Chapter 255: I WANT TO MEET YOUR FAMILY TOO

Guiying spent the better part of the afternoon getting ready, more careful with his appearance than he’d been in weeks, determined to look presentable for a woman who’d apparently spent months deciding whether he was worth meeting at all.

He settled eventually on a fitted brown sweater tucked into wide black trousers, sunglasses tucked into his collar for later, black leather shoes polished to a shine.

Simple, understated enough to let the gift speak louder than his clothing choices, though he still checked the mirror more times than he cared to admit.

Bai Zichen would have laughed at him for fretting this much over an outfit that wasn’t even for a shoot. Guiying almost wished he’d texted him for a second opinion, if only to have someone tell him he looked fine and mean it.

Liuxian arrived home just before five, shrugging out of his suit jacket the moment he stepped through the door, exchanging it for a loose ivory striped shirt left half unbuttoned at the collar, wide black trousers, his watch and a few rings catching the light as he rolled his sleeves.

"You look good." His eyes swept over Guiying appreciatively, pulling him in for a quick kiss.

"So do you." Guiying straightened his own collar once more out of habit, admiring the effortless way Liuxian wore anything he put on. "We need to swing by the antique shop before we head over. I left the piece with Master Chen for authentication."

"Got it." Liuxian checked his watch. "We have time, if we leave now."

"Then let’s go." Guiying grabbed his jacket, following him out toward the car.

Master Chen had the jar waiting when they arrived, wrapped in dark silk and nestled inside a lacquered wooden box, far more presentable now than the dusty shelf it had been hiding on that morning. He’d clearly taken his time with the presentation, the wood polished, a small brass latch fitted to keep the box securely closed during transport.

"Authentication came back faster than expected." Master Chen slid a folder across the counter alongside the box. "Jin dynasty, confirmed. Exceptionally rare, given the condition it’s survived in."

Guiying lifted the lid briefly, admiring the piece once more under proper lighting, the gold veining catching the glow of the shop’s overhead lamps.

"I think the madam will love this." Master Chen’s mouth curved slightly. "Assuming she has any real eye for quality at all."

"Let’s hope she does." Guiying closed the box carefully. "What’s the final number?"

"Three million yuan, after authentication." Master Chen named it plainly, no hesitation in his voice. "A fair price, given what it turned out to be."

Liuxian reached for his wallet immediately, already pulling out his card.

"No." Guiying’s hand closed over his wrist, stopping him. "I picked it out. I’m the one giving it to her. I’ll pay for it."

"Guiying." Liuxian’s brow lifted. "It’s a significant amount."

"I’m aware." Guiying held his gaze steadily. "This is my gesture, not yours. Let me do this properly."

Something shifted in Liuxian’s expression, understanding settling over the initial surprise. He tucked his card back into his pocket without further argument, though he studied Guiying for a beat longer than necessary, something quietly proud sitting behind his eyes.

Master Chen watched the exchange with visible amusement, glancing between the two of them like he’d witnessed this particular kind of standoff plenty of times before, usually resolved less gracefully.

Guiying handed over his own card, signing off on the transfer while Master Chen wrapped the box a final time, securing it with a length of red ribbon.

"Take care of it." Master Chen handed it over carefully. "And take care of yourself tonight. Madam Fu’s reputation precedes her."

"So I’ve heard." Guiying accepted the box, tucking it securely under one arm. "Thank you, Master Chen. For everything today."

Master Chen inclined his head, something almost fatherly in the gesture. "Come back sometime when you’re not shopping under pressure. I’d like to show you a few pieces properly, without a deadline hanging over both our heads."

"I’d like that." Guiying meant it, already thinking of an afternoon spent browsing without the weight of tonight’s dinner sitting on his shoulders.

Back in the car, the box sat carefully between them on the seat, Guiying keeping one hand resting against it the entire drive, as though it might shatter from a sudden turn, though he knew rationally that Master Chen’s packing job could probably survive far worse than a smooth ride through the city.

"You didn’t have to spend that much." Liuxian glanced over at him, still faintly bewildered by the gesture.

"I wanted to." Guiying met his eyes. "This matters to you. That makes it matter to me."

Liuxian said nothing for a moment, something warm and unguarded crossing his face before he reached over, lacing their fingers together over the console.

The drive to the Liu family estate took longer than Guiying expected, winding through quieter, more affluent streets the further they traveled. Trees grew taller here, older, lining both sides of the road like sentries, and the houses set back from view grew progressively larger the deeper they drove, until the car finally slowed before a set of tall iron gates flanked by stone lions worn smooth with age.

"My brother and sister will be there too." Liuxian squeezed his hand once. "Tiantian’s already texted twice asking what time we’re arriving, and Moying’s coming straight from work. You won’t be facing her alone tonight."

"I’m not afraid." Guiying’s voice stayed steady, genuine. "I have you with me, and I’m sure your family isn’t as bad as everyone keeps warning me. I mean, look at you. You’re amazing, brilliant, patient with me even when I don’t deserve it. I want to meet the people who raised someone like you, and thank them properly for it."

Liuxian’s grip on his hand tightened, something in his chest going soft and unsteady at the sincerity behind the words.

"You’re going to make this harder for me." He murmured it, half laughing, half something closer to overwhelmed. "How am I supposed to walk in there composed when you say things like that."

"You’ll manage." Guiying smiled, squeezing his hand back as the gates began to swing open ahead of them. "You always do."

Liuxian huffed out a short laugh, some of the tension in his shoulders easing at the reassurance, and the car rolled forward through the gates toward whatever waited for them inside, gravel crunching softly beneath the tires as the main house finally came into view, every window lit against the darkening sky.