"Baobei," Tao, your boyfriend, called you over when you got home. 

You happily scurried towards him, smiling cheerfully. 

Tao couldn't help but have a small grin. 

"Yes, baobei?" you asked, looking up at him. 

"Aw, you're so adorable." Tao kissed your forehead. "Anyways, sit down. I don't want you to get exhausted." 

You chuckled softly, admiring the way he took care of you. 

"Hao (okay/好). What did you want to say?" you asked, as you sat down. 

Tao took your hand and kissed your cheek. 

When he pulled back, anxiousness was in his eyes. 

"Tao...? Anything wrong?" you asked again, as fear started to settle in your stomach. 

"Well, we've been dating for a while... I think you should meet my parents. They've been pestering me to see you." Tao mumbled.

Shock flooded your senses. 

"Wh-what?" You stuttered.

"Yeah, so I told them we'd be going tonight. I'm so sorry baobei, I knew I'm no good under pressure when it's about you," Tao hugged you tightly, giving you kisses everywhere.

"Baobei," you giggled softly. "It's okay. I can do it."

Tao pulled away, but looked at you closely.

Your nose and his nose touched.

"You sure?" he asked.

You nodded.

"Positive." you replied.

 

In your room, you had asked Tao to help you pick an outfit, after you finished doing your hair and makeup.

"Yes or no?" you asked for the umpteenth time.

He looked up from his phone, and tilted his head, scanning you.

"Baobei, you look cute enough." He smiled.

"What if they don't like it?" you mumbled, worried.

Tao stood up and wrapped his arms around your waist.

"Don't worry," he grinned reassuringly. "You're the beautiful girl that I love."  

You gave a weak smile. 

"Xie xie," 

Tao just kissed your forehead, and sat back down on the bed. 

"How about you wear that new dress you bought?" Tao suggested, watching you, amused. 

"Which one?" you asked, flustered, pushing clothes around on the rack. 

"The cotton blue one? The one without the sleeves." Tao said. "I think you'll be fine wearing that." 

You mentally slapped yourself. 

Oh yeah! That dress!

How could you have forgotten about it?

You shifted through all of your dresses before it finally decided to appear. 

Changing into it, you came out of the bathroom, and looked at Tao shyly. 

He looked up and his eyes widened. 

He was speechless. 

"Tao?" 

"See? I was right. I told you that it'd look amazing on you." Tao smirked smugly with pride. 

You rolled your eyes. 

"Okay, okay, I know." you replied. 

Tao checked the time on his phone. 

"Oh, I think it's time to go." He looked up at you, and you nodded, smiling. 

 

You bit your lip nervously as you approached a doorstep with your boyfriend, Tao. 

"Tao... I'm scared. What if they don't like me?" you asked. 

Tao reassured you by giving you a kiss on your lips. 

"It's okay, baobei. I love you, and I'm sure they love you."

You gave him one last anxious look before turning forward and taking a deep breath. 

Tao rung the doorbell, and you heard the door click, opening.

There was a slender woman at the door. 

Her eyes widened. 

"Zitao! You're back! Is this the girlfriend you're talking about?" She smiled pleasantly at you. 

"Ni hao," you bowed deeply. "My name is Li Meiling." 

"Ni hao," his mother smiled to you. "I am Tao's mother. Please come in." 

She stepped away from the door, and Tao led you in. 

From that point, you saw a tall, also slender, Asian man lumbering towards you. 

"Ni hao," you bowed once more. "My name is Li Meiling. I am Zitao's girlfriend."

Since you were meeting his parents, you felt like you had to be very formal.

But his dad just laughed. 

"Ni hao," he bowed. "You don't have to be so polite you know." 

You gave a smile. 

"Well, why don't we eat? I just finished preparing dinner." Tao's mother grinned to you. 

You nodded and took your shoes off, along with Tao. 

At the dinner table, his parents talked to you cheerfully. 

"Where were you born?" His father looked to you. 

"I was born in Nanjing." You smiled. 

"Wah, that's wonderful. Are you good at Chinese history?" His mother asked. 

You nodded. 

"I think I am..." you replied, unsure of yourself. 

"Aiya, it's okay if you aren't, I'm not that great anyways," His mom joked, evoking a laugh from you. 

"I'm sure you're just great." You reassured. 

 

That night, you helped cleaning up the table and washing the dishes.

You two chatted, but you discreetly tried to listen to Tao's conversation with his dad.

They were watching TV, but they were close by, so it was possible to listen in.

"Meiling, you're a wonderful girl." His mother smiled to you.

"Ah, xie xie," you said bashfully.

"Haha, hen ke ai! (very cute/很可愛)" His mother laughed. 

"Xie xie," you repeated with a gummy smile.

But it was that moment where you felt like the world finally was lifted from your shoulders, and when your heart soared. 

"Tao, I like Meiling. You should keep her." His father whispered, just loud enough for you to hear. 

Tao chuckled. 

"I plan onto." 

 

Later, after saying your goodbyes, and getting into the car after receiving many gifts from his parents, you sighed in relief, as Tao pulled out of the driveway. 

"Anything wrong baobei?" Tao asked, his eyes flickering to you for a second. 

"No," you replied, smiling widely. 

"My parents really liked you." He grinned. 

"I'm glad." You replied, blushing. 

"Me too." Tao said, stopping at a red light, and leaning towards you for a kiss. 

You helped him and leaned forward as well. 

"I'm happy that I met your parents tonight." You laughed, and so did he. 

"Me too, baobei. They really love you." 

"Thank goodness." 

He gave you a quick kiss, and pulled back just in time to get ready for the light to change. 

"Baobei, I love you." 

"I love you too, Panda." 

"I want to be with you forever." He admitted shyly. 

You chuckled. 

"Me too."

Then, he moved his hand from the gear shift to lace his fingers between yours, and he kept it there, for the whole night.