Courtyard House: I'm an engineer, and a fairy godmother transferred me to a different position.

His mind raced, and his smile deepened, even tinged with a barely perceptible hint of flattery: "Oh, good, good! This is... this is truly a wonderful thing!" He was momentarily speechless. "Guangqi, this child, is so lucky, so incredibly lucky!"

Yan Jiecheng, standing to the side, felt only bitter envy. He couldn't even find a girl from the city, while Liu Guangqi had found such a remarkable woman as his fiancée. The difference between them was like heaven and earth.

Soon, the words "fiancée" were like cold water poured into boiling oil, instantly causing the entire courtyard to boil over.

"What? Guangqi brought his fiancée back?" The third aunt, who was picking vegetables by the pond, trembled, and the vegetable leaves she had just sorted spilled all over the ground. Her eyes widened as she stared straight at the gate.

"Who? Whose fiancée?" The aunties and grandmas who were chatting in one place all craned their necks, looking like a nest of sparrows that had spotted a grain of rice.

When the figure following Liu Guangqi into the courtyard was clearly seen, an eerie silence fell over the courtyard.

Immediately afterwards, a series of suppressed gasps rose and fell.

"Good heavens...is that Guangqi's fiancée?"

"No wonder he turned down the matchmaking event arranged by the neighborhood committee; it turns out he's dating such an angelic girl!"

"That kid's got a really tight mouth!"

"This girl... is really beautiful."

It's more than just eye-catching!

"Look at her whole demeanor, she's like a girl who grew up in a wealthy family compound!"

"That shirt fabric is so crisp, it must be Dacron, right? And those leather shoes of yours, so shiny, how much money must they have cost?"

If you ask me—

"In our courtyard, only Guang Qi is a match for a girl like that."

The discussions were lively and varied, one wave after another.

Those gazes—curious, scrutinizing, and envious—were like an invisible net, quietly gathering around Zhao Mengyun.

An ordinary girl, being stared at by such a group of people, would have blushed, her heart would have raced, and she wouldn't know what to do with her hands and feet.

But Zhao Mengyun was different.

She wore a faint smile, composed and unhurried, without the slightest hint of awkwardness.

Her poise and composure secretly amazed the women in the courtyard. This girl... is truly extraordinary.

Besides, her demeanor is so refined; she doesn't seem like someone raised in an ordinary working-class family. Where does she actually work?

How can someone be so outstanding?

Needless to say.

When Liu Guangqi led Zhao Mengyun into the courtyard, the commotion was even greater than when Qin Huairu entered the courtyard at the age of eighteen.

In the front and middle yards, several faces peeked out from behind the curtains of every house, their eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Look, Guangqi brought his girlfriend back."

"Wow, this girl is so beautiful, even more stunning than the actresses in the promotional pictures."

"Who can argue with that!"

"Look at that figure, that look, even Qin Huairu from our courtyard can't compare..."

There's really no other way.

Who could blame Zhao Mengyun for being so beautiful and having such an outstanding temperament?

He wore a neat shirt and had a faint smile on his face, showing no sign of timidity.

In the backyard, Second Uncle Liu Haizhong, with his hands clasped behind his back, paced back and forth with a steady, official air.

Hearing the buzzing voices coming from ahead, his brows immediately furrowed.

"What's all the noise about?"

He cleared his throat, preparing to adopt the demeanor of an elder uncle and go to the front to give a speech, when he looked up and saw his eldest son, Liu Guangqi, leading a girl through the moon gate and walking towards him.

The words that were on the tip of Liu Haizhong's tongue—

He choked for a moment, his eyes wide open.

He stood there stunned for a while before taking his hands down from behind his back and rubbing them awkwardly.

"Guangqi...you're back?"

"dad."

Liu Guangqi smiled and responded.

Liu Haizhong then came to his senses, trying hard to put on a stern face and project the authority of a father, but he couldn't suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth, making him look a bit simple-minded.

"Guangqi, who is this...?"

Before Liu Guangqi could speak, Zhao Mengyun had already stepped forward gracefully.

"Hello, Uncle."

Her voice was clear and crisp, like water flowing over pebbles: "My name is Zhao Mengyun, and I'm Guangqi's girlfriend."

As she spoke, she casually handed over the large and small bags she was carrying: "First time coming home..."

"I brought a small token of my appreciation for you, your aunt, and your brothers."

Liu Haizhong was still immersed in the surprise of his son bringing his girlfriend home, and subconsciously reached out to take her.

"Oh well, you're already here, why bring anything..."

Before he could finish his polite words, his wrist was suddenly pulled down.

"Yo!"

Liu Haizhong was caught off guard, and the weight of the large and small bags almost strained his back. He quickly reached out with his other hand to barely manage to hold them up.

He was startled, and when he looked down into the net bag, his eyes widened in surprise.

Good guy!

Malted milk powder, canned yellow peaches, and face cream were placed underneath, along with a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes and a bottle of Xifeng liquor.

This is not over yet!

Underneath the bottle, there were two square cardboard boxes with blue and white sneakers printed on them.

Warrior shoes! Two pairs, no less!

This is quite a gesture...

Liu Haizhong felt his heart pounding faster.

These days, who would put on such a grand show when their son brings his girlfriend home for the first time?

This isn't just a potential partner coming to your door, it's like a lucky star has arrived!

"Guangqi!"

"What does your partner's family do?"

A shrill voice cut in. Jia Zhangshi, who had just come over from inside the house, stared intently at the pile of things in Liu Haizhong's arms with her triangular eyes. She was so shocked that she clicked her tongue and almost drooled.

Before Liu Guangqi could answer, Zhao Mengyun smiled slightly and said, "My parents are ordinary workers. They just thought that since it was the first time they met their elders, it shouldn't be too simple."

He spoke modestly, but with the substantial amount of various gifts in his arms, who in the courtyard watching the commotion couldn't tell the difference?

It's not that I'm afraid of simplicity.

This is clearly so generous it's tempting; this gift is so precious it's almost too good to pass up!

The future daughter-in-law's first visit—

The wrinkles in his bangs were neatly ironed out, and he even forgot his usual official demeanor, his hands trembling as he rushed into the house to greet her. Carrying a heavy gift box, his eyes shone with an eager light as he looked at Zhao Mengyun. He turned and called out into the inner room, "Honey! Look, your son's bringing someone home!"

Before she could finish speaking, the second aunt had already lifted the curtain and rushed out, not even having time to put down the wet rag in her hand. When her gaze fell on Zhao Mengyun, she froze in the doorway, and after a long while, she exclaimed "Oh!" and her eyes lit up with a smile. She quickly stepped forward, grabbed the girl's hand, and wouldn't let go: "This look...like she stepped out of a painting!"

She circled Zhao Mengyun, scrutinizing her closely, sighing repeatedly. Then she turned and glared at Liu Guangqi, her eyes brimming with barely suppressed smugness. She thought to herself, "No wonder he looked down on all the women the street recommended earlier; I've found a gem myself. With looks and character like hers, let alone in this compound, how many could you find in the whole city?"

"Quickly, sit down!" Auntie Er hurriedly led the person to a stool, noticing dust on the surface, she vigorously wiped it twice with a rag before feeling relieved. Turning back, she saw the Liu brothers, Guangtian and Guangfu, standing blankly to the side, craning their necks, and shooed them away like birds: "Don't block the way here..."

She turned to look at Liu Guangqi, her voice tinged with a hint of reproach: "You silly child, you didn't even let me know you were coming back. Look at the mess the house is in, you haven't even tidied it up." As she spoke, she poured some tea and handed it to Zhao Mengyun: "Miss, have some tea to moisten your throat."

"Mom, we're thirsty too," the two brothers muttered to each other.

"What's wrong with being thirsty for a while!" Auntie Er said without turning her head.

Liu Guangqi leaned against the door, watching his parents' expressions, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. The old couple were more nervous than the girl herself, as it was their first time meeting their future daughter-in-law. The father still maintained some parental airs, but his gaze kept drifting towards Zhao Mengyun, his scrutiny revealing undisguised satisfaction. The mother, however, was completely at ease, holding her hand and asking her all sorts of questions, as warm and welcoming as if she were seeing a long-lost relative.

Meanwhile, things were already bustling at the other end of the courtyard. Several men were gathered around the moon gate, peering in and out, their hearts itching with curiosity. Sha Zhu, squatting in the crowd, clicked his tongue, his eyes practically glued to the view: "That kid Guangqi... he's been so quiet, yet he's found a goddess!" He then drifted off into daydreaming: "I wonder if she has any sisters..."

"Dream on!" Xu Damao scoffed from the side. "With your smoky, fiery appearance all the time, do you think anyone would even notice you?"

He had actually caught a glimpse of Zhao Mengyun. Her entire demeanor filled him with a sour, bitter feeling. He, Xu Damao, had married Lou Xiao'e, the daughter of the Lou family, years ago—who in the courtyard wasn't envious? Even Jia Dongxu's wife, Qin Huairu, was nothing more than a country bumpkin in his eyes, nowhere near as good as his own respectable city girl. But seeing the person beside Liu Guangqi today, his smugness shattered instantly—Lou Xiao'e was a delicate flower to be cherished, while Zhao Mengyun was like a warm, lustrous piece of jade, making one unconsciously lower their voice even when speaking to her.

Xu Damao had never known before that a girl could be so beautiful.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment inside the Liu family's house in the backyard.

Liu Haizhong jumped up from the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), wiping his hands along the seams of his trousers, his previous feigned composure completely shattered. He opened his mouth, his throat bobbing a few times before he finally managed to squeeze out, "Foreign Ministry...that's where you meet foreign leaders!"

Zhao Mengyun held the enamel mug, her fingertip lightly tracing the rim, and glanced at Liu Guangqi by the door—her eyes shimmering with a delicate light, like the sunlight dancing on the windowpane in the afternoon. Liu Guangqi received that gaze, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved upwards, inwardly sighing: Sure enough, here we go again.

The second aunt was still holding Zhao Mengyun's hand, but it felt like she was holding a hot piece of jade, unsure whether to loosen her grip or tighten it. She turned her head and glared at Liu Haizhong, muttering under her breath, "Why are you panicking..." Before she could finish speaking, she swallowed hard.

The room was so quiet that the faint gurgling of the kettle on the coal stove could be heard. Liu Guangqi straightened up, walked to Zhao Mengyun's side, and gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "Dad," he said, his voice low, but it broke the tense atmosphere, "Yunyun is here today as my girlfriend, nothing else."

Liu Haizhong seemed not to hear, rubbing his hands together and pacing around the room for a couple of steps. Suddenly, he turned around and pulled out an unopened box of "Da Qianmen" cigarettes from the top of the cabinet—something he only took out during holidays. His hand trembled slightly as he tore open the seal, pulled out a cigarette, and handed it to Zhao Mengyun, his movements stiff as if he were presenting some kind of official document. "Comrade...leader..."

Zhao Mengyun didn't take the cigarette; instead, she smiled. The laughter was soft, like a wind chime gently tinkling under the eaves. "Uncle, you can just call me Xiaoyun." She put down her cup, took the cigarette with both hands, and then naturally and gracefully placed it on the edge of the kang table. "I don't smoke, thank you."

The movements were fluid and graceful, neither offending the other person nor failing to clearly define the boundaries. Watching from the side, Auntie Er's initial unease eased somewhat—this girl was indeed considerate.

The commotion outside couldn't be contained any longer. Half a head peeked out from behind the moon gate—it was Sha Zhu. He craned his neck to peer inside, muttering, "Good heavens, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs… just how high-ranking must this be?" Xu Damao, squatting against the wall, spat, his eyes glued to the glass window. He thought of his wife Lou Xiao'e's family's silk shops and trading companies; what he once considered the pinnacle of prestige now seemed rather drab.

The clothesline in the yard swayed in the wind. Several women huddled around the pond, their voices low but their words clear: "I heard that girl inside deals with foreigners?" "No wonder she has such an air about her. I sensed something was different when she walked in—her gait, her eyes…"

Inside the room, Zhao Mengyun had already sat back down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). She leaned slightly forward and said gently to Liu Haizhong, "Uncle, Guangqi often tells me that you are the most sensible and reliable person." These words were spoken casually, but Liu Haizhong's back unconsciously straightened a little.

Liu Guangqi leaned back against the doorframe, looking at his father's expression—a mixture of aloofness and unwavering respect—and felt a surge of helpless tenderness. He knew that from this moment on, certain unseen orders within this family had quietly shifted. Zhao Mengyun sat in the interplay of light and shadow, a faint smile playing on her lips, as if she were merely a gentle breeze passing through this bustling world.