Upon hearing this, my emotions grew increasingly complicated. I had never expected Sophie to speak so highly of me, and a cold sweat broke out on my brow."Auntie, please don't say that. Sophie is an extraordinary young woman, and from the moment I first laid eyes on her, I knew she was the one destined for me. Helping her is merely my duty," I replied, striving to keep my voice steady.

Auntie, noticing my unease, mistook it for nervousness and smiled reassuringly."Ryan, don't be so tense. I can see how much you care for Sophie, and I am deeply moved by all you've done for her. Rest assured, I have no objection to your relationship with her. No one will interfere with the two of you. You've had your share of struggles over the years!" Her words made me feel embarrassed and left me somewhat puzzled.

At that moment, Sophie entered the room. Seeing that we were engaged in pleasant conversation, she visibly relaxed. She gently patted my shoulder and asked with a smile,"How's the conversation going?"

Auntie turned to her with a warm, affectionate gaze and said,"Sophie, is there something between you and Ryan? He hasn't said a word."

Sophie was momentarily taken aback but then glanced at me before replying calmly,"Mom, there's nothing between us."

But Auntie, ever perceptive, was not so easily satisfied. Her eyes glinted with a knowing wisdom."Sophie, I've been around long enough to sense when something is amiss. Though I may be older, I can still read the signs between you two."

Sophie sighed in exasperation, shaking her head with a smile."Mom, what could possibly be wrong between us?"

Auntie exhaled deeply, her voice filled with earnest concern."It's best if there's nothing. I just hope you don't become ungrateful."

I felt my face flush with embarrassment. Without Sophie here, I might have felt slightly less exposed, but now, with her present and her mother making such remarks, I truly felt like I had no ground to stand on."Auntie, I assure you, there's nothing wrong. Sophie and I are perfectly fine."

Sophie, supporting my words, added,"We really are fine."

At that moment, the waiter brought in the dishes, and Auntie, seeing the meal had arrived, decided not to press the issue further. The rest of the meal passed with my nerves on edge, afraid that I might make a slip of the tongue. Sophie, noticing my discomfort, found it both amusing and exasperating. She took my hand and said with a smirk,"You've seen for yourself how my mom is, right? She's easy to talk to, isn't she?"

"Yes, yes, yes, I didn't expect that I would pass so easily here, I'm really so happy." I said I was happy, but I was worried in my heart. This was only the first time I met her, so would there be a second time, a third time...

Auntie, overhearing us, smiled and said,"Ryan, don't be fooled by my words. In truth, I've already accepted you. I see how you treat Sophie, and it's clear to me. As long as you two are happy, I, as a mother, can rest easy."

Her gaze was both tender and resolute, filling me with a warmth that eased my tension. Sophie nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling with a smile that seemed to echo her mother's words. She emphasized the word "together," as though making a solemn promise."We will stay together," she said with conviction, her hand squeezing mine more firmly."Right, Ryan?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

I quickly nodded,"Yes, yes, Auntie, you can rest assured, we will take good care of each other."

At that moment, Auntie suddenly asked,"You've been together for quite some time now, have you thought about marriage?"

The abruptness of the question caught me off guard. I hurriedly replied,"Auntie, we're still young. There's no need to rush into it."

But Auntie pressed on,"You're not exactly children anymore. Sophie is already 27, and you must be 28, am I right? It's time to start thinking about it. Otherwise, as Sophie gets older, it may become more difficult for you both to have children."

"Mom, why are you bringing this up now?" Sophie said, her tone tinged with impatience, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

Auntie seemed unfazed, continuing, "What's wrong with talking about these things? You're both at the prime age for marriage. If you delay any longer, you'll both be considered late bloomers."

I quickly interjected, "We're both just busy at the moment; it really is a bit early for that."

Auntie turned to me and asked, "Is it you who's unwilling, or is it Sophie? Or perhaps neither of you is ready? I don't understand young people these days. Once you marry, you're family. Isn't that the best way? Why avoid it?"

I was at a loss for words, feeling a sense of urgency. I glanced at Sophie, silently pleading for her to intervene. She gripped my hand tightly but avoided looking at me, her focus solely on her food.

Auntie pressed on, "What's the matter? Is this question really so difficult to answer?"

Sophie remained silent, and I had no choice but to respond, "It's not difficult, not at all. We'll think it through."

Auntie nodded, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "The main reason I'm here is to finalize your wedding plans, so there's no need to avoid it any longer."

I reached for a napkin with my left hand, my fingers trembling as I wiped my forehead. I wasn't sure if it was sweat, but it felt as though I were standing before a firing squad. The restaurant's bright lights illuminated the table, making every dish appear vividly clear, yet my mind was clouded, obscured by a thick fog, unable to see the way forward.

Sophie finally spoke up. "Mom, while we haven't really thought about marriage yet, since you've asked, I'll tell you—let's set it for next year. Ryan, what do you think?"

I let out a soft exclamation, "Ah?" The sound, though barely audible, seemed loud and sharp in the quiet of the restaurant.

Sophie's grip on my hand tightened, her palm slightly damp with nervousness. Her eyes were filled with determination and a hint of pleading, as if silently asking, "Ryan, please help me." My thoughts raced, overwhelmed by the idea of marriage so soon. "Marriage? So quickly? I'm not ready!" But looking into Sophie's hopeful eyes, I gritted my teeth and said, "Since Sophie has decided, let's set it for next year."

Auntie beamed, her voice filled with joy. "Good, good. Now that I've heard it from both of you, I can finally relax. I'll tell your uncle as soon as I get home, and he'll be thrilled. Sophie, you can let go of Ryan's hand now; how is he supposed to eat?"

Sophie released my hand, and I felt the red imprints where her fingers had gripped me. Yet, the tension in my chest began to ease. Auntie, seemingly satisfied, no longer pressed the issue of marriage. I let out a silent sigh of relief, focusing on the food before me, hoping it would help calm my rattled nerves.

Suddenly, Auntie asked, "Ryan, how are your parents? Are they well?"

I replied, "They're doing fine," though I felt a tightening in my chest. Why was Auntie suddenly inquiring about my family?

She continued, "If there's any trouble with your father, let me know. Your uncle can help resolve it."

I was unsure who she meant by "uncle." Sophie's father was known to be a notorious gambler, so perhaps this "uncle" was Sophie's stepfather. I pondered this for a moment before answering, "Auntie, I'll let you know if there's anything that can't be solved."

Auntie smiled warmly, her eyes softening with kindness. "That's more like it. We're family now, so you needn't worry about anything."

After we finished eating, Auntie set down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth. She then turned to Sophie and said, "It's still early. I'd like to see where you're living."