoping for each other's success, they never truly wished for their kin to surpass them. Her own parents felt the same way about her aunt’s family. Her mother often compared her to Lu Min, clearly hoping her daughter would prove superior—otherwise, why keep comparing her to a cousin three years her senior?

As she thought this, the more she looked at Huang Yu, the more she liked him. Unable to contain her impulse, she leaned in—they were already sitting side by side—and hugged his arm, quickly planting a kiss on his cheek. Had her younger sister not been watching, and had the occasion been different, she would have devoured him right then and there.

Huang Yu clearly didn't like such displays of intimacy in front of others, but Peng Min’s actions were so swift and sudden that he couldn't dodge in time. Though he found her sudden burst of joy strange, he didn’t want to dampen her mood and simply whispered a reminder to mind the occasion, noting that her sister was still present.

Peng Yuying, who was just bringing over tea, froze at the sight of her sister’s bold display. She stood rooted to the spot, unsure whether she should retreat or continue, nearly spilling the tea in her hands.

Seeing Peng Yuying standing there awkwardly, Huang Yu felt a bit uneasy. Although his arm felt quite comfortable in Peng Min’s embrace, he quickly withdrew it, stood up, and walked over to take the teacups from her. "Your sister is quite clingy, isn't she?" he said, trying to ease the tension, though he immediately regretted the comment as it only made things more awkward. "Right, your sister and I bought you a gift. Let me go get it for you." He set the cups on the coffee table and quickly retreated to the entryway, glad to escape the moment.

When he returned, the two sisters were chatting happily, the awkwardness completely gone. Peng Yuying was delighted with the gift and thanked him repeatedly, even calling him "brother-in-law" several times. This made Peng Min beam with joy.

The three of them talked about many things. Huang Yu gradually learned that while Peng Yuying resembled her sister, her temperament was entirely different—reserved and obedient. She had always excelled in school and was expected to have no trouble getting into YN University next year. This stood in stark contrast to her sister. This reserved nature reminded him somewhat of Li Jia, though Li Jia’s quietness had been natural. He suspected Peng Yuying’s personality had been shaped significantly by her sister.

During their chat, Huang Yu and Peng Yuying hit it off. She was surprised to learn he was a high-achiever from ZJ University. While YN University was a local school with lower entry requirements, ZJ University was a prestigious institution in China; very few students from her school could hope to get in. She asked him many questions about university life, and his interesting anecdotes left her full of longing.

As they discussed academics, Peng Min found herself unable to join in. She sat by, feeling a bit sullen, but she wasn't jealous of her sister. Instead, she kept her gaze fixed on Huang Yu, silent and intent, until he felt a bit flustered and steered the conversation elsewhere, which finally brought a smile back to her face.

After pacifying Peng Min, Huang Yu realized that at some point, she had become a very important person in his heart—someone whose feelings he genuinely cared about. This wasn't just because Li Jia had asked him to look after her. He also noticed that he had been thinking of Li Jia less frequently these past few days.

"Is it true that human love cannot withstand the test of time?" he wondered. "Is so-called love merely an animal instinct for the sake of reproduction? Do men and women really grow fond of each other just through long-term companionship?" He had once believed that among all human emotions, love was the most sincere and eternal. Yet, he was coming to realize that people change. Perhaps, living and sleeping with Peng Min every day had truly stirred genuine feelings within him.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, he felt no guilt or self-reproach for "betraying" Li Jia, nor did he decide to leave Peng Min. Having endured so much, he had learned to accept his changing self. When he looked at Peng Min again, his gaze was far more tender than before—a look he had once reserved only for Li Jia.

He had slowly emerged from the grief of Li Jia’s death, and his sunny, talkative personality was returning. He didn't know if this change was for better or worse, but he was certain of one thing: Li Jia would have been happy for him. She had written in her final letter that she didn't want him to remain in sorrow, but to find his own happiness again.

Huang Yu, who had once considered ending his life after avenging Li Jia and fulfilling her final wishes, no longer had any such thoughts. He now sincerely wanted to start a new life with Peng Min. It was no longer just about showering her with the kindness he had intended for Li Jia; it was because he now wanted to be good to her for his own sake.

Peng Min seemed to notice that Huang Yu felt different—he gave off a comforting aura she couldn't quite define, but she didn't dwell on it. She felt that he was now the same man she had first seen during a video call between him and Li Jia.

About an hour later, the front door opened, and a middle-aged couple entered, carrying bags of groceries. It was Peng Min’s parents, returning from the market. Her father, Peng Hua, worked in logistics for a pipe installation company, handling maintenance and repairs. Due to his seniority and expertise, he had long qualified for weekends off, working only on weekdays unless an emergency arose. Her mother, Zhao Qianqian, was a retail clerk at a local supermarket, working shifts that left her at home for half of every day. They were ordinary, plain-looking people.

Seeing Peng Min in the living room, they were stunned and stood frozen, not knowing what to say. They had passed the entryway and seen the bags of gifts, assuming they belonged to Lu Min’s boyfriend. They had even been mentally calculating how much money to give as a greeting gift, never imagining that the visitor was actually their eldest daughter, Peng Min.