In the evening, Jax wished to share a room with Lacey but was sent away by his mother. Reluctantly, he went to sleep with his father while his mother stayed behind, keeping Lacey company.

"Are you cold, dear?" Jax's mother asked her at her side.

"Not at all; the quilt is quite comfortable," Lacey replied, tucking in the new cotton quilt prepared by Jax's mother.

"Ah, Lacey, I hear Jax calling you that, and I've started to as well!"

"That's fine, Auntie."

"You see, I only have one son, and you only have one brother. After you're married, you'll call me 'Mum', and I will treat you like my daughter, alright?" Jax's mother gently asked.

In the dark room, the innocent Lacey suddenly opened her eyes wide, gazing at the pitch-black ceiling, recalling her frail mother, that hardworking woman.

Since her childhood, her mother had taken care of her seriously ill father, as well as her and her brother, adding a significant burden to their already modest household. Despite this, her mother never failed to prepare her a fried egg each morning.

Later, after her father passed away, her mother, too, succumbed to illness and grief, leaving her brother to take on the dual role of mother and father.

Lacey sighed as two excellent tears slid down her cheeks, "Alright, Auntie!"

"Still calling me Auntie?" Jax's mother laid an arm over her quilt, gently embracing her.

Lacey pursed her lips, mustering courage for a while, before finally uttering the long-unspoken word "Mum"!

"Ah..." Jax's mother replied in a delighted, long tone.

In another room, bright lights shone as two men conversed amidst smoke, keeping windows and doors tightly shut for fear of being overheard, which created a foggy scene inside.

"How rich do you think Lacey's brother is?" Jax's father asked, his curiosity piqued by this question.

Jax took a drag of his cigarette and smiled proudly, "You'd be surprised to hear. You know the Candy Group, right?"

"Of course! It's one of the top corporations in City A, often advertising their lollipops on TV," Jax's father responded, somewhat astonished, wondering if Lacey's brother worked there.

Seeing his father's puzzled look, Jax revealed, "That corporation belongs to her brother. He also owns a foreign trade company and a sugar factory, with over a hundred million assets!"

"Really?!" Despite guessing the Candy Group's connection to Lacey's brother, Jax's father was shocked.

"We must hold tight to this opportunity; don't let it slip away. I see how many gifts Lacey brings; her brother must highly value her. You should treat Lacey well; we can't afford to displease her brother," Jax's father advised.

"Don't worry, Dad! I know what I'm doing. I'm currently collaborating with her brother, and the profit share I receive is substantial. Here's a bank card with one hundred thousand for you," Jax said, handing his father the card.

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Jax's father eagerly accepted it, quickly hiding it in a secret compartment of the wardrobe, "Good boy, remembering to honour your father, haha!"

"Don't hide it all for yourself! I have to mention it to Mum tomorrow," Jax said, taking another puff and extinguishing his cigarette in the ashtray.

"You rascal! What are you saying? Of course, I'll tell your mother!" Jax's father playfully scolded, tapping on Jax's head.

"You're getting married; we need to buy you a house. Property prices in the city are over ten thousand per square meter, and I'm considering the size to get for you," Jax's father mused.

Jax slapped his forehead, "Oh! I forgot to mention this the other day. Her brother said that he's giving us a five-million villa, a bank card with five million, and a Porsche worth over a million for our wedding."

Jax's father was stunned again, speechless for a long time.

"Enough talk, let's sleep. Tomorrow morning, I'll discuss this with your mother first," Jax's father said, opening the windows and letting the thick smoke escape like a flock of sheep.

Jax also got up, emptied the ashtray, tidied up briefly, and joined his father in bed.

The four of them got up the following day. Jax's father shared the previous night's information with Jax's mother, who was thoroughly impressed by Lacey's family's strength.

Not wanting to appear too modest, Jax's father bought some additional items. Jax's mother ground a large bag of corn flour and caught two of their hens, also collecting a basket of eggs. Jax's SUV's trunk was filled to the brim.

Once ready, the four set off on the highway. Lacey was eager to return home, while Jax's parents were excited and nervous, occasionally asking about Lacey's family.

Rick had arranged everything at the company and went to the market to buy ingredients, preparing to welcome his in-laws.

At noon, Jax and his family finally arrived at Lacey's villa.

"In-laws, you've finally arrived!" Rick, having received Lacey's call, was waiting outside the villa. Seeing Jax's parents get out of the car, he warmly greeted them.

"Are you Director Rick?" Jax's father quickly approached for a handshake.

"Don't call me that; we're family now. Just call me Rick or Little Rick," Rick replied, acting as the family head but mindful of his position.

As they passed through the courtyard, Jax's parents marvelled at the three-story villa and the pavilion and artificial hill in the yard, feeling like country bumpkins entering a grand mansion. Inside, they were even more stunned by the luxurious decor. Jax's mother thought of refurbishing their old home after returning.

Inside, tea and fruits were already prepared. Rick poured tea for his in-laws and lit a Zhonghua cigarette for Jax's father, engaging in casual conversation. Lacey took Jax's mother upstairs and downstairs, giving her a thorough tour of the entire villa.

After some small talk, the main courses, prepared by Rick, were ready. The delicious aroma immediately whetted everyone's appetite.

After a few rounds of drinks and various dishes, Jax's father was slightly drunk, "Brother! Your cooking skills are truly unmatched. I'm stuffed today."

"Uncle Jax, you've had too much to drink, mixing up our relationship!" Rick had also drunk quite a bit but remained sober due to his experience in such settings.

"No, no, I can handle two bottles of this 52-degree alcohol, and I've only had just over one bottle. I'm far from my limit," Jax's father slurred.

"Dad, stop drinking; we still have important matters to discuss!" Jax's mother quickly reminded him.

"Right, important matters. Uncle Jax, let's not drink anymore," Rick suggested, emptying his glass.

"You say,

no more drinking, I'll follow. No more then," Jax's father replied to Jax's mother, flipping his cup upside down on the table.

Jax's mother glared at him, inwardly cursing his disgraceful behaviour.

Jax was also uneasy, fearing his father's words might anger Director Rick.

Rick, unconcerned, smiled and stood up, "In-laws, let's go to the living room to drink some water and talk."

"Rick, what should we provide for Jax and Lacey's wedding?" Jax's mother asked, tentatively passing the decision to Rick.

"In-law, I've already discussed this with Jax. I'm providing the house, car, and money for their wedding. You don't need to prepare anything; even your and your uncle's outfits for the wedding are taken care of. I promise to make you both happy," Rick sincerely said.

"Isn't that inappropriate? We don't have to contribute anything?" Jax's mother felt uneasy.

"Little Rick has arranged everything. Just follow his lead," Jax's father impatiently glanced at Jax's mother.

Seeing Jax's mother fall silent, Jax's father lit a cigarette and asked with a smile, "Brother, where is their house being bought?"