SY - 78

Zhang Fanfan wasn’t someone who liked to persevere, let alone in matters of the heart.

Her passion for a relationship was measured in days. Once that period of enthusiasm passed, she’d become weary of dealing with it.

Her patience completely exhausted, she would naturally initiate a breakup.

Zhang Fanfan had never stumbled in love before.

If you don’t give your true heart, you naturally won’t feel sad.

But now, she suddenly felt that karma had arrived.

Zhang Fanfan had been pestering Song Zhi relentlessly lately, seemingly determined to forge a sister-in-law bond with her.

Fortunately, she wasn’t an annoying person.

Though sometimes her words could be a bit sharp.

“Why are you wearing a sack today? Is this the new trend?”

Zhang Fanfan rolled her eyes. A second ago, she was pondering how to lay the groundwork for their sister-in-law relationship.

Only with a solid foundation would it not collapse, after all.

Now, she was so annoyed by her that she threw all those thoughts out the window.

“What do you know? This is ultra-seasonal haute couture. You wouldn’t even have it if you wanted to wear it.”

Her chin was held high, her beautiful small face filled with arrogance.

Song Zhi found that her recent laugh threshold was really low, especially when she was with Zhang Fanfan.

Xiao Xu was made curious by her laughter and looked up to glance over.

It really did look like she was wearing a sack.

Just as he was about to laugh with her, Zhang Fanfan’s icy stare scared him into stillness.

So fierce.

Much, much fiercer than Sister Song Zhi.

The bit of interest that had just sparked was completely extinguished. Zhang Fanfan snorted and got up to leave.

After stepping out, she immediately regretted it.

What was self-respect worth? That was such a good opportunity to build a relationship.

The makeup artist was choosing lipstick shades for Song Zhi. Her outfit today was more charming and glamorous, so her makeup also needed to be more mature.

Layering two shades would create a better effect.

“It might be a bit drying; I’ll get you a more moisturizing one.”

Song Zhi nodded, holding a fashion magazine in her hand and reading it.

A faint scent wafted beside her, YSL Black Opium.

She looked up. Zhang Fanfan was sitting in the chair next to her, her posture demure, without a trace of her earlier arrogance.

“Um... are you free tonight?”

This sudden gesture of goodwill left Song Zhi bewildered.

She didn’t have anything planned for the evening. “Yes, I am.”

Zhang Fanfan’s eyes lit up, and she extended a warm invitation: “After work, there’s nothing much to do anyway. Let me treat you to dinner.”

Song Zhi was quite curious to know what trick she was up to.

It was just a meal, after all.

No harm in it.

“Sure.”

She agreed readily.

Zhang Fanfan had originally been worried that Song Zhi held a grudge against her and wouldn’t agree to the invitation.

She had already planned in her mind what she should say if Song Zhi refused.

She didn’t expect her to agree directly.

Her heart was ecstatic, but she kept a poker face. “But I haven’t made a reservation yet. How about this, we eat at your place?”

Song Zhi was puzzled. “Eat at my place?”

“Yes, we’ll get takeout and go to your place.”

Not eating at a restaurant, but getting takeout to her place instead?

What kind of strange logic was this?

Song Zhi was silent for a while before she realized something was off.

This invitation for dinner was fake; seeing Song Luo was the real reason, wasn’t it?

However, Song Zhi didn’t point it out and agreed instead.

There was no need to stop her.

If she could truly tame Song Luo, it wouldn’t be a bad thing.

That man was stubborn and loved to put on a tough front, bearing everything himself to keep her from worrying.

Having a more lively person around him wouldn’t be a bad thing either.

Zhang Fanfan finished work earlier than Song Zhi, but she still waited for her for a long time.

She was backstage, looking for nearby restaurants on her phone, until Song Zhi came in after finishing work.

She stood up and asked her, “Do you prefer Sichuan cuisine or Cantonese cuisine? Spicy or mild?”

“I’m fine with anything.”

She hesitated, then said, “Then... your family should have the same taste as you, right?”

Song Zhi naturally understood her hidden agenda.

She feigned difficulty. “There are some differences. My parents had a long-distance relationship, one from the south and one from the north, so their tastes vary greatly. For example, my brother and I are completely different.”

“What he likes to eat, I don’t. What I like, he won’t even touch.”

Zhang Fanfan let out an “ah,” and asked curiously, “Then what does your brother like to eat?”

Song Zhi asked knowingly, “Aren’t you treating me to dinner? Why are you asking about my brother?”

Zhang Fanfan was just a pampered personality with no hidden agenda, and she couldn’t hide her thoughts. “I have to consider everyone, right? If I order everything your brother doesn’t like, it would be very rude of me, wouldn’t it?”

Song Zhi comforted her, “It’s fine. If he doesn’t like it, he can go out and eat by himself.”

Zhang Fanfan fell silent.

This wasn’t quite what she had expected.

If Song Luo wasn’t home, wouldn’t her plan fall through?

Song Zhi didn’t give her a chance to back out. “We’ll go choose together later~”

Zhang Fanfan: “...”

________________________________________

From the restaurant, Zhang Fanfan looked around curiously on the way home.

So this was where Song Luo lived. It wasn’t the cold, minimalist place she had imagined; instead, it exuded warmth everywhere.

Pink throw pillows, curtains overflowing with girlish charm, and carpets in styles Song Zhi liked.

Only the treadmill and exercise equipment nearby could barely prove that a man indeed lived here.

The house was very clean.

Song Zhi had sent a message to Song Luo before coming home, saying he didn’t need to cook today, as a guest was coming.

He asked which guest.

Song Zhi said, “Not Jiang Yanzhou.”

“Not Jiang Yanzhou?”

“My friend.”

For some reason, Song Luo felt relieved.

He knew Song Zhi’s temper all too well. He had always worried that her spoiled nature, cultivated by their family, would prevent her from finding friends.

She wasn’t someone who could endure loneliness; she would get scared if she lived alone for too long.

Fortunately.

To entertain her friend, Song Luo put in extra effort. He washed and cut fruit, even arranging it on a platter.

After receiving Song Zhi’s call, he started simmering soup—lotus root and pig trotters soup, good for beauty and often liked by girls.

The sound of the door opening came from the living room. Song Zhi started calling out as she changed her shoes: “Song Luo.”

The man in the kitchen, adjusting the heat, responded with a hum, then washed his hands and came out.

His gaze fell on the young girl beside her.

She was currently looking constrained, her small face flushed, and greeted him, “Good evening, Brother.”

Song Zhi, with a knowing smile, introduced her: “This is my friend, Zhang Fanfan.”

Song Luo nodded and asked her, “What would you like to drink?”

He had just come out of the kitchen, his apron still on, his demeanor usually laid-back and unrestrained, but at this moment, he exuded a domestic tenderness.

Zhang Fanfan was instantly mesmerized and disoriented.

How could someone be so perfect, without any flaws?

She politely said, “Strawberry milk, thank you.”

Song Zhi looked up, a little puzzled.

After Song Luo went back inside, she asked Zhang Fanfan, “Don’t you dislike sweet drinks?”

Should she just tell her that she deliberately said that to appear softer and cuter in front of him?

Soft girls usually liked that.

“I’ve recently found sweet things quite good.”

There was no strawberry milk in the fridge. Song Zhi controlled her diet and rarely bought high-calorie items like that.

Song Luo had no interest in such sweet things; he even found them a bit distasteful.

He scanned the shelves, leaned his arm against the fridge door, and looked back. “No strawberry milk left. Is yogurt okay?”

“Yes, it’s fine.”

Song Luo casually took out a carton of yogurt, closed the fridge door, walked over, and handed it to her.

After thanking him, Zhang Fanfan sat properly on the sofa.

Smelling the aroma of the soup, she praised it, “It smells so good.”

Song Luo said, “Lotus root and pig trotters soup is simmering in the kitchen.”

“Did you make it?”

“Yes.”

She exaggeratedly gasped and praised him, “You’re so amazing!”

Song Luo mused for a few seconds, increasingly feeling that there was something wrong with her mind.

But considering she was Song Zhi’s friend, he maintained basic politeness towards her.

The restaurant staff delivered the food they had ordered, and the soup in the kitchen was also ready.

Song Luo served each of them a bowl.

Song Zhi took a sip and immediately frowned, criticizing him, “It’s a bit bland. Did you forget to add salt?”

“I did.”

“Did you mistake sugar for salt?”

“...I don’t have senile dementia yet.”

“Not necessarily.”

Song Luo stood up, about to take the bowl in front of her. “Alright, don’t drink it.”

Song Zhi quickly protected the bowl in front of her, like a hen guarding her chicks. “What do you mean? You’re not even letting me speak.”

Zhang Fanfan was quite displeased with Song Zhi’s attitude.

“Song Zhi, I think you’re nitpicking. It’s not bland at all; I think it tastes excellent.”

As if to prove her point by action, she ignored the heat and tilted her head back, drinking the entire bowl of soup.

“Brother, can I have another bowl?”

Song Luo nodded. “Mm.”

Then he took her bowl, went into the kitchen, and served her another bowl.

Zhang Fanfan felt today was incredibly worthwhile. Not only did she learn Song Luo’s address, and meet him, but most importantly, she actually drank soup he personally made.

Song Zhi looked at Zhang Fanfan, who was chewing on a wooden spoon, looking completely unenthused.

She leaned closer and quietly asked, “Do you really like him?”

Zhang Fanfan felt that asking this question was blaspheming her feelings.

“Of course! It couldn’t be more real.”

Song Zhi nodded, an answer forming in her mind.

________________________________________

Originally, Zhang Fanfan was worried that the dishes Song Zhi ordered were all to her own taste, and Song Luo wouldn’t like them.

Who knew he actually ate everything, not picky at all.

Zhang Fanfan deliberately lingered, eating very slowly.

By the time dinner was finished, it was already dark outside.

She had deliberately not driven today, nor had she brought a driver, all to wait for this moment.

Song Zhi looked at Song Luo, who was clearing the dishes. “Don’t you have a class reunion? It’s on your way, so you can drop her off. I’ll wash the dishes.”

Song Zhi hated housework to an outrageous degree, yet today she actually volunteered to wash the dishes.

Song Luo felt there was a conspiracy, but he didn’t ask.

If there was, then so be it.

He nodded, looking at Zhang Fanfan beside him. “Wait for me, I’ll go put on a jacket.”

“Okay~”

Zhang Fanfan got her driver’s license at eighteen, but she rarely drove herself.

Her family provided her with a driver, so there was no need for her to drive.

She had ridden in the passenger seat of various luxury cars many times, but an instant like today, with her heart pounding excessively, was a first.

She tightly gripped her seatbelt, taking several deep breaths.

But as soon as she caught a whiff of the faint tobacco scent on him, she felt her entire body go soft and powerless.

Like she was falling into his arms, freely feeling his strength.

Song Luo didn’t notice her unusual behavior. Strictly speaking, he was too lazy to observe her.

He had driven her once before. Song Luo had a good memory and still remembered where she lived.

Zhang Fanfan was surprised by this unexpected delight. “I only told you where I live once, and you still remember?”

“You were the first person to treat me like a gigolo, after all.”

Recalling the scene of their first meeting, Zhang Fanfan felt a bit embarrassed.

She explained to him, “I never go to places like that.”

He seemed unconcerned. “Oh.”

Silence fell in the car again.

Song Luo’s phone rang several times.

They were all urging him to hurry. “Everyone’s been waiting for who knows how long. Why are you still so slow? Don’t tell me you’re with your girlfriend?”

Zhang Fanfan’s face flushed, but inwardly, she was secretly thrilled.

Song Luo interrupted with an indifferent tone, “You guys drink first. I’m dropping off a kid.”

“Oh,” a chorus of jeers came from the other side. “What kid? You’re talking so ambiguously. Don’t tell me it’s a hookup?”

Song Luo impatiently “tsk”ed. “Annoying, aren’t you?”

A hint of irritation gradually appeared in his deep eyes, and the air pressure around him dropped.

Zhang Fanfan, however, wasn’t scared at all.

Instead, she wanted to be closer to him.

In the end, Song Luo didn’t drive her home, because she actively offered to accompany him to that class reunion.

“My home is too far. A round trip would take over two hours. If I make you late because of me, I’d feel very guilty.”

He said casually, “Being late is being late. I wasn’t really looking forward to going anyway.”

Zhang Fanfan lowered her head, silently counting on her fingers.

She probably thought he was just saying those words to comfort her.

...

He sighed helplessly. “Alright, I’ll take you.”

________________________________________

The reunion was held at a casual bar. Because there were many people, two tables were pushed together, covered with various alcoholic drinks.

Zhang Fanfan followed Song Luo inside. They were playing dice to guess numbers. When they saw Song Luo, someone stood up and offered him a cigarette.

“Busy man, do you know how long we’ve been waiting for you, brothers?”

“My sister’s friend had dinner at our place, and she lives a bit far, so I’m just dropping her off.” Song Luo took the cigarette, put it in his mouth, and asked him, “Got a light?”

The man eagerly lit his cigarette for him, then curiously glanced behind him. When his gaze fell on Zhang Fanfan’s face, his eyes went wide.

“Damn, Brother Song is really something. A female celebrity!”

The group next to him laughed at his overreaction. “Brother Song’s sister is Song Zhi, so is it really that hard for him to know a few female celebrities?”

“Brother Song, my lifelong happiness is in your hands.”

“Screw off.”