Shi Yang was taken aback, and for a mont, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Zhao ii burst out laughing, amused beyond belief, "Oh my, brother, you’re just too funny! The Evening Dress Mask is a character from an animated show, where would I have found ti for puppy love?"
Shi Yang said, "Did that happen? I don’t rember."
Zhang Jiahui chided, "How could it not have happened? I’ve always said that when we were together back then, you never sincerely liked . Otherwise, how could you not rember anything?"
As soon as Zhang Jiahui finished speaking, everyone was stunned, and the atmosphere instantly beca awkward.
Xu Hongbin was the first to break the silence, smiling to ease the situation, "Jiahui, what you’re talking about happened ages ago, who could rember all that? Besides, at most, you guys had a crush on each other back then. It doesn’t really count as dating. You were so young, what did you know about love? It was like kids playing house, just for fun."
Zhang Jiahui struggled to keep her composure, paused, then countered, "How is it not considered dating?" She then turned her head jokingly towards Shi Yang, "Shi Yang, tell , did we count as being together back then? Was I your first love?"
On the surface, Zhang Jiahui’s words seed playful, but everyone present knew clearly she was probing Shi Yang’s feelings.
It was obvious to anyone who wasn’t blind that Zhang Jiahui liked Shi Yang, and Shi Yang himself was quite aware. However, Zhang Jiahui never directly clarified her feelings to Shi Yang, leaving him unable to refuse her outright.
Normally, Shi Yang’s way of handling such matters would be to refuse privately, so as not to hurt anyone’s pride. But tonight, Zhang Jiahui was indeed out of line, especially speaking like this in front of Zhao ii, which made Shi Yang’s dissatisfaction grow increasingly.
Shi Yang coughed lightly, "Definitely not my first love. I had my first kiss back in junior high, which ii knows about, right ii?"
Zhao ii’s bubbling jealousy was imdiately cald by Shi Yang’s single statent, and she replied playfully, "That counts! I was still young and naive then."
Shi Yang joked, "Co on, taking advantage and not acknowledging it!"
Zhao ii retorted, "Who’s not acknowledging... I admit it!"
Zhang Jiahui asked in confusion, "Shi Yang, you were in a relationship back in junior high?"
Shi Yang quickly answered, "Yeah, I quite liked her at the ti; just didn’t realize it. It was only once I grew up that I understood I was in love, otherwise, why would I treat her so well?"
This statent made Zhao ii’s identity undeniably clear.
Zhang Jiahui vaguely felt sothing was off and couldn’t help but ask, "Did you two get together afterwards?"
Shi Yang said, "Yeah, we’ve been together for a while. Our parents already arranged our engagent, and we plan to get the marriage certificate this year. Since the conditions aren’t right now, we’re waiting until she graduates college to hold the ceremony."
A startling thought popped into Zhang Jiahui’s mind that made her utterly astonished; so much so that she didn’t know what to say.
Xu Hongbin laughed and asked, "Have you set a date?"
Shi Yang said, "We have. I heard May 20th is a good day. Last night, we even discussed having my parents co to the provincial city. Although there’s no ceremony for now, we’re planning to have a family al to celebrate."
Xu Hongbin said enviously, "Then let offer early congratulations to both of you."
Shi Yang laughed, "Thank you."
Xu Hongbin suddenly said to Zhao ii, "Then when that ti cos, should I start calling you sister-in-law?"
Zhao ii’s face turned crimson, her heart filled with joy, as she looked up at Shi Yang.
Shi Yang’s eyes were full of mirth, and he playfully added, "No gift, and you still want to change how you address us? Where’s the good in that?"
Xu Hongbin felt relieved, having achieved his goal, and sincerely said, "When you two get married, I’ll be sure to give a big red envelope!"
Zhang Jiahui stared wide-eyed as Xu Hongbin teased both Shi Yang and Zhao ii, calling her sister-in-law, and suddenly she understood everything.
It felt as if she had been struck by lightning, and through the entire al, she was so bewildered she didn’t even know what she ate or said.
Her current emotions couldn’t be described as mixed feelings; she felt like she was about to collapse.
Shi Yang’s love interest was actually Zhao ii, and the two had already been together for a long ti.
Why hadn’t she noticed sothing so obvious all along?
Shi Yang had always been the best to Zhao ii, treated her most specially, and as they grew older, the two even lived together, which was practically cohabitation. Yet, she hadn’t suspected a thing.
At this very mont, even if her heart was in turmoil and she was almost bursting with anger, she had no right to question anything.
Because she never fully expressed her feelings to Shi Yang, nor did she directly inquire about Shi Yang’s feelings.
Zhang Jiahui’s al felt like a lump in her throat, and she barely managed to wait for the gathering to end before finally her pent-up emotions completely burst once Shi Yang drove away with Zhao ii.
Zhang Jiahui’s proud and delicate self-esteem was dealt an unprecedented blow; she admired Shi Yang, yet she embarrassed herself completely in his presence. This was undoubtedly the greatest humiliation of her life.
Every ti she thought of those few suggestive and quasi-confessional sentences she said at the table, she regretted it so much her intestines seed to turn green.
Zhang Jiahui was mortified to the extre, almost to the point of vomiting blood. She stomped her feet twice in frustration, unable to hold back the bitter tears streaming down her face.
Just then, a pair of strong arms suddenly pulled her into a broad, warm embrace, and Xu Hongbin softly comforted her, "It’s alright now. It’s all in the past."
Zhang Jiahui hesitated for a mont, then couldn’t help but cry out loud, burying her face into Xu Hongbin’s shoulder. At this ti, she really needed a warm embrace to support herself.
Zhang Jiahui hit Xu Hongbin’s chest with her fists, "Do you think I’m ridiculous, like a petty clown, with everyone mocking , while I remain oblivious... sobbing..."
Xu Hongbin let her hit him, sighed after a while, and comforted her, "Alright, Jiahui, it’s all over now. Nobody will laugh at you. What’s wrong with liking soone? You just liked the wrong person. Since Shi Yang isn’t right for you, then let it go. You can’t force feelings... Besides, no matter what, you still have . I will always be by your side. Alright, don’t cry. It’s all over."
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