A beautiful summer night

As snow fell heavily in England, Xie Qiyan paid a visit to his future in-laws the day after finishing his official business.

Outside the Becker family manor, Xie Qiyan, covered in snow, held his phone close to his ear with his right hand, red from the cold, listening intently to the instructions on the other end of the line.

"Understood." Xie Qiyan made a mental note of it.

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then a deep voice said, "I'm getting old, I can't fly anymore, otherwise I..."

"It's alright." Xie Qiyan looked up at the icy snowflakes falling softly, and seemed to have let go of something in his heart. He replied to the person on the phone, "Grandpa's intentions will be understood by my father-in-law and mother-in-law."

There was a long silence on Grandpa Xie's end until Xie Qiyan hung up the phone.

A surprised smile appeared on the old man's weathered face as he raised his slightly trembling hand to wipe away the moisture from the corner of his eyes.

This was the only time in a long time that the grandfather and grandson had talked for more than ten minutes.

Inside the manor, Ms. Ross kept looking out, because she knew in advance that her future son-in-law was coming, so the whole family stayed home to entertain him.

Richard and Qiao Shu put on their reading glasses, shared a tablet, and leaned against each other, still engrossed in browsing Xie Qiyan's Weibo.

Both of them were romantics; their eyelashes fluttered and the corners of their mouths turned up slightly as they watched, occasionally whispering teasing each other. It was clear that the two elderly people were very satisfied with their grandson-in-law.

Only Xia Yongqing sat upright to one side with a stern face, maintaining the airs of a father-in-law.

"Don't look so bitter and resentful. If you don't even like your son-in-law, who else do you expect to like?" Ms. Ross couldn't stand it anymore, so she came over, added two packets of sugar to his coffee cup, and handed it to him, forcing him to drink it.

Xia Yongqing snorted coldly, still wearing a cold face. The thought of his precious daughter proposing to someone without informing her family made him uncomfortable.

The key issue is that Xia Wanzhi told Ross about the marriage proposal but not him, which made him even more uncomfortable.

Before Xie Qiyan appeared, the man her daughter admired and liked the most was her father.

But now, his old father has long been pushed out by Xie Qiyan.

"Just a few Weibo posts, and you're all completely bewitched." Xia Yongqing was furious.

Richard was still pondering Xie Qiyan's Weibo post when he heard Xia Yongqing's words and snorted, "My grandson-in-law is much better than you were back then."

Xia Yongqing: "..."

Ms. Ross suppressed a laugh and added insult to injury: "Look, it only took Xie less than half a year to win over my father, while it took you three years back then."

Xia Yongqing: "..."

After taking a sip of coffee, which was cloyingly sweet, Xia Yongqing felt uneasy. He put down his coffee, got up, and wanted to go out for some fresh air and cool breeze, and also check if the pig who had stolen his little cabbage had arrived yet.

As soon as he stood up, he saw a servant leading someone into the room.

Xia Yongqing paused, loosened his tie, and sat back down.

Ross and Josh were overjoyed and immediately stood up to greet them.

Richard slowly took off his glasses and looked on with a smile, waiting for Xie Qiyan to call him "Grandpa".

"Are you cold? Your hands are all red." Ross took the gift he brought, handed it to the servant to put aside, and then instructed the servant to bring a clean towel. He looked at Xie Qiyan kindly and said, "Wipe the snow off your head and sit down to have a cup of tea to warm yourself up."

Rose, who is 1.7 meters tall and wearing high heels, took the towel from the maid and wrapped it directly around Xie Qiyan's head.

Those with long arms and legs can just reach it.

Xie Qiyan was moved and wanted to take the towel to dry himself, but he stood there stunned, staring blankly at Ross.

He has forgotten what it feels like to be cared for by his elders.

Xia Yongqing was sitting directly in front of him. He took a deep breath, looked away, tidied the tea set on the table, poured a cup of hot tea, and only after Ross wiped the snow off him did he speak slowly and deliberately: "Come and have a cup of tea with me."

Xie Qiyan greeted everyone one by one, using honorifics to address Richard and Qiao Shu as Mr. and Ms., while addressing Xia Yongqing and Ross as Uncle and Aunt.

Richard, who was waiting for his grandson-in-law to call him "Grandpa," was stunned and looked at the polite young man in front of him with incomprehension.

The last time I saw him, he was always the type to take advantage of me.

Xia Yongqing shared the same doubts as his father-in-law. Although he outwardly appeared to dislike Xie Qiyan, a hint of displeasure arose in his heart when he heard the cold "Uncle".

Ross and Josh exchanged a glance, their smiles growing even wider.

His initial awkwardness was a sign of his respect and politeness.

The more serious he is, the more it proves that he has come to tell you something very important.

"Please sit down. Have you had breakfast yet?" Ms. Qiao Shu asked Xie Qiyan with a gentle smile.

When Xie Qiyan sat down, he noticed the teacup his future father-in-law was pushing towards him. He smiled, picked it up, took a few sips to moisten his throat, and still maintained a proper demeanor, saying gently, "I've already eaten."

All four eyes fell on him. Xie Qiyan had come with a purpose, so he didn't beat around the bush. He got up and picked up the bright red gift bag that was placed aside. Inside was the letter of appointment personally transcribed by Old Master Xie.

The folded betrothal letter listed the betrothal gifts and was a full meter long.

Ross opened the letter of appointment, recognized the handwriting as that of Old Master Xie, and asked Xie Qiyan, "What is this?"

"Your sincerity in asking for Maruko's hand in marriage." Xie Qiyan's fingertips curled slightly. At this moment, he was no longer arrogant, nor did he have his usual calmness and indifference. He sat upright, his fingertips resting on his knees trembling slightly.

At this moment, he was just an ordinary person trying to marry the woman he loved.

He would feel nervous and at a loss when facing the elders and parents of his beloved.

He spoke directly, and Ross looked at Qiao Shu, the mother and daughter exchanging a smile.

Richard gestured for Ross to hand him the letter of appointment, squinted at it for a while, and the further he looked, the more he could not hide the smile in his eyes.

"Is this your sincerity?" Richard asked.

"The engagement letter was written by my grandfather. It represents my sincerity, as well as the Xie family's sincerity." Xie Qiyan made it clear that he was not fighting alone in marrying Xia Wanzhi.

It's a perfect match when both families are willing.

The fact that the old man personally wrote the betrothal letter shows his approval of his future granddaughter-in-law and his intention to form a marriage alliance with the Xia family. The generous betrothal gifts represent the Xie family's high regard for Xia Wanzhi and this marriage, and it means that the Xie family will never let Xia Wanzhi suffer any grievances after she marries into the Xie family.

Richard held onto the letter of appointment, and Xia Yongqing, not wanting to take it, could only stand up and go over to look at it himself.

The letter of appointment contained two different handwritings; the first half expressed the Xie family's sincerity, while the second half...

It listed all of Xie Qiyan's assets.

Xia Yongqing was taken aback and subconsciously glanced at Xie Qiyan.

This is more than just overflowing sincerity; it's like they're willing to give their family their money and their lives.

Xia Yongqing looked complicated as he sat back down and picked up his teacup to drink some tea.

The cup was empty, so he put it down again, and then Xie Qiyan very considerately picked up the teapot and poured tea.

Xia Yongqing: "..."

Having gone this far, Xia Yongqing didn't know what to say.

He had nothing to say.

Before this, he blamed his daughter for not being reserved enough. Marriage is a big deal, and he blamed her for not discussing it with her family and arbitrarily committing to someone else.

But at this moment, seeing that his daughter had not been let down, seeing that someone had gone to such lengths to marry her, and feeling the sincerity of his future son-in-law, all his dissatisfaction and competitive spirit vanished in an instant.

There are very few people in the world who can do this.

The only person who could make Xia Wanzhi set aside her reserve and shyness, and passionately propose with a ring in her hands, is probably Xie Qiyan.