My whirlwind marriage partner is a wealthy CEO

Chapter 179 A Family Background That's Not Simple

Zhu Ziqing nodded, picked up the wrapped gifts, and got out of the car. She glanced at the sky and quickened her pace.

Walking along the quiet path, Zhu Ziqing's thoughts involuntarily drifted to Tan Haoyu.

"If only he were here," Zhu Ziqing thought to herself.

She recalled Tan Haoyu's phone call at noon, informing her that he wouldn't be back until tomorrow, and couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

"It's all my fault for leaving my phone at Li Siqi's house a couple of days ago, which caused him to waste two days," Zhu Ziqing thought to herself with self-reproach.

Her pace quickened unconsciously, and she felt uneasy about meeting the elders of the Tan family.

"Will they like me? What can I do to make a good impression on them?" Zhu Ziqing was filled with questions and worries.

She hoped that Tan Haoyu could come back soon and stay by her side to ease her anxiety.

Finally, Zhu Ziqing arrived at Jiayuan ahead of schedule. The journey, which usually takes half an hour, only took her twenty-odd minutes today.

After walking, she felt much warmer, and a blush appeared on her face.

Upon seeing her, the security guard nodded politely and greeted her, "Good evening, Madam!"

Zhu Ziqing smiled and replied, "Good evening."

She stepped into her home, secretly relieved. Although the gift wasn't fully prepared yet, at least she had taken the first step.

Zhu Ziqing stood before the gates of Jiayuan, her gaze sweeping over a landscape of luxury and grandeur. She took a deep breath, her heart filled with a myriad of emotions.

"Tan Haoyu's family background is indeed extraordinary." Zhu Ziqing thought to herself, Tan Haoyu's cold yet charming face appearing in her mind.

It takes a few minutes to walk from the security room to the main house. The pavilions and towers in the garden are scattered in a well-organized manner, and the flowers, trees and shrubs are lush and green, making you feel as if you are in a leisure scenic area.

The main building is a magnificent four-story structure in the style of Shenzhen. It boasts a full range of facilities, including a gym, swimming pool, and golf course, making it truly dazzling.

"This is a real mansion!" Zhu Ziqing exclaimed, feeling both shocked and somewhat uneasy.

She recalled the Tan family's traditions and Spring Festival arrangements. Although the Tan family elders had lived in the United States for a long time, they attached great importance to traditional Chinese culture and would return to China every Spring Festival to reunite with their families.

Tan Haoyu planned to use this Spring Festival gathering as an opportunity to formally introduce Zhu Ziqing to his family. Thinking of this, Zhu Ziqing's heart began to race.

"Meeting the parents...it's really stressful." Zhu Ziqing shook her head with a wry smile. These past few days, she has barely been able to eat or sleep, her mind filled with how to leave a good impression on the Tan family elders.

She clutched the gift bag in her hand, silently praying, "I hope they can feel my sincerity."

The villa was brightly lit, resembling a fairyland, breathtakingly beautiful. Zhu Ziqing stood at the door, took a deep breath, and was about to push the door open when she suddenly heard a man and a woman talking nearby.

She stopped and looked in the direction of the sound, only to see a man and a woman, both around forty years old, walking towards her. The man was tall and refined, with a scholarly air; the woman was gentle and dignified, exuding elegance in every gesture.

Zhu Ziqing saw Tan Haoyu's shadow in them and immediately understood—these must be Tan Haoyu's parents.

"Time has truly been kind to them," Zhu Ziqing thought to herself, feeling a little nervous.

Just then, Mrs. Tan noticed Zhu Ziqing and walked towards her with a smile: "Little girl, are you the new maid? Would you like to take a walk with me?"

Zhu Ziqing was stunned, her heart raced instantly, and she was too nervous to speak.

Mr. Tan patted Mrs. Tan on the shoulder and said gently, "You two can talk slowly. I'll go to the study to take care of some things."

After saying that, he turned and left, leaving Zhu Ziqing and Tan's mother alone.

Zhu Ziqing opened her mouth, but didn't know how to explain her identity. Mrs. Tan mistakenly thought she was the new maid, which made her feel incredibly embarrassed.

"I...I..." Zhu Ziqing stammered, her face turning bright red.

Mrs. Tan smiled gently and took her hand: "Don't be nervous, just walk with me."

Zhu Ziqing could only nod reluctantly, inwardly lamenting, "What am I going to do now? Tan Haoyu, come back and save me!"

Mrs. Tan smiled gently, her gaze falling on the two large bags in Zhu Ziqing's hands. She said softly, "Little girl, don't be nervous. Put the bags down first and come for a walk with me. I rarely stay here and I'm not very familiar with this place."

Zhu Ziqing looked down at the bag in her hand and felt a little embarrassed. She really did look like a maid doing odd jobs.

"Okay...okay." She quickly put the bag aside and followed carefully behind Mrs. Tan.

The two strolled slowly along the garden path. Mrs. Tan glanced at Zhu Ziqing and asked gently, "How long have you been with the Tan family? Are you settling in well?"

Zhu Ziqing paused for a moment, then hesitated before answering, "Two...two or three days, I guess."

Mrs. Tan nodded and comforted her, "The Tan family is very easy to get along with, so don't be too reserved. If you need any help, just let me know."

Zhu Ziqing opened her mouth, wanting to explain that she was actually Tan Haoyu's girlfriend, but remembering that Tan Haoyu hadn't formally introduced her to his parents yet, she had to swallow her words.

"Thank you, I will," she replied softly, though she felt a little helpless.

Mrs. Tan sighed, gazing into the distance, her voice tinged with a touch of melancholy: "I wonder where Xiaoxuan has gone. Without her antics, the house feels much quieter."

Just as Zhu Ziqing was about to reply, she suddenly heard a "woof woof" sound. She turned around and saw Xiao Hua wagging its tail and running towards her.

"Little Flower!" Zhu Ziqing squatted down, hugged Little Flower in her arms, and gently stroked its head. "Don't be afraid, Mommy is here."

Looking at this scene, a hint of surprise flashed in Tan's mother's eyes: "Is this your pet? It's so cute."

Zhu Ziqing nodded and invited with a smile, "Would you like to pet it? It's very well-behaved."

Mrs. Tan readily agreed and gently stroked Xiaohua's head. Xiaohua seemed to like her too, squinting her eyes and rubbing against her hand.

"It's so adorable," Mrs. Tan said with a smile, her eyes full of tenderness.

Looking at Tan's mother, Zhu Ziqing felt a growing fondness for her. She noticed that Tan's mother's gaze would occasionally fall on her, seemingly with a hint of inquiry.

“You have a gentle personality and blush easily, which is completely different from Xiaoxuan,” Tan’s mother suddenly said. “However, you are both very likable.”

Zhu Ziqing blushed, lowered her head, and whispered, "Thank you for your compliment."

Mrs. Tan smiled, stretched out her hand and said, "Let me hold it."

Zhu Ziqing handed the little flower over, and Tan's mother carefully took it and gently stroked its fur.

"Haoyu is a germaphobe; the family has never kept any pets," Tan's mother suddenly said, her tone tinged with helplessness.