On November 8, 2011, Zhang Xu's parents' plane landed on time at Brussels International Airport.
With a nervous heart, Zhang Xu went to pick them up with Nicola. Initially, he didn't intend to bring Nicola, but she argued that if his parents were to scold him, they might restrain themselves in the presence of an outsider.
Zhang Xu agreed, thinking Nicola had a point. However, Nicola dressed too beautifully, exuding an air of elegance and nobility.
"Are you nervous?" Nicola, seeing Zhang Xu's troubled face, couldn't help but smile and tease.
"How can I not be? I'm really worried my dad will skin me alive!" The thought of his father's fury made Zhang Xu shudder.
"Ha, Zhang, you look so cute right now!"
Nicola kept teasing Zhang Xu, but she herself felt nervous, her right palm sweating slightly. She had researched Chinese customs and understood that parents have a significant say in their children's marriages in China, and the most challenging relationship to manage is often between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. The thought of this made Nicola blush whenever she glanced at Zhang Xu.
Hence, she was also worried about not being liked by Zhang Xu's parents, especially his mother. To make a good first impression, she dressed herself carefully before meeting them.
At 4:30 PM, Zhang Xu's parents appeared at the airport. Zhang Xu waved and shouted to get their attention. He hurriedly helped them with their luggage.
"Uh!" His father snorted disapprovingly but handed over the luggage. His mother, while handing over her luggage, held Zhang Xu and examined him closely.
"You've lost weight and gotten tanner, but you look stronger. You must have suffered a lot, child," she said, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Alright, let's go," his father said, patting his wife's shoulder and glaring at Zhang Xu. "Hurry up and lead the way, you rascal!"
"Oh, yes, yes, this way!" Zhang Xu, startled by his father's roar, hurried off with the luggage, forgetting to introduce Nicola.
"Hello, uncle and auntie," Nicola intervened, greeting Zhang Xu's parents in somewhat broken Chinese.
"Eh?" The parents looked at the blonde, blue-eyed girl in surprise, not knowing who she was. They had seen Nicola but thought she was there to meet someone else and didn't consider she might be with their son.
"She is?" The mother asked curiously.
"Not, not at all!" Zhang Xu hurriedly denied any romantic implication. "She's my university classmate, just accompanying me today."
"Hmph! What kind of classmate accompanies another to pick up their parents?" His father immediately sensed something more between Zhang Xu and Nicola.
"I'm Nicola! Uncle and auntie, you must be tired from your journey. Let's head to the hotel," Nicola said warmly, switching to English, which Zhang Xu's parents didn't understand. They sensed her enthusiasm but couldn't grasp her words.
On the way, Nicola kept chatting amiably, though in English, which Zhang Xu's parents couldn't follow. Initially, Zhang Xu translated but eventually gave up, overwhelmed by Nicola's warmth.
Zhang Xu's parents started to realize that their son and Nicola had a relationship beyond mere classmates.
They arrived in Woluwe, where Zhang Xu had arranged for his parents to stay in a hotel close to his club, with Nicola also staying in the same hotel.
"Uncle and auntie, have a chat with Zhang. I'll arrange dinner and come back soon," Nicola said understandingly after settling them in their hotel room.
After Zhang Xu translated, his parents thanked her. "No need to be formal, Zhang and I are just classmates!" Nicola waved and left the room, winking at Zhang Xu as she closed the door.
"What's your actual relationship with that girl? Girlfriend?" his mother asked as soon as Nicola left.
"Definitely!" his father concluded. "This rascal not only deceived us, but also got a foreign girlfriend!"
"It's really not like that!" Zhang Xu defended with a smile. "She's just a classmate. Don't jump to conclusions."
"Hmph, as if I'd believe that!" His father's mood darkened. "Now explain why you left your studies to play football in Belgium?"
Zhang Xu showed them his university transcript to prove he was still a top student at Université Paris VI. His parents were skeptical but convinced by the "A+" grades.
"Alright," his father softened a bit. "As long as you haven't abandoned your studies. But what's with this football business? Journalists say you tried out for over seventy clubs before joining this White Star team?"
"Mom and Dad, you know I love football. I wanted to be a successful professional football player. Here in Europe, I could pursue my dream without compromising my studies. And
now, I think I'm doing well, right?" Zhang Xu answered earnestly.
"Xu'er, did you face many rejections? It must have been hard," his mother empathized.
"Mom, what's a little hardship for a man? And now I'm doing well. Many top division teams want to buy me," Zhang Xu said proudly.
"Don't get too cocky!" his father grumbled, deflating Zhang Xu's pride.
"Let's be glad he's following his dreams without neglecting his studies," his mother interceded. "Before coming here, you were worried he'd abandoned his studies. Now it's clear he's managing both well."
"I still need to verify his transcript at his university," his father insisted, planning to visit Université Paris VI.
"That's a good idea. I trust my son, but I want to see where he studies," his mother said lovingly.
"Tomorrow?" Zhang Xu thought. He'd have to ask Coach Ma Zu for a leave.
Fortunately, the next game was postponed to November 20 due to the international break, giving him free time to spend with his parents. He hoped they'd understand he hadn't neglected his studies and change their view on football after visiting his club and meeting his coaches and teammates.
At 6 PM, Nicola returned to invite Zhang Xu's parents to dinner. During the meal, his mother chatted with Nicola, with Zhang Xu translating.
"Nicola, do you also study at Université Paris VI?"
"What's your major?"
"Performing arts? Dance or opera?"
"Film? Are you a movie star?"
Hearing Nicola was a film star, his parents didn't react much but advised Zhang Xu: "The entertainment industry is complex. It's not a place for a young girl. If possible, she should leave it soon. Talk to Nicola about not wasting her life."
"Alright!" Zhang Xu responded, knowing Nicola's ambition in film was unlikely to wane.
But his parents' concern for Nicola felt like they were treating her as a future daughter-in-law. Zhang Xu grumbled internally.
Ah!
He suddenly realized his parents' looks of admiration and satisfaction towards Nicola were exactly how one would look at a future daughter-in-law.
Things had really escalated now!