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The reserved table was in a corner, flanked by two walls, offering decent privacy.
Xu Zhiqiao pulled Qu Xiuxiu over and began ordering from the tablet menu.
“What kind of soup base do you want?”
No one answered.
Xu Zhiqiao looked up. “Why aren’t either of you talking?”
Wei Long slumped weakly. “I’m still recovering from the trauma.”
Xu Zhiqiao turned to Qu Xiuxiu. “Xiuxiu, why aren’t you saying anything either?”
“…” Qu Xiuxiu’s face flushed as she whispered, “That guy who came in last… he’s so handsome.”
Xu Zhiqiao: “…”
Qu Xiuxiu clutched her arm, then slumped in despair again. “Ugh, the gap between clouds and mud. I’m doomed!”
“Quit the nonsense,” Xu Zhiqiao said, looking down. “Pick a soup base.”
Just as she finished speaking, a figure blocked the light over their table. That shadow calmly sat down next to Wei Long.
Seeing who it was, Xu Zhiqiao held herself back. “So you really don’t plan on keeping any of your figurines?”
“…” Ji Huailuo leaned back casually, a cold smirk on his lips. “I already locked them up.”
Xu Zhiqiao retorted, “I’ll have my Mother give your Father a second child.”
All three others choked.
“What the hell!” Ji Huailuo was speechless. “Can you come up with something original for once?”
Qu Xiuxiu stifled a giggle. “It’s fine if Big Brother wants to sit. Let him.”
Ji Huailuo’s expression softened. “See? Your friend’s got manners.”
Watching Wei Long getting squished into a corner, Xu Zhiqiao couldn’t take it anymore. “Xiuxiu, switch seats with him.”
Qu Xiuxiu stood up and immediately swapped.
As soon as Ji Huailuo settled in, Xu Zhiqiao lunged to pinch him. “What is wrong with you?! Are you insane?!”
“Don’t be ungrateful,” Ji Huailuo dodged. “I came to invite your friends to the horse ranch.”
Xu Zhiqiao: “We’re not going—”
“Horse ranch?” Qu Xiuxiu and Wei Long chimed in unison.
“Yeah, Chixia Horse Ranch,” Ji Huailuo’s tone perked up as he saw their interest. “It’s got mountains and open fields. We can hunt wild rabbits, pick wild fruits, even stay over for a couple nights.”
Wei Long lit up. “I’ve only ever ridden ponies at the zoo.”
Qu Xiuxiu added, “I’ve never even seen a real horse ranch.”
Xu Zhiqiao: “…”
“Your friends are all for it,” Ji Huailuo chuckled. “Don’t be a killjoy.”
Xu Zhiqiao sighed in resignation. “Let’s eat first.”
Things had gone surprisingly well. Ji Huailuo, feeling smug, couldn’t wait to gloat. “Order whatever you want. Your Big Brother’s picking up the tab.”
After he left, Xu Zhiqiao’s face went blank. “Weren’t you two uncomfortable just now? Changed your minds already?”
Qu Xiuxiu said eagerly, “I just want to see a bit of the world.”
Wei Long added, “I want to see how real rich kids live. Next time I try to act the part, maybe I’ll be more convincing.”
“…”
—
When Ji Huailuo returned looking triumphant, Zhen Chuang asked curiously, “What did you say to convince her?”
“Her real Big Brother stepped in,” Ji Huailuo replied. “One sentence and done.”
“…You’re hardly her real Big Brother.”
Ji Huailuo replied smugly, “Compared to the rest of you, I am her real Big Brother.”
Then he tapped the table with his fingertips. “That girl’s definitely got a hideout out there. Tried to keep it from me.”
“Who doesn’t have a secret base?” Zhou Cong said, eyelids lowered. “No need to dig so deep.”
“I don’t,” Ji Huailuo said righteously. “Do you?”
He turned to the woman beside him with a teasing glint in his eye. “Miss Ye, have you ever been?”
Ye Shuanglu smiled behind her hand. “I don’t know if I’ve had that honor.”
Ji Huailuo: “Zhou, I’m asking you.”
Zhou Cong looked down, fiddling with his phone. “No.”
“…” Ji Huailuo blinked. “No hideout, or no honor?”
Zhou Cong: “Neither.”
“…”
The blunt rejection made the atmosphere awkward at once.
“Miss Ye,” Hua Qingyang quickly tried to ease the tension, “Zhou’s just straightforward like that. One day someone’ll put him in his place. Don’t mind him.”
Ye Shuanglu responded gracefully, “I’ll try to be that person.”
“…”
The group turned their heads upward again, some coughing, others struggling through awkward conversation.
The food began arriving.
Zhou Cong’s fingers paused mid-air, pointing at a particular dish. “That one looks good.”
Ye Shuanglu said, “Let me get it for you—”
“Huailuo,” Zhou Cong cut her off without changing expression. “Aren’t you worried your sister might sneak off?”
Ji Huailuo froze for a second. Zhou’s words hit him with a jolt. He stood up abruptly. “I’ll go check on her.”
Not wanting to trigger Xu Zhiqiao’s temper, Ji Huailuo grabbed that dish Zhou Cong had pointed to and brought it with him.
Striding over, Ji Huailuo declared, “This dish looked good, so I brought it for you.”
“Thank you, thank you,” Qu Xiuxiu accepted it graciously. “Qiaoqiao loves this dish. You really know her.”
Ji Huailuo paused, then laughed it off. “She’s my sister. Eat up. If it’s not enough, order more.”
Xu Zhiqiao said, “Big Brother, you’d better head back.”
“…You have no idea how awkward that table is,” Ji Huailuo sighed. “Grandpa Zhou forced some girl onto Zhou Cong and told him to take her to the horse ranch. He’s pissed, cold-faced at everyone.”
“Oh,” Xu Zhiqiao nodded. “Then you should hurry back.”
“…”
The more he looked, the more she seemed like an ungrateful brat.
Unwanted at this table, Ji Huailuo had no choice but to return.
Once dinner was done, the group gathered and headed off toward the horse ranch.
Xu Zhiqiao, Qu Xiuxiu, and Wei Long rode in Ji Huailuo’s car, squeezed into the back seat, chirping away about their new university life.
Halfway there, Ji Huailuo glanced at the rearview mirror and interrupted, “Hey, what’s your name—Xiao Long, right? Come sit up front… no, wait—Xu Zhiqiao, you move up.”
“…Not happening,” Xu Zhiqiao replied.
Ji Huailuo said, “Your Big Brother wants to follow Zhou Cong’s example. Only girls get the front seat. But I don’t know your classmates that well, so you’re the only one who can sit up front.”
“No.”
“Hurry up.”
“No.”
“…Are you only willing to sit in Zhou Cong’s front seat? His front seat is only for you, isn’t it?”
Xu Zhiqiao’s brain blanked for a second.
“That Miss Ye earlier, she was handpicked by his grandfather,” Ji Huailuo griped. “Just the two of them in one car. He kept a stone face and made her sit in the back. So who do you think the front seat’s for?”
Xu Zhiqiao went silent for a moment. “Probably for you.”
“Bullshit,” Ji Huailuo snapped. “Get out and switch to his front seat. I wanna see if he lets you sit there.”
“…”
He actually pulled the car over to the side.
Xu Zhiqiao’s scalp tingled. “Are you insane?! Just drive!”
The car behind them, unsure of what was going on, pulled over too.
Panicked, Xu Zhiqiao scrambled toward the passenger seat. “Fine! I’ll sit in yours!”
But Ji Huailuo was already dialing. “Bro, let my sister ride with you. My car’s too damn crowded.”
“…!!!”
SHE’S GOING ALL IN AGAINST JI HUAILUO!!