When did she start having wild thoughts? Given the current situation, her speculation was clearly well-founded and reasonable.
"What exactly do you do at uncle's company?" she asked.
Feng Qingci replied, "For now, I'm just following the team to handle some business. I don't have much time at the moment, as I'm still in a learning phase."
Feng Qingyi was about to ask more questions when the living room door opened.
Feng Qingci went over to take the groceries from Lou Xi's hands. "Uncle, Aunt, I can prepare dinner."
"Qingci! You rarely get time off, you should rest properly. I'll cook myself today," Xu Yunxin said, taking the groceries from Feng Qingci's hands.
Lou Yangze added, "Let your aunt cook. You've had a long day already."
Feng Qingyi and the others stood up to greet Xu Yunxin and Lou Yangze.
Since they had all been here before, the three of them didn't feel particularly awkward.
Xu Yunxin smiled and said, "Don't stand on ceremony, you three. I'll go prepare the food now. Xi, be a good host, alright?"
After Xu Yunxin went to the kitchen, the living room suddenly fell silent.
Lou Yangze looked at everyone sitting in the living room and realized they were quiet because of his presence. So, he found an excuse to leave.
"I have some work to finish up, so I'll be in the study. You all enjoy yourselves."
After Lou Yangze left, the atmosphere in the living room immediately lightened.
Shen Hanyue asked, "Xi, what made you decide to invite us for dinner today? Is there something to celebrate?"
Lou Xi replied, "We haven't gotten together in a long time, and it just so happened that you all were free today."
"Ever since you and Qingyi started dating, you've both been so busy. You hardly have time for us anymore," Shen Hanyue commented.
Feng Qingci interjected, "How come you haven't broken up yet?"
"Aren't you happy enough with your own relationship? Why do you have to worry about my business?" Shen Hanyue retorted.
Feng Qingyi hadn't expected him to be so persistent. She thought he would have forgotten about this by now.
Feng Qingci earnestly advised, "Tell me, why on earth would someone as young as you fall for that old man?"
"You're in a long-distance relationship, and it's online dating at that. He can't help you with anything, and he can't even be there with you now. What use is he?"
"I know what I'm doing. I don't understand why you're so against it. Are you jealous that he's more accomplished than you?" Feng Qingyi casually remarked.
"What do you mean I'm jealous of him? How is he more accomplished than me?" Feng Qingci protested indignantly.
Feng Qingyi smiled and said, "Well, for one thing, he's better looking than you."
"How shallow of you. What use is it for a man to be good-looking?"
Although Feng Qingci had always been confident about his appearance, he had to admit that Qin Yuchuan's looks surpassed his own by a bit.
But they weren't trying to be celebrities or enter beauty pageants, so what use was being good-looking? It couldn't put food on the table.
Feng Qingyi had always liked pretty things since she was little. She must have been captivated by that handsome face.
Shen Hanyue chimed in, "Qingyi, is your boyfriend so handsome that you're reluctant to bring him out to meet us?"
"That's not it at all. I haven't seen him in a long time either."
Feng Qingci muttered, "Maybe he's found someone new."
"Shut up. No one will mistake you for a mute if you don't speak," Feng Qingyi glared at him.
Feng Qingci finally fell silent and began methodically peeling a tangerine he had taken from the coffee table.
They chatted idly in the living room and watched an episode of a TV drama together, collectively mocking its melodramatic plot.
Xu Yunxin came to call everyone to the dining room for dinner, and they all took their seats.
The dishes on the round table were clearly specially requested by Lou Xi, as everyone's favorite foods were present.
Lou Yangze brought out a bottle of red wine he had been saving for a special occasion and poured a glass for everyone.
Remembering her low alcohol tolerance, Feng Qingyi promptly poured her small amount of wine into Feng Qingci's glass.
"If you're not going to drink it, just leave it. Why pour it into my glass?" he complained.
Despite his apparent disdain, Feng Qingci still picked up the glass and took a sip.
Xu Yunxin smiled and said, "Qingyi, this red wine is good for the skin. It's fine to drink a little."
Lou Xi said, "Last time she passed out after just one sip. You'd better not encourage her."
Xu Yunxin replied, "If you're not drinking, then eat more. Everyone, please help yourselves."
Feng Qingyi looked at her bowl, piled high with food like a small mountain, and felt like she was being given special treatment.
Halfway through the meal, Xu Yunxin suddenly spoke up.
"Qingyi, do you know what kinds of things your parents like? We were thinking of paying them a visit sometime."
"...A visit?" Feng Qingyi thought. Shouldn't it normally be the man's parents who take the initiative to visit?
Lou Yangze explained, "We have to go to Jiang City next month for work. If your parents are home, we could take the opportunity to visit them."
Feng Qingyi replied, "My dad mainly likes to drink tea. My mom's interests are more varied – jewelry, clothes, bags, things like that."
Xu Yunxin smiled and said, "Qingyi, let's add each other on WeChat and exchange phone numbers. We should keep in touch more."
Feng Qingyi bewilderedly took out her phone and added Xu Yunxin as a WeChat friend.
But what did they have to keep in touch about?
Xu Yunxin then asked Feng Qingyi many more questions about her family, which she answered one by one.
After dinner, Xu Yunxin instructed their family driver to take Feng Qingyi and the others home.
Feng Qingyi looked at Feng Qingci, who showed no intention of leaving. "Aren't you coming?"
"Qingyi, your brother has to go to the company with your uncle tomorrow. It would be too troublesome for him to go back to school now. We have a room for him here, so don't worry," Xu Yunxin explained.
Feng Qingyi then got into the car. "Uncle, Aunt, Xi, goodbye!"
"Goodbye, take care on the way home."
In the car, Qu Jingqiu slowly said, "I can't help feeling that Xi had an ulterior motive in inviting us to dinner today."
"You're not the only one who feels that way. Aunt kept asking Qingyi about her family later on. She must have been fishing for information!" Shen Hanyue added.
Feng Qingyi said, "I don't understand. Couldn't they have just asked my brother about these things? Why ask me?"
"Maybe your brother doesn't know, so they decided to ask you instead. It seems we owe this feast to you," Shen Hanyue speculated.
Feng Qingyi replied, "That's possible. After all, I only know what my mom likes from watching her livestreams. They're hardly ever home, so it's understandable if my brother doesn't know."
"But why did Aunt ask about my parents' preferences? Could they really be planning to meet the parents?"
Qu Jingqiu said, "From what I observed today, your uncle and aunt already treat your brother like part of the family. They probably want to make their relationship official soon."
