Song Yuan's avatar had already turned gray. Ji Xiaoli figured that he had probably left work, and she'd have to wait until tomorrow to get the document received.
It was actually a good thing. She had been sitting in front of the computer all day and it was time for her to grab a bite.
Just as she was thinking about it, her phone rang.
"Xiaoli, have you had dinner yet? Mom is at the restaurant near your school. Do you want to come and join me?"
Ji Xiaoli yawned. "Sure, I'll be right there."
She grabbed her coat, threw it on, and rushed out of the school gate.
It was late autumn by now, and the ground was covered with yellowing leaves. When Ji Xiaoli arrived at the restaurant, she was wrapped in a chill.
"Xiaoli, you're here. Come and sit down quickly!"
Wei Yanlan was just handing the menu back to the waiter. She beamed at Ji Xiaoli and quickly motioned for her to sit beside her.
"Come on, sit next to Mom."
Wei Yanlan smelled of high - end perfume, as well as the scents of skin care products and cosmetics. For some reason, Ji Xiaoli felt a bit uncomfortable. She vaguely sensed that her mother was being overly enthusiastic today.
"Mom... why did you suddenly decide to invite me for dinner today?"
"Can't Mom miss you? Oh, my dear. You've lost weight from hunger after not seeing you for a week!"
Wei Yanlan hugged Ji Xiaoli lovingly, then winked at her mysteriously. "Oh, right. Mom wants you to meet a friend today."
"Friend?"
Why did she have a bad feeling about this?
"Yes, honey. You know, when your dad and I started our business, we had a partner, your Uncle Zheng. He's an old comrade - in - arms of your dad's and he lives right next door to our house."
Wei Yanlan said with a smile, "You have no idea how amazing fate is. Your Uncle Zheng's wife got pregnant first, and then I got pregnant with you!"
The more Ji Xiaoli listened, the more something seemed off. "Does Uncle Zheng have a son?"
"Yes!"
"... Don't tell me you guys made a baby - engagement?"
"Yes! Xiaoli, how did you guess everything?"
Wei Yanlan laughed merrily. "If you hadn't gone missing back then, you might be engaged to Nanfeng by now... Well, it's not too late now."
As Ji Xiaoli listened to Wei Yanlan rambling on, the smile on her face faded little by little. Especially when the words "gone missing" came out, Ji Xiaoli felt a sense of absurdity.
"Hey, Nanfeng, you're back! Come and sit down quickly!"
Zheng Nanfeng was wearing a casual cardigan today. He strode over with a carefree smile on his face. "Aunt Wei, I just saw a girl on the street who looked exactly like that rich second - generation trash I met the other day!"
"Really?" Wei Yanlan laughed. "Is it the girl you told me about who bought a bottle of perfume and poured it out right away?"
"Exactly! Oh, with her wasteful ways, she can squander more money than I can. Even if her family has mountains of gold and silver, she'll surely squander it all sooner or later!"
"That's really not good." Wei Yanlan smiled and gently touched Ji Xiaoli's arm. "Our Xiaoli would never be like that, right?"
Ji Xiaoli lowered her eyes and smiled awkwardly. "Well... actually, I'm that girl."
Right under Wei Yanlan's surprised gaze, Ji Xiaoli turned around with a faint smile and looked at Zheng Nanfeng behind her.
"Have we... met?"
The smile on Zheng Nanfeng's face froze instantly.
Damn it!
It was really her!
What kind of luck was this?
Should he be happy that he'd run into his future wife before Aunt Wei's arrangement? Or should he wail that his future wife had heard him bad - mouthing her?
— No, wait! Damn it!
It was still too early to say anything! She was Miss Ji for now!
"Hehe... Miss Ji." Zheng Nanfeng forced out a couple of laughs and sat down across from Ji Xiaoli.
"Cough, Xiaoli, this is Nanfeng, Zheng Nanfeng." Wei Yanlan was obviously a bit embarrassed and quickly tried to smooth things over. "Hey, do you remember him? When you were a kid, you used to call him Brother Nanfeng and follow him around!"
"I don't remember."
Ji Xiaoli said calmly, "I was too young when I went missing. I don't have many memories of those things."
As soon as she said that, the awkward atmosphere reached its peak.
In the dull silence of the room, the electronic voice in Ji Xiaoli's head rang out again:
[Emergency! Emergency! There are only three hours left until midnight. The player has only completed 7 points of good - luck value this week! There are still 93 points to go before reaching 100!]
Damn it!
With a loud noise, Ji Xiaoli suddenly stood up.
She was doomed! She had been so busy this week that she'd completely forgotten. She only ate in the school cafeteria for her daily meals. How much could she possibly spend?
"Xiaoli, what... what's wrong with you?"
Wei Yanlan looked at her in surprise.
"I... I suddenly remembered I have something to do. I'll leave first today!"
After saying that, Ji Xiaoli ran out quickly. But after running a few steps, as if she remembered something, she ran back and grabbed the bill on the side.
"I'll pay for this meal today! Mom, Brother Nanfeng, enjoy your meal slowly!"
A countdown had automatically appeared in her mind —
Tick, tick.
[The player has two hours and thirty - eight minutes left!]
Ji Xiaoli's heart tightened. She rushed to the cashier counter in a few quick steps and quickly handed the bill to the waiter.
"Hello..."
"I'm paying the bill! Hurry up!!"
Tick. Tick.
[The player has two hours and thirty - five minutes left!]
"Cash or...?"
"Alipay!"
She quickly opened the payment interface!
Beep —
Payment successful!
[Congratulations to the player for spending 5,000 yuan. The good - luck value for this week has risen to 51.]
[The player has triggered a good - luck event. Good luck to the player!]
Good luck...
Ji Xiaoli didn't even have time to wipe the sweat off her forehead before she rushed out of the restaurant.
If there really was good luck, let her spend another 5,000 yuan right now!
Just as Ji Xiaoli was wailing, Zheng Nanfeng in the restaurant was still in a daze.
He couldn't snap out of it because of Ji Xiaoli's words "Brother Nanfeng".
She used to call him that when she was a kid, but her voice was softer and cuter back then...
"What are you standing there for?"
Wei Yanlan quickly pushed him and looked at him in frustration. "Hurry up and chase after her! Send her home!"
"Oh, right!"
Zheng Nanfeng woke up from his daze like a dream and rushed out in a flash.
He had to be proactive when it came to chasing his future wife!