Chapter 20

【I’ll take Auntie and Uncle to the restaurant.】

Zhou Sujin sent a message to Wei Lai, who had just returned from outside and probably hadn’t had dinner yet. To prevent her from also going to the same restaurant, he notified her in advance.

At this moment, on the second-floor office.

Wei Lai showed her mother the drafted cooperation agreement. After spending the whole afternoon at Yunhui Group, the cooperation was settled, and the contents of the agreement were discussed.

“Mom, take a look. If there’s no problem, we’ll start the contract process tomorrow, and we can start the renovation work next week.”

Cheng Minzhi only glanced at the important terms. With her daughter handling things, she had nothing to worry about.

She put away the agreement and said, “Let’s go, let’s have dinner. We won’t have boxed meals for the work dinner today. Mom will treat us, let’s celebrate at a small restaurant.”

Wei Lai smiled, “Then I’ll order a few more dishes.”

With her bag on her back, she walked arm in arm with her mother to the renowned old restaurant.

Her phone was still in her bag, untouched.

When they arrived at the restaurant, a table on the first floor had just been vacated, and the waiter was cleaning up.

Wei Lai said, “Mom, let’s sit downstairs.”

“Okay.” Cheng Minzhi was too lazy to climb the stairs to the second floor.

As the table was being prepared, Wei Lai took out her phone to order by scanning the QR code. That’s when she saw the message Zhou Sujin had sent her fifteen minutes ago.

[Mr. Zhou, I just saw…]

Seeing the ellipsis, Zhou Sujin guessed that she was already at the restaurant. [In line?]

Wei Lai replied, [No, there happened to be a vacant table on the first floor.]

[Are you on the second floor?] he asked.

[Yes.] Zhou Sujin glanced at Auntie, who was enthusiastically discussing how to celebrate Uncle’s birthday, and replied to Wei Lai, [It’s okay, we won’t run into each other.]

Apart from Uncle’s fiftieth birthday, Auntie is completely absorbed in other matters now.

[Auntie knows your name is Wei Lai and your family runs a supermarket. Come home with me on October 20th.]

Wei Lai wasn’t prepared for this sudden development. [So soon?]

Their family was not an ordinary one after all. Even if she was posing as his girlfriend, she couldn’t help but feel nervous. Some things can only be clarified face to face.

[Do you want to meet now?]

Zhou Sujin: [How?]

Wei Lai: [Go to the restroom.]

“…”

Half a minute passed, and he didn’t reply. Wei Lai thought he had already gone, so she handed her bag to her mother to hold for a moment and gestured toward the restroom.

There was only one restroom on the first floor of the restaurant, so she went there to find Zhou Sujin.

She didn’t see him at the washstand.

He should be in the men’s restroom, she thought.

After waiting for a while, she still didn’t see him.

[Mr. Zhou, I’m by the washbasin in the restroom.]

Zhou Sujin was helpless and said to Uncle, “I’ll go to the restroom downstairs.”

He didn’t reply earlier because he didn’t intend to go, and he found it absurd to wait at the restroom door to meet someone, only she could come up with such an idea.

Wei Lai was tidying her hair in front of the mirror when she saw his figure reflected in it.

He approached, and she turned her head.

“Why the sudden meeting with your parents? Wasn’t it too early?”

She was worried, “We’re still not familiar with each other, we hardly know anything about each other. It’s easy to mess up if we act rashly.” Over the past few days, she had tried her best to treat him as her boyfriend and put herself in his girlfriend’s shoes, but he was very passive.

A one-man show was hard to perform.

Zhou Sujin approached the washstand and washed his hands. “There’s no need to overthink it. Just act naturally.”

“Let’s go back.” He tossed the paper into the trash can.

Wei Lai followed behind him. At this moment, two men who were somewhat drunk but not completely intoxicated walked towards them. One of them patted the other’s shoulder and said, “Bro, listen to me.”

“Bro, listen to me, listen to me.”

They kept repeating the same sentence.

Zhou Sujin slowed his pace and reached out his arm to block Wei Lai, avoiding her from being bumped into by these two unsteady walkers.

Wei Lai was thinking about what to wear when she went to his house and what gift to prepare for Uncle. She didn’t notice the two men walking towards them.

Suddenly, Wei Lai saw Zhou Sujin reaching out his hand without looking back, just like how Zhang Yanxin used to hold her hand while walking. Almost instinctively, she reached out her hand to him, thinking that he was practicing holding hands in preparation for going home.

Zhou Sujin paused his steps and turned to look at her, straightforwardly saying, “I was just trying to shield you, not to hold your hand.”

Wei Lai quickly withdrew her hand, feeling a slight burn on her fingertips as if they were scalded by something. She pretended to be calm and said, “Look at how in sync we are. Auntie is experienced and can see through things at a glance.”

They were now in the lobby, and she waved her hand, quickly walking towards their table.

Zhou Sujin returned to the second floor. Auntie was on the phone with the hotel, arranging for the chef to prepare a birthday banquet at home.

He had no idea how long he had been in the restroom, and Auntie had no concept of time.

After several phone calls, Ning Rujiang managed to arrange the birthday banquet for twenty days later.

The birthday celebration would be held at home, with four tables of guests invited.

Under the guise of celebrating a birthday, they would invite family members to congratulate their nephew on having a girlfriend.

“What does Wei Lai like? I’ll prepare a gift for our first meeting,” Ning Rujiang asked her nephew.

Zhou Sujin didn’t know what Wei Lai liked. At the moment, he only knew that she didn’t eat seafood in seafood risotto but liked seaweed.

He didn’t pay attention to the brand of the white suit she wore.

“I think it’s better to take her to a banquet than to give her a gift,” he said.

Ning Rujiang readily agreed, “No problem, we can even go ten times around.” But the gift still needed to be prepared; it was a matter of etiquette.

“Don’t feel sorry for Auntie’s money, what you like, Auntie likes.”

Zhou Sujin replied, “I didn’t deliberately find out what she likes.”

This answer was typical of Zhou Sujin, and Ning Rujiang had no suspicions. If her nephew knew everything about his girlfriend and could recite her preferences by heart, then she would find it suspicious.

“I’ll prepare the gift myself.”

That night, Ning Rujiang began packing her suitcase. Her husband said, “What are you doing up so late? Go to bed.”

“I have to pack tonight. We’ll leave tomorrow.”

“You’re leaving as soon as you arrive?”

“We’ve bought tea leaves, and tasted the local yellow wine, do you want us to stay until the New Year?”

She was a conscientious elder. It would be rude to delay their young couple’s date.

—

Wei Lai has been busy these past few days. Even if Auntie and Uncle had gone back, she still wouldn’t have had time for dates.

She was busy signing contracts and processing paperwork with Yunhui Group, selecting suitable gifts for Zhou Sujin’s family elders, and attending her father’s wedding.

Her father’s wedding was scheduled for noon on October 3rd. Strictly speaking, it couldn’t be considered a wedding. They only invited their closest relatives and friends, there was no wedding ceremony, and even the emcee was a young lawyer with good eloquence from her father’s law firm, hastily arranged at the last minute.

Everything was kept simple.

However, her father still prepared a marriage vow, wore a well-fitted suit with a purple-red tie, and wore a boutonniere.

He didn’t look like a nearly fifty-year-old man at all. If you told others that he was just over forty this year, they would believe it.

Wei Lai sat in the seat furthest to the side, watching her father talking to the photographer and imagining what his first wedding was like.

He was only twenty-four at the time, in the prime of his youth.

Her mother wasn’t in Jiangcheng recently and had gone on a trip with her friends during the National Day holiday.

As far as she remembered, her mother had never gone out during the holidays before. Since the holidays were when many people traveled, and her mother wasn’t one to seek excitement, it was strange that she chose to go out this year.

The reason given was that she was getting older and liked lively places.

Wei Lai couldn’t fathom how much affection her mother still had for her father, but there must have been a moment when she couldn’t reconcile herself to it.

The person she had loved since she was a teenager was now married to someone else.

“Lai Lai, come here,” her father waved to her.

Wei Lai snapped out of her thoughts, adjusted her expression, and smiled as she walked over.

“Bring Yihan over here. Let’s take a family photo,” her father said to Zhao Yihan.

It had been five or six years since they had last taken a photo together, perhaps even longer.

Today was a special day, and taking a family photo seemed natural.

Wei Lai and Zhao Yihan wore the same style of dress but in different colors, which their stepmother had prepared for them earlier. Their initial interaction had started with Zhao Yihan giving her this dress as a gift, and that’s how their subsequent exchanges began.

During the photo shoot, the photographer repeatedly said to smile more naturally and cheerfully. He was probably talking about her because she felt that her smile was forced and unnatural.

Zhao Yihan, who was taller than Wei Lai, gently placed her hand on Wei Lai’s shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.

After taking the family photo, relatives started arriving, and Wei Lai’s father and stepmother went to greet them.

Wei Lai initially didn’t want to sit at the main table but was called over by Zhao Yihan.

As the main table was close to the stage, during the wedding ceremony, Wei Lai could clearly see all the expressions on her father’s face.

When her father was reciting his marriage vows, she gently pressed her finger to the corner of her eye.

She hoped her father would be happy, but she couldn’t articulate the sadness she felt inside.

“Let’s invite Lai Lai and Yihan up to the stage as well,” the host said to the audience, catching both Wei Lai and Zhao Yihan off guard. They hadn’t been informed about this part beforehand.

But since the host had already said it, they couldn’t refuse.

On stage, Wei Lai realized that this was a way to show everyone how harmonious their family was.

Her eyes were still moist, and when the host interacted with Zhao Mei and Zhao Yihan, Wei Huatian asked his daughter in a low voice, “Why are you crying?” as he wiped away her tears.

Wei Lai smiled and said, “I was moved by your vows.”

Wei Huatian hugged his daughter. He could tell from her expression that she wasn’t truly happy today. Just like earlier, when he finished reciting his vows, both he and Zhao Mei had teary eyes. Although the relatives and friends below were blessing them, only they knew that the tears shed at that moment had nothing to do with today’s happiness; they were because of many thoughts—things of the past and things that couldn’t be let go of.

After the wedding banquet, Wei Huatian didn’t care about seeing off the relatives and hurried to find his daughter.

“Lai Lai, why don’t you come over to the house this afternoon? Your grandparents are also coming over.”

“No, I’ll go another day,” Wei Lai had already prepared her excuse. “Isn’t the supermarket moving into the integrated complex? We’re about to start the renovation, so I have to have a coordination meeting with the construction company.”

“And what about your mom?”

Wei Lai wouldn’t tell her father that her mother wasn’t in Jiangcheng. “What my mom is in charge of is different from what I’m responsible for. I handle all the design and construction coordination; she doesn’t understand.”

Wei Huatian nodded silently for a few seconds. “Lai Lai, are you… blaming Dad?”

“How could I?” Wei Lai hugged her father. “I’ve always wanted you to be happy, really.”

She took a deep breath. “Then I’ll be leaving. I have a meeting scheduled for three o’clock.”

With a wave, she didn’t look back.

Leaving the hotel where the wedding banquet was held, Wei Lai drove to a quiet café. She didn’t have any appointments in the afternoon, and there was no coordination meeting to attend.

After just a few sips of coffee, Zhou Sujin called her.

Wei Lai took a few deep breaths before answering the phone. “Hello, Mr. Zhou.”

Zhou Sujin could tell from her voice that she had been crying. “What’s wrong?”

Wei Lai smiled and said, “It’s nothing. It’s my father’s wedding today, and I’m feeling a bit emotional.” Then she asked, “What can I do for you, Mr. Zhou?”

Zhou Sujin’s flight to London was in the evening, and he was about to head to the airport in an hour. Her suit was still with him.

“Where are you? I’ll send the suit over.”

Wei Lai asked, “You’re sending it yourself?”

“Uncle Yan will deliver it. It’s just a piece of clothing; does it matter who delivers it?”

“It does.”

Zhou Sujin noticed that she always had endless excuses. He said, “You’re leaving Jiangcheng tonight, and it’s not acceptable for me not to see you before you leave, even if Uncle Yan delivers it.”

After getting her location, he went over to deliver the suit.

Wei Lai took out her makeup mirror, and her eyes were still swollen from crying. Since her parents’ divorce fifteen years ago, she had kept all her sadness bottled up inside, never crying once.

If her mother had acted indifferent to her father’s wedding, she would have pretended to be happy as before. But this time, her mother’s indifference made her unable to pretend. She suddenly couldn’t hold back her tears.

She felt sorry for her mother, more so than when she and Zhang Yanxin broke up.

“I’m here.”

“So soon?” Wei Lai paid the bill and quickly left the café.

Zhou Sujin was nearby discussing business. Uncle Yan was now familiar with Jiangcheng, so he took a shortcut and arrived in just four minutes.

In the past, Zhou Sujin wouldn’t have gotten out of the car; he would have just handed the suit to her through the window.

In seventeen days, he would be taking her home. He consciously spent more time with her to ensure that they wouldn’t feel like strangers on the day they went home.

Zhou Sujin opened the car door, holding a men’s handbag with her suit inside.

Understanding the reason she cried, he didn’t say much more and handed her the handbag.

Wei Lai hooked the bag with two fingers, paused for a few seconds, and asked, “Shall I go to Beijing by myself on the 20th?”

Zhou Sujin replied, “I’ll pick you up.”

It was another two weeks before they met again. Wei Lai bid him farewell, saying, “Have a safe trip.”

Zhou Sujin noticed her looking past him after she finished speaking, her brow furrowing slightly.

“Who did you see?” he asked.

Wei Lai quickly averted her gaze and whispered, “It’s Mu Di and her dad. They were about to get into their own car, but then suddenly turned towards us. They must be coming to say hello to you.”

She hadn’t brought her sunglasses when she left. If Mu Di saw her crying, who knows what she might think? It would truly validate the rumor that she went to Beijing to win back Zhou Sujin. She gestured to her still swollen eyes. “What should I do?”

Zhou Sujin said calmly, “There’s nothing you can do.”

In front of Mu Di, Wei Lai’s pride was paramount. With no sunglasses and nowhere to hide, she could only turn to Zhou Sujin for help, gesturing towards him. “Can I hide here for a bit?”

“…”

Zhou Sujin looked down at her.

Wei Lai explained, “I really don’t want to see her.”

Zhou Sujin asked, “What? Don’t you want to see her now? Weren’t you looking for her everywhere at the party?”

Wei Lai met his gaze. “Mr. Zhou.”

Meanwhile, Mu Di and her father were getting closer and closer.

The only place to hide was in his embrace.

Zhou Sujin raised his arm. “Come here.”

“Thank you, Mr. Zhou.”

Zhou Sujin wrapped his arms around her and looked down at her. “Are you tired of comparing yourself every day?”

Wei Lai stayed in his embrace, feeling completely safe, and shook her head. “Not tired.”