"Yeah.." She replied faintly. She couldn't help but have a dull look on her face. She was bothered by her dream, by the memory she just regained, by the thought she had for it. Surely it was her subconsciousness speaking inside. It was quite perplexing.

"It's time for dinner, let's go together." Bai Jingye's voice brought her back to reality. He offered his hand for her to hold.

Lu Mengjie stared at his hand for a few seconds before she finally reached out, placing her hand on his.

"Your face looked so pale," said Bai Jingye as he stared at her complexion for a few seconds.

"Ah.." She paused and smiled a bit. She was reminded of her dream. She was kind of contemplating whether to tell him about it or not. "Nightmare."

"Oh." The man could clearly see that she was being hesitant about telling her so he didn't ask, after all, it was just a dream.

He began leading her downstairs then to the dining room. Upon entering, they saw Xu Chen waiting for them.

The middle-aged woman turned her gaze at them, instantly landing on her son and completely ignoring her daughter-in-law. She smiled a bit and said, "come, I've prepared your favorite."

Lu Mengjie turned to the table and ended up frowning when she saw that all of it was seafood dishes. She didn't know why but for some reason, she particularly felt disgusted by the food. To be exact, seafood.

She squeezed Bai Jingye's hand, giving him an indication that she was not liking the food that had been prepared for dinner.

The man glanced at their hands that were clasped together then to his mother and gave her a nod in acknowledgment. He led Lu Mengjie to the table and pulled out a chair for her. After she sat down, he went to the kitchen.

His mother looked at him in confusion, obviously not knowing why he was suddenly cracking some eggs and putting them in a bowl. "Jingye?"

"This won't take long." Her son said, looking all so focused on preparing the dish.

Lu Mengjie's eyes softened when she saw that Bai Jingye was preparing another set of food for her. Even if he was annoying at times, he has always been considerate of those around him. He was a good man in heart.

"Are you not going to eat?" Xu Chen asked as she kept on watching her son.historical

"I will. I just want to add eggs," he reasoned out, and yet, he was already slicing some onions. His knife skill was good, he was chopping most of the ingredients with speed and accuracy.

Before they knew it, he was already preparing egg-fried rice, even adding a few crushed peanuts in it.

It was then that Xu Chen realized the reason behind all of those preparations. There was no way her son would make another dish when she had already made his favorite food. She turned to the pregnant woman and narrowed her eyes as she sharply said, "if you don't want to eat the food I have prepared then go make yourself another one. Don't make my son do it."

A faint smile appeared on Lu Mengjie's lips as she replied, "Mother, I have never said a word since I entered the dining room with my husband. So I apologize if I have failed to understand what you are trying to say right now.."

Her mother-in-law's face darkened. "You.. is that how you should talk back to me? Your mother-in-law?"

Lu Mengjie blinked a few times, acting all confused. "I don't think I have said something wrong, mother."

It only made Xu Chen have a hard time arguing back. She was only finding ways to show her son how awful his 'wife' was.

"Jingye! Stop preparing food for her! She can do that herself!" She cried to her son. "I have never treated your father like a dog so you shouldn't let her turn you into one!"

"My wife is pregnant, mother. It's only right for the husband to become his wife's support." He paused from stirring the rice just to give his mother a warning glare. "And please don't forget the words I have told you earlier. Mengxi is my wife. She deserves respect even from you."

He was her son and he was supposed to take her side but why was he giving her a hard time?

"I apologize for my mother's rudeness, Mengmeng."

"It's fine," she replied with a small smile. She looked at Xu Chen and said with a polite tone in her voice, "I know that you don't like me, mother, but I really do hope that we can get along one day."

In the end, Xu Chen wasn't able to do anything but to shut her mouth. She lost her appetite and didn't want to eat anymore but leaving the room would only mean that she was succumbing to Lu Mengjie so she kept her pride and remained in the room.

Bai Jingye came back with the fried rice he prepared for his wife. With that, they all began having their dinner.

..

At the end of dinner, Lu Mengjie and Bai Jingye went for a stroll in the garden. While doing so, she remembered to give Bai Keran a call, just as she promised. It wasn't a simple call but instead, she decided to make it a video call just so they could fool the old man with their current 'relationship'.

It rang a few times before Bai Keran's face was finally seen on her phone's screen. He looked still the same. He has lines on his face, his hair was silvery-white because of old age. His face brightened, his smile was so gentle that anyone who would meet him for the first time would have a hard time believing that he was actually evil inside. What a hypocrite.

"Hi, grandpa!" Lu Mengjie greeted, flashing him a toothy grin. She was already in character for the act.

"Xiao Meng---huh? Why is it dark there? Are you outside?" The old man inquired, his brows knead together in confusion upon realizing the view on the other side of the screen. It was not totally dark since the faint light coming from the lamp post lit their way. They would encounter a post every now and then, lighting the path for them.

"Jingye and I are currently taking a walk in the garden, grandpa." She adjusted the phone she was holding just so Bai Jingye's face would be seen by his grandfather.

"Oh the garden, I see. Jingye, have you been taking care of Xiao Meng well?" The old man asked, somehow giving a double meaning to it.

Hearing his question made Lu Mengjie smirk inside. It seemed like the old man was still believing that everything was going according to his plans.

"Yes." His grandson simply replied.

"Good, good. Xiao Meng, if that man is causing you problems, you can always give me a call, okay?"

Ha! She wanted to laugh upon hearing his duplicity. She promised to herself that the next time that she would see him in person, she was not going to hold back anymore on showing him her real self. The woman he was trying to mess with.

"My husband has been treating me well, grandpa, don't worry." Lu Mengjie replied with a reassuring tone in her voice.

"If that's the case, then I'm glad. By the way, have you found out the gender of the child yet?" Bai Keran asked, looking quite curious at them.

Bai Jingye was about to say something but Lu Mengjie caught him up to it. "Yup! Jingye and I went to see the doctor the other day. We're having a boy, grandpa!"

The man only gave her a meaningful glance but was quickly hidden before the old man could even notice it

"A boy!" The old man seemed delighted somehow. "That's great!"

Just then a knock was heard from Bai Keran's side.

The old man tore his gaze away from the video just to ask, "what is it?"

"Mr. Bai, your guest has arrived. Mr. Qi is waiting for you downstairs."

Both Bai Jingye and Lu Mengjie were able to see the change in expression of the old man. It may be quick but they caught the fear that flashed in his eyes but soon disappeared when he regained his composure. It was rather.. unsettling for the couple who saw it.

"Alright, I'll see him in a moment." Bai Keran returned his gaze at them. "I have to go now, children. Let's talk again some other time."

"Grandpa must be so busy. I will not hold you back from your work anymore so, bye-bye, grandpa." She made a small wave to him.

After the call ended, Lu Mengjie faced the man standing beside her, looking at him with a meaningful stare.

He nodded as if understanding her look. They just couldn't speak freely at that moment. Not in an open area where anyone could be listening to their conversation. "It's getting cold, we should head back inside."