"I finished my work early, so I took the chance to come back. I have to leave again tonight."
Lu Cheng answered Sun Yufeng's question as he set down his luggage.
"Leaving tonight? That's just too exhausting!"
Sun Yufeng looked at her son, her face filled with concern. Then her gaze shifted and fell on Shen Nian, who was standing beside Lu Cheng.
'It looks like after my son got back, the first thing he did was go to the Shen family to pick up Shen Nian. He probably went through all this trouble, squeezing out half a day, just for her!'
At that thought, Sun Yufeng's resentment toward Shen Nian grew.
'It was one thing for the girl to make her angry, but making her son suffer like this? That was the last thing she wanted to see!'
Shen Nian had been watching Sun Yufeng ever since she walked in. When she saw the change in her mother-in-law's expression, she panicked. 'Oh no.'
'Even though I rushed back, it looks like my mother-in-law already resents me!'
'But what could I do? I can't let this resentment fester. Even if it means getting a harsh scolding, I have to try!'
With that in mind, Shen Nian managed a reasonably bright smile for Sun Yufeng.
"Mom, I'm back. I'm so sorry. It was all my fault before. I shouldn't have run off to my parents' house and stayed there. I was just... I was just a little scared. If you're upset about it, please, just scold me!"
'It was okay to show a little weakness in front of her mother-in-law. After all, she was only an eighteen-year-old girl. There was no shame in it!'
Sun Yufeng had been scowling at Shen Nian. Before she could change her expression, she saw the girl's smile. She froze for a second. Then, hearing Shen Nian's apology, it took her a moment to process what was happening.
'She had been steeling herself for the difficult task of scolding her daughter-in-law. How could a single trip home change her so completely?'
'Could a trip back to her parents' house really have such a powerful effect?'
"Scared? What were you scared of? You weren't afraid I was going to eat you alive, were you?"
Though she'd never been a mother-in-law before, Sun Yufeng considered herself a reasonable person. She certainly wasn't some wicked shrew who would scare her daughter-in-law into running back home!
"Mom, that's not what I meant..."
"Mom, she's still young, and this is her first time away from home. It's natural for her to have trouble adjusting, so please be patient with her. Besides, I left right after we got married. That was my fault. It's understandable that she'd be scared."
Shen Nian was about to explain further, but Lu Cheng spoke up before she could.
Hearing Lu Cheng's words, Shen Nian was moved once again. 'He's clearly taking the blame for all my past mistakes!'
'What a silly fool!'
"Alright, alright. She's back now, so let's drop it. I'm not that unreasonable!"
Sun Yufeng glanced at the two of them, taking this as an acceptance of the apology. After all, her precious son had spoken up for her. 'That silly boy of mine,' she thought, 'how did he get so completely wrapped around this girl's finger!'
Although Sun Yufeng had accepted the apology for the whole running-home affair, the thought of how coldly Shen Nian had treated her son before still made her disgruntled. 'Hmph.' She still had plenty of reservations about her.
'If she wants my complete forgiveness, she'll have to prove herself with her future actions! If she doesn't shape up, it won't matter if my son pleads her case a hundred times!'
"Thank you, Mom!"
"Thank you, Mom!"
Seeing Sun Yufeng give them an out, Shen Nian quickly followed Lu Cheng's lead and expressed her gratitude.
In her past life, Shen Nian had never really been able to properly call Sun Yufeng "Mom." But now, with her new mindset, the word came out with exceptional ease, requiring no mental preparation whatsoever.
"Alright, alright, enough with the thanks! Son, you must be exhausted from your travels. Go get some rest. I'll go make dinner. Even if you have to leave tonight, you're having dinner at home first."
"Okay. Thanks, Mom."
After speaking, Lu Cheng glanced at Shen Nian. He, too, wanted to have a proper dinner at home with her.
"It's no trouble at all. You two go to your room and rest for a bit. I'll call you when dinner is ready."
Although she was still a little resentful toward Shen Nian, her son was only back for half a day. As a mother, she still hoped her son and daughter-in-law could use the time to grow closer.
'Maybe if their relationship improved, Shen Nian would start treating her son better!'
'If it were anyone else's son, and she didn't like the girl, they could just find a new daughter-in-law. But her son had his heart set on this one, so what could she do!'