Xu Xingguang and Zhang Zhiyi arranged to have dinner at a Shanxi Restaurant.
As soon as they met, Xu Xingguang took out a bunch of expensive items from her canvas bag, which were apology gifts Bai Xuan had given her today.
Zhang Zhiyi stared at the treasures spread across the table and exclaimed in surprise, "Jiang Heng really went all out, didn't he?"
"That's his life savings. How could he not be generous?"
Zhang Zhiyi nodded, putting the items into her tote bag. She handed a knife-cut noodle bowl to Xu Xingguang and said with a gossiping tone, "By the way, I heard something you might find interesting."
Xu Xingguang continued eating her noodles, not even raising her head as she asked, "What is it?"
"That sister of yours seems to be with Chu Zimu now."
"Who?" Xu Xingguang showed a perplexed expression.
Zhang Zhiyi was surprised that Xu Xingguang didn't even remember who Chu Zimu was, feeling like she had said something unnecessary.
"You don't remember Chu Zimu?"
Xu Xingguang shook her head.
She had almost forgotten about her official scumbag boyfriend, Jiang Heng, so how could she remember someone like Chu Zimu?
Zhang Zhiyi began to explain Chu Zimu's identity to Xu Xingguang in detail, "The eldest of the Chu family, Chu Zimu, who once pursued you but was rejected. His sister, Chu Ziling, was your close friend in high school. Do you remember now?"
Xu Xingguang still couldn't recall who Chu Zimu was but remembered Chu Ziling. "Now that you mention it, I remember."
"Hey, by the way, how did you and Chu Ziling fall out? Was it really like the rumors said, that she also liked Jiang Heng and went from being your best friend to becoming a rival in love?"
"Rival in love?" Xu Xingguang shook her head, her expression complicated as she said, "No, Jiang Heng was her rival in love."
Zhang Zhiyi was stunned for a moment before understanding the meaning behind those words.
"Holy shit." Zhang Zhiyi exclaimed, "You've got some serious allure." If Mrs. Chu knew that both her children had liked the same person, her expression would certainly be something to see.
After discussing You Mingyue and Chu Zimu, Zhang Zhiyi then talked to Xu Xingguang about her studies. "University City is very close to Cangshan Town, do you want to move there? The teacher's house has been vacant, just need a bit of tidying, and it's ready to live in."
"That's precisely my intention." Xu Xingguang didn't want to stay at the Xu house any longer than necessary.
The house in Cangshan Town was Mo Yinshu's property before marriage, and when Zhang Zhiyi was attending university in Yujiang City, she often stayed at Mo Yinshu's place.
She had the keys to that house.
Handing the keys to Xu Xingguang, Zhang Zhiyi quickly finished her dinner and rushed back to work overtime.
When Xu Xingguang returned to the Xu house, it was already very late.
Strangely, Xu Zeqing and the others hadn't gone to sleep yet.
You Jiaoyang was sipping coffee, and the other three were watching TV. Upon hearing Xu Xingguang enter, Xu Zeqing shifted his gaze from the TV screen to her, scrutinizing her for a while before asking, "Do you have anything to do tomorrow?"
"I have to go to the school in the morning to handle re-enrollment procedures," Xu Xingguang replied.
But Xu Zeqing said, "Go in the afternoon instead. We have guests coming in the morning, and you need to stay for lunch."
What kind of guests would make Xu Zeqing care so much?
"Is it Grandpa coming?" Other than that, Xu Xingguang couldn't think of anyone else.
You Jingqiu answered ahead of Xu Xingguang, "It's not your Grandpa; it's Ming Yue's boyfriend coming tomorrow for lunch. And speaking of, Xingguang even knows Ming Yue's boyfriend."
"Really?" Xu Xingguang asked You Mingyue, "Who is it?"
"His name is Chu Zimu." You Mingyue smiled shyly and told Xu Xingguang, "I heard from Brother Chu that you were very close to his sister, Chu Ziling, and often went to their house in high school. How could you not remember?"
Her words were artful and quite interesting, subtly implying that Xu Xingguang went to the Chu house under false pretenses, deliberately trying to seduce Chu Zimu.
Xu Xingguang caught the underlying meaning in You Mingyue's words.
She was not one to be easily bullied, and it wasn't for You Mingyue to try pinching her.
Xu Xingguang smiled brightly, responding, "I often went to his house just to play with his sister. There's nothing strange about that." Then she pivoted, saying, "If he frequently comes to the Xu house and always finds your sister to play with, wouldn't that be strange? Don't you think so, Sister Ming Yue?"
Hearing this, You Jiaoyang almost spat out his coffee.
Xu Xingguang was sharp-tongued and relentless, and her words startled everyone, including Xu Zeqing.
You Jingqiu's cheeks flushed with anger, and she spoke with sarcasm, "Xu Xingguang, what nonsense are you spouting! For a young writer, how can you speak so shamelessly? You're disgracing your title as a young writer!"
You Mingyue bit her teeth with a crackling sound and glared at Xu Xingguang with venomous eyes, as if she wished she could fly into a rage and slap her.
Xu Zeqing's thick brows furrowed, clearly also embarrassed by what Xu Xingguang had said, but due to some reasons, he didn't directly chastise her.
"What's wrong with being a young writer? Just because I'm a young writer, does that mean I have to obediently stand here and be a doormat for her to subtly imply that I'm seducing men?" Xu Xingguang scoffed and said bluntly, "If I, Xu Xingguang, fancy someone, a mere gesture would be enough, why would I need to seduce them?"
After speaking, Xu Xingguang glanced at You Jiaoyang, who was wiping the coffee off his fingers with a tissue, appearing aloof and indifferent. She threw herself a rhetorical curveball: "I think Brother Jiaoyang is a thousand times better than that Chu Zimu, seducing Chu Zimu is not as worthwhile as seducing Brother Jiaoyang!"
Finishing her sentence, Xu Xingguang even threw a coquettish wink at the utterly stunned You Jiaoyang.
The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop, as everyone was shocked by Xu Xingguang's daring antics.
You Mingyue's mouth gaped open in an 'Oh my God' expression of shock.