When Chen Shujuan saw Jin Muchen, she was slightly startled. She assumed that Su Qiqi's partner in her flash marriage would be a very ordinary person.
But she was surprised to find that his appearance alone was extraordinary, and he radiated an aura of a superior individual.
For a moment she wasn't sure what to say, so she simply accepted the gift box and gestured for Jin Muchen to sit down.
Jin Muchen did not stand on ceremony.
Seeing her family's reaction, Su Qiqi too was taken aback, and her worries were slightly eased.
Su Tiancheng patted Jin Muchen's shoulder, asking, "Do you drink?"
He found himself liking his new son-in-law more and more.
Jin Muchen nodded slightly and said, "I can drink a bit."
At the dinner table, Lin Hui scrutinized Jin Muchen repeatedly; the more she observed him, the more familiar he looked.
She nudged Su Xingchen, who was sitting next to her, and asked, "Hubby, don't you think your brother-in-law looks familiar?"
"Really?" Su Xingchen took a look but, in the end, he shook his head, "You must be mistaken."
Lin Hui didn't think so, and questioned, "Brother-in-law, you look very familiar. Are you an actor?"
Everyone, once again, turned their gaze to Jin Muchen.
Considering his handsome looks, being mistaken for an actor was not unusual.
However, Jin Muchen dismissed the assumption with a smile, "Sister-in-law, you're mistaken. I'm not an actor."
While running his enterprise, he occasionally went out for public meetings. Even though these instances were infrequent, he would end up being photographed by the press.
Su Xingchen saw Lin Hui's smitten expression and felt slightly annoyed.
He had assumed that Su Qiqi's partner would be an average Joe. But the reality exceeded his expectations by far.
"So, Brother-in-law, where do you work? You should know that Qiqi is a senior Fashion Designer and a graduate of a prestigious university. The two of you must be a match in terms of social and economic status, right?"
Su Qiqi caught the undertone of annoyance in her brother's words, and hastily replied, "What does Muchen's job matter? As long as I like him, even if he needs me to take care of him financially, I am happy to do so."
At her words, a twinge of displeasure crossed Jin Muchen's eyes.
It was the first time in his life he heard of a woman supporting him financially.
"I work in sales," Jin Muchen responded, subtly squeezing Su Qiqi's hand under the table, signalling her to avoid making untoward remarks.
When Lin Hui heard that he worked in sales, she scoffed, "Sales? All day, running around, earning barely anything. Brother-in-law, pardon my crudeness, but marrying Qiqi from our family isn't cheap. She's a graduate from a top university and now a big-time designer."
Su Qiqi looked up, her cold eyes fixed on Lin Hui.
She knew that once her sister-in-law opened her mouth, trouble was bound to follow.
"Sister-in-law, it's not your place to intrude in my matters, is it?"
Lin Hui paled slightly, "Qiqi, I'm saying this for your own good."
"For my own good?" Su Qiqi scoffed, "Don't you just want me to move out? Muchen has a house and a car. I can move in with him. Isn't this what you want?"
"After all, when my sister-in-law got married, didn't you choose my brother because he's a good and honest man? My thinking is simply the same as yours."
At this, Lin Hui's eyelid twitched. If it wasn't for Su Xingchen's urban household registration, she would never have agreed to marry into the family so easily.
"How can you compare the two? Your brother's marriage to me was a traditional one with a proper proposal and dowry. It was an honorable marriage."
Lin Hui, as though catching hold of an argument, continued, "And you? Without consulting the family, you went straight ahead and got your marriage certificate. Ceremonial gifts and betrothal gifts were altogether skipped. If people didn't know better, they might think you were up to something shameful."
Su Qiqi frowned, realizing that Lin Hui's remarks were a direct attack on Jin Muchen.
She understood that both she and Jin Muchen lacked any emotional connection and had obtained their marriage license due to specific needs.
Truthfully, Jin Muchen was merely playing a role for her at this point. Being targeted by Lin Hui like this, even Su Qiqi herself would have found it hard not to get annoyed.
Just as she was about to retort, the large hand holding hers gently squeezed her, conveying some warmth that was oddly comforting.
When Su Qiqi looked up, she saw Jin Muchen, keeping his cool, calmly taking Lin Hui's reprimands with a smile.
After listening, he nodded politely and said, "Sister-in-law, you are right. This was our mistake. My love for Qiqi was so immediate and intense, I was afraid of losing her, hence the rush to get the certificate. However, I assure you that all necessary customs will be properly observed."
Jin Muchen freed his hand to comfort Su Qiqi gently.
On hearing this, a smirk appeared on Lin Hui's face. She said, "That's much better. But our Su family's betrothal gifts must be given according to the customs of Dragon City. I wonder if brother-in-law can afford it."
Silence spread around the dinner table at her words.
Su Tiancheng wanted to say something, but was silenced by a glance from Chen Shujuan.
"Muchen, don't mind your sister-in-law's fast tongue. These things are customary."
Jin Muchen nodded unassumingly, saying, "She's family, of course, I wouldn't mind. I work in sales at JT Real Estate. Although it's only sales, the salary is decent. I'll do my best regarding the betrothal gifts."
"JT Real Estate? Is it related to that corporate giant, the JT Group?" Lin Hui's eyes shone. If they could establish a connection to JT, it would result in significant benefits.
She was aware that countless people would kill to work at JT, even as janitors.
Su Qiqi was also taken aback when she learned that Jin Muchen worked at the JT Group.
Jin Muchen handed her a business card, which his driver had prepared for him that very morning, indicating that he was an ordinary salesperson at JT Real Estate.
He made sure that the driver also entered his personal information as he was aware that it could easily be accessed online. Thus, lying was not an option.
Lin Hui took the business card and read, "The JT Group is famously exclusive. I didn't know brother-in-law was so capable."
"You flatter me, sister-in-law. It's all due to hard work."
Said Jin Muchen modestly.
Lin Hui put away the business card and continued, "Since brother-in-law is so sincere, I'll make the decision on behalf of mom and dad. Despite you two already having your marriage certificate, we can't forego all traditional customs. You need to provide a set of gold ornaments, and about the betrothal money... Prepare a million!"
As soon as her words settled, Su Qiqi stood up in anger, "What?! A million? Sister-in-law, have you gone mad, or did I hear wrong?"
Not only Su Qiqi, but Su Tiancheng, his wife, and Su Xingchen were all equally startled.
However, when Jin Muchen heard about the one million, he felt no shock. Because to him, it was a mere trifle.
But considering his current identity, he could not afford to react so calmly.
Hence, when Su Qiqi voiced her anger, he hurriedly pulled her down to sit, then gave Lin Hui an apologetic smile, saying, "Sister-in-law, is this one million in accordance with Dragon City's customs?"