Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Lin Yu stiffly nodded and pretended the earlier conversation never happenedâshe was asking to be humiliated if she kept on the topic. She quickly gave her besties a look. Sheâd given them a chance by inviting the guys out; the rest was up to them. There truly wasnât much else she could do for them, and she didnât want to ruin things with Xi Cheng. Their relationship wasnât set in stone yet, so she had to avoid any complications.
Lin Yu quickly calmed down. She immediately led the conversation and didnât allow her best friends to speak much. She didnât want them to provoke the guys any further.
Shi Nian, Ye Kun, and Liang Han knew to quit while they were ahead. Lin Yu was Xi Chengâs fiancée, after all. Drinking became their best shield against talking to the girls in this situation, and it wasnât long before they all had a little too much to drink.
It wasnât until they were about to leave that Lin Yu asked Shi Nian to send Gu
Man home after Gu Manâs constant hints. Ye Kun leaned on Shi Nianâs shoulder and gave the girls a drunken smile. He slurred, âNo can do, ladies. Shi Nianâ¦
has to send me home⦠We live close to each other⦠he can drop me off on the way⦠you guys live out of the way.â
Liang Han also hurriedly stated, âIâm with them. Iâll be spending the night at Ye
Kunâs place. My mother will whoop my ????? if I head home in this state!â
Lin Yu felt a little humiliated by the menâs uncharitable rejections. Xi Cheng, however, just casually replied, âTheyâre our guests, so naturally, weâll be the ones to send them home. Iâve already called my chauffeur to come over. The three of you can get lost!â
âSir, yes, sir!â So saying, Liang Han dragged Ye Kun and Shi Nian along with him as he walked away on unsteady feet.
When Shi Nian returned home, he felt a little dizzy. He didnât drink often, but he could hold his liquor. However, he only drank when he was in the mood. Seeing Xi Cheng so depressed had them all feeling down tonight. He didnât deserve to be tied to a loveless marriage and everyone felt sorry for him.
He rushed to the kitchen to get some water; he was very thirsty. The small light above the kitchen stove was lit, and a pot of tea was placed on the tea table in clear sight.
Shi Nian reached out and touched the teapot; it was perfectly warm. He poured a cup of tea, took a sip, and recognized it as the hangover tea that Yun Nan had brewed for him before.
Shi Nianâs dizziness cleared straight away. He downed the tea in one gulp, and a smile appeared on his lips. â Yun Nan is really thoughtful. How could there be such a kind snail girl? he thought.
Xi Cheng fell asleep in the passenger seat. Gu Man let out a disdainful snort at him, and Shi Gao gently held Lin Yuâs hands.
Lin Yu changed the topic and asked, âGu Man, do you like Shi Nian?â
Gu Man blushed and turned to face the window without saying anything. Shi Gao said, âShi Nian is a very handsome man, and he comes from such an influential background; itâs no wonder our Gu Man has a crush on him. Speaking of which, heâs quite outstanding, so why doesnât he have a girlfriend?â
Lin Yu told them, âThe Shi family is different from the others. They donât care about family status; they marry for love. Shi Nianâs parents, grandparents, his elder brotherâShi Keâand his wifeâXiang Yangâare all adoring couples. However, Shi Nianâs elders had arranged a marriage for him; he had to marry his childhood friend from the Yun family, but he did nothing. He never gave any indication of liking that girl, nor were there rumors of him getting together with anyone. The matter was left hanging until now. Heâs almost thirty and still single.â
âSo, I take it he doesnât like that childhood friend of his?â Gu Man asked
âThatâs probably the case, but you heard what he said back there; he has a crush on someone now,â Lin Yu gently reminded her. She could tell that Shi Nian wasnât interested in Gu Man, and she didnât want Gu Manâs feelings to cause conflict between the two. More importantly, she didnât want this to impact her.
Gu Man unconcernedly stated, âSo? Heâs not married, so heâs on the market.â
And then, she remembered Xi Cheng, and added, âHe has to at least be engaged for me to consider him taken.â
It would have been better if she didnât add that last comment; it only made it worse. Shi Gao sought to change the topic and remarked, âItâs rare for wealthy families to marry for love. They usually prioritize social status, donât they? The Shi family is quite luckyâthey all fell in love with people of equal social caste.â Lin Yu thought about it for a moment. âThatâs true,â she agreed. âThey are indeed very lucky, come to think of it.â
âAre Shi Nianâs big brother and his wifeâI â Shi Gao paused. âAre they happy together?â
Lin Yu nodded affirmatively. âShi Ke has always had an independent streak. He chose to study in a military school and became an officer after he graduated. His wife followed him into the military. Sheâs also a slightly famous jewelry designer.â
âDo they have kids?â Shi Gao asked.
Lin Yu shook her head no. Although she didnât know why Shi Gao was asking for these details, she still frankly answered, âI met them during the Spring Festival last year. Shi Ke said he didnât want to have children just yet; heâd like to spend more alone time with his wife. I can tell that he loves her very much. Sheâs a lucky woman; I envy her so much.â
âThereâs no need to envy her! Youâre not doing so bad yourself! You finally got what you wanted. You only need to learn how to manage your husband in the future,â Gu Man smilingly assured Lin Yu and pinched her cheek.
Xi Chengâwho appeared to be sleeping soundly in the front seatâtwitched his lips..