Li Xiqing stood calmly as Shao Yan leaned forward to give Grandma Wu a tight hug. He knew that Grandma Wu and Risa had been scrutinizing him ever since he appeared in their views.
But Li Xiqing was all calm and peaceful for he knew that they were all here for the same purpose. To make sure Yan Yan was happy.
"Grandma, this is Li Xiqing, my boyfriend."
Li Xiqing could hear slight hesitant tremble from Yan Yan"s voice. His left hand was prisoned by Yan Yan in tight embrace. He put down the paper bag that he had been carrying. And then with his free hand, Li Xiqing gently patted Yan Yan"s hand to rea.s.sure her. After she flashed him a gentle smile, only then Li Xiqing turned his face back to Grandma Wu and Risa.
He bowed himself a little, "Grandma, how are you? My name is Li Xiqing."
Grandma Wu had been paying attention to this man and how he treated Yan Yan ever since they appear in her view. Even though her mischievous granddaughter was dragging this man along with her as they walked closer, this man had never once let himself be swept in her hastiness.
He walked with confidence, always making sure Yan Yan had a solid steps.
Grandma Wu did not say anything to reply him, but just kept staring at the two of them, one by one. She held her stare long enough to make Shao Yan trembled slightly.
Shao Yan did not know what to say, or what to do. She had never known this Grandma before, Shao Yan was not sure what she was thinking right now, or how to appease her. She stole a glance at Risa, and saw Risa pursed her lips tightly and shook her head inconspicuously, indicating to Shao Yan not to do anything.
Before Shao Yan could decide what to do next, she hear his voice.
"My apologies for this late meetup, Grandma. I should be the one meeting you first, please blame this solely on me."
He squeezed her hand lightly, "I am courting Yan Yan with only marriage in mind. And I will not let her go despite her past. So you can rest a.s.sured on that."
Upon hearing his declaration for the second time, Grandma Wu slowly leaned back to her chair. She picked up her tea cup. She opened the lid slightly and blew on it, she really took her time.
Li Xiqing stood there patiently. His posture was still standing tall; he did not s.h.i.+fted a little and his hand was holding Shao Yan firmly. Every now and then, he would give a little squeeze to a.s.sure her. But his mind had started to think of plan B, C and D to appease Grandma Wu. Else, his wife would be the one suffering, and he would hate himself for that.
After taking a few sips of her Tie Guan Yin tea, Grandma Wu lifted up her head and smiled at Shao Yan warmly.
"What are you doing still standing up over there? Come here and sit down."
And then she turned her face to look at Li Xiqing, "Mr. Li, you can sit down too."
Shao Yan secretly heaved a relief sigh, and then she started to push Li Xiqing to sit down before Grandma changed her mind.
"Grandma, do not be so distant, you can call me Xiqing," and after he said that, he pulled out a chair for Shao Yan to sit down.
Grandma Wu had never missed every single detail that Li Xiqing had done for Yan Yan. But she did not want to make things too easy for this man. Her Wu women deserved the best of the best.
Grandma Wu cleared her throat softly, "Alright, Xiqing, you can order the food now. Yan Yan must be hungry," she said as she pa.s.sed him the menu book.
Shao Yan was about to say to Grandma to let her and Risa pick the menu instead, but Li Xiqing had taken the book from Grandma Wu. He glanced at Shao Yan to signal her not to say anything.
Shao Yan bit her lower lip while staring at Li Xiqing. They did not know anything about Grandma"s food preference. "Oh no, are we doomed now?" she lamented quietly as she twisted her fingers on her lap.
Li Xiqing flipped the menu book for a while, and then he signaled the waiter to come and take his order.
"Let me have braised secuc.u.mber with s.h.i.+take mushrooms. Hm. Pickled cabbage and boiled winter melon soup for everyone," he looked up at the server and especially enunciated slowly to her, "please do not add any more salt or sugar to the soup."
"Boiled spinach with egg white only, please. Braised tofu skin with oyster sauce. An order of poached celery with garlic sauce and whole steamed seaba.s.s fish with sliced ginger. Lastly, I will also have clay pot tofu, but please don"t add shrimp. Please change it to scallop. Thank you."
As the waiter about to walk away, Li Xiqing called her back, "Please also add barley and multigrain rice for everyone. Thank you."
When he was done, Li Xiqing lifted the teapot and started to refill Grandma"s tea cup. He stood up slightly and said, "Winter melon soup should be good to remove the heat, especially in this weather. I also ordered pickled cabbage to entice your appet.i.te, Grandma. My Grandfather had a weak digestion, and he especially favored the steamed whole fish here, you should have a try."
He sat back down to his seat and started to refill the rest of the tea cups around the table, "Celery is good for blood pressure and I asked them to replace shrimp with scallops because shrimp has a higher cholesterol content. Scallop is better and also taste sweeter."
Li Xiqing slowly put down the teacup again, and then he turned to Shao Yan and patted her hand, "I also remember to order your spinach, mushroom and tofu skin, are you happy now?"
Shao Yan paused for a while and then she beamed at him, "En. Thank you," she nodded happily.
Li Xiqing returned her smile with a very gentle smile of his own. And then he turned to face Grandma Wu again.
Li Xiqing raised his own cup to Grandma Wu, "Did I pa.s.s the test, Grandma?"