Chapter 34 She Doesn’t Like Him

Song Minghui’s action probably would have broken the original owner’s heart. Song Yiyi thought Song Minghui would fly into a rage. Instead, he said, “Go ahead and write it. Even if you lose your teaching job, this marriage you’ll still have to go through.”

Song Yiyi was completely convinced by Song Minghui’s reckless determination. She even began to wonder if Song Minghui was possessed.

“Alright, alright, I give up. I’ll go with you, okay?” Song Yiyi said nonchalantly.

Gu Chengze wanted to say something, but Song Yiyi pulled him down to sit. “Brother, eat first.”

That lunch was definitely going to be hard to eat — you need to fill your stomach to have the strength to fight.

Song Minghui had won a temporary victory. After the family of four finished breakfast, Song Minghui urged them to get going.

“Let’s go buy some gifts. You can’t show up empty-handed.”

Song Yiyi didn’t braid her hair into plaits as Song Minghui had requested, but Song Minghui didn’t care anymore. As long as she was willing to marry, everything else was negotiable.

At the department store, Song Minghui enthusiastically bought a large bag of groceries, two cans of canned peaches, and even bit the bullet to buy malted milk powder.

Cai Mengjun looked at him strangely. But after all, he was her husband, so she didn’t want him to be alone and stayed by his side the whole time.

Gu Chengze and Song Yiyi followed behind. He kept glancing at Song Yiyi and noticed her calm expression, even with a trace of mockery.

“Yiyi, don’t try to hold up.”

Gu Chengze deliberately kept some distance from the other two and leaned over to Song Yiyi’s side.

“How about this? I’ll get someone to issue you a referral letter. You can go have some fun in Shanghai. After I finish dealing with this side, you can come back.”

Song Yiyi shook her head. “No need.”

Song Minghui and Cen Bowen had already stirred her fighting spirit.

Gu Chengze thought she was worried about him, so his tone became a little anxious.

“Yiyi, are you worried about money? Big brother has it.”

He took a bankbook from his pocket and handed it to Song Yiyi.

“Take this. I’ll make a call now. The referral letter and train ticket will be sent to you soon. Don’t bother bringing clothes — just buy new ones there. Don’t be stingy with money. This is for you to spend.”

Gu Chengze spoke every word carefully, touching a chord in Song Yiyi’s heart.

She didn’t expect Gu Chengze to go this far.

Looking at the bankbook in her hand, she then raised her eyes to Gu Chengze’s gentle and upright face, quietly saying,

“Big brother, why are you so good to me?”

Her clear eyes looked straight at Gu Chengze.

Gu Chengze panicked instantly.

“You… you’re my sister. If I’m not good to you, who else should I be good to?”

His heart was pounding like a drum.

Song Yiyi burst out laughing, thinking Gu Chengze was way too naive. If it weren’t for their age difference and his way of doing things, she might have suspected he was a pure and innocent puppy.

Wait.

Suddenly Song Yiyi realized something and looked straight at Gu Chengze.

That embarrassed look, that flustered expression.

Song Yiyi stopped in her tracks and tentatively asked,

“Big brother, do you have someone you like?”

She asked directly, staring unblinkingly at Gu Chengze’s reaction.

Gu Chengze blurted out, “No.”

Song Yiyi kept staring at him. Gu Chengze’s expression was honest, and he returned her gaze:

“How about you, Yiyi?”

Without any hint of hesitation.

They locked eyes for a moment. Song Yiyi was the first to smile.

“Of course not. If I did, I wouldn’t be forced by Dad to marry Cen Bowen.”

She handed the bankbook back to Gu Chengze.

“Brother, I’m not leaving. Not only am I not leaving, I want to stay.”

Song Yiyi’s tone was firm.

She winked at Gu Chengze, then turned and ran off.

Gu Chengze stood in place, clutching the bankbook tightly, feeling an emptiness inside.

He didn’t know whether to feel relieved or sad. Sad because he missed the chance to confess during the regiment meeting that day.

Relieved because of that same meeting — otherwise, they might not even have had the chance to be siblings.

So she didn’t like him.

In that brief moment, Gu Chengze saw no flicker of emotion in Song Yiyi’s eyes. To her, he was only her brother.

Gu Chengze put the bankbook back in his pocket and smiled wryly.

After all, Song Yiyi was ten years younger. In her eyes, he would always be her big brother and nothing more.

After shopping, the four of them went to the agreed meeting place.

Cen Bowen and his mother were already waiting.

When Cen Bowen’s mother saw Song Yiyi, she hurriedly came forward and warmly shook her hand.

The night before, the lighting had been too dim for Song Yiyi to clearly see Cen Bowen’s mother’s face. She only vaguely remembered her as being plump.

Seeing her today, she really was adorned with pearls and jewels.

Cen Bowen’s mother was short, round-faced, and plump.

She wore bright lipstick, and when she smiled, her already wide mouth became even wider.

“Yiyi, right? I’m Wenwen’s mom. We met the other day.”

Cen Bowen’s mother was exceptionally warm.

“That day, Mom was too busy dealing with that little brat and didn’t get a chance to greet you. Let Mom take a look—oh, you’re really pretty! Your butt is nice and round too. Very good, very good.”

She smiled showing her gums more than her teeth.

Song Minghui was very happy too and gestured with his hand, “In-laws, please come inside.”

Cen Bowen’s mother laughed even more joyfully, “Yes, yes, Wenwen, go welcome your dad and mom inside. Have the waiter pour tea.”

Song Yiyi took the opportunity to pull her hand away from Cen Bowen’s mother and leaned to the side.

She hadn’t expected there to be perfume these days.

The scent on Cen Bowen’s mother was so strong she almost couldn’t breathe.

“Yiyi, I’ll take you inside.”

Before she knew it, Cen Bowen had already moved in front of her. He was dressed impeccably today—although it was just a private meal, Cen Bowen wore a full set of casual clothes, his pale face shining and smooth. Song Yiyi reasonably suspected that Cen Bowen had used his mother’s skincare products.

Before Cen Bowen could get any closer, Gu Chengze stepped in front of Song Yiyi, his voice cold and emotionless: “Together.”

The three punches Gu Chengze had landed earlier still made the corner of Cen Bowen’s mouth ache. He felt bitter inside but still couldn’t say anything. After all, Gu Chengze was not only his superior but also soon to be his brother-in-law. No matter which status he looked at, he had to be careful and appeasing.

Cen Bowen tugged at the corner of his lips, accidentally pulling at the wound, making him grimace and grit his teeth. “Big brother, this way.”

Inside the restaurant, a large round table was set in the center. The first thing that caught the eye was the festive bright red tablecloth.

Cen Bowen’s mother and Cen Bowen earnestly invited everyone to take their seats. Cen Bowen’s mother even patted the seat beside her and beckoned to Song Yiyi, saying, “Yiyi, come sit by Mommy’s side.”

Song Yiyi smiled slightly and replied, “Auntie, I’ll just sit with my brother.”

She admired how naturally outgoing the Cen family was. Even though they weren’t married yet, they insisted on calling themselves “Mom” and such. Song Yiyi’s displeasure was very obvious.

“Aunt.”

“Second sister-in-law.”

Footsteps sounded outside the door, and everyone turned their heads. A man with a tall, slender figure and a faint smile at the corner of his lips greeted Cen Bowen’s mother.

Cen Bowen’s mother smiled and said, “Little brother, come quickly…”

But upon seeing the person behind Cen Yue, Cen Bowen’s mother didn’t finish her sentence. Her expression changed immediately.