In the afternoon, the class beauty, Xin Xiaoting, called Shen Qiang. As soon as Shen Qiang answered the phone, he heard Xin Xiaoting say anxiously, "Shen Qiang, we're in trouble. My aunt has told my dad about us being together."

Shen Qiang laughed, "So she told him, what are you afraid of?"

Upon hearing this, Xin Xiaoting became frantic and whined, "How can you not worry at all? My dad is so picky. After hearing about us, he insists on having dinner at your place tonight."

Shen Qiang laughed again, "Let him come, I'll make him a few good dishes."

Xin Xiaoting stomped her feet in frustration, "How thick-skinned can you be? My dad is using dinner as an excuse to check out your home. If it doesn't meet his standards, he won't let us be together."

Hearing this, Shen Qiang laughed, "OK, you can rest easy, there's no problem on my side."

Xin Xiaoting sighed helplessly, "Shen Qiang, what's the situation with that second-hand apartment you bought a while ago?"

"If it's too small, I'd better not let my dad go. He's got a sharp tongue. Not only will you lose face, but he'll definitely blabber a bunch of nonsense and then forbid me from dating you."

Shen Qiang was shocked, then had a sudden realization, and couldn't help laughing, "My bad, I only told you I bought an apartment, but I didn't tell you where it is or what it's like."

"Although it's a second-hand apartment, the previous owner decorated it and never lived in it for a day."

"So, in fact, this apartment is no different from a new one."

Relieved by his words, Xin Xiaoting then asked anxiously, "What about the size? Is it at least 90 square meters?"

Shen Qiang was amused.

Little did she know, Shen Qiang's apartment was nothing short of luxurious.

Just the storage room he used for growing Blood Ganoderma was over five hundred square meters!

Seeing that Shen Qiang didn't immediately respond, Xin Xiaoting hesitated and said, "Housing in Provincial City is expensive. It's okay if it's not ninety square meters. We've just graduated, so if we're together, even thirty square meters would be enough. Even renting a place would be fine."

"But my dad is a bit of a snob. If it's not ninety square meters, I think he could understand, but you should at least have sixty or seventy, right? Anything smaller, and he might feel claustrophobic when he visits."

Warmed by her words, Shen Qiang said softly, "Don't worry, he'll definitely be satisfied with the house."

"Really?" Xin Xiaoting asked doubtfully, "Shen Qiang, I know you're an appraiser in the antique market, and that should make some money, but with the housing prices in Provincial City so high..."

Shen Qiang laughed and said, "Don't worry about that anymore. Just let me know when you'll arrive, I'm going to give you a surprise."

At his words, Xin Xiaoting teased over the phone, "We don't need any surprise. Just make sure you don't slip up and give him any leverage."

At this point, Xin Xiaoting's tone shifted, and she suddenly giggled triumphantly, "Oh, and there's more good news I haven't had the chance to tell you—I passed my doctor's qualification exam."

"Congratulations." Shen Qiang smiled.

Xin Xiaoting said, "The results came out today, and I can get the certificate tomorrow. So my dad said he'd drive me to Provincial City after work tonight, we'll stay at my aunt's, then after I get the certificate tomorrow morning, we'll head back."

"So if nothing unexpected happens, he will finish work at five-thirty, and we should arrive between six-thirty and seven. My aunt will probably come too."

"He's a bit of a fatty and has a discerning taste when it comes to food. If you can't cook well, you might want to go to a decent restaurant and buy some ready-made dishes instead."

Shen Qiang laughed, "Ok, don't worry babe, see you tonight."

After work in the evening, using the pretext of having something to do, he declined an invitation to dine with his colleagues.

Shen Qiang headed straight to the market.

I can't speak for other things,

but even a gourmet live streamer like Lv Shuyao can't stop praising Shen Qiang's medicinal cuisine.

So of course he had no problem impressing ordinary people.

Despite this, Shen Qiang felt inexplicably nervous.

Xin Xiaoting was, in fact, perfect. She was the belle of the Clinical Medicine Program at Medical University.

She had both the figure and the looks, pure and pretty, far from what an ordinary woman could compare with.

Marrying her would be a great joy for any man.

But obviously, if her father didn't approve, it wasn't just about marrying her—he wouldn't even be able to continue dating her.

Back at home,

Shen Qiang swiftly tidied up and simply prepared eight dishes and two soups.

Just as he finished all this, the phone rang.

"Shen Qiang, we've reached South Street; which way should we go?"

Hearing Xin Xiaoting's cautious words, Shen Qiang chuckled and said, "Just follow South Street north, and you'll see it at the intersection with Haibei Road. The complex is called Jinyu Huacheng."

After hanging up the phone, Xin Xiaoting's eyes lit up, "Isn't the intersection of South Street and Haibei Road near the pedestrian street? That's in the city center!"

Hearing this, the middle-aged woman sitting next to her sneered, "Silly girl, what difference does the city center make? As the old saying goes, 'In a bustling city, a poor man is ignored, but in the mountains, a rich man has distant relatives flocking to him.'"

"This boyfriend of yours, his family is from out of town, and his parents are just ordinary salaried workers. Buying a second-hand apartment in Provincial City, he probably borrowed from all his relatives and friends."

"If you follow him, you'll ruin your entire life."

"Your Eighth Aunt was exactly like you, wouldn't listen to anyone, had to marry that poor boy, saying as long as they loved each other, even eating bran and drinking water would feel sweet. And now?"

"Her kid can't even afford a decent school, and for cosmetics, she only uses the cheap Snow Cream. She's ten years younger than me yet looks older. If you don't take advice, you'll end up the same way."

Xin Xiaoting frowned and said, "Second Aunt, things are not as you imagine; he is a very capable doctor."

"Capable? Can he compare to the son of the director of our city's TV station?"

Xin Xiaoting's Second Aunt scoffed, "The lad has a distinguished background, an only child, and not to mention that villa next to Xishan Park, which must be worth at least three million, right?"

"He also owns two large stores in the city, and wherever he goes in our place, he's given face."

"Just the visible assets, when tallied up, are worth nearly ten million at least."

"If you marry him, you'll live a life of luxury, and your future children will be born millionaires. But if you insist on being with your classmate, really, all you'll have to eat is what your father has managed to save."

Xin Xiaoting furrowed her brow, "Second Aunt, why are you like this? If he's so great, why don't you marry your daughter to him?"

The middle-aged woman was taken aback, "Hey, what kind of way is that to talk? I'm only thinking of your best interests. Besides, if that boy hadn't turned down your cousin, do you think you would have had a chance?"

Just then, the car suddenly slowed down, and the man driving said in surprise, "Wow, Jinyu Huacheng. This complex looks pretty good."

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