Xu Zhengxi had never had a good impression of Lan Lan, and he certainly didn't want Liang Yu Feng to get involved with a woman like Lan Lan. However, he couldn't control Liang Yu Feng, which only fueled his dissatisfaction with Lan Lan. Seeing the two of them appear at the airport together, his expression turned exceptionally grim.
Xu Zhengxi knew that Liang Yu Feng was returning to pay respects to an elder and to celebrate Jiang Wan's birthday. Yet, he had brought Lan Lan along?
This woman's place in Liang Yu Feng's heart seemed to be more important than he had imagined. Lan Lan noticed Xu Zhengxi's gaze but paid no mind to it, nor did she intend to greet him. Since Xu Zhengxi was impolite to her, why should she be polite to him?
In the end, it was Xu Zhengxi who approached Liang Yu Feng, blocking their path. "You're back."
Although the words were directed at Liang Yu Feng, Liang Yu Feng, giving Xu Zhengxi some face, nodded at him. Then, Xu Zhengxi turned his attention to Lan Lan. "Why didn't you bring Zhou Bing back to see your mother this time?"
Lan Lan immediately understood Xu Zhengxi's intention: he was reminding her that Liang Yu Feng had a fiancée and that she should behave herself. Xu Zhengxi's tactic was rather clumsy, and Lan Lan chuckled, appearing completely unconcerned. This only made Xu Zhengxi's expression grow more displeased.
Liang Yu Feng, of course, would not allow Lan Lan to be wronged under Xu Zhengxi's scrutiny. He didn't even bother to answer Xu Zhengxi. Turning to Lan Lan, he said, "Let's go." The two of them walked past Xu Zhengxi and left, leaving Xu Zhengxi standing there with a dark expression.
On the way back, Lan Lan couldn't help but laugh as she recalled Xu Zhengxi's demeanor. Liang Yu Feng asked her, "What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing, just thinking about what wedding gift to get for Hua Mei." After celebrating Jiang Wan's birthday, there was only a little over a week left until Lin Mei and Xing Zheng's wedding. Now that the news was public, many media outlets were covering it, and the wedding day was bound to be a grand affair. As a friend, Lan Lan felt obligated to make a good impression for Lin Mei.
Liang Yu Feng was also good friends with Xing Zheng, so she became curious. "What are you getting Xing Zheng?"
Liang Yu Feng hadn't prepared a gift either, so he told her, "Let's find some time to go shopping together."
Lan Lan happily agreed. After Liang Yu Feng dropped her off at home, he stayed for a while before returning.
Before going to sleep that night, Lan Lan chatted privately with Feng Feng, asking about gift preparations. After their conversation, Feng Feng asked Lan Lan how her days in Runcheng with Liang Yu Feng had been.
Lan Lan replied, "Pretty good, I think I found out his little secret."
Feng Feng didn't ask what the secret was but instead asked pointedly, "Have you thought clearly about the previous question?"
The previous question, Lan Lan remembered, was whether she would consider marrying Liang Yu Feng. At the time, she had been in a chaotic state of mind and believed Liang Yu Feng and Zhou Bing were engaged, so she hadn't seen any potential for a relationship with him.
However, Liang Yu Feng had confessed the truth about Zhou Bing to her...
Lan Lan pondered for a moment and told Feng Feng about it. But Feng Feng's reaction wasn't as surprised as she had expected; it was as if she had already guessed it. "Mm, has your thinking changed now?"
Lan Lan found Feng Feng's reaction too calm. "Why aren't you surprised at all?"
At least, she had been quite surprised when she heard the news.
Feng Feng replied, "He's always liked you. The possibility of him being with someone else is slim. If he were truly with someone, he wouldn't have pestered you."
Looking at Feng Feng's message, Lan Lan suddenly felt it made a lot of sense. Liang Yu Feng had grown up in such a family environment; even if he had changed, he wouldn't stoop to playing games with two women.
Perhaps it was a case of being too close to see clearly. She hadn't considered this point before and had thought Liang Yu Feng was quite the player now.
Lan Lan sent Feng Feng a thumbs-up emoji. "As expected of President Feng, you see things so clearly."
Feng Feng remained sharp as ever. "When you can't see clearly, it means your emotions are taking over."
It was too sharp, and Lan Lan had no rebuttal. She confessed to Feng Feng, "I admit, I'm a little moved now."
Feng Feng responded, "Just a little?"
Lan Lan smiled, recalling their interactions in the past few days. She could confidently say it wasn't just a little, but a lot, so much so that she found it unbelievable.
Getting back together with an ex was something she had never done in her thirty years. She had always believed that once a relationship ended, that person could no longer bring her passion. Being friends with an ex was possible, and she had always possessed the knack for parting ways amicably, even if she was the one who initiated the breakup, maintaining a good relationship.
Most of the boyfriends she had chosen were also highly emotionally intelligent and refined individuals who didn't cling. The most unpleasant breakup she had experienced was with Liang Yu Feng back then... and he was also the most persistent.
Lan Lan had once thought she detested such men. Little did she know that years later, she would be moved by the persistent Liang Yu Feng, and even like him more than she did back then.
If her liking for Liang Yu Feng back then was driven by novelty, then now, it was the result of time and being touched by the small details of life. When she lived under the same roof as Liang Yu Feng, she always felt a sense of stability. The tension in her nerves at work could completely relax in his presence.
Of course, she also relaxed when drinking with Lin Mei and Feng Feng, but that state was different from being by Liang Yu Feng's side.
During her school years, she hadn't liked the family atmosphere that Liang Yu Feng had created for her. Now, as she approached thirty and had worn a mask in the workplace for so long, she gradually yearned for this warm and simple family life. A simple bowl of noodles or soup could make one feel warmth.
Despite having dated so many boyfriends, it wasn't that she hadn't met gentle and considerate men, but none could achieve what Liang Yu Feng did.
Lan Lan shared many of her feelings with Feng Feng in a lengthy monologue. It was the first time Feng Feng had heard Lan Lan speak so much about a man.
After Lan Lan finished pouring out her heart, Feng Feng told her, "He was always like this, you just didn't like him as much back then."
Lan Lan had an epiphany, enlightened by Feng Feng's words.
Humans are indeed double-standard creatures. When you don't like someone, nothing they do will move you. But once you fall in love, even a small gesture is magnified. Love is the most powerful filter.
Lan Lan returned to work for a few days. On Friday evening, she and Liang Yu Feng arranged to go to the mall to select a wedding gift for Lin Mei and Xing Zheng. They met in the mall's underground parking lot and went to a department store on the first floor.
After browsing a few shops, they arrived at a jewelry counter. Coincidentally, a couple was choosing wedding rings, and during the trying-on process, the man personally placed the rings on the woman's finger.
Seeing this scene, a complex emotion flickered in Liang Yu Feng's eyes.
The attentive sales associate had noticed Liang Yu Feng's gaze and enthusiastically asked them, "Sir, Madam, are you also here to choose wedding rings?"
"No, we're selecting a wedding gift," Lan Lan replied to the sales associate. "We're looking at necklaces."