Lan Lan, usually quick-witted, had her mind freeze for a second. Fortunately, she quickly regained her composure and interjected, "This is my university classmate, and now colleague, Liang Yufeng." With that, she first distanced herself from him, lest Liang Yufeng say something shocking and unforgettable. She knew his capabilities; he could say anything.
"So that's how it is. Hello," Yu Ran and Lan Zhong smiled at Liang Yufeng, appearing very amiable. Liang Yufeng was exceptionally good-looking, and his face gave off an impression of being reserved and steady. Yu Ran took a liking to him and proactively invited, "Since you're here, if you don't mind, would you like to come upstairs for dinner? Your mother and I are cooking today."
"Is that convenient?" Although he was responding to Yu Ran, his question was directed at Lan Lan.
Since Yu Ran had invited him, what else could Lan Lan say? She had to agree, albeit reluctantly. Thus, it became Lan Lan and Liang Yufeng following the elders upstairs.
As they went up, Yu Ran chatted with Lan Zhong, and the two were discussing who would cook which dish later. Liang Yufeng realized that Lan Lan hadn't lied to him. From their parents' conversation, he could tell that their family members were indeed not very good at cooking.
Therefore, Liang Yufeng said, "If Uncle and Aunt don't mind, I'll cook dinner."
Yu Ran and Lan Zhong were surprised. "You can cook?"
"A little. I often cook at home," Liang Yufeng replied. "Leave it to me."
Despite his words, Yu Ran and Lan Zhong felt a bit awkward. After all, a guest shouldn't be cooking.
Liang Yufeng sensed their hesitation and said, "It's fine, I often cook at Lan Lan's place."
Upon hearing this, Yu Ran and Lan Zhong looked at Lan Lan in unison, their gazes filled with inquiry. Without needing to ask, Lan Lan knew what they were thinking.
This scoundrel Liang Yufeng must have done it on purpose, saying such ambiguous words to make Mr. Yu and Mr. Lan misunderstand their relationship!
"Yes, yes, let him cook," Lan Lan tried to smooth things over. "He's a great cook. When we classmates have gatherings, he always cooks."
This way, she thought, she could clarify their relationship to her parents and avoid any misunderstandings.
How could Liang Yufeng not see Lan Lan's intention? She was so reluctant for her parents to know their relationship. Did she find him that shameful?
Liang Yufeng felt a knot of resentment in his heart. Just then, the elevator stopped. As they entered the apartment and were changing into slippers, Liang Yufeng suddenly asked, "Where did you put the slippers I usually wear?"
The moment the question was out, the living room fell silent. Yu Ran and Lan Zhong both looked at Lan Lan.
The slippers he usually wore, and that familiar tone – it was clear he came over often. If they were just ordinary university classmates, he wouldn't be coming into their home like this. They were experienced people; how could they not see through the subtle implications?
Lan Lan felt like killing Liang Yufeng. While she wasn't afraid of Yu Ran and Lan Zhong questioning her, she had just said they weren't in that kind of relationship. Wasn't Liang Yufeng slapping her in the face? "Maybe the cleaning lady threw them away last time. Wear disposable ones," Lan Lan said. Liang Yufeng replied with an "Oh," bending his waist a bit lower. "Found them, in the corner." He changed into the slippers with practiced ease and then casually said to Lan Lan, "Why do you always put my slippers in the corner?"
Lan Lan couldn't help but glare at him fiercely. That scoundrel, he was only making it more ambiguous. Did he think that Yu Ran and Lan Zhong would then demand she give him a proper status? Her parents weren't that old-fashioned!
"You've changed them, right? Then hurry up and go cook," Lan Lan didn't want Liang Yufeng to stay in the living room any longer. She pushed him towards the kitchen. "Let's go, let's go. I'll help you out. Mom, Dad, you watch some TV."
Yu Ran and Lan Zhong understood. After watching them enter the dining room, Yu Ran said, "That young man is quite handsome. He's the type our daughter likes."
Lan Lan had always liked handsome guys since she was young. Liang Yufeng had well-defined features and a good body proportion; he was clearly Lan Lan's type. Yu Ran had seen photos of some of Lan Lan's ex-boyfriends before, and she felt Liang Yufeng was even more handsome than them.
Lan Zhong also agreed. "He's quite good. I can see he likes Lan Lan a lot."
Although he seemed reserved, during their brief interaction, he had been actively making his intentions known, subtly indicating to them that their relationship was not simple. Yu Ran understood; most likely, Liang Yufeng was pursuing Lan Lan, but Lan Lan hadn't agreed yet, or had rejected him before.
Yu Ran and Lan Zhong quite liked Liang Yufeng, but liking him was one thing, and they had no intention of acting as his matchmakers. They had always stayed out of Lan Lan's romantic affairs.
Upon arriving at the kitchen, Lan Lan closed the dining room door and questioned Liang Yufeng, who was preparing ingredients at the stove, "Why did you come over without any warning?"
"I called you," Liang Yufeng placed the ribs on the cutting board. "You didn't answer."
Lan Lan picked up her phone and indeed saw his missed call, but the timing...
"You called me only after you got to my building!" This was hardly a warning! This was acting first and reporting later!
"I originally wanted to ask you to come down," Liang Yufeng didn't hide his intentions. "I've been holding back for half a month."
With the latter half of the sentence, what he wanted her to come down for was self-evident.
If this hadn't happened, going down and having a moment in his car wouldn't have been a big deal; they had done such things before. But Liang Yufeng had annoyed her. "Fine, choke on it, you stud!"
Liang Yufeng wasn't angry. "Get me some scallions and garlic."
Lan Lan: "I'm not helping. Do it yourself."
Liang Yufeng sighed. "Didn't you say you wanted to help me?"
Lan Lan gave him a glare. She wasn't helping him; she just wanted to settle the score with him.
Liang Yufeng couldn't order Lan Lan around, so he ended up preparing the scallions and garlic himself. Him busy in the kitchen, dressed in a suit, looked quite out of place.
Later, Yu Ran and Lan Zhong also came over. They still felt it wasn't appropriate to let a guest do all the work, so they came in to help with the preparations. With them involved, Lan Lan couldn't remain idle either. Her apartment kitchen wasn't large, and with five people crammed in, it was quite full.
Liang Yufeng, however, didn't seem to mind the crowding. He would turn back to look whenever he heard Lan Lan interacting with her parents. The warm yellow light made the atmosphere seem very harmonious. This was a family life he had never experienced; he hadn't lived with his parents simultaneously for over twenty years.
The everyday scenes that others took for granted were a dream he couldn't even have, something very far from him.
Seeing how Lan Lan interacted with her parents, Liang Yufeng understood how her personality had been shaped. Growing up in such an accepting, free, and loving family filled with respect, she was destined to be proud and confident at her core. She would prioritize her own feelings and never compromise herself.
He was likely drawn to this very quality in her.
Unrestrained and flamboyant – that was something he could never achieve in his life.
Midway through cooking, Lan Lan and Yu Ran came out together to wash their hands.
Yu Ran glanced towards the kitchen. "Little Liang is pursuing you, isn't he? Do you like him?"