271 - I Don’t Want to Be Turned Into the Female Protagonist by the System
Chapter 271: Introducing a Boyfriend? As Su Qi, dressed in a pale blue dress, appeared beside the dining table, the eyes of Ying Lan and Qu Xin immediately lit up. Especially given that she had just bathed, her slightly damp hair added an extra touch of softness unique to young girls. "Hello, Aunt Qu and Aunt Ying!" Su Qi greeted them somewhat shyly in response to their gazes. Hearing Su Qi's sweet greeting made Qu Xin and Ying Lan quite delighted. Women naturally love beautiful things, and both already admired Su Qi's appearance. Now, seeing her in this tender, slightly timid manner struck the two's soft spots. After all, even though they both had daughters, neither An Ning, Wang Zijin, nor Wang Yun possessed Su Qi's delightful, soft charm. "Come, sit down, little girl, try Auntie's cooking," Ying Lan invited Su Qi to sit. As everyone settled, the round table was spacious enough for the five of them, and Su Qi sat beside Wang Yun and Wang Zijin. She immediately felt more at ease when Wang Zijin gently held her hand. Wang Yun noticed this little gesture too but chose not to highlight it, instead laughing and smoothing things over: "Aunt Qu, this braised pork must be yours. It looks especially delicious." Qu Xin had always been disarmed by this sweet-talking Wang Yun since An Ning was typically more reserved. "Then try it quickly. Oh, Su Qi, have some too," Qu Xin said as she served a piece of braised pork to Wang Yun and another to Su Qi. "Thank you, Aunt Qu," Su Qi accepted the bowl with both hands, her earnest expression causing everyone to chuckle at her nervousness. "Don't be tense, we aren't bad people," Ying Lan said as she handed Su Qi a drumstick. Looking at the two pieces of meat in her bowl, Su Qi felt it was almost unreal. Was she really receiving such warm hospitality on her first encounter with her potential mothers-in-law? But then, she belatedly realized that these women probably didn't know about her relationship with their daughters. After all, she currently appeared as a girl. Nevertheless, seeing how the two aunties didn't dislike her made Su Qi quite happy. Having been hungry for some time, Su Qi began to eat once she saw everyone else start. First, she devoured the braised pork, rich with sauce and perfectly balanced with a tender yet chewy texture. Then she turned to the drumstick Ying Lan had prepared, where the meticulous cuts allowed the broth to fully seep in, delivering a burst of juicy flavor with each bite. Watching Su Qi eat with such contentment, both Ying Lan and Qu Xin found the young girl increasingly endearing. Just then, a barking sound from the gate broke the tranquility. It was soon followed by a knock on the door. Wang Zijin stood to open it. An Ning was at the door, wary of the approach of 'Great Yellow,' the dog — not because she feared being bitten, but she wore a black dress today and didn't want it getting snagged. Seeing her master's friend back away from the dog in distrust, Great Yellow let out a forlorn whimper. As Wang Zijin opened the door, Su Qi was warmed by the arrival of her An Ning, knowing she must have rushed over just to be there, even though it was only 3 PM and she wouldn’t be off from checking the shops until 5 PM. With both her partners gathered at the table, Su Qi wasn't as nervous as before. Today marked Su Qi's first experience of the internet-described fear of meeting one's in-laws because she really feared not meeting the aunties' expectations. Ying Lan filled a bowl of rice for An Ning and once more urged everyone to eat. Soon, the table bustled with conversation again. This was Su Qi’s first time dining at someone else’s home, particularly in a gathering of women alone. Silently listening to their chatter, she noted their camaraderie, akin to close siblings casually dining together. Su Qi now understood why Wang Zijin and An Ning were so close, as their mothers, Qu Xin and Ying Lan, had been best friends from a young age, naturally extending this bond to their daughters. Su Qi counted herself lucky that if either Wang Zijin or An Ning was a boy, the deep friendship between the aunties might have led to a childhood engagement, which meant she wouldn’t have had two partners. Half an hour later, Qu Xin noted Su Qi's slowed eating pace, seeing her interest in their conversation. She asked, almost absent-mindedly: "Little Su Qi, do you have a boyfriend?" *Cough, cough.* Taken aback by the sudden question, Su Qi choked on her rice. Wang Yun handed over a glass of juice, and Wang Zijin helped pat Su Qi's back, while An Ning shot her mother a slightly reproachful look. Qu Xin, undeterred by An Ning's glance, pulled her closer and whispered, "Little Ning, what do you think of your brother An Dong with little Su Qi? Wouldn't it be great for your brother to marry her? We'd get to see her every day!" An Ning felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart by her mother’s words. Seeing no reply for some time, Qu Xin, feeling a bit petulant, added, "I heard that your Aunt Ying has just contacted Wang Zijin's brother, Wang Zicheng. Imagine how sad I'd be if Su Qi ended up with him. Despite our close family ties, we can't let an opportunity slip by, can we?" An Ning’s head throbbed at her mother's spiel, not sure how to explain that Su Qi was already hers. How could she be with her brother? To make matters worse, her best friend's family seemed to be plotting too. By this point, Su Qi had finally recovered from her coughing fit and said: "Aunt Qu, I don’t have a boyfriend!" Hearing this, Qu Xin and Ying Lan's eyes immediately brightened, relieved to hear she was single. Though Ying Lan hadn't previously known much about Su Qi, her instinct as the wife of a dean allowed her to discern the genuine nature beneath Su Qi’s shy demeanor — a good girl. And as for Qu Xin, she had a deep admiration for Su Qi, particularly after the recent Yang case, where Su Qi had almost donated everything. It was something even a businesswoman like her could respect. The An family didn't lack wealth, and many wanted to marry into it, but character came first, and on this front, Su Qi shone. Moreover, she was just so likeable and would undoubtedly be a joy to get along with as a daughter-in-law. Not to mention, with such an adorable child, any future children would surely be precious too! Perhaps it was the friends' unspoken understanding, as Qu Xin and Ying Lan both simultaneously proposed to Su Qi: "Would you like Auntie to introduce a boyfriend for you? He's very handsome!" Su Qi: ??? An Ning: Wang Zijin: !!! Wang Yun quietly observed everyone’s reactions, finding the entire scene too amusing!