Zhou Zhishu happily stood up.
Although there had been an unexpected change of plans, he had originally hoped to have some time alone with Meng Jixue. But after being rejected earlier, the fact that she had now agreed to go gave him a chance to change her mind.
As for the other Zhou brothers, some didn’t care that Zhou Zhishu had invited Meng Jixue first, some were a little unwilling to accept it, while others were somewhat displeased.
Once the three of them left, Old Master Zhou put down his bowl and chopsticks and looked at his grandsons, each with different thoughts on their minds. His voice turned stern.
“Your performance today has really disappointed me. Even if you truly have no interest in her, you should at least show basic courtesy. The Meng family has done our family a great favor, and Jixue has grown up in our home since she was little. I have long regarded her as my own granddaughter. Let me say this one last time, whoever Jixue chooses, that person will marry her. Otherwise, don’t come to me again.”
His words were harsh.
The men looked at one another.
In the end, they could only answer sullenly, “We understand, Grandpa.”
There was nothing they could do.
The Zhou family’s rules were very strict when it came to matters like this. Elders were elders, and younger generations were younger generations. No one was allowed to overstep those boundaries.
Once they left the courtyard, the sky had already darkened.
Thick snow covered the ground, pure and spotless.
A handsome looking jeep was parked outside.
Zhou Hanzhang walked over, opened the door, and got into the vehicle first.
Zhou Zhishu followed closely behind. He opened the rear door and put on a full display of gentlemanly manners, intending to let Meng Jixue get in first.
But when he grinned and looked toward her, Meng Jixue had already opened the front passenger door herself and sat down.
Zhou Zhishu’s smile instantly stiffened.
“???”
What was going on?
He opened his mouth. “Jixue?”
Zhou Hanzhang had just started the car. Hearing the voice beside him, he turned his eyes to the side. A faint fragrance drifted over, followed by the sight of her fair, delicate profile. Her features were exquisite, and strands of her dark hair brushed against her face. Her thick black lashes trembled lightly, giving her a somewhat languid air.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Meng Jixue seemed completely unaware of his gaze. After fastening her seat belt, she looked toward the man in the driver’s seat. When she smiled, her eyes and brows immediately came alive.
“Uncle, I’ll have to trouble you today.”
Zhou Hanzhang withdrew his gaze and said calmly, “It’s no trouble.”
Seeing that Zhou Zhishu still hadn’t gotten into the car, Zhou Hanzhang’s voice carried a hint of unmistakable command.
“Zhishu, what are you waiting for? Get in.”
Zhou Zhishu felt a little aggrieved.
He had originally planned to sit in the back. In such a cramped little space, at least he could have a chance to cultivate some feelings with Meng Jixue. But who would have thought that she would sit in the front passenger seat instead?
Could it be that Jixue really hated him now?
The thought left Zhou Zhishu feeling miserable.
He couldn’t figure out what exactly he had done wrong.
But Zhou Hanzhang’s tone made him even less willing to show his emotions, so he hurriedly got into the car as well.
It was fine.
They could still watch the movie.
Once they got to the theater, his uncle would surely sit separately with his blind date, while he would be able to spend time alone with Meng Jixue.
Thinking of this, Zhou Zhishu became happy again and quickly got into the car.
The vehicle started moving.
Meng Jixue sat in the front passenger seat, but her state of mind was not nearly as calm as she had appeared moments ago.
She had sensed the sharpness in the glance the man in the driver’s seat had given her, along with a hint of scrutiny.
Fortunately, Zhou Hanzhang did not ask any questions, so she didn’t have to answer anything.
Meng Jixue didn’t want to sit with Zhou Zhishu, and she also wanted to get a little closer to Zhou Hanzhang, so she had boldly taken the front seat.
Throughout the journey, it was Zhou Zhishu who did most of the talking. Every so often, he would call her “Jixue,” which irritated her more and more.
Tonight, she absolutely had to find a way to shake Zhou Zhishu off.
When they finally arrived at the movie theater, there were actually quite a lot of people there despite it being an internal screening. The area outside the theater was bustling and crowded.
Zhou Hanzhang stopped the car at the entrance and looked at Zhou Zhishu and Meng Jixue.
His tone remained even. “You two get out first. I’ll find somewhere to park.”
Although few people had cars in those days, he couldn’t simply leave the vehicle parked in front of the entrance.
Before Meng Jixue could answer, Zhou Zhishu readily agreed.
He was actually annoyed that Zhou Hanzhang was getting in the way.
Meng Jixue thanked him and got out of the car first.
The moment her feet touched the ground, a cold wind swept over her.
It was snowmelt season, and the weather was even colder than it had been over the past few days.
The coat Meng Jixue was wearing was beautiful. Although it was made of wool, it obviously couldn’t keep her as warm as a padded coat or winter jacket. She was choosing beauty over warmth.
Zhou Zhishu didn’t notice this at all. Instead, he happily ran over to her and chattered away nonstop.
Meng Jixue slightly furrowed her brows, finding Zhou Zhishu especially annoying at that moment.
When Zhou Hanzhang had been there, Zhou Zhishu had at least been able to restrain himself. After all, Zhou Hanzhang preferred quiet, and Zhou Zhishu didn’t dare act too freely in the car. But now that he was gone, Zhou Zhishu had nothing to hold him back.
Meng Jixue’s brows furrowed more deeply. She looked at Zhou Zhishu and said impatiently, “Zhou Zhishu, you don’t need to tell me all this. When I told you before that I wouldn’t choose you, I wasn’t joking. You don’t need to waste your effort on me.”
Zhou Zhishu’s enthusiasm immediately came to a halt. He stared at the breathtakingly beautiful young woman in astonishment.
He had thought Meng Jixue had changed her mind.
Otherwise, why would she have agreed to watch a movie with him?
That was what Zhou Zhishu thought, and that was what he asked.
Meng Jixue was speechless. Did this man really have such a high opinion of himself all the time?
She pressed her lips together and replied, “I just don’t want to interfere with Uncle’s blind date. There is no possibility between us, so stop thinking about it. Tomorrow, I’ll explain everything clearly to Grandpa. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go inside first.”
Those words made Zhou Zhishu anxious, but for a moment, he didn’t know what to do. Meng Jixue was cold and proud by nature, and he usually didn’t even dare talk to her too much for fear of upsetting her.
Zhou Zhishu always had his own logic when doing things. Now he became even more certain that Old Master Zhou had asked Meng Jixue to choose a husband. After looking over the other Zhou family members, she had simply lost interest in him.
Then he thought of Zhou Mingyuan and the others. He gritted his teeth. Everyone said that a brother’s wife was off limits.
Didn’t those other men know that he liked Meng Jixue? Yet they still had to compete with him for her.
Zhou Zhishu blamed the other members of the Zhou family entirely in his own mind. Thinking about the opportunity he had tonight, he decided that he absolutely had to seize it.
Now that the others weren’t here, he was the only choice left. Just as Lin Qilan had said, as long as he was considerate enough, Meng Jixue would have no choice but to choose him.
With that thought, Zhou Zhishu’s gaze became determined.
“Jixue, no matter what you think of me, I’m going to keep treating you well. Sooner or later, you’ll realize who is truly the best person for you. I saw some people selling roasted chestnuts over there. Don’t you like them? I’ll go buy some for you. Wait here for me.”
Without waiting for Meng Jixue to answer, he turned and quickly ran off.
Seeing this, Meng Jixue was completely speechless.
She had finally realized that Zhou Zhishu was not only foolish, but also incapable of understanding plain words, and he was a bit of a male chauvinist as well.
Meng Jixue couldn’t be bothered with him.
She was about to go inside when, out of the corner of her eye, she happened to see Zhou Hanzhang walking toward her after parking the car.
She immediately came up with another idea.