After waking up, Zhou Wanning heated up the breakfast she liked, shaking off the dream about Lu Jinzhou.
Gao Yanchu had been inviting Zhou Wanning to meals quite frequently lately.
Sometimes, Zhou Wanning even wondered if he had feelings for her—otherwise, such frequent invitations to eat together seemed unusual.
Gao Yanchu laughed heartily, “Classmate Zhou Wanning, you’re being too narcissistic, you know.”
Zhou Wanning didn’t notice the redness at the tips of his ears.
“I just think it’s quite interesting to be working with an old classmate. This kind of connection is worth cherishing. Besides, as a newcomer, of course I’d want to learn some experience from a senior like you.”
Zhou Wanning thought that made sense. Clearing things up would make it easier to get along.
During dinner, she also insisted on paying the bill—she couldn’t keep taking advantage of him.
In the blink of an eye, the first long holiday after the start of the semester arrived. Gao Yanchu asked if she wanted to go out and have some fun.
A short trip nearby would be fine, but the main issue was that she was required to go home for the holiday—no absences allowed.
Living outside had too many benefits. Zhou Wanning no longer had to listen to Mother Zhou’s nagging and sarcasm.
The relationship between mother and daughter was worse than ever.
Returning to the Zhou family home, as soon as she entered, she saw the man she hadn’t seen in a long time. Dressed in a suit, he sat on the sofa and glanced in her direction.
Zhou Wanning quickly lowered her head, pretending not to see him, and placed the gifts she had bought for her parents on the table.
Father Zhou: “Wanning is back.”
“Mm.”
“Come sit over here. There are strawberries you love.”
Zhou Wanning really didn’t want to go over. She hadn’t expected Lu Jinzhou to come today.
She sat beside Father Zhou with her head lowered, and he handed her a large, bright red strawberry.
She took a bite of the strawberry tip and heard Father Zhou say beside her, “Jinzhou bought these. Aren’t they delicious?”
They were indeed delicious, sweet and fragrant.
She nodded, eating slowly.
After finishing one, she stopped. “I’ll go inside and pack a few things first.”
She returned to her room, found a few books, and picked out some clothes for the changing season.
Zhou Wanning felt it didn’t matter whether she went out or not, so she simply stayed in her room.
Even though Lu Jinzhou had stopped bothering her, she still felt a bit afraid when she saw him.
It wasn’t until lunchtime, when Father Zhou knocked on her door and said they were going out to eat, that she finally left.
Zhou Wanning rode in Zhou Yusen’s car, holding her niece in the back seat.
Li Xin: “I didn’t expect Lu Jinzhou to really like Le Yu that much.”
She had thought Lu Jinzhou and Zhou Leyu wouldn’t last long.
Zhou Yusen: “What are you saying? Le Yu is quite outstanding too, you know.”
He had to side with his own sister.
This time, the meal was at a private kitchen restaurant.
Throughout the meal, Zhou Wanning kept her head down, playing on her phone. Occasionally, she looked up to glance at Zhou Nian beside her.
Lu Jinzhou tightened his grip on his chopsticks as he watched Zhou Wanning smile from time to time while looking at her phone.
She had never smiled at him like that.
That bright, radiant smile—he wanted to claim it for himself.
Gao Yanchu had sent her a few videos of stray cats in his neighborhood. He had gone to feed them and play with the kittens.
He knew she liked cats.
Lu Jinzhou couldn’t help but wonder if she was in a relationship. Otherwise, why would she keep staring at her phone and smiling so enchantingly?
The atmosphere during the rest of the meal gradually grew cold.
Lu Jinzhou remained silent, his face dark and brooding.
Mother Zhou nudged Zhou Leyu and whispered, “What’s wrong? It seems like Jinzhou is upset.”
Zhou Leyu glanced at Lu Jinzhou. “He might be thinking about work. Don’t ask.”
Mother Zhou let out an “Oh.”
When they were almost done eating, Zhou Leyu said, “Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister-in-law, Sister, it’s been a long time since our whole family went out together. Let’s all go to Lancheng.”
“Great idea! But can we still book plane tickets now?” Li Xin was eager to go out, and since Zhou Leyu suggested it, she wouldn’t have to pay.
“As long as everyone decides to go, Jinzhou has a private jet. We can apply for a flight route.”
Li Xin’s eyes practically sparkled when she heard that. So impressive!
Zhou Wanning looked at Zhou Leyu. “Sorry, I already made plans with friends.”
“Aren’t family more important than friends?” Mother Zhou retorted, feeling Zhou Wanning was being a killjoy.
The main reason was that she had already made plans with Gao Yanchu, Liang Yunzhen, and Jiang Chuan.
“Sister, can’t you cancel? It’s been so long since our whole family went out together.”
Zhou Wanning apologized, “How about you go first, and I’ll join you later?”
If Zhou Leyu hadn’t mentioned Lu Jinzhou’s private jet, she might have gone along.
Even though Lu Jinzhou had stopped bothering her, she still felt it was better to keep her distance.
“Alright then.”
Missing one person wouldn’t make much difference.
Father Zhou asked Zhou Wanning, “Where are you going? And with whom?”
“Just Yunzhen and two high school classmates.”
“Sister, where are you going? How many days until you can meet up with us?”
“Probably just to the neighboring city, for two days. I’ll join you as soon as I’m done.”
Zhou Wanning agreed for now. If Lu Jinzhou wasn’t going to Lancheng with them, she would go.
But if Lu Jinzhou was there, she’d have to reconsider.
No one pressed Zhou Wanning further.
After lunch, Zhou Yusen’s family went back to pack and prepare for the trip.
Zhou Wanning had no choice but to ride back to the Zhou family home in Lu Jinzhou’s car.
Once upstairs, Mother Zhou asked Zhou Wanning to wash some fruit.
Lu Jinzhou was treated as an honored guest in the Zhou household.
After washing the fruit, Zhou Wanning thought about retreating to her room to avoid facing Lu Jinzhou.
But Zhou Leyu didn’t give her the chance. She pulled Zhou Wanning over.
“Sister, help me choose. Which one looks better?”
Zhou Leyu handed her the phone, which displayed a pure white wedding dress.
Zhou Wanning looked at Zhou Leyu’s happy face. “Is this… for a wedding?”
Zhou Leyu shyly avoided a direct answer. “Help me look. I can’t decide.”
Mother Zhou also sat down, her heart leaping with joy. This must mean good news was on the way.
“Le Yu, are you and Jinzhou planning to get married?”
“Just looking for now. Marriage isn’t a small matter.”
Though she didn’t say it outright, Mother Zhou felt it was practically settled. She leaned in to help her daughter choose a wedding dress.
Lu Jinzhou’s gaze fell on the mother and two daughters, but in reality, it lingered on the woman in the middle.
“This one looks quite nice.”
Mother Zhou scoffed. “What do you know? I think this one is better.”
Zhou Leyu said, “Mom, your taste is different from young people’s. I trust my sister’s judgment.”
Mother Zhou fell silent but inwardly grumbled about her daughter.
Zhou Wanning also wondered to herself, when had Zhou Leyu become so close to her that she would want to take her advice.
“Sis, what about this one? How do you think it looks?”
Zhou Wanning hadn’t looked closely, because all these wedding dresses were beautiful.
“It looks good, really good.” A bit perfunctory.
She casually turned her head, pretending to be nonchalant, but suddenly met Lu Jinzhou’s gaze.