Madam Fu had never felt more distressed than when she saw her son embracing his girlfriend. Even if her husband's mistress had shown up at their door and acted lovey-dovey with him right in front of her, she wouldn't have felt this upset.
Yet she had to maintain the dignity of a noble lady, so she couldn't throw a hysterical fit. Heaven knows how much she wanted to throw this shameless couple out of the villa.
"Mom, Qian Qian knew you're sensitive to cold, so she knitted this scarf for you overnight," said Second Young Master Fu, his voice tinged with a hint of grievance. "She hasn't even made one for me yet. She really favors you."
Madam Fu managed to squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth, "Hah, how very thoughtful of her."
The girl's face bore a faint smile, "It's my pleasure, Auntie. I'm glad you like it."
Second Young Master Fu, the fool, still hadn't sensed the resentment emanating from his mother.
Having confirmed his girlfriend was fine, he became quite curious about his classmate Shi Quan's little cousin.
"Shi Quan and I are classmates, and my cousin and Shi Quan's cousin are also classmates. What a coincidence! It's really a small world."
Madam Fu wanted to hold up a sign saying: I don't know him, he's not my son, he's adopted.
Was your Chinese taught by a piano teacher? How could you misuse such a common idiom?
Shi Li didn't know how to respond to this misuse of "small world," and she was more concerned with another question, "Second Brother Fu, how did you meet this Sister Qian Qian?"
Mentioning how he met his girlfriend, Second Young Master Fu's usual foolish demeanor turned shy and melancholic, "It was on a quiet afternoon. I was rushing to meet a deadline at a coffee shop. When I wanted to return to my dorm, I realized I had forgotten to bring an umbrella. Qian Qian happened to be working part-time at the coffee shop. Seeing that I didn't have an umbrella, she offered to lend me hers. One thing led to another, and that's how we got to know each other."
Second Young Master Fu thought that after hearing this romantic story of how they met, his parents and those around would be touched and approve of his relationship with his beloved Qian Qian.
Unexpectedly, after glancing around, he found that not only were the adults unmoved, but even his cousin and Shi Li had looks of indifference in their eyes, their gazes clearly saying three words: Is that all?
How could they be like this!
Such disrespectful behavior tarnished the purity of his and Qian Qian's love.
Shi Li nodded appropriately, "I think I understand why I can't find a boyfriend now."
Hearing Shi Li's words, Second Young Master Fu thought to himself, young girls are still the ones who can be moved by romantic love.
He must have seen wrong earlier; surely what he saw in the girl's eyes wasn't indifference but emotion.
Finally, someone was playing along with him. Second Young Master Fu quickly took the role of a supporting character, "What do you mean?"
More than half of the people in the villa pricked up their ears. Shi's parents didn't oppose their daughter dating early, but hearing that their daughter might be in a relationship, they were naturally concerned.
Shi Li wore a constipated expression, "Perhaps it's because I'm very guarded. I see strangers as potential threats, unlike you, Second Brother, who's so pure, or Sister Qian Qian who dares to trust strangers."
Second Young Master Fu: ??
Shi Li continued, "If I were you, I would think that someone who suddenly approaches me with an umbrella might have ulterior motives, perhaps trying to scam me. If I were Sister Qian Qian, I wouldn't easily lend my umbrella to a stranger. I'd be afraid they wouldn't return it. A big guy like you would just get a bit wet in the rain, but I'd lose an umbrella. Of course, I might lend it to another girl, maybe."
Second Young Master Fu was stunned for two seconds before he struggled to understand Shi Li's train of thought. "Little sister, there's a reason why you can't find a boyfriend. With your 'stranger danger' theory, if you manage to get a boyfriend in this lifetime, I'll walk on my hands every day from now on."
Shi's father and Huang Jie: Good, we can rest easy now. Our precious daughter has put two locks on her own heart.
Shi Li's words resonated deeply with Madam Fu, "My dear niece, listen to your aunt. Your thinking is correct. Who knows what intentions strangers might harbor? It's always better to be a bit more cautious, especially for families like ours. There are many ill-intentioned people out there eyeing our family fortune."
It was clear who Madam Fu was subtly criticizing.
Yet Second Young Master Fu failed to realize his mother was talking about his girlfriend, thinking she was just using her outdated views to educate the younger generation.
He believed Shi Li was a modern woman who wouldn't agree with his mother's feudal nonsense.
Shi Li nodded, "Auntie, I understand. I attended the Lan Family's wedding, and it left a deep impression on me. That's why I think it's best to marry someone of equal social status. It naturally eliminates many risks, at least reducing the possibility of someone trying to inherit all our wealth."
Madam Fu almost wanted to claim Shi Li as a kindred spirit. This child's thoughts aligned perfectly with her own. How did Huang Jie raise such a wonderful child?
If only this were her own child.
As soon as this thought crossed her mind, Madam Fu mentally chided herself.
It wasn't that she didn't cherish her own son, but rather she felt it would be wrong to trade her love-struck son for someone else's smart daughter. She couldn't do such a thing.
"Little sister, you're so young, yet you think like my parents. That's not good. With such a cautious attitude, how will you ever experience sweet love?" Second Young Master Fu chimed in.
Madam Fu slapped him, "Her thinking is correct. You shut up, don't you dare corrupt her."
She put some force into that slap, causing Second Young Master Fu to wince in pain, "Mom, I'm your own son. How could you hit me so hard?"
Madam Fu thought to herself, it's precisely because you're my own son that I didn't hit you harder. Otherwise, given my current level of anger, you might have lost your life right here.
It was Old Master Fu, emerging from his bedroom, who saved Second Young Master Fu. The Fu family's dinner time was always punctual, and the old master had formed a biological clock of taking a nap every day after returning home, waking up just before dinner.
Old Master Fu was the pillar of the family. As he walked out of his bedroom, the previously noisy living room instantly fell silent.
"Little Second is home?"
"Grandpa, I'm back."
"Dad, Zhanyang brought a female colleague home for dinner."
Madam Fu quickly interjected, and because Second Young Master Fu had always been afraid of his grandfather, he didn't clarify that this was his girlfriend in front of the old master.
The kitchen, upon seeing Second Young Master Fu bring a girlfriend home, realized that the prepared dishes might not be enough and hastily added two more dishes.
The amount of food on the dining table was always based on the number of people eating. It had been a long time since the Fu family had so many people dining together, so when Old Master Fu saw the table full of dishes, he instinctively said, "In the future, we shouldn't be so extravagant with family meals. Just keep it simple and ordinary."
"You're right, but we have more people eating today. Zhanyang and Huixing are both home, and these two big boys can eat a lot. Nothing will go to waste," Madam Fu replied smoothly, not mentioning that the extra food was prepared because of guests, but instead attributing it to Fu Huixing and Fu Zhanyang's appetites.
As it happens, elderly people always like to see younger generations eat well. Hearing his daughter-in-law say that his grandson and nephew could eat a lot, Old Master Fu was particularly pleased.
"As long as there's no waste, it's fine."
For this evening's meal, Old Master Fu sat at the head of the table, with the Fu couple seated in the first and second positions to his left. Shi's father and Huang Jie sat opposite the Fu couple.
Usually, due to his lower status and younger age, Fu Huixing would sit at the end of the table. Today, however, he was unexpectedly seated in a higher position, next to Madam Fu, even ranking before Second Young Master Fu.
Even though Second Young Master Fu didn't care much for these formalities, he was somewhat puzzled by his mother's arrangement.
Madam Fu gave him a good explanation, "Shi Li needs to sit next to her parents, and Qian Qian is seated next to Shi Li. I arranged it this way so you can sit across from Qian Qian. It's for your benefit."
In reality, Madam Fu was now irritated just by the sight of Second Young Master Fu and didn't want to spoil her appetite during the meal. So she arranged for him to sit at the far end, with Fu Huixing between them. Out of sight, out of mind - as if he didn't exist in the family.
Second Young Master Fu was deeply moved, thinking that his mother was actually soft-hearted despite her harsh words. He believed that despite her verbal objections, she had already accepted his relationship with Qian Qian in her heart.
