Accidental Hero: The Rookie Who Outshines the Force - Chapter 31

He Xueting’s tone was firm. Su Qingwu couldn’t refuse her enthusiasm and reluctantly agreed.

It was just a meal—nothing too serious.

But with her eyes, He Xueting shot Lu Cheng a warning: If you dare say one more word about skipping dinner, the rolling pin will be waiting at home.

It was practically mealtime anyway. There was no such thing as an “urgent task” that couldn’t wait. She knew very well that Su Qingwu was simply too shy to step into their home uninvited.

So, without a second thought, He Xueting grabbed Su Qingwu’s hand and led her toward the apartment building.

Meanwhile, Lu Cheng parked her car in a roadside space, then headed to the family supermarket to grab some extra groceries. On the way, he called his uncle to come over for dinner.

This was etiquette—if a girl was coming home for the first time, the whole family should be present.

Lu Cheng had no choice but to comply.

And so, Su Qingwu, against her will, was pulled into the neighborhood by He Xueting.

Passing through the community garden, a few elderly ladies on a bench caught sight of the scene. Their eyes lit up instantly, blazing with gossip as if they had just stumbled upon a major scoop.

“Xueting, who’s this young lady?”

“My goodness, she’s gorgeous! Even prettier than the stars on TV!”

They desperately hoped this beauty was just some cousin or distant relative—anything that would make it easier to swallow.

But no, chances were high she was the son’s girlfriend.

Too pretty. Too unfair.

Sure enough, He Xueting declared proudly, “Her? She’s my son Xiaocheng’s girlfriend.”

Her smile was so wide it deepened the wrinkles around her eyes.

The old ladies nearly turned green with envy. What incredible luck! A daughter-in-law like this was rarer than gold.

Su Qingwu kept a smile on her face, though it felt stiff. She had the sense of being paraded around, but her icy aura was the perfect mask—just keep it up and she’d survive.

The aunties, however, felt thoroughly miserable. Watching someone else’s son land such a beautiful girlfriend was more painful than watching their own kids eat dirt.

Not that He Xueting lingered to show off. She quickly pulled Su Qingwu upstairs.

The house was empty—Lu Zhiguo hadn’t returned from work yet.

Handing Su Qingwu a pair of slippers, He Xueting ushered her to the couch, slicing watermelon and starting a “chat.”

Which mostly meant He Xueting asked, and Su Qingwu answered.

…

“Oh my, Qingwu, you’re already a deputy captain?!”

The more they spoke, the more satisfied He Xueting became. She wished she could make this girl her daughter-in-law on the spot.

Her silly son really did have silly luck.

Twenty minutes later, Lu Cheng returned—left hand full of lobsters and abalone, right hand carrying a sea bass and a slab of marbled beef.

Thanks to Su Qingwu, it felt like New Year’s came early.

Changing into slippers, he glanced at the living room.

There she sat—Su Qingwu, serene and graceful, holding a glass of water like the perfect guest.

And suddenly, his heart skipped.

It was almost too easy to imagine that she really was his girlfriend, here for the first time to meet his family.

But he quickly snapped out of it. Don’t fool yourself. It’s all just an act.

He set the groceries in the kitchen. “Mom, Uncle said he’ll come after closing the books.”

“Mm.” She waved him off, busy asking Su Qingwu for her birthdate and zodiac.

When she learned Su Qingwu was three years older than Lu Cheng, she beamed even brighter. Perfect. An older woman is worth a brick of gold.

“Mom, how do you want these cooked? You’re not coming into the kitchen?” Lu Cheng tried to pull her away, hoping to rescue Su Qingwu from interrogation.

“You’re grown and still can’t wash vegetables? Rinse the rice, clean the crabs and lobsters. If you don’t know, look it up online!”

Her tone brooked no argument. One more word and the rolling pin was coming out.

Su Qingwu merely cast Lu Cheng a calm glance and continued eating her watermelon.

In no time, He Xueting had added Su Qingwu on WeChat and even exchanged phone numbers. Her “spoils of war” were impressive.

By the time Lu Zhiguo returned with He Cong, He Xueting finally went to the kitchen to cook. Poor Lu Cheng was left wrangling crabs—and even managed to jab his finger.

“Useless for everything but eating,” his mother scolded. “Go get a band-aid yourself.”

When the men entered the living room and spotted Su Qingwu, their reactions mirrored He Xueting’s first.

This brat Lu Cheng—how much good karma had he built up in his last life to meet a girl like this?

Su Qingwu rose gracefully, greeting, “Uncle. Uncle.”

The two men stammered out a response, still stunned by her beauty.

Lu Cheng returned with a band-aid to find the three of them sitting in silence, eyes glued to the TV. The air was thick with awkwardness.

When his father was called to the kitchen, and his uncle escaped to the balcony to smoke, only Lu Cheng and Su Qingwu were left in the living room.

“Uh… I thought I’d be meeting your parents first, not mine,” he muttered. Honestly, running into his mom at the gate had been both a blessing and a curse.

“Meeting them now or later makes no difference,” Su Qingwu replied coolly.

“…Huh?”

Her words carried a strange note—almost like a resigned bride saying, The ugly daughter-in-law has to meet her in-laws sooner or later.

Of course, Lu Cheng wasn’t about to misinterpret.

Su Goddess was just being concise.

“Well, since you’re here, make yourself at home. You’re in for a treat—my mom’s cooking beats most restaurants. Eat plenty later.”

She nodded slightly.

An hour later, the dining table was laden with dishes so rich the word “feast” felt lacking.

Braised fish, sweet-and-sour ribs, soy-braised bass, garlic lobster, red-braised crab, black chicken soup with bamboo fungus…

And piles of fresh vegetables besides.

The three men in the house swore it felt like Spring Festival.

“Auntie, this is too much… you’ve gone to such trouble,” Su Qingwu said politely, a little embarrassed.

“It’s just homestyle cooking. Sit, sit.”

Soon the family gathered around, glasses filled with drinks, laughter bubbling as they ate.

He Xueting pulled Su Qingwu close and began piling food into her bowl.

“Qingwu, you’re too thin. Eat more.”

“Really, Auntie, I can serve myself—”

But it was no use. Her bowl quickly became a small mountain.

Lu Cheng gnawed on a crab claw, muttering inwardly: Thin? Where? She’s perfect. But sure, every mother thinks her daughter-in-law is too skinny.

The warm, lively atmosphere made Su Qingwu feel unexpectedly comfortable. Her own home was much colder.

Just as she emptied her bowl, intending to try a bite of rice, Lu Zhiguo shot his son a glare. “What kind of boyfriend are you? Don’t you see her bowl is empty? Serve her something she likes!”

“Yeah, too straight, kid,” He Cong added.

Lu Cheng: “…”

Su Qingwu: “…”

Fine. He’d serve, serve, serve!

Fortunately, when they’d swapped notes at the café, they’d discovered their food preferences overlapped a lot—braised fish, sweet-and-sour ribs, pickled fish, mapo tofu.

So the dishes he picked out for her were exactly the ones she liked.

Still, his mother frowned. “Son, you’re only giving her the things you like. What if she doesn’t?”

Before she could worry more, Su Qingwu quickly explained, “These are my favorites too.”

That delighted He Xueting. “Really? You two even share the same taste in food!”

Birds of a feather flock together.

Her confidence in this match soared.

“These are my mother’s signature dishes,” Su Qingwu added gently. “But I have to say, Auntie, yours taste even better.”

“My mom used to run a restaurant,” Lu Cheng explained between bites of ribs.

He Xueting had once run a popular place back in her hometown before selling it, marrying into the Lu family, and helping open the supermarket.

No wonder.

Su Qingwu nodded. The presentation alone was as good as any high-end restaurant.

Yet strangely, the flavors reminded her of her own mother’s cooking—as if the two women had trained under the same teacher.

Before she could dwell on it, her bowl was piled high again. Rice remained untouched. Lu Cheng stacked the mountain higher and even sneaked her a grin.

She shot him a look, her eyes glimmering. If they were alone, she’d have rolled them—an elegant, perfect eye-roll.

From across the table, He Xueting saw their “exchange of glances” as unmistakable chemistry, and her heart soared with joy.

As the meal went on, the warmth of the Lu family grew on Su Qingwu.

Her uncle was talkative, her mother-in-law lively, her father-in-law chimed in occasionally. Even Lu Cheng—usually not one to hold back words—was the quietest at the table.

Though when it came to eating, he was the biggest foodie of them all.

She couldn’t blame him. The food was too good—even her own appetite had doubled.

In between bites, He Xueting asked about Su Qingwu’s family.

Her mother was a housewife, her father a senior figure in the provincial police. No wonder she had a mentor like Ji Bochuan.

Then—

“Wait. Your mother’s from Fengnan County? That’s where I’m from too!”

Su Qingwu blinked. What a coincidence.

“Which village?”

“Hemu Village.”

“What?!” He Xueting shot up from her chair. “Your mom’s from Hemu too?”

The three men froze mid-bite, equally shocked.

“Your mother’s name?” He Xueting demanded.

“Shen Fang,” Su Qingwu answered.

“Shen Fang?! My best friend! We grew up together!”