Zhan Jingchen politely declined, stating he was with friends and they were waiting. Uncle Yao, however, was reluctant to let him go.
"Then just sit for a few minutes, have a couple of drinks with me, and then you can leave. Ah, I'm feeling quite down today, and Junzhu can't keep me company."
Zhan Jingchen was pushed into this situation, and as he turned, Gu Wei walked in.
Didn't that person's back look a lot like Pei Kexin's husband?
Who were the man and woman surrounding him?
He had been a little suspicious that he'd mistaken someone, but when he reached the room, the person was indeed not there.
"Where's your husband?"
Pei Kexin disliked him saying that and rolled her eyes at him. "Isn't he with you? Did he get lost?"
Gu Wei: "..."
Pei Kexin thought he was lost. "So stupid, getting lost on such a short walk. It seems I'll have to tie him down with a leash when we go out from now on. Sit down, I'll call him."
Gu Wei recalled the scene he had just witnessed and realized that the person he saw walking away with someone else was Zhan Jingchen.
He thought this kid was quite busy, having signed with Pei Kexin, yet daring to flirt with others right under her nose.
Fearing that he might cause trouble for Pei Kexin if exposed, Gu Wei quickly stopped her.
"Don't bother calling. The terrain here is complicated, and it's hard to explain clearly over the phone. How about I go out and look for him? He should be in the courtyard. I'll bring him back."
Pei Kexin put down her phone. Gu Wei walked away and sent Zhan Jingchen a WeChat message.
"Where are you? Who was that woman with you just now?"
Zhan Jingchen had just entered the private room and sat down when he saw the message before he could get away.
Afraid of Gu Wei arriving and his identity being exposed, he instinctively lied.
"What woman? I got separated from you guys, I'm lost, and I'm looking for the way. Where are you?"
Gu Wei: "You're still pretending when I saw everything? You leech who lives off women and isn't even honest about it!"
"I'm giving you two minutes to come out immediately and meet me at the entrance of Cui Song Pavilion. If you're a minute late, you won't get a single cent of Pei Kexin's money!"
Zhan Jingchen thought to himself how unlucky it was to be encountered by him of all people.
Troublesome.
After hastily having a couple of drinks with the father and daughter, he made an excuse that his friends were waiting and left.
After settling things there, he hurried to the entrance of Cui Song Pavilion. As soon as he passed the archway, he saw Gu Wei standing there with an unhappy expression.
"Brother Wei," he greeted with a smile. "The environment here is really complex. I spent a long time looking for a restroom. Sorry for making you wait?"
Gu Wei didn't believe his nonsense and shot him a glare.
"Taking a woman to the restroom? I didn't realize you were so cunning. Besides delivering food, how many part-time jobs are you juggling at once? Are you really not afraid of being exposed?"
Zhan Jingchen played it off with a laugh. "What business or no business, Brother Wei, don't tease me. I really was looking for the restroom. Let's go."
Gu Wei remained unmoved and continued to lecture him.
"Zhan Jingchen, I'm warning you, kid, don't be dishonest. Since you've signed a contract with Kexin, no matter what you were like before, you have to be honest for this month."
"If you dare to betray her, or do anything that embarrasses her, it doesn't matter what she thinks, I won't let you off either. Remember?"
Zhan Jingchen looked at his serious face and found it inexplicably amusing.
He forced himself to put on a serious and cooperative demeanor.
"I will obey your teachings, Brother Wei."
After warning Zhan Jingchen, Gu Wei, still displeased, took him to the private room.
Pei Kexin asked him why he was late, and Zhan Jingchen reiterated his excuse. Although her expression was not good, she was half-believing and didn't expose him on the spot.
The four of them ordered dishes and began to eat.
Zhan Jingchen was preoccupied with the situation at his other location, fearing something might go wrong. He ate quietly, not joining the conversation, appearing somewhat absent-minded.
While they were eating, a server suddenly knocked on the door and entered with a bottle of wine.
"Excuse me, the wine is chilled. Please enjoy."
Saying this, she placed a bottle of opened wine in an ice bucket on the table.
Pei Kexin thought it was a gift from Fu Duoduo and glanced at the logo on the bottle, praising it.
"Ms. Fu, you've spent quite a bit today. The stingy one is really opening up today. Is it to celebrate my marriage? I'm touched. Don't worry, I won't let you drink for free. When you get married someday, I'll give you a big red envelope."
Gu Wei also saw the wine bottle label and exclaimed in agreement.
"Wow, this bottle must be at least six figures! Sister Fu, who usually tries to escape the bill if possible when dining out, is really giving us face today. Thanks to Kexin, after knowing you for so long, I finally get to taste something good. I must drink heartily today. Sister Fu, how about I toast you first?"
Although Fu Duoduo enjoyed being praised, she glanced at the bottle and, seeing its exorbitant price, feared the server had delivered it to the wrong place and dared not joke around.
"Kexin said just now that she wouldn't be drinking. I didn't order this, was it delivered by mistake?"
Everyone was taken aback and looked at the server.
The server, also afraid of making a mistake, quickly used her earpiece to reconfirm with someone.
"No mistake, it's for your private room. Could it be that a gentleman ordered it and is playing a prank?"
Gu Wei opened his mouth to say, Who would play such a prank? Could it be a bad idea of yours to promote wine? I'm not taking this fool's errand!
Just as he opened his mouth, Zhan Jingchen from the adjacent room called out to him.
"Brother Wei, your phone is ringing."
Gu Wei picked up his phone to look. Zhan Jingchen had sent him a message at some point.
There was a transfer notification in the chat window, with a cover display of 8888. Zhan Jingchen explained below.
"Someone sent me the wine. Please accept it for me. Thank you for your trouble. I'll repay your great kindness another day."
Gu Wei couldn't help but glance at him.
This kid, I knew he wasn't simple!
Since he was being generous and Gu Wei would gain both reputation and profit without any loss, Gu Wei accepted.
"Fu Duoduo, you're not seizing the opportunity when I'm giving you face, so I'll accept it myself. The wine was bought by me to celebrate the happy wedding of Kexin and Achen."
"No more nonsense, let's raise our glasses. All the past troubles are over. From today onwards, our lives will get better and better!"
After eating, drinking, and chatting, they went home at ten o'clock in the evening.
Pei Kexin, who usually worked overtime year-round and was swamped with work, would stay at the office or a hotel for convenience. She rarely returned to the Pei family home, and when she did, it was usually late at night when everyone had already dispersed, so few people saw her.
Who knew that today, by chance, they would encounter everyone.
It was already eleven o'clock at night, and she and her new husband, smelling of alcohol, returned to find her eldest and second brothers, eldest and second sisters-in-law, along with their two nephews, all gathered in the living room.
Upon seeing the couple enter and catching the scent of alcohol, Pei Zongrui immediately sarcastically remarked.
"Oh, look who's back, dear Auntie and Uncle? Didn't we agree that you would be taking turns caring for Grandpa at the hospital every night? Why are you back so early on the second day?"
"You've been drinking? You really know how to enjoy yourselves. Grandpa is critically ill and lying alone in the hospital, and you two are using the excuse of caring for him to go out and drink and have fun. Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
It was clear that they had known beforehand and were deliberately waiting for her.