On Tuesday evening, Xiang Yutang returned home and engaged in a so - called "love - hate battle" with Xiang Zhengyun.
Well, it was only hate on her side.
"Ouch! You're hurting me!"
Xiang Zhengyun could easily pin down both of her hands with just one of his: "You little girl, how dare you fight with your old man."
"I'll get my brother to beat you up!" Xiang Yutang continued to provoke.
Xiang Zhengyun raised his head, and Xiang Yutang immediately backed down: "Dad, I'm sorry. Dad, don't hit me. Wuwu."
Xiang Zhengyun let go of her when he saw she had become obedient: "You little girl, your brother and your mom aren't here now. Let's see who can protect you."
Xiang Yutang lay on the sofa pretending to be dead: "Big bad guy! When Mom comes back, I'll make her teach you a lesson!"
"Humph."
Xiang Yutang lay on the sofa for a while, then crawled over to massage Xiang Zhengyun.
"Dad, where are you taking me for dinner tomorrow?"
Xiang Zhengyun closed his eyes and enjoyed her massage: "You'll know tomorrow."
He had originally planned to take this girl to visit the Zhu family, but for some unknown reason, she was dead - set against it. He already owed the Zhu family a favor, and since he hadn't seen his old friend for years, he must take this girl there to express his gratitude this time.
Xiang Yutang didn't think too much about it. The next day, she dressed up beautifully and went out with her father.
"Be polite when you go to someone's house for dinner later. Mind your table manners when you eat. Got it?"
"Got it. But whose birthday is it? You've prepared so many gifts." Xiang Yutang looked at the pile of gift boxes beside her.
"You'll know later."
The car slowly drove into the high - end villa area. Zhu Yuan and Zheng Wanyin had been waiting at the door since they heard Xiang's family was coming.
"Remember to call Uncle Zhu and Aunt Zheng when you get out. Got it?"
The smile on Xiang Yutang's face faded. She looked at the middle - aged man standing outside, who strongly resembled Zhu Zhengchu, in disbelief. Hmm, it had only been a year, but why did Zhu Zhengchu look so much older? It even made Xiang Yutang want to laugh.
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and get out!" Xiang Zhengyun glared at her impatiently.
Xiang Yutang got out of the car reluctantly. Zheng Wanyin happily came up and took her arm: "This is Yutang, right? You're so beautiful. You look even better than on TV."
"The Uncle Zhu I mentioned to you before. When you went to participate in that show, it was their son who took special care of you. Hurry up and thank them!" Xiang Zhengyun glared at her.
Xiang Yutang greeted them reluctantly. She really had to thank their son. If it weren't for their son, she wouldn't have cried so miserably later.
Zheng Wanyin really liked Xiang Yutang and kept chatting with her. Xiang Yutang didn't want to make the elder feel awkward, so she responded enthusiastically.
"Hey, you rascal, you're finally back! Hurry up and come over to greet people!"
Zhu Zhengchu got out of the car. The exhaustion on his face was suddenly dispelled. He looked at Xiang Yutang standing in front of him with a complicated expression.
He never expected to see her on the first day he returned to China.
Their eyes met, and Zhu Zhengchu had an uncontrollable urge to hug her.
Xiang Yutang averted her gaze. She thought she wouldn't feel anything when they met again, and might even give Zhu Zhengchu a couple of slaps. But when they actually met, her heart still skipped a beat. Although she mostly wanted to punch him in the face again.
Zheng Wanyin noticed something was wrong between them and asked worriedly: "What's going on?"
Xiang Yutang averted her gaze again and said with a big smile: "It's nothing. I haven't seen Mr. Zhu for a long time."
Zhu Zhengchu pursed his lips. This was the first time Xiang Yutang called him Mr. Zhu. It sounded so distant and harsh.
Zheng Wanyin saw Xiang Yutang's smiling face and was very satisfied with her: "Yutang, do you have a boyfriend? If not, what do you think of our Zhengchu?" As people get older, they like to concern themselves with the marriage of the younger generation. Zheng Wanyin had originally wanted to find a good daughter - in - law for her son, but her words embarrassed both of them.
Xiang Yutang was only embarrassed for a moment, then said maliciously: "I have a boyfriend. Besides, Mr. Zhu doesn't like girls like me. If I remember correctly, Mr. Zhu is gay, right?"
Zhu Zhengchu: ...
He didn't know whether he should be sad that she had a boyfriend or angry that she said he was gay.
Zhu Yuan said stupidly: "What?! You're gay?! I always wondered why you haven't brought a girlfriend home. Could it be that you've been with men outside?!"
"I'm not." Zhu Zhengchu looked at his father helplessly.
"You have to explain it to me clearly today!" Zhu Yuan stopped chatting with his old friend and pulled Zhu Zhengchu back to get it clear.
Afraid that the father - son duo would quarrel, Zheng Wanyin had to let go of Xiang Yutang's hand and follow them in to have a look.
Xiang Zhengyun walked over and tugged at Xiang Yutang's ear: "Come here with me!"
Xiang Yutang followed him, grimacing in pain: "What are you doing? It hurts! Let go of me!"
Xiang Zhengyun took her to the car and stared at Xiang Yutang: "What's the relationship between you and Zhu Zhengchu?"
"What relationship? There's no relationship. What kind of relationship could I have with him?"
Xiang Zhengyun tapped her head: "Don't play dumb with me. Tell me the truth!" Since Zhu Zhengchu showed up, this girl had been acting strange. He remembered that Zhu Zhengchu and Xiang Yutang used to have a good relationship, but then they suddenly stopped contacting each other. Xiang Yutang valued her friends a lot, and she wouldn't break off contact with a friend for no reason.
So something must have happened in between!
Although Xiang Zhengyun usually seemed like a typical straight - man, sometimes his instincts were very accurate. Afraid that her past relationship would be exposed, Xiang Yutang gritted her teeth and found a scapegoat.
"Zhu Zhengchu used to chase Zikui!"
Xiang Zhengyun looked stunned.
Xiang Yutang continued to make up stories: "When we were recording the show, he, being gay, took a fancy to Zikui. He kept chasing Zikui and even harassed us later. That's why I started to hate him." Zikui, sorry about this.
Xiang Zhengyun stroked his chin: "No! You're lying to me!"
Xiang Yutang's heart skipped a beat. Oh no, how could he tell? Is her father psychic?
Xiang Zhengyun analyzed seriously: "Zhu Zhengchu is a handsome guy, and Ying Zikui is also a handsome guy. Your greatest pleasure is watching handsome guys fall in love. If there really was something going on between them, you would have been happy to match them up!"
Xiang Yutang: ...
Her father really knew her too well.
This was bad. How could she explain this?
Xiang Zhengyun continued to analyze: "I think the situation is like this. Did Zhu Zhengchu and Zikui get together and then break up? And you, out of friendship, stopped contacting Zhu Zhengchu! Am I right?"
Xiang Yutang: ".... Yeah, you're right."
Xiang Zhengyun nodded in satisfaction: "Sure enough, my detective skills are still as sharp as ever. But I didn't expect Zikui to be gay."