It was a bright and sunny morning when Meixiu burst into Ye Chen's room without warning.
"Ye Chen! Get up! We've got plans today," she said, pulling the covers off him.
Ye Chen groaned, shielding his eyes from the sunlight. "Sister Meixiu, it's barely morning. What's going on?"
Meixiu crossed her arms, her athletic figure silhouetted by the window. "You're coming with me to Grandma's 60th anniversary. I need company, and you're the lucky one."
Ye Chen sat up, blinking in confusion. "Why me?"
"Because Jiayi and Lianyi are busy, and I'm not going alone," Meixiu replied with a smirk.
"Do I have a choice?" Ye Chen asked, already knowing the answer.
"Nope," Meixiu said, tossing a neatly folded suit onto his bed. "Get dressed. We're leaving in an hour."
An hour later, Ye Chen found himself in the passenger seat of Meixiu's car as she navigated the winding roads with ease. She wore a sleek black dress that hugged her figure perfectly, and her hair was styled in loose waves.
"You clean up nicely," Meixiu said, glancing at Ye Chen in his suit.
"Thanks," Ye Chen replied. "You look amazing too."
"Of course I do," Meixiu said with a wink. "It's a big day for Grandma. I couldn't show up looking anything less than perfect."
The drive was filled with lighthearted banter, with Meixiu occasionally teasing Ye Chen about how nervous he looked.
"Relax," she said, patting his arm. "Grandma's going to love you."
"It's not Grandma I'm worried about," Ye Chen muttered.
The venue was a grand estate surrounded by lush gardens. The sound of laughter and music filled the air as family members and friends mingled.
Meixiu grabbed Ye Chen's arm as they walked toward the main entrance. "Stick close to me, okay? This place can get overwhelming."
Inside, they were greeted by an older woman with a warm smile and sharp eyes.
"Grandma!" Meixiu said, hugging her tightly.
"Ah, my lovely granddaughter," Grandma said, patting Meixiu's back. Her gaze shifted to Ye Chen. "And who's this handsome young man?"
"This is Ye Chen," Meixiu said, pulling him forward. "He's… a friend of the family."
Ye Chen bowed politely. "It's an honor to meet you, ma'am. Happy 60th anniversary."
Grandma's eyes twinkled. "So polite! You've got good taste, Meixiu."
"Of course I do," Meixiu said with a grin.
As the celebration went on, Meixiu introduced Ye Chen to various relatives. Each time, she held onto his arm, her playful smile never wavering.
"This is Aunt Mei," Meixiu said, gesturing to a stylish woman in her fifties.
"Aunt Mei, this is Ye Chen."
"A friend, huh?" Aunt Mei said, giving Ye Chen a knowing look. "He's quite charming."
"I know," Meixiu said with a wink, making Ye Chen feel even more flustered.
Later, as they sat at their table, Meixiu leaned close to Ye Chen. "See? Everyone loves you. I told you there was nothing to worry about."
"You could've warned me about all the questions," Ye Chen said, sipping his drink.
"Where's the fun in that?" Meixiu teased, nudging him with her elbow.
As the evening progressed, the music shifted to a slower tune, and couples began to take to the dance floor.
"Come on," Meixiu said, standing up and holding out her hand.
"What?" Ye Chen asked, looking at her in surprise.
"We're dancing," Meixiu said, grabbing his hand and pulling him to his feet.
"I don't know how to dance," Ye Chen protested as she led him to the floor.
"Don't worry. Just follow my lead," Meixiu said, placing his hand on her waist and holding his other hand in hers.
The warmth of her touch and the confidence in her movements made it easy for Ye Chen to relax.
"You're not so bad," Meixiu said, smiling up at him.
"Thanks," Ye Chen replied, his heart pounding as they moved in sync with the music.
For a moment, the rest of the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them and the gentle melody.
As the celebration came to an end, Grandma pulled Meixiu and Ye Chen aside.
"Thank you for coming," Grandma said, her smile warm. "It meant a lot to me."
"It was our pleasure," Meixiu said, hugging her tightly.
Grandma turned to Ye Chen and patted his shoulder. "You're a good young man. Take care of my granddaughter."
"I will," Ye Chen promised, feeling the sincerity in her words.
On the drive home, Meixiu was unusually quiet.
"Are you okay?" Ye Chen asked.
"Yeah," she said softly, glancing at him. "Thanks for coming with me today. It meant a lot."
"You don't have to thank me," Ye Chen said. "I was happy to be there."
Meixiu smiled, her playful demeanor returning. "Good. Because you're coming to the next family event too."
"Do I get a choice?" Ye Chen asked, laughing.
"Nope," Meixiu said, leaning her head against his shoulder as the car sped down the quiet road.