Jinxiu Garden was an old neighborhood, and the Cheng family's villa was also quite old but immaculate. The courtyard was luxuriant with plants and flowers, and the smell of life was dense.
Bo Jinlan picked up the call beside an osmanthus tree.
"What's the matter?"
"I got two VIP couple tickets for Ah Wu's new movie, which premiered tonight at 8 p.m. Are you coming?" His good friend Xu Fenglai asked.
"No," replied Bo Jinlan.
"Don't worry, I chose this couple seat specifically, and it's very hidden. There's also a curtain beside it so no one can see you." Xu Fenglai clicked his tongue. "Or are you on a date tonight?"
The night breeze blew, and the air was filled with the faint fragrance of flowers and plants, so refreshing.
Bo Jinlan turned around and looked at the living room.
Jiang Yaoyao was chatting with her grandfather. Her red lips were curled up, and her eyes were curved. She was as fresh and charming as the spring in March.
"Yes." The corners of the man's lips curled up slightly. "I'm meeting my girlfriend's family at her house."
Did Xu Fenglai hear wrong?
"When did you get a girlfriend?" He was shocked. "You were one of the two bachelors who drank with me last night, right? If you don't want to sit with me, say it. Is there a need to use such a lame excuse to reject me?"
"Find someone else," said Bo Jinlan, hanging up the phone.
He turned around and found a cold figure in the corridor.
Cheng Runzhi had a cigarette in his mouth, his phoenix eyes narrowed, and his thin lips mocked, "You changed how you address him quite quickly. Didn't you always call my dad 'Chief' or 'Old Master Cheng' before, and today, you called him Grandpa?"
"If you envy me, I can also call you uncle," said Bo Jinlan with a faint expression
Cheng Runzhi was speechless.
Why didn't he realize this kid was so thick-skinned before?
Bo Jinlan was just a year younger than him. How could he have the nerve to call Cheng Runzhi 'uncle'?
***
The dinner was vibrant.
When they arrived at the dining room, Jiang Yaoyao looked around and consciously sat beside Bo Jinlan.
Old Master Cheng looked at the young couple happily and asked his son to open a bottle of wine to celebrate.
Jiang Yaoyao was terrified when she saw the wine, reminding her of her mistakes.
"Grandpa, I must get up early tomorrow to catch a plane. Sorry, I couldn't drink with you."
Old Master Cheng frowned. "You just came back. Why are you leaving so soon? Stay a few more days!"
"I have to catch up on my study," explained Jiang Yaoyao.
"It's almost National Day. What's the big deal about missing a few days of classes? Besides..." Old Master Cheng smiled. "It's not easy for you two to meet each other. Why don't you take the opportunity to get along with him? Don't you think so, Jinlan?"
Bo Jinlan was pouring wine for the old man. He smiled when he heard this. "Yes."
Jiang Yaoyao raised her leg and kicked him.
Bo Jinlan was so shocked.
He didn't say anything. His handsome, warm face still maintained a smile, and he only glanced at her indifferently.
That gaze….
Jiang Yaoyao quickly pinched her little voice and acted coquettishly. "Grandpa, I came back secretly this time. Aunty doesn't even know about it. Besides, I didn't take any leave from school."
"Let Jinlan help you ask for leave." Old Master Cheng hammered out." I can arrange for the two families to meet during the holidays and settle your marriage."
"I'm not getting married!" Jiang Yaoyao quickly rejected it.
Old Master Cheng's burning passion was instantly extinguished. He frowned. "Why not? Jinlan is not young anymore."
"But I'm only twenty years old and still a child. Moreover, I haven't even finished college, and it's too early to get married." Jiang Yaoyao hinted with her crazy eyes.
In the end, Bo Jinlan seemed to have not received her signal. His thin lips curled slightly, and his gaze landed on the wine glass beside him. He did not even look at her.
Jiang Yaoyao was furious.
Didn't she kick him?
Did he stop playing his role now?
What a petty bastard!
Fortunately, Cheng Runzhi spoke up. "Dad, marriage is a major event in life. It's not a joke. It should be more cautious."
"Were you cautious back then? Then have you figured out marriage?" Old Master Cheng glared at him. "Didn't you get dumped by your wife? I have to apply to Taotao in advance if I want to have grandchildren now. Where did you get the face to impart your experience here?"
Cheng Runzhi, the marriage loser, just got knocked out.
Fine, he shouldn't have spoken today!
"Grandpa." Jiang Yaoyao could only go on her own. "I don't want to get married now anyway, please don't force me."
Old Master Cheng looked at her with a complicated expression.
"All right." He finally nodded.
Jiang Yaoyao heaved a sigh of relief and quickly put a piece of pork rib into the old man's bowl.
Old Master Cheng gestured. "Give Jinlan some too."
Jiang Yaoyao had no choice but to give him a piece of pork rib. "Help yourself to some more."
Bo Jinlan did the same and picked up his chopsticks. "Help yourself, too."
They picked each other's dishes, making the old man smile.
Cheng Runzhi only felt awkward.
Yesterday, Bo Jinlan still had a cold and aloof appearance that prevented him from getting close to women. Today, he was showing off his affection with his niece before him.
***
After dinner, everyone moved to the living room.
Bo Jinlan first accompanied Old Master Cheng to watch military news, then played chess, and then watched war dramas.
Looking at the time, Jiang Yaoyao started coughing.
Sadly, someone with a smile on his handsome face and a teacup in his hand only focused on discussing with the old man about our army's land combat deployment with the enemy.
Jiang Yaoyao was anxious. She took out her phone and sent a WeChat message.
[It's 9 o'clock, why don't you go home yet?]
[Hurry up and go home!]
[Bo Jinlan, don't play dead!]
[Check your message! *&@*%￥#]
***
A "rumbling" of thunder outside suddenly came.
"Is it raining?" asked Old Master Cheng.
Cheng Runzhi looked at his phone. "The weather station has just issued a yellow warning. There will be a heavy rainstorm tonight, with northwest winds of four to five degrees."
"It's not safe to drive in such heavy rain." Old Master Cheng's following words were even more shocking. "Then Jinlan, don't leave. Just stay here for the night."
Jiang Yaoyao's eyes widened. "That's not a good idea, right?"
"What's the problem?" The old man was very open-minded. "Jinlan is your boyfriend. Besides, your room upstairs has already been tidied up."
Jiang Yaoyao tried to struggle. "But he doesn't have a change of clothes."
"It's fine for Runzhi to lend him." Old Master Cheng looked at his son. "Although you are shorter than Jinlan, your figure is not as good as his."
Cheng Runzhi was unable to get a word out.
"No need." Bo Jinlan's voice was warm and deep as he replied.
Jiang Yaoyao's eyes lit up.
Bo Jinlan glanced at her, and he smiled a little. "I have spare clothes and toiletries in my car."
Jiang Yaoyao was stunned by his words.
"That's good." Old Master Cheng stood up with a smile. "Jinlan, come with me to the study."
"All right."
Jiang Yaoyao sat there, and her palms pinched with anger.
Was this guy addicted to acting?
Did he plan to stay overnight?
Wouldn't she have to share a room with him again?
"Yaoyao."
"Yaoyao!"
Jiang Yaoyao came back to her senses. "What's wrong, Uncle?"
Cheng Runzhi looked at her with a probing gaze. "Do you like Jinlan that much?"
He had thin facial features, sunken and profound eyes, and was particularly sharp when looking at people.
Jiang Yaoyao panicked and quickly nodded.
"You're still young. If you agree to be a girlfriend because of a man's pestering…." Cheng Runzhi hesitated.
"I do like him." Jiang Yaoyao expressed her stance. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have ... right?"
Cheng Runzhi had no words to say.
He asked again, "Does the Bo family know that you two are dating?"
Jiang Yaoyao shook her head. "They don't."
"Is this Jinlan's idea?" Cheng Runzhi narrowed his eyes.
"Yes." Jiang Yaoyao directly pushed the blame away.