It’s unclear whether it was because of her complaints, but the next morning, when Jian Shuning was dragged by Zheng Yuanxi to the community’s indoor swimming pool again, they encountered Du Qingshuo.

“I haven’t swum in a long time, so I thought I’d come and exercise too,” Du Qingshuo said with a smile.

Jian Shuning could feel Zheng Yuanxi’s gaze full of admiration for Du Qingshuo.

Of course, how could he not be amazed? Du Qingshuo, wearing a bikini, had an absolutely stunning figure, a true beauty!

Jian Shuning wanted to bang her head against the wall again. But this time, Zheng Yuanxi beat her to it, accidentally hitting his nose on the handrail while swimming.

She watched him clutching his nose in pain and pursed her lips.

Serves him right!

He must have been distracted by his thoughts, leading to this embarrassing incident.

Let him make a fool of himself in front of the woman he admires! She wouldn’t sympathize with him!

But when she saw him bleeding from his nose, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

It seems that her brother really likes Du Jiejie!

With his cautious nature towards love, he would probably hesitate for a long time without making a move, worrying about reasons like not eating the grass near the nest…

Why not help him? Be his little matchmaker…

Thinking this, Jian Shuning handed her towel to Zheng Yuanxi, indicating for him to stop the bleeding, and then walked towards Du Qingshuo, smiling brightly.

“Du Jiejie, would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”

Upon learning that Jian Shuning had invited Du Qingshuo for dinner at his place, Zheng Yuanxi’s expression was rather strange, a mix of joy and anger, his handsome face slightly distorted.

“Why are you two women having dinner at my place?” he asked.

She rolled her eyes and asked back, “What, are you not happy?”

He was taken aback. “Who said I’m not happy? I was just wondering what you’re going to treat her to. It can’t be curry rice again, right?”

“Brother, you underestimate me too much. I often cook at home.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

She snorted coldly, her bright and playful round eyes slanting towards him.

He felt inexplicably guilty under her gaze, his eyes flickering slightly. “You didn’t tell me in advance about inviting someone over. What if I have something to do tonight?”

“Do you have something to do?”

“Just so happens, I don’t have anything tonight.”

Yeah, right!

Jian Shuning silently criticized. Even if he had plans, he would cancel them to wait for the beauty to arrive!

Hypocrite.

Jian Shuning didn’t want to talk to him anymore. After finding out that Du Qingshuo liked Italian pasta, she went to the supermarket after work and then busied herself in the kitchen.

She bought fresh oysters, cleaned them, cooked the pasta, drizzled it with olive oil, and stir-fried a dish of garlic oyster pasta. She also made a spicy and sour Thai-style green papaya salad and cooked a pumpkin soup.

For dessert, there was chocolate brownie with homemade mango ice cream.

When the dishes were served, Du Qingshuo praised them non-stop.

She loved every dish, praising each one, but she didn’t eat much, and her manner was elegant and refined.

Zheng Yuanxi glanced at Jian Shuning meaningfully.

Jian Shuning was just twirling a large forkful of pasta into her mouth, her cheeks puffed up. Noticing Zheng Yuanxi’s teasing gaze, she almost choked.

Bad brother! Clearly mocking her for eating like a pig, did he think she couldn’t tell?

She chewed silently, her teeth grinding back and forth, as if she were biting into the hard muscles of a man.

After dinner, Zheng Yuanxi opened a bottle of red wine and shared it with Du Qingshuo, but he wouldn’t let her have a sip, giving her a glass of orange juice instead.

What the heck! She wasn’t a minor, why couldn’t she drink wine?

But when her brother gave her a warning glance, she remembered her drunken state a few days ago and had to accept her fate and drink the juice.

The three of them sat on the living room floor, each holding a cushion, and started playing checkers.

Zheng Yuanxi and Du Qingshuo were both very smart, competing with each other, their pieces jumping quickly across the board, leaving her far behind.

After three rounds, she was always the last one.

She pouted and refused to play anymore!

Du Qingshuo discovered a classic purple sandalwood Go board in the corner of the living room and was very excited. She challenged Zheng Yuanxi to a game.

The two of them started playing Go, each move carefully planned.

Jian Shuning, of course, could only cheer from the sidelines.

She watched Zheng Yuanxi and Du Qingshuo drink glass after glass of red wine, both of them slightly tipsy, laughing and joking with each other, gradually blurring the line between boss and subordinate.

The atmosphere was good.

It was a bit warm and a bit ambiguous. Jian Shuning suddenly felt like a third wheel.

Just then, her phone rang, and she used the excuse of answering the call to hide in her room.

“Mom, it’s you.”

“Why do you sound so listless?” Mom’s loud voice came from faraway Tainan. “Are you not doing well in Taipei?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Then why do you sound so weak?”

“I’m just a little tired. Every morning, my brother makes me swim to lose weight, and then I have to go to his company to work as an assistant…”

When her daughter started joking, Mom knew she was overthinking and laughed. “As long as you’re doing well, your mom is relieved.”

“What are you talking about? I’m telling you I’m not doing well.”

“Where’s Yuanxi?”

“He’s in the living room.”

“Give him the phone, I want to talk to him.”

“No way, he’s busy right now.” Busy playing Go and chatting with the beauty.

“Okay, then tell him to call me when he’s free. I need to thank him for taking you in and taking care of you.”

“Okay, I’ll tell him.” Jian Shuning listened to her mom nag for a while longer before hanging up the phone.

Jian Shuning held her phone in a daze. When she walked out of the room again, Zheng Yuanxi and Du Qingshuo were still focused on their game of Go, as if neither of them had noticed her absence.

Jian Shuning sighed in disappointment.