Zhao ii lay at the door crack that wasn’t completely closed, listening.
Her parents were cuddled up in bed, speaking heartfelt truths. After listening for a while, Zhao ii turned her head and quietly tiptoed back to her bedroom, completely forgetting that she originally wanted to go to the bathroom.
She sat at the study desk, nibbling on the pen tip. She indeed was like her mom said, not particularly good-looking, and also lazy and indulgent. Usually, besides spending the money Shi Yang worked hard to earn, she hadn’t provided any additional value to Shi Yang.
She hadn’t even taken her college entrance exams yet. Even if she got into university, it would take at least four years to graduate before she could start reciprocating Shi Yang. And even if she could really earn money and beco successful, it probably wouldn’t surpass Shi Yang; at least she didn’t believe she could support him in the way Shi Yang was supporting her now.
At this mont, Zhao ii suddenly felt that the happy married life she longed for had beco sowhat unattainable, like the gleaming white crescent moon in the water that shatters upon touch.
For the first ti in her life, Zhao ii felt an indescribable sense of crisis. She had never thought that in this world, two people in love coming together would require considering so many other factors.
For example, Shi Yang’s parents might not agree to them being together.
Or, before she could grow up and marry, Shi Yang might have already been pushed by his parents to marry another girl.
Zhao ii thought and thought until her mind was muddled. She irritably tossed the pen away, directly turned off the lights, and climbed onto the bed to sleep.
Unaware that she had been the focus of Zhao ii’s family’s thoughts for most of the evening, Shi Yang was at that mont raising his glass, clinking and drinking with Qian Yonggui in nonsensical camaraderie.
After a gulp of alcohol, Qian Yonggui spoke to Shi Yang’s father: "Old Shi, since the last ti our families t for dinner, it’s been quite a while. We haven’t properly gathered together."
Shi Yang’s father smiled faintly, his attitude not particularly warm: "You’re a busy man. I wouldn’t dare to disturb you."
Qian Yonggui’s expression didn’t change. He laughed and said, "What are you saying? No matter how busy, it won’t estrange old friends!"
After expressing his sentints with one sentence, Shi Yang’s father stopped deliberately showing disapproval to Qian Yonggui. They drank and exchanged pleasantries, saying only the usual clichés, unlike before when they had no secrets between them.
The attitude between the elders directly affected the atmosphere at the dining table.
Ever since he sat down at the table, Shi Yang carefully attended to Qian Jinqiu’s mother and daughter. It was this unusual courtesy that made Qian Jinqiu sowhat uneasy. She didn’t know what had happened between her dad and Shi Yang’s dad; she just felt that Shi Yang’s family’s attitude was a bit strange, saying they were gathering, but it didn’t feel like it at all.
Shi Yang left the table mid-al to go to the bathroom. When he ca out, he saw Qian Jinqiu waiting at the door.
Qian Jinqiu said, "Shi Yang, I want to talk to you."
Shi Yang glanced at her and nodded.
The two of them moved to an empty corridor corner to talk face to face.
Shi Yang asked, "Mind if I smoke?"
Qian Jinqiu shook her head and watched as Shi Yang took out his cigarette box, lit it, placed the cigarette in his mouth, inhaled, and then exhaled smoke through his nose, his movents so cool she couldn’t look away.
Shi Yang looked up at Qian Jinqiu: "What do you want to talk about?"
Qian Jinqiu suddenly snapped back to reality, awkwardly smiled: "I just feel the atmosphere at dinner tonight was off. I want to ask if sothing happened?"
Shi Yang inhaled again, his voice cold and sharp: "Sothing happened, and you don’t know? Stop pretending! I really didn’t see before that you could be this kind of person, Qian Jinqiu. I’m very disappointed in you!"
After he finished speaking, Shi Yang took another drag, directly snuffed the cigarette out with his fingers, and headed back to the private room.
Qian Jinqiu’s face changed drastically, hurrying to block Shi Yang’s path: "Shi Yang, what do you an by that?"
Shi Yang looked at Qian Jinqiu with contempt: "What do you think I an?"
Qian Jinqiu grew anxious: "No, Shi Yang, do you have so misunderstanding about ?"
Shi Yang walked right past her without even glancing.
Watching Shi Yang’s retreating back, Qian Jinqiu felt her vision blur and her mind buzz constantly.
She composed herself outside before returning to the private room. Shi Yang didn’t say another word to her, nor did he look at her.
She hadn’t noticed much before, but now, upon closer inspection, Qian Jinqiu suddenly realized that not only was Shi Yang indifferent toward her, but even Shi Yang’s mother, who used to be fond of her, had grown noticeably colder this ti. Aside from a courteous greeting upon eting, she hadn’t engaged her in conversation like before.
After the al, Qian Jinqiu sat still as a statue, barely maintaining a frozen smile. She understood nothing and could only wait for an opportunity to inquire and find out before addressing the issue.
After dinner, the two families said their goodbyes and went ho separately.
On the drive ho, Shi Yang’s father sighed and said rather self-deprecatingly: "After all, I’m old, can’t hold back my temper. I understand there’s always a bigger fish, but I can’t swallow this. If today had been soone else, I wouldn’t be this angry. Years of friendship, yet I never saw Old Qian would actually do such a thing!"
Shi Yang watched the road conditions, comforting him: "The matter’s resolved, so let it be. Knowing what kind of person he is now, we just need to have less contact in the future."
Shi Yang grinned wryly: "Besides, although he tricked , I sched against him too, so it’s even."
Shi Yang’s father was taken aback, turned to Shi Yang: "Oh? What did you sche against him?"
Shi Yang didn’t hide from his father, spoke honestly: "Actually, it’s nothing. He initially wanted to endorse Naughty Castle, planning to arrange sothing for Qian Jinqiu. My maternity store just planned to expand for franchisee recruitnt before the year ends. Sales channels haven’t formally opened yet, and recruiting is likely not smooth. I’m considering if we can pull Qian Jinqiu in through our family connections."
Shi Yang’s father was surprised by this, but after calming down and thinking it through, if they could indeed attract Qian Jinqiu as a franchisee, it would be quite advantageous. Ultimately, even if Qian Yonggui ends up on the sa path as Shi Yang, he’d take care of the maternity store’s business for his daughter’s sake. Shi Yang only needs to collect franchise fees and profit from price differences during ordering, without much concern otherwise. Thinking this through, Shi Yang’s father smiled and pointed at Shi Yang in admiration: "You brat, impressive!"
Shi Yang sneered: "He delayed my business for so many days. I have to earn this money back."
Shi Yang’s father exhaled deeply, his stomach full of resentnt completely dissipated, feeling gratified and thinking: After all, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
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