Chapter 35: You Don’t Want to Tie Down Congjian’s Heart, Do You?

Soon, the weekend arrived, and after several days of no contact, He Bing suddenly invited her to dinner.

Zhuo Ting shook her head as she held up freshly made snacks. “Don’t go. Could it be that this guy still wants to reignite the old flame? Does he think he can get past his family’s objections?”

In Zhuo Ting’s eyes, He Bing was a complete mama’s boy. Back then, as soon as his mother opposed, he immediately gave up on Lin Ran, not even putting up a fight. He was utterly cowardly.

“Don’t worry, I definitely won’t go.” No matter what He Bing’s sudden invitation was about, in Lin Ran’s mind, he was already part of the past. She could even say that when he pursued her back then, she accepted out of convenience, not out of love.

Later, when He Bing couldn’t handle the pressure from his family and broke up with her, Lin Ran didn’t even think it was the right decision. Since then, he had become a complete stranger to her.

Thinking of this, Lin Ran didn’t hesitate to reject him. “Sorry, I’m not available.” Then, she tossed her phone aside and focused on greeting her guests.

The phone on the table vibrated. He Bing’s eyes lit up, and he quickly unlocked the screen, only to find the message that immediately extinguished the spark in his eyes.

He Bing’s mother noticed his dejected look and frowned. “Pull yourself together. Look at you, nearly thirty and still single. What a disgrace! Tonight, I’ve arranged a blind date for you. You must go!”

He Bing didn’t want to go. He really wanted to tell his mother that he had met Lin Ran again. After such a long time apart, this must be fate, showing that their bond was not broken, and he wanted to pursue her again.

But he knew his mother wouldn’t approve of him marrying Lin Ran. His mother believed that girls like Lin Ran, who didn’t have parents, would marry him only because of his status, and once married, the “true nature” of such girls would be revealed.

Weighing his options, he relented. “Fine, I’ll go to the blind date tonight.”

However, he only planned to go through the motions. Afterward, he would tell his mother that he wasn’t interested in the person.

Resolute in his decision, He Bing replied to Lin Ran: “It’s fine, just let me know when you’re free. I’ll take you out for a meal to make up for not showing you around the company.”

They had planned for him to show Lin Ran around the campus, but unexpectedly, the president had asked him to give a report at lunchtime. Afterward, Lin Ran said she had already toured the campus on her own and didn’t need his help.

Thus, he never found an excuse to spend more time with Lin Ran, and finally decided to ask her out for the weekend.

He Bing spent the entire afternoon distracted, unable to enjoy his favorite game. He kept unlocking and locking his phone repeatedly, but by evening, he still hadn’t received a reply from Lin Ran.

His messages were met with silence, and He Bing felt a little defeated.

At the luxurious private room of Xicheng Grand Hotel, a group had gathered to welcome Yao Ning.

“Wow, what time did you get here? So early?” As Xu Huanran entered, he immediately saw Fu Xingjian sitting at the far end.

Fu Xingjian glanced up at him and then lowered his eyes again. “It’s not that early, just about ten minutes ago.”

Was that not early? They had never seen him arrive this early during their gatherings.

Xu Huanran hung up his coat, grinning as he sat next to him. “Still can’t forget Yao Ning, huh? If you can’t forget her, then go after her. I’ll support you with both hands!”

He didn’t know what happened back then—Fu Xingjian had chased Yao Ning all the way to the U.S., but in the end, he still couldn’t win her over. Tsk, Fu Xingjian’s charm skills were lacking.

Fu Xingjian set down his cup, his face darkened, and his cold eyes fixed on Xu Huanran. The latter’s heart skipped a beat, swallowing hard. This look… Since last week, when they left the dessert shop, Fu Xingjian had given him the same look in the bar, making him uncomfortable, and then they had a week-long “cold war.”

Was it happening again?

Xu Huanran shrank back, too scared to say anything else, though he was confused: Didn’t everyone know Fu Xingjian liked Yao Ning?

A few minutes later, Yao Qian and Yao Ning arrived.

After not seeing each other for a long time, Yao Ning was very thoughtful, preparing gifts for each of her brothers.

For Fu Xingjian, she gave him a handmade, custom-made blue tie with white patterns, made from silk, which looked very luxurious.

Xu Huanran felt a pang of jealousy, seeing how much thought Yao Ning had put into choosing the gift compared to the men’s cologne in his hand. He remarked sourly, “I heard that when a woman gives a man a tie, it means she wants to tie down his heart. Yao Ning, are you trying to tie Fu Xingjian’s heart down?”

Yao Ning froze for a moment, her cheeks flushing.

“Xu Huanran, if you don’t stop talking, I’ll throw you out!” Fu Xingjian suddenly shouted, startling her.

Yao Ning was stunned. This was the first time she had seen him get so angry over their jokes.

The atmosphere in the private room turned cold. Yao Qian stood up to mediate. He pointed at Xu Huanran and said angrily, “You ruin everything with that mouth of yours!” Then, he turned to the waiter. “Hurry and bring the food to shut him up so he doesn’t say anything else!”

Xu Huanran felt wronged. Among the three friends, two of them had scolded him, but he hadn’t said anything wrong! He was really upset, and when he was upset, he just wanted to drink, so he ordered a few bottles of expensive red wine.

The other three just shook their heads and ignored him.

Yao Qian asked his sister, “What are your plans now that you’re back? Not going out anymore?”

“Yeah, not going out. I mainly miss you guys…” Yao Ning glanced at Fu Xingjian across from her. Seeing him indifferent, she adjusted her hair and continued, “The art exhibitions abroad have finished, and now my focus will be on domestic work. I’m planning to hold a domestic exhibition in two months.”

Afterward, she playfully winked at Fu Xingjian, “Xingjian, when the time comes…”

“Will you grace my art exhibition by coming to fill the venue with your presence?”

Fu Xingjian nodded, “Okay. But don’t underestimate yourself. With your reputation, the exhibition will surely have a crowd.”

Yao Ning smiled and coquettishly said, “You’re the best to me, unlike my brother, who would rather play games than attend.”

“Please spare me,” Yao Qian quickly waved his hand in surrender. He knew nothing about art. If he found a painting pretty, his sister would mock him for being shallow; if he found one ugly, she’d laugh at him for having no taste. Over time, he stopped giving his opinion on her artwork and even became too lazy to attend her exhibitions.

While the siblings were bantering, Fu Xingjian glanced over at a familiar figure in the opposite VIP room.

He Bing.

At first, he didn’t pay much attention, but the next moment, he saw a girl and a woman who seemed to be her mother entering the private room together.