Wu Xuerou, reprimanded, returned to her room in a huff. She looked at everything on the vanity with displeasure and irritably swept the items to the floor with her hand.
With a crash, bottles and jars lay scattered on the carpet. She kicked them as she walked past and sat down on the end of the bed.
The phone at the edge clattered. Wu Xuerou glanced at it, watching the lit screen go dark.
A pleasant ring suddenly sounded in her ear. Wu Xuerou slowly turned her head to look at the phone screen again.
Zhao Yanxia's name popped up on the screen.
"Hello."
"Why do you sound so dejected? Did Jiang Ziyu bully you?"
Mentioning the instigator, Wu Xuerou felt an surge of anger. She shot up from the bed, phone in hand, her words spewing out like a machine gun.
Zhao Yanxia, listening to the roughly recounted events from abroad, wore a look of disdain.
"You're too foolish. Saying those things is just asking for trouble. Why is the old lady satisfied with her now? It's all because of her damn luck. You should have targeted that luck of hers and made her make mistakes in front of the old lady yourself."
Wu Xuerou fell silent at these words, pretending to ponder before saying, "I don't understand what you're saying."
As soon as she finished speaking, there was a sound of a large object falling from a height on Zhao Yanxia's end.
The call was briefly paused. Wu Xuerou stared at the screen and snorted, "Does she really take her for an idiot?"
She placed the phone on the table and turned into the bathroom.
On the balcony next door, Jiang Ziyu's upturned lips exuded mockery.
The two of them joining forces?
They were overestimating her capabilities.
Jiang Ziyu withdrew her gaze and returned indoors.
Evening.
As dinner time approached, everyone gathered around the dining table.
"Where is Ming Jue? He's not back?" the old lady asked, looking at the empty seat beside Jiang Ziyu.
As she asked, her eyes fell on Di Ruihe, who remained silent.
Wu Xuerou nudged him under the table. Di Ruihe quickly reacted and looked up.
"Perhaps there's too much company business."
"Yes, company matters are numerous. Furthermore, cousin has just woken up and hasn't figured out the company affairs yet, so working might be more strenuous," Wu Xuerou added.
The couple chimed in, their eyes full of expectation as they looked at the old lady.
Having grasped the general situation, the old lady nodded in acknowledgment. "We'll eat first. We'll have food prepared for Ming Jue when he returns."
Her gaze fell upon Wu Xuerou's downcast eyes.
The old lady picked up her chopsticks, and everyone else followed suit.
The dining room was quiet, so quiet that the sound of chopsticks tapping against the rim of bowls could be clearly heard.
Compared to above, below the table was not so quiet.
Di Ruihe's brow was furrowed. He glared sideways at Wu Xuerou.
His annoyed gaze had no effect. Wu Xuerou's hand under the table grew more insistent.
It pinched too hard, and Di Ruihe, unable to bear it any longer, dropped his chopsticks onto his plate.
The loud noise caused everyone at the table to look up, staring blankly at the couple.
"Ruihe," Wu Xuerou whined, hooking her arm through his, her hand underneath vigorously shaking.
Di Ruihe looked unwilling, yet he did not push away Wu Xuerou's touch.
This couple is quite tiresome.
Muttering to herself, Jiang Ziyu picked up serving chopsticks and placed food onto Yu Ze's plate.
With so many subtle actions, even the most confused old lady could tell that the two had something to say.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing..."
Wu Xuerou forcefully pushed Di Ruihe's arm away and, amidst the commotion, exclaimed loudly, "Grandma, Ruihe has something he wants to tell you, but he's too shy."
The old lady put down her chopsticks and looked at him seriously. "Is there something you cannot say?"
"Grandma said so, so just say it. You haven't been able to sleep at night worrying about this matter for the past few days," Wu Xuerou said, dabbing her eyes with feigned concern.
Di Ruihe was usually a man of few words, and in the Di family, he was an insignificant presence.