Chapter 62: Boyfriend

“It’s not a good idea for Manman and Ayu to keep holding a grudge like this. If she wasn’t so unhappy, I wouldn’t have come to you about this,” said He Wenjing, sitting in the Shen family’s living room, getting straight to the point.

“It’s normal for young people to bicker. I thought Ayu had a good temper and would be considerate towards Manman, but after all this time, he still hasn’t taken the initiative to soften his stance and coax her. Doesn’t he know what kind of person Manman is? He shouldn’t blame her for other people’s mischief.”

The incident on Dongyu Mountain was easy to find out about, and He Wenjing naturally sided with her own child.

Fu Yun was worried, but not to the point of siding with outsiders.

“Ayu has always had a good temper and never gets angry with people. This time, he was really upset. It was pouring rain, and our Shuangxu was left in the wilderness. He searched for her all night and finally found her. How could he not be heartbroken? Put yourself in his shoes, if it were Manman, you and Old Lu would probably overturn the mountain.”

That was true. He Wenjing couldn’t press the matter further.

“Your Shuangxu seems quite well-behaved. Although she’s not your biological child, she grew up in your family, and you’ve had so many years of affection for her. It’s understandable that Ayu is good to her. I can’t say anything about that. But now…” He Wenjing paused subtly.

“I’ve heard some rumors outside. Of course, I don’t want to look at Ayu with that kind of perspective, but isn’t he being a little too good to Shuangxu? He bought her a house, then gave her a car with great fanfare. He’s never been so attentive to our Manman.”

These words were like a stab at Fu Yun’s wound.

“He treats Shuangxu like a sister. You know that Mianzhi doesn’t care about Shuangxu. He’s taken on all the responsibilities that her parents should have. He not only bought her a house and a car, but he’ll also send her off to get married in the future. Do you still not trust Ayu’s character?”

“Of course, I trust him.”

With that said, He Wenjing’s anger subsided, and she changed the subject. “Shuangxu is the same age as Manman, she’s twenty-two this year. Shouldn’t she start thinking about getting married?”

•  

Fu Yun arranged a blind date for Shuangxu.

When Shuangxu found out, she stopped eating mid-meal, speechless for a long time.

On the phone, Fu Yun said, “I’ve met the guy. He’s handsome and considerate. You have nothing else going on tonight, so why not have dinner with him?”

Shuangxu’s throat felt dry. “I don’t have any plans to… date right now.”

“You’re twenty-two. How can you not date? Look at your sister Leyan, she’s two years younger than you, and your Aunt Cui is already helping her find a suitable partner. Girls don’t have to rush to get married, but they should date, so they can know what kind of person is right for them.”

Fu Yun’s persuasion was gentle, or rather, she was carefully avoiding certain sensitive topics.

Shuangxu couldn’t refuse, and she couldn’t refuse.

If she refused, it would seem like she still had feelings for Shen Yu.

Her throat felt choked, and she finally gave in. “Okay. I’ll go.”

The man’s name was Wei Qian. His family background wasn’t as impressive as the Song family’s three generations of officialdom, but Fu Yun had carefully chosen him, so he naturally had his own merits.

He was successful in his career, having founded a very successful catering brand. At a young age, he already had billions in assets, and he could be considered outstanding among his peers.

Wei Qian could tell that he was very satisfied with her. After all, she was the daughter of the Foreign Ministry’s director, and she had the backing of a powerful family like the Shen family. In terms of family background, he was truly reaching for the stars.

This place wasn’t short of wealthy people, but wealth was just a string of numbers in the face of real power.

And this Miss Song, she was stunningly beautiful at first glance.

During the entire dinner, Wei Qian talked non-stop, from his entrepreneurial journey to his views on the current international situation.

He never asked a single question about her.

Finally, halfway through the meal, Wei Qian asked a question.

“Miss Song, forgive my boldness, have you had any boyfriends before?”

Shuangxu hesitated for a few seconds between telling the truth and lying. She decided to continue maintaining the persona she had created before, to avoid any inconsistencies.

After all, no one could verify her affairs abroad.

“I have.”

“Oh.” Wei Qian asked, “What kind of person was he?”

Shuangxu glanced at him. “A man.”

Wei Qian laughed awkwardly.

Shuangxu knew he was really trying to find out about the other person’s background, perhaps for comparison, perhaps for other reasons, but she didn’t care. There was no need to answer this question.

Besides, she couldn’t make up anything more specific. Once a lie had details, it was easy to expose loopholes.

After dinner, Wei Qian called the waiter to settle the bill.

The waiter, wearing a bow tie, bent over. “Sir, your bill has already been paid.”

Wei Qian’s expression froze, his gaze shooting towards Shuangxu. “You paid?”

Women secretly paying the bill usually meant they were dissatisfied with the date and didn’t want to continue seeing the person.

In other words, she wasn’t interested in him, which made Wei Qian feel a little embarrassed.

Shuangxu had gone to the restroom during the meal, so she had the opportunity to do this. But she was also confused. “It wasn’t me.”

She asked the waiter, “Who paid the bill?”

“It was Mr. He.” The waiter looked up in a certain direction, and Shuangxu followed her gaze.

At a rectangular table covered with a white tablecloth, He Tingzhou was having dinner with several foreigners in suits.

They were discussing something, and He Tingzhou seemed focused, but when Shuangxu looked over, he just happened to glance at her.

He leaned back in his chair, his long legs crossed, a faint smile playing on his lips as he turned back.

Shuangxu didn’t understand the subtle expression.

Wei Qian asked, “Who is that?”

“My brother’s friend.”

Shuangxu didn’t want to talk about it, but Wei Qian had a businessman’s keen sense of smell: “His last name is He? The He family?”

Shen Yu’s friend, most likely someone of importance, and He Tingzhou’s natural air of nobility was cultivated in absolute power. A man standing at the center of power, even the hem of his clothes exuded an effortless sense of prestige.

Before Shuangxu could answer, Wei Qian had already adjusted his collar and stood up, walking towards the table.

Shuangxu couldn’t stop him.

“Mr. He, nice to meet you.” Wei Qian extended his hand with a beaming smile, “Wei Qian.”

He Tingzhou lifted his eyes and glanced at him, then naturally slid towards Shuangxu who was behind him.

Shuangxu’s brow furrowed slightly, her gaze towards Wei Qian’s back was impatient.

The Crown Prince must have been in a good mood today, he actually gave Wei Qian the courtesy of shaking his hand: “He Tingzhou.”

While speaking, he remained seated, that composure built upon his superior status.

Shuangxu was unhappy with Wei Qian’s initiative to greet him, but he was already in front of her, so she could only grit her teeth and call out: “Brother Tingzhou.”

“I’ve heard Shuangxu mention you so many times, I didn’t expect to run into you here today. I should have gone over to say hello if I knew you were here.”

Wei Qian said this while looking at her, as if blaming her for not introducing him.

Shuangxu pursed her lips.

She hadn’t mentioned a word.

“Is that so?” He Tingzhou was quite interested, “What did she say about me?”

Wei Qian was also a shrewd person, he said without changing his expression: “She said you are Mr. Shen’s friend, and you two are very close.”

He Tingzhou looked at Shuangxu meaningfully: “We are quite close.”

She felt that the look was full of mockery, mocking her to the point where her face felt numb. Wei Qian was trying to flatter him, but he didn’t know the relationship between her and He Tingzhou, it wasn’t what he thought.

With those words, she was clearly a vain woman who was bragging about him behind his back.

“Boyfriend, huh?” He Tingzhou spoke lightly.

“No.” Shuangxu felt inexplicably embarrassed to say it, she pinched her fingers, “Blind date.”

He said again, “So you’re in a hurry to find a boyfriend?”

Shuangxu felt her face burn with shame, she didn’t want to answer this mocking question.

“Brother Tingzhou, you’re busy, we won’t bother you anymore.”

After she finished speaking, she turned and left, Wei Qian smiled at He Tingzhou and followed.

When they walked out of the restaurant, Wei Qian took out two tickets: “There’s a musical at the theater tonight, let’s go together…”

Shuangxu refused before he finished speaking: “I’m tired, I’ll go back.”

“It’s not even nine o’clock yet, why are you going to bed so early?”

“Is there something wrong with that?”

Her attitude was clearly colder than when they were eating, Wei Qian quickly said: “That’s not what I meant. Let me drive you home.”

“No need.” Shuangxu walked towards her parking spot, “I drove myself here.”

After getting into the car, she didn’t start the engine, she held the steering wheel in silence for a while, then leaned forward and buried her face in her arms.

After a while, she sat up straight, took out her phone and sent a WeChat message to Yue Zifeng.

【Brother Zifeng, can you keep me company for a drink?】