The pushover offended a top-tier boss

After leaving Beijing, the two rushed to Nanjing without stopping.

Before leaving, Zhou's mother took a lot of things from home and stuffed them into his car.

"It's never wrong to be polite. It's the first time I've made a formal visit, so I can't come empty-handed."

The car was packed full, even the back seat was piled high with gift boxes, which Ye Zhenzhen felt was a bit excessive.

The roads in Nan Jing became more and more familiar to her. The fields on both sides had already been harvested, leaving only bare furrows. Ye Zhenzhen sat in the passenger seat, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes on her knees. The closer she got to her home, the more restless she became.

"Old Zhou, won't my parents scold me? I got married without their permission." She turned and glared at him. "It's all your fault. If you hadn't stopped me, how could I have done something so rebellious?"

Zhou Huaijin gripped the steering wheel with one hand, his gaze fixed on the road ahead, while patting her head with the other: "If they want to hit or scold me, let them come at me."

"How dare they?" Ye Zhenzhen sighed. "My parents have always treated you like a big boss. Every time you come to my house, they get so nervous that they even stutter when they speak. If they knew, do you think they would be happy or... well, they would definitely be shocked."

The car was parked in front of her house.

The two of them took large and small bags out of the trunk. Ye Zhenzhen took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

The Ye couple were cleaning the yard with a QR code scanner and picking vegetables when they saw their daughter and her ex-boyfriend, a high-ranking official, appear at the door together, carrying a lot of things. They were both stunned.

"Mom and Dad," Ye Zhenzhen called out, her voice tinged with a cautious guilt.

Zhou Huaijin stood next to her, bowed slightly, and said, "Dad, Mom."

The elderly couple were so startled by the word "Mom and Dad" that they almost lost their balance.

The broom slipped from Ye's mother's hand with a clatter, and Ye's father was so startled that he threw the vegetables he had just picked into the trash can.

Zhou Huaijin put down his things and went back outside.

There's still something in the car.

He strode out and brought back a few more boxes.

"besides."

He went out again.

Ye's mother snapped out of her daze and quickly nudged her husband, "Old Ye, hurry up and help me move it."

The two of them made another trip, stacking the gift boxes one by one in the living room. The already cramped room was now piled high with gift boxes, making it look like a small wholesale market.

Ye Zhenzhen stood in the middle of the room, her hands clasped in front of her, head bowed, and whispered:

"Mom and Dad, we... got our marriage certificate..."

This was like a thunderclap, leaving the elderly couple completely stunned.

A few seconds later.

Ye's mother staggered and almost fell to the ground. Ye's father came to his senses and tried to sit down to calm himself down, but he was too flustered and sat down on the ground with a thud.

"Dad, are you alright?"

Zhou Huaijin reacted quickly and helped the person up.

That one word, "Dad," silenced Old Ye completely.

He gripped the edge of the table, his lips opening and closing repeatedly before he finally managed to squeeze out a few words: "You...you...you all..."

Zhou Huaijin stepped forward and said sincerely, "Dad, Mom, Zhenzhen and I got our marriage certificate not long ago. We should have discussed this with you two first and gotten your consent before proceeding. I was too hasty and took her directly to the Civil Affairs Bureau without giving you any time to adjust. It was my fault."

"But please rest assured, we are serious about our relationship, and I will definitely treat her well."

The Ye couple were completely stunned. How did these two even get married? They thought the previous County Head Yang was a huge mismatch, and now they'd gotten themselves into trouble with Secretary Zhou…

Good heavens, how did my silly daughter get involved with this kind of person?

"Oh, Secretary Zhou, please sit down..." Mother Ye's voice was still trembling, and she didn't know where to put her hands.

Zhou Huaijin bowed slightly: "Mom, you can just call me by my name."

"This was indeed something I didn't consider carefully, and I'm sorry to have startled you both."

Ye's mother's gaze swept back and forth between the two women several times before finally looking at her daughter and asking, "Sweetie, you did this willingly, didn't you?"

Ye Zhenzhen didn't expect her mother to say that.

She was a little embarrassed to speak, "Yes, Mom, I really like him..."

Ye's mother looked at her for a long time, her eyes filled with heartache and helplessness.

Finally, he sighed and didn't ask any more questions.

She had been watching her daughter's emotions closely during this time. County Chief Yang was a good person, but the child didn't like him. You can't force a relationship.

Since she made that choice herself, well, that's just fate.

Mother Ye glanced at Zhou Huaijin and said solemnly, "Secretary Zhou, although my family can't compare to yours in terms of wealth and status, we only have this one daughter, whom we've cherished since she was little. She's never suffered any hardship and has no ulterior motives. From now on, you must protect her..."

Before she could finish speaking, Ye's mother's eyes reddened, and Ye Zhenzhen's nose also felt sore.

Zhou Huaijin quickly stood up and bowed respectfully: "Mom and Dad, please rest assured, from now on, when we're together, there will be one more person to pamper her. I won't let her suffer any grievances."

Mr. Ye sat beside her, remaining silent for a long while before finally speaking: "What about your parents—"

"They have no objections. I've already taken Zhenzhen back to Beijing, and my family all like her very much."

Mr. Ye nodded, as if relieved, and then asked, "So what are your plans for the future? You're not a local, and you'll have to leave when your term is up."

Zhou Huaijin replied earnestly, "I still have three years left in my term in Bin City. After our marriage, Zhenzhen and I will continue to live in our house in Bin City. Once my term ends, barring any unforeseen circumstances, I should return to Beijing to take up my post. Zhenzhen can continue working in Bin City; the two places are not far apart, and it will be convenient for me to travel back and forth. If she is willing to come back to Beijing with me, I can transfer her to a university in Beijing, where her salary and rank will be significantly higher."

He paused, glanced at Ye Zhenzhen, and then looked at the Ye couple:

"You two are getting older, and running a restaurant isn't a long-term solution. In the future, when we have children, although we'll have a nanny to help, I still hope you can help us take care of them. Children grow up in love so their personalities won't be flawed. You've raised Zhenzhen very well, and I believe you'll raise our children even better."

Upon hearing this, the elderly couple immediately perked up. As people get older, they think about seeing the next generation. Although they don't say it, they still envy those who have children and grandchildren around them.

Zhou Huaijin continued, "We will regularly provide you with a living allowance. No matter which city we settle in, we will prepare a house for you within two kilometers of us so that you can visit Zhenzhen at any time."

Ye Zhenzhen had never imagined that he had thought so far ahead, even making plans for his children, future jobs, and his parents' retirement.

She suddenly remembered what Zhou Chenyu had said to her at the hospital that day: "The person who loves you will stand in your future."

Mother Ye waved her hands repeatedly, "Oh, no need, no need. We're in good health, why would we need your money? Just live your own lives."

"This is what we should do." Zhou Huaijin's voice was not loud, but very firm. "You two raised Zhenzhen and entrusted her to me. It is my duty to fulfill this filial duty on her behalf."