Old habits die hard, but Liang Yu Feng’s actions were so obvious that it was normal for Yu Ran to notice. Lan Lan had no choice but to admit it for now. It wasn’t convenient for her to tell Yu Ran that she and Liang Yu Feng were currently in a friends-with-benefits relationship. “We dated before, we have no relationship now.”
“Before?” Yu Ran asked curiously, “Still an ex?”
“During freshman year, it was a long time ago,” Lan Lan said.
“Little Liang looks pretty good, quite handsome.” As mother and daughter, Yu Ran and Lan Lan were quite consistent in their aesthetic tastes.
After chatting with Yu Ran in the restroom for a while, Lan Lan returned to the kitchen. Liang Yu Feng was busy, handling seasonings and cutlery with ease, clearly not cooking here for the first time.
Soon, a table full of food was ready. Yu Ran and Lan Zhong were both amazed by Liang Yu Feng’s culinary skills. They knew he could cook, but they hadn’t expected him to be this good. The aroma of the dishes filled the entire kitchen and dining room, a testament to their exquisite taste, smell, and appearance.
Lan Zhong praised him, “Little Liang, your cooking is truly excellent!”
“Thank you, Uncle,” Liang Yu Feng replied. “If you like it, I’ll cook for you often in the future.”
Lan Zhong chuckled, nodding, and his gaze shifted to Lan Lan.
Lan Lan was full of admiration for Liang Yu Feng’s composure. Did he not blush when he said such things? Was he determined to make her parents misunderstand their relationship today?
Fortunately, Yu Ran and Lan Zhong were not the type to impose their own ideas on her. If it were other parents, they would likely have been completely won over by Liang Yu Feng.
Liang Yu Feng’s culinary skills were beyond doubt, and Lan Lan enjoyed the meal thoroughly. After dinner, as a token of their gratitude, Yu Ran and Lan Zhong shared a portion of the many local snacks they had brought for Lan Lan with Liang Yu Feng. Liang Yu Feng accepted them graciously. “Thank you, Uncle and Aunt.”
“You’re too kind. Next time you come to Xizhou, feel free to contact us, and we’ll treat you to a meal.” Yu Ran even exchanged contact information with Liang Yu Feng. Lan Lan had never seen her mother so enthusiastic about her “classmate” before, which indicated she genuinely liked Liang Yu Feng.
Lan Lan couldn’t stop them and could only watch as they exchanged contact information. She then personally escorted Liang Yu Feng downstairs.
Once they were downstairs and away from Yu Ran and Lan Zhong, Lan Lan felt more at ease speaking with Liang Yu Feng. “Don’t keep contacting my parents so often in the future.” She didn’t want them to harbor any unrealistic fantasies about Liang Yu Feng, such as him becoming their son-in-law… the thought was terrifying.
Liang Yu Feng’s expression turned serious as he countered, “What are you afraid of?”
“Let me put it this way, my parents never force me to do things I don’t like. Given our relationship, it’s not appropriate for you to get too close to them,” Lan Lan said. “You should cook for your future in-laws more often from now on.”
Liang Yu Feng, who had intended to retort, “Haven’t I already?” found himself unable to speak. “Who are my future in-laws? How come I don’t know?”
Lan Lan laughed. He was now resorting to denial. “Your fiancée’s parents, of course.”
Liang Yu Feng, however, asked again, “Who is my fiancée?”
“Did you lose your memory?” Lan Lan couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him. “Isn’t Miss Shang your fiancée?”
They had attended events together and gone on private dates. His father had even spoken to her about it, explicitly stating that he only recognized Shang Ting as his daughter-in-law. It was a done deal, yet he refused to acknowledge it.
“I never admitted it,” Liang Yu Feng said. “I have no relationship with her, and I won’t marry her.”
“Alright, it’s your freedom, and you don’t need to explain it to me.” Lan Lan wasn’t curious about whom he would marry, as long as he didn’t come looking for her after getting married. She had no interest in engaging in catfights over men.
“Lan Lan.” Liang Yu Feng suddenly called her name with great seriousness. Lan Lan shivered, inexplicably feeling nervous, her heart leaping into her throat. “What is it?”
“You won’t get rid of me,” he said. “I will never let you go.”
Lan Lan: “……”
Just as she was startled by this seemingly insane line, Liang Yu Feng had already gotten into his car and left.
After that day, Liang Yu Feng severed ties with Shang Ting.
His previous meetings with Shang Ting were partly due to Xu Zheng Xi, but more importantly, he wanted to test Lan Lan in this way. Now, it was no longer necessary, and he didn’t have the extra energy to spare for others.
When Shang Ting contacted him, Liang Yu Feng chose to ignore her.
A few days later, Liang Yu Feng received a WeChat message from Yu Ran: [Little Liang, we’re back in Xizhou. See you next time when you’re free. Wishing you success in your work.]
After exchanging contact information with Yu Ran that day, Liang Yu Feng had been chatting with her from time to time. Yu Ran was amiable and didn’t put on airs of seniority. After they became familiar, she specifically sent him a message before leaving.
Liang Yu Feng replied to Yu Ran, [Have a safe trip, and I wish you and Uncle happiness every day.]
Yu Ran and Lan Zhong left, and it was Friday again. Liang Yu Feng, having endured for half a month, couldn’t wait to send Lan Lan a WeChat message: [Come to my place after work on Friday.]
Lan Lan: [Got it.]
There was no need for Liang Yu Feng to say it; she had planned to go anyway. It wasn’t just him who needed to satisfy his physiological needs.
Currently, she was busy with work and had no intention of developing a romantic relationship or the energy to find a suitable partner. Although Liang Yu Feng’s skills were not yet mature, his hardware was excellent, and his conduct was also acceptable. As long as he didn’t go crazy and bite, he was quite good otherwise.
After work on Friday, Lan Lan arrived at Liang Yu Feng’s home, and they happened to meet at the entrance of the villa.
Liang Yu Feng was carrying a shopping bag from the supermarket. Lan Lan stepped forward to look. “What did you buy?”
“Dinner.” Liang Yu Feng opened the door, changed his shoes, and went into the kitchen.
A significant reason Lan Lan was willing to come to Liang Yu Feng’s place was his cooking. Eating company cafeteria food every day, no matter how good it was, eventually became tiresome. Liang Yu Feng’s dishes were more to her taste. Dinner consisted of three meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and a soup, making it nutritionally balanced and delicious.
Lan Lan had a good appetite these past few days and ate three bowls of rice in one sitting. She rarely lost control like this. Liang Yu Feng looked at her in surprise, his gaze lingering on her.
Lan Lan asked him, “What are you looking at? Are you unhappy that I’m eating your rice?”
“Are you pregnant?” His gaze moved downwards, stopping at her lower abdomen.
The chopsticks in Lan Lan’s hand almost fell. Pregnant? What was he thinking?
“You’re the one who’s pregnant, don’t jinx me!” Lan Lan cursed at him.
“Then why are you eating so much?” It wasn’t surprising he suspected it; she had always been concerned about her figure, and it was unlikely she would eat three bowls of rice in one go.
“I’m hungry, is that not allowed?” Lan Lan put down her chopsticks, her appetite gone. “But now I’m full from being angered by you. Mr. Liang, you really are something.”
Liang Yu Feng: “Eat.”
Lan Lan: “I’m not eating anymore. Thank you.”
Liang Yu Feng: “You’re usually so afraid of gaining weight, I thought…”
“Gaining weight? Who are you calling fat?” Lan Lan’s radar went off. “If you think I’m fat, go find someone else to sleep with!”
“I didn’t say you were fat,” Liang Yu Feng quickly explained.
He didn’t know what had happened to her today. Was work not going well? Why was she picking fights in everything she said?