Chapter 37: Boosting Your Mother-in-law's Favorability Is Also Part Of Pursuing Someone

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Now, Lu Xici and Jun Youyue exchange a puzzled look.

Lu Xici knows her mother doesn't particularly like Jun Youyue, but she didn't expect her to slam the door shut like this.

This is awkward.

Jun Youyue didn't anticipate such a reaction from Lu Tingyi.

Does her mother-in-law hate her?

Jun Youyue's mind froze for five seconds. Then, upon hearing Lu Xici cough, she snapped back and patted her on the back.

"Have you caught a cold?" Given the cold weather today and Lu Xici being repeatedly splashed with cold water in the morning, despite prompt drying, catching a cold was quite normal.

"Ahem, not sure... Ahem, maybe a little." Lu Xici covered her mouth, suddenly feeling like she should be the one wearing a mask.

Jun Youyue frowned. She had basic medical knowledge but was not proficient in diagnosing illnesses.

It's hard to tell what's going on with Lu Xici at the moment, but she seems overly worried and nervous as if Lu Xici is seriously ill.

Lu Xici patted her on the back and, in a comforting manner, curved her lips. "It's just a little cold, nothing serious."

However, Lu Xici's smile didn't smooth out Jun Youyue's furrowed brows.

"Auntie doesn't like me?" Jun Youyue changed the topic.

"Maybe... " Lu Xici seemed a bit uneasy.

Lu Tingyi learned about the relationship between Lu Xici and Jun Youyue from Lu Xici herself. Given her concern for her daughter, Lu Tingyi naturally couldn't show Jun Youyue a very friendly face.

But now that Lu Xici knows there are many misunderstandings, Lu Tingyi remains unaware.

She should have told her mom in advance.

Lu Xici felt a bit regretful.

She was afraid that communication through phones might not be reliable, which is why she didn't mention it.

The Lu family's mansion is the only absolutely safe place.

"I'll explain to her later," encouraged Lu Xici. However, she was unsure how to explain it to Lu Tingyi without Jun Youyue's memoir.

“It's okay, I'll handle it," assured Jun Youyue, sensing Lu Xici's nervousness, and she gave her hand a reassuring pat.

"Boosting your mother-in-law's favorability is also part of pursuing someone," said Jun Youyue seriously, causing Lu Xici's expression to shift from surprise to disbelief.

Seeing Lu Xici's reaction, Jun Youyue suddenly felt a bit uncertain. She pulled out her phone, navigated to the recently viewed webpage, and showed Lu Xici the information she had read.

"Isn't that how it's said here? I just followed what it said..."

Lu Xici clearly saw that the webpage title was: "One Hundred Tips on How to Successfully Pursue a Girlfriend." Her emotions became extremely complicated.

She found Jun Youyue's sincere and systematic actions incredibly adorable. On one hand, she was shocked and perhaps even touched by Jun Youyue's words. On the other hand, she was puzzled as to why Jun Youyue would say she was pursuing her.

After careful recollection, Lu Xici realized that she hadn't objected when Jun Youyue mentioned wanting to pursue her in the morning.

"?" Seeing Lu Xici's twitchy expression, Jun Youyue tilted her head and leaned closer to her.

Lu Xici was startled by the sudden magnification of the beauty in front of her and almost stumbled backward. Her waist was caught by Jun Youyue, finding a balancing point, and as she softened, Jun Youyue added some force, pulling her into an embrace.

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The fragrance and softness intertwined in the embrace, coupled with the fact that they were a couple in love, the atmosphere unavoidably became ambiguous.

As Jun Youyue gazed at Lu Xici's plump lips, thinking about their sweetness, she couldn't resist getting closer, wanting to capture her disarrayed breath and blend with hers in their own way.

Lu Xici, on the other hand, watched Jun Youyue getting closer, and her heartbeat started to quicken.

She could feel what Jun Youyue wanted to do, but she didn't dare to move because she was nervous, and she wasn't willing to ruin the good atmosphere.

Lu Tingyi saw this scene when she opened the door again.

Her daughter was held in the arms of her old love, and the two of them were extremely close.

Just as they were about to kiss, the old love's eyes still held tenderness and affection.

Lu Tingyi felt sorry for disturbing the young couple.

But how could Jun Youyue, an ice lump, still have such a gaze?

Lu Tingyi found something off in her eyes.

Did her daughter give Jun Youyue something?

Lu Xici heard the door opening.

She was still in Jun Youyue's arms, nervously anticipating what might happen next.

Before the hug tightened, she turned her head and saw her kind mother with enlarged pupils, a strange curve forming on her lips, looking at her.

Her ears burned red in an instant.

She quickly stepped out of Jun Youyue's embrace, obediently stood aside, and straightened her back, resembling someone undergoing military training.

Jun Youyue was puzzled.

They didn't do anything extreme, just a hug that Auntie Lu happened to see. They're family, so it's not a big deal, right?

It’s a pity that they couldn't get to kiss. 

She turned around and called out "Auntie," only then did she notice Lu Tingyi’s change in appearance.

All jewelry was put away, makeup removed, and hair casually draped behind. Even the expensive formal dress and coat from earlier were swapped for casual home attire.

"Come in." Lu Tingyi’’s current expression was devoid of smiles. A calm demeanor, neither joyful nor sorrowful, exudes the seasoned air of the business world, making the two younger ones feel more stressed.

They both lowered their heads, shoulders brushing as they walked towards the door, but they were stopped by the doorframe.

Observing them insistently walking side by side, even bumping into the door, Lu Tingyi rolled her eyes in her heart.

She shot Lu Xici a glare as if saying, ‘’If you don't explain now, don't even think about coming inside.’

Lu Xici shrank her neck in response.

Jun Youyue wanted to hold her hand to comfort her.

She only managed to grab Lu Xici's hand for a second before it was pulled away.

Her palm felt empty, devoid of warmth and tenderness, leaving Jun Youyue bewildered.

In that fleeting moment of withdrawal, Lu Xici regretted her decision.

She still wasn't quite used to being intimate with Jun Youyue in the presence of others, especially when that person was her mom, scrutinizing her every move. So, she instinctively withdrew her hand.

But she knew this action must have hurt Jun Youyue.

She looked sideways and indeed, Jun Youyue had her brows furrowed, looking like a child who had done something wrong, bewilderedly gazing at Lu Xici. Lu Xici quickly reached for her hand, dispelling Jun Youyue's pitiful expression.

Their interaction didn't escape Lu Tingyi's notice. She pondered for a moment before calling her daughter over.

"Have you two become closer?" 

Jun Youyue nodded on behalf of Lu Xici.

"Then you two kiss each other and let me see." It's just a way to make up for them, after all, they were interrupted just now when they were about to kiss.

Lu Xici raised her head suddenly.

Before she could see her mom's intentions and attitude, Jun Youyue pulled her over. 

"No, wait...!"

Lu Xici's attempt to stop the words hadn't finished when Jun Youyue's face approached.

The woman approached with a hint of seriousness, yet concealed blatant desire, as if she were merely fulfilling the command of an elder straightforwardly, but the command happened to be something she loved.

The love in her eyes was unabashed, and her serious expression made Lu Xici instinctively close her eyes.

The faint fragrance on Jun Youyue's body gradually intensified, gathering at the tip of her nose, entwining and captivating Lu Xici's heart.

Her heart started pounding, beating faster and faster, pulling at her chest with aching sensations.

Nervousness, anticipation, resistance, affection.

Lu Xici was increasingly overwhelmed by the escalating emotions, losing rationality in just a moment, wanting nothing but to escape.

A second before Jun Youyue's lips touched hers, Lu Xici reached out to hold her down and then started to back away, almost bumping into Lu Tingyi.

Lu Tingyi finally figured it out.

The girl from the Jun family genuinely cares about her daughter. It's just that her somewhat unreliable daughter seems a bit too nervous and shy.

She clicked her tongue, steadying Lu Xici.

Lu Xici looked extremely embarrassed.

A flush spread from her cheeks to her ears, then extended in patches, turning her entire face red.

Finally, Jun Youyue also noticed this.

Lu Xici seemed a bit resistant to her closeness.

She felt a bit upset, her lips pursed, her amber eyes filled with disappointment, a stark contrast to the affectionate gaze from moments ago. She stared at Lu Xici without looking away. Lu Xici lowered her head in embarrassment and approached, returning to her side. Lu Xici tugged at Jun Youyue's sleeve.

"Jun-jiejie, I... I'm just too shy. My Mom is watching..."

"It's okay." Jun Youyue took a deep breath and put away her emotions.

Lu Xici's reason was reasonable, and she shouldn't let her emotions affect her any further.

However, thinking back on it still feels a bit uncomfortable.

More intimate things have happened, but Lu Xici still can't recall it all, they had to adapt to their closeness from the beginning again.

Lu Tingyi left at the right time, giving space to the two younger ones.

Lu Xici hugged Jun Youyue and comforted her for a while. Only then did Jun Youyue feel much better, she could hug and kiss her wife again.

Lu Xici sighed in her heart.

Next time, if she feels like escaping, she'll have to endure it. She doesn't want to see Jun Youyue with that sad expression again because of her.

At this moment, Zhenzhu finally moved down from the cat climber.

It wiggled its hips, swayed its fur, and approached the two people.

It looked left and right, then leaped up, landing on Jun Youyue's legs, and meowed at her.

Jun Youyue understood, opened the bag, and took out the cat treats.

Lu Xici leaned on her, watching her feed the chubby cat with cat treats.

"Why does it like you so much?" Lu Xici wanted to ask a long time ago.

When she went home alone, Zhenzhu was completely indifferent and too lazy to move. She was just like a pig, leaning on the cat climber without even looking at her.

If Jun Youyue comes, Zhenzhu runs quickly, pattering with its short legs, dashing to Jun Youyue, and will even act coquettishly with her.

“The cat treat has attractants, and it enjoys eating them. Every time it sees me, it can get a cat treat, which creates a positive emotional response, and over time, it forms a conditioned reflex.”

While feeding Zhenzhu, Jun Youyue contemplated for a while before answering.

She spoke slowly and methodically, yet her hands continued squeezing the cat treats without pausing. 

Now, one stick was almost finished, but Zhenzhu still wanted more, squatting in front of her and meowing for more treats.

Lu Xici suddenly remembered that yesterday she discovered that Jun Youyue was the "Shang Shixu" she had been chatting with online some time ago.

Jun Youyue's speaking habits are exactly the same as her typing habits online. Although she is always online and replies in seconds, her reflex arc is slightly longer every time encounters such topics, taking a long time to type out her words.

"Do you know what conditioned reflex is? It's..."

Without waiting for Jun Youyue to explain the conditioned reflex as she would in online chat, Lu Xici rushed up and hugged her warmly, even making sure to shoo away Zhenzhu, who was occupying her spot.

"I know." Lu Xici took the initiative to nuzzle against Jun Youyue's face, then sat on her newly vacated lap. "You're so serious, so cute."

Jun Youyue blinked. She was still a bit confused.

But being hugged by Lu Xici willingly made her quite happy. She rested her head on Lu Xici's shoulder, savoring the closeness with her sweetheart.

"By the way, there's no need for, um, unnecessary efforts to pursue me. You're already my... girlfriend." After saying this, Lu Xici let out a long sigh.

To ask her to say such straightforward words requires a lot of courage, but with Jun Youyue being so sincere, Lu Xici wants to change her habit of duplicity.

If you like someone, you should say it directly; it's good for both parties.

Just a girlfriend. Jun Youyue felt a bit down for a moment.

She bit onto Lu Xici's ear, mimicking her sweetheart’s bold way after getting drunk, and called out, “My wife, A’Ci."

After calling out, Jun Youyue also blushed.

However, Lu Xici's reaction was even more intense. She lowered her head forcefully, burying herself in Jun Youyue's embrace.

Then she froze due to some kind of soft touch, and when she raised her head again to meet Jun Youyue's affectionate eyes, she was so embarrassed that he turned her head away.

But she also wanted to look at Jun Youyue. So, Lu Xici tilted her eyes slightly and saw the overflowing smile in Jun Youyue's eyes.

She covered her face. 

Jun Youyue went to hug her waist and called out again, "Wife."

She covered herself even tighter.

But the gap between her fingers widened a bit, and she peeked at Jun Youyue through them.

Jun Youyue slightly lowered her body, leaned under the side of Lu Xici's face, looked up at her, and met her eyes through the gaps between her fingers.

She saw a pair of shy eyes, but in the shadows, there was a glimmer of joy, making her want to kiss and say a few more words, just to see if there could be an even cuter reaction.

"Don't you like it?" She playfully teased Lu Xici, knowingly asking and enjoying the banter.

Lu Xici whimpered, with a hint of mist in her eyes, coldly softening Jun Youyue's heart.

How could Lu Xici not like it?

She likes it too much; the reaction in her heart is the same as when she almost kissed her just now. The excessive joy brings a sense of pain, making her feel a bit uncomfortable.

But she really likes being called like that by Jun Youyue.

"Too, too fast." Lu Xici's words were harder than her heart, declining in a very low voice.

"We just, ahem, started dating today." Lu Xici moved her hand down, revealing her eyes as she looked at Jun Youyue shyly.

Jun Youyue understood.

This reason is more reasonable than just feeling embarrassed about being seen, and she has witnessed many similar cases, so she accepts it.

"Then I can pursue you until you get tired."

Afraid that Lu Xici might not agree, she added, "Just as you said, it would be fun.”

Lu Xici didn't know why Jun Youyue was so persistent about this, but these words made her feel a bit more composed.

"That I also, ahem, pursue you. Let's pursue each other."

Lu Tingyi, who was eavesdropping on the young couple's conversation on the stairs, was stunned for a second.

What kind of magical operation is this? Two people are in love but still want to pursue each other?

Or should she complain about the strange sequence in which these two people got married first, then dated, and finally pursued each other?

In the end, Lu Tingyi decided to give up thinking.

Such an advanced romance, she'll understand it in the next life.

After eavesdropping for so long, it was time for her to step forward and ask them what was going on.

Lu Tingyi went downstairs and thoughtfully cleared her throat so as not to scare Lu Xici, who was happily nestled in Jun Youyue's arms.

Lu Xici glanced at Jun Youyue.

Jun Youyue understood and moved her from her lap to the side, now they sit side by side.

"Tell me, explain it, what's going on between you two?" Lu Tingyi crossed her arms, taking on the posture of an elder, appearing in front of the two.

Author's Note:

Lu Tingyi: Brand New daughter-in-law, freshen up and groom delicately before meeting 

Lu Tingyi after seeing Jun Youyue: (Taking off jewelry) (Removing makeup) (Changing clothes)

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