The three of us had dinner together.
I thought Grandma would be like an ordinary old lady, cooking a few of her specialty dishes for her grandson and stuffing him until he couldn't eat another bite.
But there were only three plates on the huge dining table.
I had a steak and a big pile of salad.
Ke Ran had two steaks and two piles of salad.
In front of Grandma was just a bowl of thick, sticky clear - soup noodles.
Grandma was sharp - eyed. When she saw that Ke Ran had finished the steak but didn't touch the salad at all, she got angry. "How can you just eat meat and no vegetables?"
Ke Ran was sweet - tongued and tried to coax the old lady. "I'm forced by my agent to eat like a rabbit every day. I can only have a bite of meat at Grandma's place, and you won't even let me."
Grandma said sternly, "You deserve it. At first, the whole family opposed your debut. It was only because I was soft - hearted and supported you. I thought you'd come back to inherit the family business if you didn't make it. Who knew you'd become a top - tier star? You chose this path yourself, so you have to finish it even if you have to crawl."
Scared, I quickly lowered my head and scooped the salad that had fallen off my plate back into my mouth.
Grandma looked at me and instantly changed her expression, smiling. "Xing Zai is still a good boy. Eat more."
I said nervously, "Thank you, Grandma."
After dinner.
Grandma made an excuse that she didn't feel well and went back to her room to rest.
It left Ke Ran and me alone in the room.
I immediately felt something was wrong and invited him to take a walk in the yard.
Ke Ran said, "Do you know why Grandma arranged for me to come?"
I pretended to be stupid. "A fan meeting?"
Ke Ran said, "She sent me here to steal you away and break up your relationship with Rong Bo."
Me: !!!
Ke Ran said, "I hope Rong Bo won't give me a chance."
The beauty trap is so ruthless.
If I didn't have enough self - control, I might have fallen for someone else at any time...
I forced a smile. "I can tell the difference between chasing a star and true love. Thank you for thinking highly of me, idol."
Ke Ran chatted with me as if it were just a casual conversation. "Grandma's little scheme can't fool Rong Bo. I'm sure he's already seen through her intention."
I smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, idol! Rong Bo has already warned me that Grandma pretends to be dissatisfied with me, but actually she's worried that he has ulterior motives."
Ke Ran laughed. "Aren't you curious?"
I pretended to be confused. "What's there to be curious about?"
Ke Ran squinted his peach - blossom eyes, looking so charming that I almost got seduced by his good looks. "I mean, even his family doesn't trust him, but you've never doubted Rong Bo's feelings for you?"
Trying to trick me?
Come on, let's hurt each other!
I forced myself not to show my disgust and said, "Rong Bo and I truly love each other. It doesn't matter if others don't believe it. Time will prove everything."
Ke Ran was obviously grossed out. "…Then I wish you two well."
Me: "Thank you."
The more I talked, the more mistakes I might make. I was just thinking of leaving quickly when Grandma joined us again.
Sigh.
It was an extra burden.
Grandma said, "Xing Zai, what are you two talking about?"
The more I tried to avoid it, the more suspicious it would seem.
I decided to take the offensive and betrayed the idol on purpose. "Ke Ran is just like you, worried that I'll be deceived by Rong Bo."
Ke Ran, who was suddenly betrayed: "…"
Grandma looked at me. "That's right, Xing Zai. You really should listen to our advice. Ke Ran and I know Rong Bo best. Tell us the details of your relationship. We can help you analyze it."
Me: "…"
Earning 100 million is so difficult.
My brain is about to burn out.
Seeing that I hesitated to speak, Ke Ran deliberately said, "Shy?"
I went along with it and acted coyly. "No..."
But Ke Ran brought it up. "I remember last time when you came to my concert, you were so excited. As your boyfriend, Rong Bo didn't even get jealous?"
Me: "It's just chasing a star. He knows I like you a lot."
Oh no.
Rong Bo didn't manage his expression well, and Ke Ran noticed something was wrong!
Ke Ran said, "Then why did he grab my arrow during the fashion show last time?"
Me: "…"
"I heard that you're domineering in front of him, but he just accepts it all," Ke Ran said deliberately. "If he's not pretending, he must have a masochistic tendency."
Me: Pfft!
Grandma: "Nonsense!"
Scared, I covered my mouth so I wouldn't make the "pfft" sound again.
Then I found out that Grandma was scolding Ke Ran. "What are you talking nonsense about? I raised Rong Bo myself. How could he be abnormal!"
Ke Ran laughed. "Grandma, is it possible for someone to be normal after being raised by you?"
Then he said to me, "Don't think Grandma is so kind now. She was just like Empress Dowager Cixi when she was young."
Me: !!!
Grandma got anxious. "Don't talk nonsense in front of Xing Zai!"
It seems to be true.
I feel sorry for the CEO's unfortunate childhood.
Ke Ran described it vividly to me. "When I was a kid, I saw Rong Bo tied to a tree outside by Grandma with a rope. An ordinary kid would have cried his eyes out, right? But he seemed to enjoy it. I wanted to untie him, but he said no and that it was quite comfortable being tied up."
I was shocked. "Really?!"
"Bang!" Grandma slapped the table. "Nonsense! That boy Rong Bo has a stubborn temper and was really disobedient, so I tied him up. Xing Zai, you have to believe me. Rong Bo is my favorite and well - behaved grandson. How could I abuse him?"
Ke Ran covered his chest. "It was all in vain... So you love Rong Bo the most!"
Grandma said, "It's your fault that you don't want to inherit the family business. Your cousin is almost exhausted from managing so much family property alone!"
Ke Ran said, "You know how tiring it is to inherit the family business? Rong Bo hasn't had a smile on his face for years. He finally found true love, but you still suspect that he's after the family property. Grandma, you're heartless."
Grandma seemed embarrassed by what Ke Ran said and said guiltily, "How am I heartless? I just want to see him get married and have kids earlier. What's wrong with that?"
Me: …
Grandma, you're not wrong.
You're just too idle.
And you haven't found the meaning of life.
"Grandma, you've been a fan of Xing Zai for so many years. Why are your ideas still so backward?" Ke Ran asked me with a smile. "By the way, I heard that you're actually a very easy - going person in private. Why is there such a big contrast in front of Rong Bo?"
Me: …
Rong Bo.
Your friend is too powerful.
I pretended to be in deep thought and said seriously to Ke Ran, "At first, I didn't have high hopes for the blind date, so I was very cold towards Rong Bo. I don't know why, but the less interested I was in him, the more enthusiastic he was towards me. Until we went to your concert together. I sprained my ankle, and Rong Bo knelt down to help me put on my shoes. It was on the hot search..."
Grandma and Ke Ran listened attentively and nodded repeatedly. "Yeah, go on!"
I said shyly, "I was just joking at that time. I called him over to help me put on my shoes, thinking he'd scold me according to his temper! But he knelt down to help me put on my shoes without saying a word. So I thought, maybe I'm special in his eyes. Rong Bo often tells me that no matter how excessive I am, he won't be angry. Gradually, I became more and more domineering in front of him..."
Ke Ran slapped his thigh. "Case solved. Rong Bo is a masochist!"