Zhao Xiyin then asked Li Ran, "What's the situation between you and Gu Heping now?"
Li Ran rolled her eyes. "Nothing's wrong."
"Don't try to fool me," Zhao Xiyin said, displeased. "Gu Heping himself admitted it."
Li Ran immediately straightened her back, her expression tense. "What did he admit to?"
"I admit I'm dating you." Zhao Xiyin blinked.
"Don't listen to his nonsense, he's a lunatic." Li Ran scoffed, with a look of disdain. "His name is well-known in Sanlitun and Houhai. Ask anyone in the industry, and they'll all admire how many women Gu has all over the country."
Zhao Xiyin sighed, "It's not that exaggerated. Brother Heping may like to have fun, but he still knows his limits."
Li Ran snorted, "He has no right to talk."
Zhao Xiyin was a very clever person and knew these two people all too well. The more intense Li Ran's reaction was, the more likely something was going on. Unable to withstand Zhao Xiyin's clear and bright gaze, Li Ran gave in and finally stopped denying it, "We were together for a month, and now we've broken up."
"reason?"
Li Ran lowered her head, concealing the melancholy in her eyes, and calmly replied, "We're not on the same path."
Xiao Shun ordered takeout for lunch, and also asked for three bottles of chilled peach drinks for everyone. Xiao Shun went to the door to pick up the takeout, and when he came back, he went around behind the sofa and reached out to rub the chilled drink bottle against her right cheek.
Zhao Xiyin shivered from the cold, turned her head and glared at him, "Stop it, I'm pregnant."
Her tone was so natural that Xiao Shun thought she was joking and scoffed, "Are you pregnant with Nezha?"
Zhao Xiyin placed her hands on her lower abdomen and said with a grin, "I'm not lying to you, I'm really pregnant."
"Wait, wait, wait!" Li Ran exclaimed in shock, "You, you're pregnant?"
Zhao Xiyin chuckled, remaining silent, her chin slightly tilted back, her eyes brimming with pride and happiness.
Li Ran's mouth dropped open, and she forgot to close it for a long time. Xiao Shun was so startled that he immediately let go of the bottle of iced drink, dropping it on the ground. Zhao Xiyue was furious, "What are you doing?"
The two exclaimed in unison, "That was so fast!" From that moment on, Zhao Xiyin's treatment here completely changed. Xiao Shun, being incredibly obsequious, drove his van out and brought back half a vanful of fruit, constantly urging her to eat. Zhao Xiyin laughed to death, "Are you feeding a pig?"
Li Ran rested her chin on her hand, staring intently at her belly, clicking her tongue in amazement, "It's unbelievable. Your boss Zhou must be ecstatic."
"I haven't told him yet." Zhao Xiyin pouted. "He's busy today, I'll tell him tonight."
April's blossoms have faded, but in the warm afternoon sun, the scent of early summer can already be faintly detected.
Zhao Xiyin spent the afternoon at Li Ran's place, chatting naturally and comfortably with her friend. At 4:30, the driver arrived on time to pick her up. Li Ran and Xiao Shun each stood on one side, exaggeratedly supporting Zhao Xiyin's hands, bowing and scraping, "Respectfully seeing off Your Majesty the Empress."
The restaurant was near Zizhuyuan Park, and we could have arrived earlier, but two traffic accidents on the way slowed us down. We were five minutes late when we finally saw Zhou Qishen waiting at the door. He had changed his clothes and was wearing an apricot-colored trench coat with a stand-up collar, which accentuated his tall and slender figure.
After the car came to a stop, he walked over, opened the car door, and led Zhao Xiyin out.
"I'm late." Zhao Xiyin scratched his palm with her index finger and smiled with her eyes crinkling.
Zhou Qishen squeezed her hand. "It's alright, let them wait."
A perfect couple, their eyes filled with affection, standing together like a beautiful scene.
As soon as they entered the private room, Gu Heping and Lao Cheng slammed their fists on the table and shouted, "Hey hey hey! Who's this! Which dad is with his daughter? Does your daughter have a boyfriend? Let me introduce you to a promising young man."
Zhou Qishen's eyebrows slanted upwards, a smile playing on his lips. Compared to the past, his reaction today was remarkably merciful. He simply tightened his grip on Zhao Xiyin's hand. Then, he said directly, "Although we're all acquaintances, let me formally introduce you. Zhao Xiyin is my wife."
Zhao Xiyin smiled and greeted everyone generously: "Zhou Qishen, my husband."
"Damn it." Gu Heping sighed to Lao Cheng, "We don't need to eat this meal, we've already eaten too much dog food."
Old Cheng sighed, "I should have brought Zhaozhao along, otherwise those two would have been so arrogant."
Secretary Xu sat to Lao Cheng's right, also smiling with her head down.
The waiter served the dishes, all of which were ordered by Xu Jin. There was a reason why his position by Zhou Qishen's side had remained unshaken for so many years; he remembered the tastes and preferences of Zhou Qishen's close friends perfectly. The menu wasn't extensive, but each dish reflected the waiter's intentions. Remembering that Zhao Xiyin liked sweets, he thoughtfully ordered a sago and peanut soup.
Gu Heping said with a smile, "Brother Zhou is usually the fiercest to me. Xiao west, you'll have to stand up for your brother from now on and teach this hot-tempered guy a lesson."
Old Cheng chimed in, "He's almost bankrupted my teahouse with his drinking. He always runs up the tab. Xiao west, you be the judge. It's really not easy for Brother Cheng to run a small business."
Zhao Xiyin didn't say anything, but leaned closer to Zhou Qishen, tilting her head and smiling playfully.
Well, judging from her expression, she's siding with her husband.
The meal was enjoyed very much.
Gu Heping was a good talker and he kept the atmosphere lively. But he could tell that Zhou Qishen seemed a little different today.
Normally, this man, if he were in a good mood, would be even crazier and more boisterous than them. But during this meal, Zhou Qishen ate very quietly, not that he was taciturn, but rather that he was in a state of quietude and restraint, as if something was on his mind.
Gu Heping deliberately provoked him, urging him to drink with Zhao Xiyin. He knew that Xiao Xi was a heavy drinker. Zhou Qishen indeed reached out and snatched the wine glass, without saying a word, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, then said in a low voice, "Don't bother her."
Zhao Xiyin naturally noticed his unusual behavior today and subconsciously reached out to take his hand. Under the table, their fingers intertwined. Zhou Qishen turned his head, his eyes filled with affection and tenderness, and gave her a gentle smile.
As the dinner was drawing to a close, Zhou Qishen, who had already put down his chopsticks long ago, suddenly spoke up, "Heping, have you received the authorization letter from the legal department?"
Gu Heping, unsuspecting, wiped his hands with a hot towel and said, "Received it."
Zhou Qishen turned his gaze to Xu Jin, "You should consult him about the relevant work for the high-speed rail bearing project from now on."
This matter had been mentioned before, and Xu Jin was not surprised, nodding in agreement.
"Old Cheng, the things you asked me to bring last time, I'll have the driver deliver them to your teahouse tomorrow. It should last you a while." Zhou Qishen's tone was calm and unhurried, as if he had planned everything in advance.
Zhao Xiyin felt uneasy and turned her head to look at him.