Chapter 207: Light Bulb

On the other boat, Cheng Jingmo was already half-soaked and had reached his limit.

He wiped the water off his face and said, “Yu Xiangyang, your girlfriend is watching you. Can you be a bit more composed?”

Yu Xiangyang glanced at Xia Qingyun, who wasn’t looking at him.

He continued splashing water with Xiao Jie with indifference, and argued, “Why should I row a boat with you, a grown man?”

Cheng Jingmo retorted, “Do I want to?”

Had he known he’d be rowing with Yu Xiangyang and watching him play water with an eight-year-old, he would have preferred staying at home to read.

Yu Xiangyang scooped up a handful of water and threw it at Cheng Jingmo’s face. “Nian Nian is speaking up for me!”

Cheng Jingmo turned his head to avoid the water on his face, though his body didn’t escape the splash.

He tugged at his wet white shirt and said, “Her support won’t make a difference; you need your parents’ approval.”

Actually, what he was thinking was: That double-faced spy of a sister, who knows whose side she’s on.

Yu Xiangyang was resolute about being with Xia Qingyun. “Whether they agree or not, I want to be with her.”

Cheng Jingmo reminded him, “What you’re doing isn’t right.”

Yu Xiangyang argued confidently, “Now you’re giving me advice? Didn’t you say you’d marry my sister even if your family disapproved? You got your wish, but now you’re saying it’s wrong when it comes to me?!”

He hadn’t been home for a week and hadn’t heard anything about Cheng Jingmo’s family situation.

Cheng Jingmo didn’t elaborate, only saying quietly, “You’re not the same as me.”

Even if Cheng Jingmo’s marriage failed, no one in his family would be heartbroken over it.

He loved Yu Xiangnian so much that he didn’t want to marry anyone else; he was willing to take the gamble.

Whether he succeeded or failed was his own business.

But Yu Xiangyang was different!

After more than an hour of playing, both boats came ashore, and they went together to a state-run restaurant for dinner.

Yu Xiangyang rode his bike with Xia Qingyun, who kept her hand on the back of the bike to maintain some distance.

Whenever there was a bump, she would inadvertently touch Yu Xiangyang’s waist or grab his clothes.

Each time, Yu Xiangyang’s back would stiffen.

If Xia Qingyun’s actions weren’t accidental, then her skills could be considered lethal to Yu Xiangyang.

Her subtle flirting tactics would easily win over a pure-hearted boy like Yu Xiangyang.

Yu Xiangnian could already imagine Zhao Ruozhu’s headache.

She angrily pinched Cheng Jingmo’s waist, and Cheng Jingmo looked back at her innocently.

At the restaurant, everyone chatted while waiting for their food.

The conversation was mainly between Xia Qingyun and Yu Xiangnian, with Yu Xiangyang occasionally chiming in, and Cheng Jingmo quietly listening.

During the conversation, Xia Qingyun seemed to remember something and pulled out a pair of black hairpins from her bag.

“This morning, when I was shopping with Yu Xiangyang, I saw these hairpins and thought they’d look great on you, so I bought them.”

She handed the hairpins to Yu Xiangnian. “Take a look and see if you like them.”

Yu Xiangnian smiled and took them. “They’re pretty. You have good taste.”

Xia Qingyun then took out some candies from her bag. “Xiao Jie, these are for you. I forgot to give them to you earlier.”

Xiao Jie looked at Yu Xiangnian, who nodded for him to take them.

Xiao Jie accepted them and said, “Thank you, Auntie.”

“You’re welcome. I saw you had a lot of fun today. Next time, let Yu Xiangyang take you out to play again.”

Xiao Jie replied, “Okay.”

I have to admit, Xia Qingyun is really skilled in handling social situations.

Yu Xiangnian recalled what Yu Xiangyang had said about Xia Qingyun’s family background.

Her stepfather already had a daughter, and her mother had two more children with him. Xia Qingyun was probably the least favored child in the family.

She must have learned to read people and please her family from a young age.

No wonder, when she first arrived at their home, she could immediately sense the family’s true feelings, even though they appeared very warm.

At dinner, Xia Qingyun was very attentive.

She served soup to Yu Xiangyang, helped Xiao Jie with his food, and encouraged Cheng Jingmo to take more dishes.

She was beautiful, articulate, and considerate, and treated Yu Xiangyang well. She seemed impeccable.

After dinner, the couples prepared to separate.

Yu Xiangnian immediately became alert when she heard that Yu Xiangyang and Xia Qingyun were going to see a movie.

In the atmosphere of a movie theater, what if Yu Xiangyang’s emotions overcame his morals and he kissed Xia Qingyun?

Wouldn’t that mean he would only want her? The family would definitely be in turmoil!

Without passing her own assessment and without the approval of the Yu family and Zhao Ruozhu, Yu Xiangnian would not allow such a thing to happen.

“Cheng Jingmo, let’s go see a movie too. It’s been a long time,” Yu Xiangnian said.

Cheng Jingmo: “…”

See, he knew Yu Xiangnian was a double-faced spy.

On the surface, she was helping Yu Xiangyang with his relationship, but in reality, she was gathering intelligence to report to Zhao Ruozhu.

Xia Qingyun cheerfully said, “Then let’s go to the movies together. I haven’t been to the movies with Nian Nian yet!”

Yu Xiangnian smiled even more brightly and nodded repeatedly, “Yes, yes! I also want to watch a movie with you.”

But internally, she thought: Her long-lost tea ceremony skills had been picked up again!

Yu Xiangyang shot a look at Yu Xiangnian.

He might as well have said aloud, “You three have already been a third wheel all afternoon; go home and sleep!”

Yu Xiangnian ignored him and urged Cheng Jingmo and Yu Xiangyang to quickly get their bikes and go. If they were late, there would be no good seats left.

Yu Xiangyang pinned his hopes on Cheng Jingmo.

After working with Cheng Jingmo for so many years, one look was enough for Cheng Jingmo to understand what he meant.

Cheng Jingmo definitely wouldn’t go to the movies!

However, despite his persistent signaling, Cheng Jingmo didn’t even glance at him, only looking at Yu Xiangnian with affection.

Yu Xiangyang became anxious, pulled Cheng Jingmo, and cleared his throat, making his intentions as clear as possible.

Cheng Jingmo looked back and said, “Can’t wait? Let’s go then.”

Yu Xiangyang was confused. “Go… where?”

“To the movies. Let’s go, or we’ll miss out on tickets!”

Yu Xiangyang felt like he might lose his temper!

After a week of only one day off, he finally had a chance to be alone with Xia Qingyun.

This family of three had no sense of timing!

They rode their bikes to the cinema.

Yu Xiangyang handed his bike to Cheng Jingmo, asking him to store it, while he went to buy tickets.

After walking a few steps, he came back and grabbed Yu Xiangnian by the collar. “Come with me to buy tickets!”

He then told Xia Qingyun, “You and Xiao Jie wait here. Don’t wander off!”

Yu Xiangnian, being dragged along, asked unhappily, “Yu Xiangyang, what are you doing?”

Yu Xiangyang said, “I want to discuss something with you. You guys shouldn’t watch the movie.”

Yu Xiangnian: “No, I want to go.”

Yu Xiangyang thought for a moment and said, “How about this? I’ll give you some money, and you and Cheng Jingmo go somewhere else to have fun!”

Yu Xiangnian asked eagerly, “How much?”