Love at First Novel by Gu Lingfei

Chapter 698
A silver sedan stopped right outside the villa, and a person stood at the gate.
Through the gate, Serenity looked at the figure and thought it looked familiar. At closer inspection, she recognized that it was not
the delivery person but her mother- in–law who she had met a few times.
“Mom.”
Serenity took a moment to take in the surprise before rushing to open the gate. It was then she realized she did not have a key
to unlock the gate. Serenity apologetically said to her mother–in–law who was on the other side of the gate, “I didn’t know I
needed a key to open the gate, Mom. Hang on for a second. I’ll get the key from Zachary.”
“Okay,” Tania faintly replied and stopped pressing on the doorbell.
Serenity rushed back into the house, running into the kitchen. She told Zachary,” Your mom is here, Zachary. I tried to open the
gate, but I couldn’t without a key. Give me a key. I’ll unlock the gate now.
“Didn’t you say your mother was going to drop by two days later? Why doesn’t she have a key?”
Zachary replied, “The house keys are on the coffee table in the living room. My mom might have forgotten to bring hers.”
“That reminds me. What’s the portion like? I wonder if your mom has had dinner.”
Her mother–in–law’s sudden visit was not something Serenity was going to take lightly.
“My mom must’ve had dinner by now.”
“Oh.” Serenity took quick paces out of the kitchen and picked up the keys from the coffee table on her way out. She rushed to
the gate, only to make her way back to the kitchen. Serenity said, “How about you open the gate for your mother while I cook?”
She was concerned her mother–in–law might not look favorably upon her since Zachary was busy in the kitchen while she hung
around. Her mother-in–law would not be too pleased that Serenity was not taking good care of Zachary.
Some mothers–in–law could not stand their sons contributing to house chores. They believed the daughters–in–law should be
doing all the work. They did not want their flesh and blood to be tired. As mothers–in-law, they expected their daughters–in–law
to work while being on top of caring for children and handling house chores.

On the other hand, mothers whose sons–in–law took on the household chores would think their daughters married well.
If the tables were turned and their sons handled household tasks, these women would groan about their lazy daughters–in–law.
They would feel bad that their sons married a wife who was not raised well.
Serenity knew a thing or two about issues between mothers–in–law and daughters-in- law from her sister’s failed marriage. She
was worried she would face the same problem.
“It’s fine. Go and open the gate for your mother–in–law.”
“Will your mom blame me for not relieving you of household tasks? Will she make you do nothing at home while I should do all
the work?”
Zachary answered, “I don’t think so. We’ve only been married for three months. You only met my mom once or twice. There
shouldn’t be any issue between you two.”
His parents, uncles, and aunts only had sons. Nana taught all the boys to be kind to all the women at home.
Growing up, Dad would often tell him that Mom is the only woman in the family, so they should love, care for, and protect Mom
together.
By right, Mom should not have a problem with him being in the kitchen.
This was because Dad often cooked for Mom.
“You’re not even sure about that. You should open the gate.”
Serenity went up to pull the apron off Zachary.
“Seren.”
Zachary grabbed her hand and tenderly uttered, “You don’t have to care what my mom thinks of you. We’re the ones in this
marriage. We decide how we run the household. I’ll talk to my mom if she says anything to you.”
There was no reason his mother could enjoy his father’s undivided attention and care if Serenity could not.
As the husband, Zachary was glad to make his wife dinner.

It was nobody’s business to change that.
“Now get out there. Don’t keep my mom waiting.”
Zachary lowered his head to kiss her cheek. “Don’t worry. I’m here for you.”