Chapter 435: Chapter 435 Do You Like Women
Lan Yan only saw the WeChat message half an hour later.
Looking at Wei Yuning’s message, she felt a bit of a headache.
Why were they talking about inviting her to dinner again?
She thought for a moment and replied with three words: [No need.]
Just as she was about to exit the chat interface, Wei Yuning replied: [Lan, why not?]
[Do you not like me?]
And she topped it off with a pitiful-looking emoji.
Lan Yan looked at her reply and felt her headache worsen.
Why does she like asking “why” so much?
Lan Yan responded: [Not that many “why”s.]
Wei Yuning replied: [Then it must mean you don’t like me, sob sob X﹏X]
And she sent a weeping emoji after that.
“…”
Lan Yan finally thought about it and replied: [That’s not it. I’m genuinely busy and can’t go to dinner with you.]
Then she put her phone away.
Meanwhile—
Gao Han watched as Wei Yuning alternated between frowning and grinning like an idiot.
She reached over and poked her thigh, saying, “Wei Yuning, what’s got you acting like a loon and giggling like that?”
Wei Yuning tucked her legs in and said, “Nothing, nothing.”
And then she muttered to herself, “As long as she doesn’t hate me.”
Gao Han didn’t hear clearly. “What did you say?”
Wei Yuning replied hastily, “Nothing at all.”
Gao Han narrowed her eyes at her. “Are you hiding something from me?”
“Oh please, what could I possibly hide from you? I wouldn’t dare!”
“Hmph, I think you’re daring enough!” Gao Han glanced at the phone in her hand and said, “Hand over the phone, let me take a look.”
Upon hearing this, Wei Yuning immediately put her phone away and turned her back to Gao Han. “No way!”
“Mom, I’m already twenty-three. I’m entitled to my privacy. You can’t just act like a creep and watch me every day. Maybe you should spend your time monitoring Dad instead. What if he brings you a big patch of green grass? After all, Dad’s quite the handsome middle-aged man and a successful one at that—he’s bound to attract some impressionable younger women.”
Listening to her nonsense, Gao Han smacked her on the butt without hesitation.
Wei Yuning yelped in pain, “Ah! That hurt… Mom, could you at least lighten up?”
“You little rascal! Who are you calling a creep? I’m your mom! You’ve got such a cheeky mouth; can’t you talk more ladylike, huh?” Gao Han chided sharply.
On the outside, Wei Yuning looked like a gentle girl, but once she opened her mouth, it was a whole different story.
“…”
The mother and daughter had just arrived at the hotel when Wei Ting returned from outside.
He already knew Gao Han had come to Yue City because she had called him earlier.
Seeing Wei Ting walk in, Wei Yuning remarked, “Well, here we go, the whole family’s together.”
“Dad, how about we spend the New Year here this year?”
She really didn’t feel like going back to Hong Kong, especially back to the Wei Family’s place.
“Don’t talk nonsense,” Gao Han threw her a glare.
Ignoring her mother, she turned to Wei Ting and continued, “Dad, I’m not talking nonsense; I’m telling the truth. Plus, weren’t you planning to look for my elder sister here? Perfect timing—you can stay for the New Year.”
Gao Han didn’t have a chance to stop her before she let the cat out of the bag.
Wei Ting frowned slightly and looked at Gao Han. “You know about this?”
Gao Han didn’t bother to deny it and replied, “Yes, but don’t worry. I’m not trying to stop you. I’m just afraid you might be too eager and end up being deceived.”
Wei Yuning piped up, “Dad, go ahead and search to your heart’s content. I don’t mind. In fact, I’d be thrilled to have an older brother or sister. Just let me know once you find one, okay?”
Wei Ting had kept this from them initially out of fear that they would feel uncomfortable upon finding out.
Gao Han looked at him and said, “Honey, don’t worry about me or Xiao Ning. If you really manage to find your family, it will be a way to make up for the regret in your life. Having more people at home will only make things more lively.”
Wei Ting was surprised they didn’t object as he had expected.
It seemed he was overthinking it.
“Thank you,” he said.
Gao Han replied gently, “There’s no need to thank us; we’re family.”
Of course, Wei Yuning wasn’t a fan of these sentimental moments and quickly changed the subject: “Dad, by the way, do you already have a target?”
Gao Han shot her a warning glare, “Could you be a bit more mindful with your phrasing?”
Wei Yuning pouted. “Mom, can you please stop nitpicking when I speak?”
“No, I can’t. It’s annoying me.”
“Then you can just… not listen.”
“I’m neither deaf nor psychic. How am I supposed to not hear you?”
Seeing that the mother-daughter duo was about to start bickering again, Wei Ting quickly walked over, draped an arm over Gao Han’s shoulders, and asked, “Alright, alright. Are you hungry? You didn’t eat anything on the train, right?”
Gao Han nodded, “I am a bit hungry.”
Wei Ting smiled, “Then let me take you downstairs for some food.”
“Alright.”
Wei Yuning watched the two of them hold hands and leave.
She called out after them, “What about me? I haven’t eaten either!”
Without even turning back, Wei Ting replied, “You’re an adult; handle it yourself.”
“…”
Two days later.
That morning.
Lan Yan received a call from Wei Ting. Unsurprisingly, he was inviting her to dinner.
She realized this father-daughter duo was quite the interesting pair—both eager to invite her out.
Did she look like someone who couldn’t afford to feed herself?
Just as she finished the call with Wei Ting, a WeChat message from Wei Yuning popped up.
“Lan, are you free today? I’ve arranged lunch with Aunt Yun. Come join us.”
Lan Yan had initially planned to ignore her, but then she mentioned Mrs. Xiao.
Moments after reading Wei Yuning’s message, Mrs. Xiao sent her a WeChat as well.
It was a short voice message, around a dozen seconds long.
When she played it, Mrs. Xiao’s voice came through: “Yanyan, little Ning invited me for lunch. I’m free, so I agreed. Do you want to come along?”
Wei Yuning knew exactly how to extend an invitation. She was well aware that a direct invite wouldn’t work, so she took a shortcut.
And quite an effective shortcut at that.
Lan Yan replied to Mrs. Xiao: “Alright, Aunt Yun. I’ll join.”
She then opened the chat with Wei Yuning and sent two words: “Address.”
Seconds later, Wei Yuning sent her a location pin.
Lan Yan tidied up her desk at the research institute, preparing to leave.
Just as she walked out of her office, Su He showed up.
Su He spotted her and said, “You’re here. Great, let’s grab lunch together.”
Lan Yan felt a tad awkward. “Boss, I already have plans for lunch. Can’t join you.”
Su He replied, “Oh? Have plans with Doctor Xiao?”
“Not with him.”
“Not him? Then who?”
“Wei Yuning, Wei Ting’s daughter.”
“Huh?”
“Uh, Boss, it’s complicated to explain right now, but I’ll fill you in when I’m back.”
“…”
On her way to the lunch location, Lan Yan’s phone rang again. This time it was Xiao Si.
“Hello?” she answered. “Wait, you’re not calling to invite me to lunch as well, are you?”
Xiao Si instantly seized on the key point. “Who else is asking you to lunch? Yu Mu? Wei Ting? Or that… what’s her name… Wei something?”
Clearly, he couldn’t recall Wei Yuning’s exact name, but Lan Yan knew who he meant.
After hesitating for a moment, she replied, “Not just them.”
“What do you mean?”
“Aunt Yun will be there too.”
“What? My mom is going as well? Why is she sticking her nose in this?”
“Why don’t you ask her yourself? How would I know?”
“…”
Forty minutes later.
Lan Yan arrived at the location sent by Wei Yuning.
It was clear the restaurant had just opened because flower baskets congratulating its opening were still lined up outside.
As soon as she stood at the entrance, she saw Wei Yuning waving at her from inside through the glass window.
She sighed and lightly shook her head.
Lan Yan walked in and headed toward the spot where they were sitting.
As soon as she approached, Wei Yuning stood up, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into the chair next to her.
“Lan, here, sit by me.”
“…”
Lan Yan shook off her hand. “Alright, alright, I can sit down myself—don’t move, just sit properly.”
Sitting across from them, Mrs. Xiao smiled warmly at their interaction.
Lan Yan greeted her with, “Aunt Yun.”
Mrs. Xiao acknowledged her with a nod and said, “We’ve already placed the order, so the food should be here soon.”
Lan Yan nodded, “Alright. Thanks for taking care of that, Aunt Yun.”
“I didn’t do much. Little Ning ordered everything—I just gave her some tips about your preferences,” Mrs. Xiao replied.
“…”
Wei Yuning chimed in, “Lan, I just found out you also avoid green onions. What a coincidence—my dad and I both avoid them too.”
Lan Yan replied calmly, “Hmm, not much of a coincidence—plenty of people dislike green onions.”
“But in all my years, the only two people I’ve met who share this habit are my dad and you,” Wei Yuning said earnestly.
Lan Yan: “…”
Just then, a deep male voice interjected, “You’re about to meet a third person who avoids green onions.”
The voice was familiar to both Mrs. Xiao and Lan Yan, but quite foreign to Wei Yuning.
Following the voice, she turned her head and saw a tall man with handsome, well-defined features standing before them, hands casually tucked into his pockets.
However—
Wei Yuning didn’t know him. And no matter how good he looked, what if he turned out to be trouble?
She furrowed her delicate brows. “Who are you? If you’re picking up girls, do yourself a favor, turn left, and try that table of beauties over there. The three of us here are taken, so you’re out of luck.”
Lan Yan: “…”
Mrs. Xiao: “…”
Xiao Si narrowed his eyes, locking his gaze on her for a long moment.
Wei Yuning assumed he was interested in her. After all, she was attractive—she didn’t lack self-confidence there.
She spoke again, “What are you looking at? Haven’t you seen a pretty woman before? I’m telling you now—I don’t even like men, so you’re wasting your time!”
Everyone around the table turned their gazes toward her.
Xiao Si chuckled softly, his thin lips curving into a faint smile. “So, you like women?”
Wei Yuning had only made the comment impulsively to put him off.
Now that the question had been posed, she had to stick with her words.
“What? Is that a problem? Liking women isn’t illegal—what’s so strange about it?” she retorted.
Xiao Si replied casually, “True, it’s not illegal. I never said it was—just wanted to confirm.”
Then, his gaze shifted to the arm she had draped around Lan Yan’s.
In a calm, even tone, he said, “Move your hand.”
“Excuse me?”
Wei Yuning blinked, not understanding what he was getting at.
With a slight nod toward her hand, Xiao Si clarified, “I said, move your hand off my fiancée.”
“Fiancée?”
She murmured the word, glancing between Lan Yan and Xiao Si, and suddenly it clicked.
“Oh… so you’re Lan’s fiancé. You must be the shameless son Aunt Yun mentioned, huh?”
The astonishment on her face couldn’t have been more exaggerated.
Xiao Si didn’t bother dignifying her comment with a response. “Get up and move to another seat. I’m sitting there.”
Originally, Wei Yuning had planned to comply and give up the seat, but just as she lifted herself a bit, she sat back down instead.
With an innocent yet defiant tone, she said, “Wait a minute—why should I move? I was here first, and I sat down first. Why do I have to give up my seat? I refuse. I want to sit next to Lan. If respect for elders is a virtue, then elders should also love the younger generation.”
As she spoke, she tightened her grip on Lan Yan’s arm.
Xiao Si narrowed his eyes slightly, watching the scene.
Wei Yuning didn’t care if he was upset.
Xiao Si turned to Lan Yan, as though urging her to say something.
Lan Yan met his gaze. It was clear she was signaling, “There’s nothing I can do.”
Dealing with someone like Wei Yuning was beyond her capabilities.
The next second, a piercing scream echoed through the restaurant, drawing the attention of everyone present.
Even the manager came over. “Dear guests, is something wrong?”
Xiao Si replied calmly, “Nothing to worry about—just teaching a junior a lesson. Don’t mind us.”
The manager hesitated, then reminded him in a hushed tone, “Um, sir, just a small note—the tableware here is quite expensive, so try to be careful.”
Xiao Si cast a glance at the now-held-aloft Wei Yuning and said, “Don’t worry. If anything breaks, she’ll cover the cost.”
The manager breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and left them to it. “Alright, then.”
Xiao Si unceremoniously picked Wei Yuning up and deposited her in the empty seat next to Mrs. Xiao.
He then calmly claimed the seat next to Lan Yan for himself.
Wei Yuning was speechless: “…”
She glared at him, not holding back her annoyance. “You’re so ungentlemanly!”
Then she turned to Lan Yan and exclaimed, “Lan, this kind of boyfriend won’t do! I suggest you replace him.”
Lan Yan cleared her throat awkwardly, lost for words.
Mrs. Xiao added, “Hmm, little Ning’s right. That was indeed quite ungentlemanly—how could you just throw a girl?”
Xiao Si turned to look at his mother, then fixed his gaze on Wei Yuning and reiterated, “She’s my fiancée, not my girlfriend.”
Without hesitation, he wrapped an arm around Lan Yan and pulled her close to his side.
Wei Yuning retorted, “You’re not married yet. Being a fiancé doesn’t mean much—Lan can still choose to replace you if she wants.”
“Right, Aunt Yun?”
She deliberately turned to Mrs. Xiao for support.
Mrs. Xiao nodded playfully. “Not wrong, it’s true—she can still switch.”
Xiao Si narrowed his eyes. “… Whose side are you on, exactly, Mom?”
Mrs. Xiao shrugged. “I’m on the side of reason.”
Smirking smugly, Wei Yuning lifted her chin in defiance and let out a light “hmph.”
“See? Aunt Yun agrees with me. As a man, you should be more considerate toward women. Or else, one day, I’ll steal Lan away from you!”
Xiao Si’s lips twitched slightly at her words, and his face darkened further.
But Wei Yuning couldn’t care less about his mood. After all, the way he had just tossed her—she wanted to make sure he was thoroughly annoyed!