The Second Young Master Fu, who had always been known for causing trouble and making others uncomfortable, was showing a polite yet awkward smile for the first time.
Fu Zhanyang let out a couple of laughs, thinking about how to smooth things over.
He certainly couldn't say directly, "Young man, I was wrong earlier. Shi Ruan has never mentioned you to me. I was just joking, don't take it seriously."
If he said that, it would either affect his revolutionary friendship with Shi Ruan or impact the relationship between Shi Ruan and her boyfriend.
He had to find a way to fix this.
Fu Zhanyang's walnut-sized brain worked rapidly, and he carefully said, "She often praises you, saying you're a good man."
The Second Young Master Fu innocently thought this statement couldn't go wrong.
Ji Chunsheng's smile faded slightly, and he asked casually, "So you and Ruan Ruan are close friends. Next time you go out, you must invite me along. Shi Ruan always likes to leave me behind when she goes out with friends."
Shi Ruan defended herself unhappily, "When did I ever abandon you to meet friends? Those were pre-arranged plans."
Ji Chunsheng spoke pitifully, "When you go out with friends, I'm so lonely at home. In the future, you can totally bring me along when you meet friends. I can carry your bags and be your ATM machine. Wouldn't that make you look good?"
Though he spoke pathetically, Shi Ruan had her own firm thoughts - it would be weird to bring a boyfriend when hanging out with girlfriends.
Besides, she and her girlfriends needed to share private conversations that weren't meant for others' ears.
"Be good, if you're bored you can go hang out with your own friends."
The Second Young Master Fu, sitting closest to them, got a full serving of their public display of affection.
However, being somewhat slow on the uptake, he hadn't realized that Ji Chunsheng was treating him as a potential rival and was showing off his relationship.
He just thought they were a loving couple who couldn't bear to be apart, just like he used to be with that person, wanting to stick together all the time.
Remembering that he once had happy and blessed times too, which turned out to be just the other person's scheming and his own wishful thinking, a shadow of melancholy passed through the Second Young Master Fu's eyes.
While playing the sympathy card, Ji Chunsheng didn't forget to observe Fu Zhanyang sitting opposite him, and naturally caught the glimpse of sadness in the Second Young Master Fu's eyes.
Why would he suddenly show such an expression?
Was Fu Zhanyang feeling down because he saw how close Shi Ruan was with him?
He knew Shi Ruan was very attractive, and having many romantic rivals wouldn't be surprising.
However, Fu Zhanyang and Shi Ruan had known each other for many years, their relationship must be different.
Ji Chunsheng then thought, if he couldn't succeed during all those years when Shi Ruan was single, despite knowing her for over a decade.
Now that he was in the picture, this man would have even less of a chance.
Then, Ji Chunsheng tightly gripped Shi Ruan's right hand that was resting on her leg, giving the Second Young Master Fu a warning look.
Suddenly feeling the weight on her hand, as Ji Chunsheng firmly held it.
Shi Ruan was puzzled, wondering what this was about.
Ji Chunsheng was good in every way - good-looking, good figure, good personality, good cooking skills... he had many merits.
There was just one thing - he often did strange things that she couldn't understand.
Although it was odd, considering all his good points, this small flaw was tolerable.
Shi Li brewed a pot of hot tea and poured a cup for everyone.
When it came to Ji Chunsheng's turn, she had more to say, and it was different from what she said to others.
"Come, Uncle Ji, have some tea. This is aged green tea, my uncle's private collection. Others rarely get to taste such good stuff, it should be to your liking."
Shi Li pushed the teacup forward, the slightly greenish tea creating ripples in the white porcelain cup, "We don't have extra cups, you don't mind using my sister's cup, do you?"
Shi Li remembered that Ji Chunsheng had germaphobia and was particularly fussy about personal items, disliking others touching his things and never using others' belongings.
Ji Chunsheng's lips curved slightly, "Why would I mind using my girlfriend's cup?"
As if afraid others didn't know Shi Ruan was his girlfriend, Shi Li pursed her lips.
Shi Ruan was rather slow at this moment and didn't sense the underlying meaning in Shi Li's words. She frowned, "Why are we drinking green tea at this time?"
Shi Li was a hospitable host, and after the guests finished their tea, she poured another half cup and inquired about their experience, "How is it? Does it suit your taste?"
Ji Chunsheng didn't say whether it suited his taste or not, only saying, "It's very good."
This was his future father-in-law's private collection tea; how could he dare say it wasn't good?
If he had said it wasn't good just a moment ago, the next moment this sister-in-law would let her father know he complained about the tea, with added embellishments included.
Shi Li nodded, "I'm glad you like it. This tea matches your character, you must like it."
What character could Ji Chunsheng have? The character of an old green tea, of course.
He seemed not to catch the sarcasm in Shi Li's words and earnestly agreed, "Thank you, your sister really likes my character."
Shi Ruan blinked, wondering how this had turned back to her.
To be honest, she had belatedly sensed that Shi Li was taking subtle jabs at Ji Chunsheng, but as the person caught in the middle, she couldn't help Ji Chunsheng, or Shi Li would definitely blow up.
Helping Shi Li, who started the provocation, wasn't her style either.
Shi Ruan had to pretend she didn't understand anything.
Like a useless man caught between mother-in-law and wife conflicts, unable to scold the mother who raised him, and not daring to openly help his "wife."
Only able to comfort his "wife" when they're alone, telling her not to take the elder's words to heart.
Shi Ruan sighed inwardly. When she used to watch family drama series with Grandmother Shi, she despised these useless men who couldn't protect their wives, but now she had become such a useless "man" herself.
Questioning "mama's boys," understanding "mama's boys," becoming a "mama's boy."
Thankfully, there was still the Second Young Master Fu who couldn't read the situation, able to mediate.
The group played cards all afternoon, and everyone had fun, except for when Shi Li would look up and feel annoyed seeing Ji Chunsheng being lovey-dovey with her sister. Otherwise, everyone was in good spirits.
Especially Zuo Hengyi, who felt the day was truly rewarding.
The trip wasn't wasted; not only did he get to witness drama, but he also got to watch an afternoon of entertainment.
While everyone was happily playing together, he texted Feng Yunhe to express his regret that because Feng didn't like gossip, he had missed out on so much joy.
Feng Yunhe: ???
As dinner time approached, Zuo Hengyi felt he had gotten enough entertainment and took the initiative to leave at an appropriate moment, having no plans to stay for dinner at the Shi family home.
The Second Young Master Fu, however, had no intention of going home. The atmosphere at the Shi family was better than at his home, which was now gloomy and lifeless. He would be crazy to go back.
This wasn't his first time freeloading at the Shi family; he often came to eat with Shi Quan when they were young, so he didn't feel embarrassed about it now.
Ji Chunsheng lifted his eyelids to look at the Second Young Master Fu, who remained unmoved in his seat. With a gentle smile on his face, he turned to Shi Ruan and said, "There will be fireworks at Lan City Park tonight. We're planning to take the kids to watch them. Are you free? If so, come join us."
Since there was nothing else to do at home, Shi Ruan naturally wanted to go.
Shi Li smiled, "Sister, can we go together?"
Though Shi Li was the one who spoke, she wasn't the only one interested. The others showed similar smiles, all expressing the same thought - they wanted to go too.
Ji Chunsheng: ......
