Father Xu's shoulders shook just thinking of the previous awkward breakfast.
"Are you done laughing?"
Mother Xu stared daggers at her husband who was laughing heartily at her embarrassing predicament with her ex-daughter-in-law.
Father Xu who hasn't had a good laugh in a while, wiped away his tears, "No."
Mother Xu could no longer stand it and angrily scoffed, "Don't tell me that even you take her side? Is everyone forgetting what kind of a person is she?"
Knowing that he shouldn't push things too far lest he end up sleeping on the couch, Father Xu quickly curbed his smile. He hurriedly comforted his wife, "It is not that I forgot. It's just that she doesn't seem to fake it and I am not too obsessed with our daughter-in-law as much as you."
Hearing his light-hearted words, Mother Xu asked in disbelief, "Me obsessed over her? Had she been nice to her husband and daughter I wouldn't pester her like what I have always been doing! I couldn't even bring myself to take her outside! Don't you know that other Madams kept stabbing me in every gathering by using her!"
After ranting for a bit to let off some steam, Mother Xu took a few deep breaths to regain her composure.
Even though Mother Xu held a high position, it didn't change the fact that she came from a third-rate family. Therefore, she knew clearly that while others congratulated her with a smile and nice words on the surface, behind her back they called her a gold digger.
For those people who hid a dagger in a smile, Mother Xu did not care about their opinions.
[A/N: To hide a dagger in a smile = Disguising a ruthless nature behind a pleasant appearance.]
The only thing that mattered was that she married the love of her life and he just happened to be coming from an elite family whose status was far above hers that's it.
Nonetheless, Mother Xu knew the responsibilities that came with her marrying Father Xu. Honestly speaking, she didn't like to follow protocol or etiquette while acting ladylike in a dignified manner.
She just didn't want to become her husband's stain so she worked hard to become someone befitting the name Madame Xu.
Since Mother Xu knew how harsh the upper circle was toward those who were not on the same level as them, she wanted Su Ming to become a proper lady before making her debut.
Guess she overextended and the other party did not consider this as kindness but a nuisance instead.
In the end, Mother Xu couldn't help but grumble, "Is it in the blood or what... For you guys not to marry someone of the same status?"
Hearing this, Father Xu couldn't remain silent anymore and said, "Are you implying that you and Xiao Ming are the same?"
Of course, Father Xu got a death glare in return along with a threat.
"Looks like you finally have the chance to use the new couch in your study tonight."
The moment these words left her mouth, Mother Xu got up from the sofa and walked away with no intention of listening to her husband's coaxing.
"Dad... Why do you like angering Mom? Aren't you afraid of sleeping alone?"
Father Xu turned to look in his eldest son's direction. He chuckled, "When she is sulking, she is cute."
Other than slightly knitting his brows, Xu Qin did not show any other reactions to his father's comments.
As their eldest child, Xu Qin has been fed by his parents' PDA for as long as he can remember.
[A/N: PDA = Public display affection.]
Still, he did not understand how his parents got together.
Their personalities differed greatly.
His father was easy-going, laid back, and had a scholarly air around him. He was once told that back when he was in high school, his father wanted to go into the liberal arts class.
Unfortunately, he was the heir to the Xu family. In the end, he attended the science class and opted for a finance major at the university.
At one point, his father even thought of having a political marriage since it would help the family's development.
After all, his father did not want to let his grandfather's effort go to waste while the business was in his hands.
It was during his freshman year that his father met his mother who went to the same university as a scholarship student.
From what Xu Qin heard, his mother back then was quite... Feisty.
S University was a prestigious place that was full of wealthy students. His mother who came from a small city did not fit in at all.
To make things worse, his mother was quite a beauty so others didn't let her study well.
Even though neither his parents made it obvious how her student days went, Xu Qin could deduce that it was anything but peaceful.
Fortunately, his father stepped in to help cover for her since they were in the same department.
The story after was that they started to become friends and then gradually changed to lovers.
Recalling this matter, Xu Qin slowly sat down on the sofa opposite his father and posed a question, "I have always wanted to ask you this."
"You said you don't like troublesome things and you like to go at your pace but how come you fell for her who smelt trouble?"
Father Xu leisurely leaned against the back of the sofa. He gave his eldest son a gentle smile, "When you met the right one, the reason became ineffective."
Seeing his eldest son frown at his answer, Father Xu laughed a little, "Do you know how we first met?"
Xu Qin shook his head. He once asked this question to his mother when he was young but her expression suddenly looked unnatural, therefore, he never asked afterward.
Just as he was coming up with various scenarios, his father's voice suddenly sounded interrupting his thoughts.
With a hint of nostalgia in his eyes, Father Xu recounted in a light tone, "She was cursing out a guy nonstop for a whole minute without pausing to catch her breath."
Xu Qin: "..."
Xu Qin thought he heard his father wrongly. His mother's image in his mind was always an elegant woman who followed the rules.
He has never once heard her using foul language...
As if Father Xu did not take note of his eldest son's speechless face, he continued with a look full of admiration, "At that time, I was amazed at her colorful vocabulary despite being a top science student. Afterward, my eyes kept wandering to her. There was one time I got caught sneaking a peek at her and she showed a fist from afar with a scowl on her pretty face."
While listening to his father's love story on the sideline, Xu Qin became even more puzzled as to why they got together.
Seeing his confusion, Father Xu generously summarized, "Let's say that I am a blank canvas whereas your Mom is the paint that was splashed onto the canvas. I do like how the canvas is white and empty at the beginning. However..."
Father Xu lovingly looked in the direction that his wife just disappeared not long ago, "After seeing it dyed with other colors, I love it very much."
Xu Qin silently stared at his father's content face and at this moment, he felt a bit envious.
Since he will never get to understand that feeling.
"That being said, you will know once you try it with your wife."
Xu Qin who was feeling melancholy just a moment ago immediately came back to his senses with this one nonsense phrase.
He looked at his father and kindly reminded him, "We are already divorced."
Father Xu knowingly nodded his head, "That's right. You both are single again."
"What are you implying?"
Father Xu smilingly probed, "I know you well and you don't seem to hate her anymore, why is that?"
Didn't expect his father to raise this topic in such a straightforward manner, and Xu Qin made a small pause before giving a plausible response, "... She lost her memories."
Hearing this, Father Xu amusedly arched an eyebrow, "Just this?"
Xu Qin replied with a light nod to which Father Xu merely smiled deciding to give mercy to his eldest son.
"I am glad that your family seems to work things out nicely and reach a peaceful agreement."
Unlike his wife who cared a lot about their eldest son's marriage, Father Xu didn't deeply engage in this matter.
After all, it should be solved with the involved parties and they were all adults not children anymore.
In the past, his daughter-in-law prioritized herself over her family while his eldest son was the exact opposite.
The communication did work well for them and their relationship couldn't be salvaged.
Father Xu was out yesterday to meet with an old friend so he didn't have a good grasp of the situation at home. When he got a phone call from his wife yesterday, he was rather shocked to hear the news of their peaceful divorce.
However, this morning, Father Xu finally knew why the two came to a consensus.
His daughter-in-law changed entirely into a different person.
Memories could be forgotten but habits died hard.
Father Xu said nothing about her changes and intended to treat her cordially. However, after seeing his daughter-in-law pass the salt to his wife with a blank face, he couldn't help but praise her courage.
At the thought of his daughter-in-law, Father Xu curiously looked around. His voice contained a hint of surprise, "Xiao Ming is together with Mei-er?"
Understanding where he was coming from, Xu Qin explained, "Grandpa Gu is with them in Mei-er's bedroom."
Shifting his gaze onto his eldest son, Father Xu couldn't help but sigh, "This new Xiao Ming is quite remarkable."
Xu Qin who was being stared at by his father whose eyes filled with unknown sympathy was starting to feel a bit pensive.
Right as he was about to ask what he was hinting at, Father Xu suddenly whispered, "One day has just passed and you have already been tamed?"
Xu Qin: "..." Dad, please speak Chinese properly.
Seeing his eldest son's indescribable expression, Father Xu knowingly consoled, "There is nothing to be ashamed about respecting your wife and letting her come out on top of you."
Unable to stand it anymore, Xu Qin refuted with a dark face through grit teeth, "You. Are. Mistaken."
In return, Father Xu gave him a condescending look, "Tell me, do you have the final say during the conversation?"
"I-"
Xu Qin immediately got choked as this question accurately hit the bullseye.
He knew that his situation with Xu Ming greatly differed from his parents but he was unable to find any excuse as he subconsciously recalled their recent dialogues.
Giving a frustrated sigh, Xu Qin clarified, "Anyway, it is not what you think it is."
Father Xu didn't believe him. He knew that he was more or less right that his eldest son couldn't win over his ex-wife.
Therefore, Father Xu who has been married for over 30 years, got up and went to pat his eldest son's right shoulder as an encouragement.
"Son, it is good to work toward a long-term goal."
Xu Qin: "..." Are you still aware that this business has already gone awry?