Chen Feng saw this and texted her back: "Last night I drank too much with Qin Zhen in the county town, slept at the hotel, just woke up."
Yu Jiao replied in seconds: "Why did you go out drinking again? Drinking too much is bad for your health."
"Yeah, I’ll be careful next ti."
"Are you free this afternoon? How about coming ho with ? My parents want to et you."
Chen Feng regretted pretending to be her boyfriend when he read this ssage, but it was too late to co clean to her parents now. He had no choice but to go along with it.
"Why do they want to et ?"
"They probably want to talk about engagent and marriage, want you to give an explanation, afraid I’ve entrusted myself to the wrong person. Also, my ex-husband has been courting them again these past few days."
Lin Yujiao was quite candid, and after thinking it over, Chen Feng typed: "Have you given so thought to what I ntioned last ti? Two hundred thousand, two years. If you agree, I’ll give your parents two hundred thousand to show my gratitude and smooth things over with them."
"Can you really take out two hundred thousand to give to my parents?"
"Of course. If you agree to be with for two years, I’ll take out the money straight away for your parents."
"Alright. Should we sign a contract or sothing as a guarantee?"
"No need. I trust your character."
"Thank you."
"Don’t ntion it. We’re just fulfilling each other’s needs. If you regret it in the future, like if you don’t want to do it after a year, or if you et soone you like before the two years are up, just return the money to on a pro-rata basis."
Lin Yujiao didn’t reply for quite a while.
Chen Feng wasn’t in a hurry and went to check Sun Xiaorui’s WeChat. As usual, there were a few pictures: photos of her cooking, scenery, ho, and selfies. She had sent two last night, and a few more this morning. No ssages, though.
Chen Feng sent a thumbs-up emoji.
Sun Xiaorui imdiately sent back a silly smile emoji.
Chen Feng didn’t bother with her anymore.
Just as he was about to put his phone away, another WeChat ssage arrived. Opening it, it was from Lin Yujiao: "Okay."
Chen Feng was speechless.
Putting away his phone, he started watching television out of boredom.
He flipped through several channels, finding nothing of interest. Just as he was about to turn it off, an ad popped up, and he was startled to see Zhang Jingwen on the screen.
What a coincidence, seeing her on TV again.
The advertisent was for a well-known beverage, and it was quite impressive she had landed the endorsent. It also suggested that her fa and value had risen considerably.
To have beco this popular from just one TV drama was quite sothing.
The advertisent ended quickly, and Chen Feng turned off the television.
With nothing better to do, he called Qin Zhen.
"Hello. What’s up?" Chen Feng asked.
"I’m visiting at my uncle’s place," Qin Zhen’s voice sounded amidst so background noise.
"Oh, I’ll call you so other ti then."
"No need, is there sothing you want to talk about?"
"Nothing much, just wanted to chat. Also, when you’re free, let’s go out for a proper al."
"I really don’t have ti these days. I have too many relatives. I’ve got three uncles, two aunts, plus two more uncles and an aunt. I have to visit all of them. After all, I haven’t been ho for the New Year in the past few years."
"Alright, we’ll talk after the New Year then."
"We’ll see. I might have so ti in the evenings in a couple of days, let’s plan then."
"Sure. Bye."
"Okay."
After hanging up, Chen Feng went over to the bathroom door, which was closed, and asked, "Are you done yet?"
"Almost done," Guo ngyao answered from inside.
"Okay, I’ll wait for you."
Five minutes later, Chen Feng asked again sowhat gloomily, "Done yet?"
"Almost."
Another five minutes passed, and Chen Feng said directly at the bathroom door, "I’m going downstairs first, I’ll wait for you in the lobby."
"Okay, I’ll be down in a mont."
...
Chen Feng had gone downstairs first and was sitting on the sofa in the lobby, scrolling through his phone.
Twenty minutes had passed when a freshly dressed Guo ngyao finally arrived, unhurried.
She was wearing a cal-colored cardigan with no collar, a grey base shirt inside, and tight leather pants that cinched at the ankles. Over one shoulder hung a brown shoulder bag.
Combined with her delicate beauty and figure, an aura of noble grace emanated from her.
Chen Feng was montarily stunned.
"Let’s go. I’ll take you to eat sothing delicious."
Guo ngyao was pleased with Chen Feng’s reaction, flashing him a sweet smile and reaching out to pull him up.
He let her pull him off the sofa, and she naturally took his arm as they headed out of the hotel together.
The hotel wasn’t very busy at the ti, but Chen Feng still felt worried and whispered, "We don’t have to do this. It wouldn’t be good if soone you know saw us."
Guo ngyao gave him a sidelong glance and retorted, "I’m not afraid, what are you afraid of?"
Chen Feng was not provoked by her taunting; he withdrew his hand and said, "That’s enough. Walk properly. There’s no need to be so affectionate."
Guo ngyao might not have been afraid, but he was a bit. After all, technically she was still another man’s wife. Plus, she was a local. If soone who knew her spotted them, it could give rise to so scandalous complications.
She glanced at him with a touch of dissatisfaction but ultimately did not try to hook his arm again.
Guo ngyao led the way to the hotel’s parking lot with Chen Feng following behind. They got into her red BMW X6, which definitely looked comfortable.
"Where are we going to eat?" Chen Feng asked once he was in the passenger seat.
"Let’s go to Ruyi Building, the one outside our forr school. I passed by last year when I ca ho for the New Year, and it was still open, doing pretty well."
Ruyi Building was a restaurant near their old high school, where classmates would often host dinner parties and birthday celebrations.
"The old school moved; are they still there?"
"Now the old school site is a vocational school, and there are quite a few students, so the restaurant is still doing well."
"Oh, I don’t mind. Eating there is fine."
"Then let’s eat there. Consider it reminiscing about our student days."
Guo ngyao was happy and quickly started the car, driving towards the old town.
A few minutes later, they parked near Ruyi Building. The restaurant was still in the sa old building, just with a fresh coat of paint that made it look rather new. The sign had also been replaced, and the entrance had been remodeled.
It was just the right ti for lunch, and there were quite a few custors inside.
They asked at the front desk, but all the private rooms were taken, so they had to eat in the main hall.
Neither of them minded.
There happened to be a free table by the window, so they sat down, ordered a few dishes they still rembered, and then waited.
"There have been so big changes here. It’s been redecorated inside. There used to be a wall here, but now it’s all floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s much brighter," Guo ngyao comnted as she looked around.
Chen Feng also looked around and said thoughtfully, "Things have changed, but people have gone. I rember the owner and his wife were both over fifty years old. They must have retired by now."
"Right, they probably have. The cooks have certainly changed nurous tis too. I just wonder if the taste of the food is still the sa. Back then, I really loved the food here and often ca to eat."
At that mont, a group of people ca in from outside, and a middle-aged bald man’s gaze locked onto Guo ngyao.
He imdiately walked over to their table.
Guo ngyao, with her back to the man, didn’t notice, but Chen Feng did. Seeing the middle-aged bald man staring ominously at him, Chen Feng felt a sense of dread.
This is exactly what he had feared—judging by the bald man’s deanor, he must be soone who knew Guo ngyao.
"ngyao, what brings you here to eat?" the bald middle-aged man stood by Guo ngyao, looking displeased.
Guo ngyao looked up, saw the man, and beca a little flustered. She quickly stood up and said, "I... I just stopped by on my way. What are you doing here?"
The bald man explained, "I’m here to discuss so business with a few friends, and we decided to grab a al together."
"Oh, then you should go eat with your friends first," Guo ngyao said sowhat unnaturally.
"There’s no rush for that. Who’s this friend of yours? Aren’t you going to introduce us?" the bald man asked directly.
"He’s my classmate, Chen Feng. We ran into each other today, so we decided to have a al here together."
Guo ngyao managed to calm down a bit as she spoke.
The bald man gave a forced smile and nodded, "What a coincidence."
...
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