’Dating... a boyfriend...??’
Yan Luoxi’s eyes shot open!
She stared at her mother in utter shock.
’Wait a minute!’
’Mom, are you even listening to yourself?!’
"Hm?"
"You little brat, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Was I wrong?"
"If you have a boyfriend, you should bring him home. Your father and I can check him out for you. Is there a problem with that?!"
Tang Wanfang rolled her eyes at her daughter through the screen and said irritably.
Yan Luoxi was speechless.
After a long pause.
She said flatly, "I’m not dating anyone, and I don’t have a boyfriend. Mom, I’m a little busy. I have to go."
With that, she moved to end the video call.
"Hey!"
The moment she heard this, Tang Wanfang on the other end of the line panicked.
"Wait a minute!"
"I heard you came home wearing his clothes! If he isn’t your boyfriend, then what is he?!"
"You stubborn girl, and you still won’t admit it!"
"Alright, that’s settled. Bring him over for dinner tonight!"
She glared at her daughter and said grumpily.
"..."
Once again, Yan Luoxi was left speechless.
But for some reason, this time, the image of Gu Yizhou’s handsome face suddenly flashed through her mind...
"I don’t have a boyfriend. As for dinner, I can’t tonight, I’m busy. I’ll come home for lunch with you tomorrow,"
she said, shaking her head.
Before her mother could say another word, she immediately ended the video call.
Tang Wanfang: "..."
Staring at the dark screen, Tang Wanfang fumed.
"That girl... She’s like this every time I bring up the subject. Honestly!"
she muttered to herself in resignation.
*
*
*
Meanwhile, Yan Luoxi hung up the video call and shook her head, just as exasperated.
She pressed a button on her desk phone and said, "Xiaojie, please ask President Luo to come to my office."
「A few minutes later.」
Yan Luoxi and Roy sat facing each other on the reception sofa.
"Uh..."
"Um... Xixi, why are you just staring at me without saying anything?"
"It’s kind of creepy..."
Roy said timidly, looking at her.
"..."
Yan Luoxi didn’t reply, just continuing to stare at her with a blank face.
After a long moment, she finally spoke. "Tomorrow, you’re coming home with me for lunch with my mom."
"Huh?"
Roy froze for a second, then inwardly breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
"Phew~"
"It’s just lunch with Aunt Fang. I thought something terrible had happened!"
"I haven’t had Aunt Fang’s cooking in ages, either. Sure, no problem. I’ll come with you tomorrow and freeload a meal,"
she said with a casual wave of her hand.
However, Yan Luoxi’s next words made Roy’s expression instantly crumble.
"Tomorrow at lunch, you can explain to her exactly when I got a boyfriend."
"And if you can’t explain it clearly, I’ll just tell her I like women and that we’re already a couple."
Yan Luoxi shot her a look and said flatly.
Roy: "..."
...
「Meanwhile.」
Inside a Cha Restaurant on the ground floor of the Financial Mansion.
Gu Yizhou was having lunch with his colleagues from the department.
Today, Gu Yizhou was having his usual: curry beef over rice with an iced lemon tea, which came to a total of 45 yuan.
To be fair, while this diner was a bit pricier than your average fast-food joint, the food was undeniably delicious!
That’s why Gu Yizhou and his colleagues often came here for lunch. Sometimes, if it was crowded and there was a wait, they’d send someone down ahead of time to place their orders.
"Hey~"
"Yank-a-zhou, did you ever find your cat?"
He Mingyi piped up from across the table.
He, the jerk, had come up with the nickname "Yank-a-zhou" for Gu Yizhou after they’d gotten to know each other.
Gu Yizhou was utterly exasperated by it.
’Damn it!’
’If you really yanked it for a whole week, you’d probably be dead!’
"Oh, knock it off!"
Before Gu Yizhou could even speak, Song Sisi, who was sitting beside him, shot He Mingyi a glare. "You’re the one who yanks it for a week! What kind of awful nickname is that?!" she snapped.
Then, she turned to Gu Yizhou, her tone softening instantly. "Brother Yizhou, don’t be angry. Just ignore that jerk who goes around giving people awful nicknames!"
He Mingyi: "..."
He Mingyi was left speechless by her two-faced, blatant double standard.
’Of course!’
’This world really is all about looks!’
’Good looks are everything, right?!’
’And I’m not bad-looking myself, am I?’
’Alright, fine!’
’Compared to that guy Yizhou, I guess I’m just a tiny bit less handsome!’
He Mingyi thought with a sense of resignation.
Gu Yizhou didn’t really mind, though. The atmosphere in their department was always great. They weren’t just colleagues; they were all good friends outside of work, so no one took the occasional joke too seriously.
"Sisi, it’s fine, but thanks for sticking up for me,"
"Hehehe..."
Gu Yizhou said with a laugh.
"Of course, Brother Yizhou. No need to thank me, hee hee..."
Song Sisi gave Gu Yizhou a sweet smile.
Suddenly, she seemed to remember something and added, "Oh, by the way, Brother Yizhou, did you find your cat? If you didn’t, don’t be too upset. My friend’s cat just had a litter of kittens, and they’re all adorable. I could ask her for one for you."
"Ah~"
"Oh, no, it’s okay. My Xiaobai has already been found,"
Gu Yizhou said, waving his hand.
’One cat is more than enough for now. I really wouldn’t be able to handle another kitten.’
"Hm?"
Song Sisi paused. "You found him?"
"Yeah. I couldn’t find him downstairs last night, but when I got back to my apartment, Xiaobai was just sitting there at the door. He came back on his own!"
Gu Yizhou explained with a small smile.
"But then he snuck out again this morning. When I woke up, he was gone."
"I just have to hope he comes back again tonight!"
"Oh, I see!"
"Well, Brother Yizhou, your cat sounds pretty mischievous, hahaha..."
Song Sisi said with a giggle, "Brother Yizhou, I’d love to come see your cat sometime, if that’s okay?"
"Sure, of course!"
Gu Yizhou replied casually, not thinking much of it.
"Yay!"
"Brother Yizhou, you’re the best!"
Song Sisi beamed, making a V-sign with her fingers.
He Mingyi, watching from the side, couldn’t take it anymore. He said with a mock-aggrieved tone, "I’m telling you, Little Sister Sisi, could your double standard be any more obvious?"
"Do you have a crush on our Yizhou or something?"
"I think your intentions aren’t really about the cat. Seeing the cat is just an excuse to go to Yizhou’s place, isn’t it?"
As soon as he said that, everyone at the table couldn’t help but turn to look at Gu Yizhou and Song Sisi, their faces breaking into knowing, suggestive smiles.
Gu Yizhou: "..."
Song Sisi shot him a sidelong glare.