Liang Yufeng also didn't consider that, with her personality, she could be bullied by anyone. He hadn't expected that in his heart, she would still be portrayed as such a "fragile" image. However, it was also surprising that Xu Zhengxi didn't seize this opportunity to complain to Liang Yufeng.
"I'm asking you a question." Liang Yufeng grew more anxious as Lan Lan remained silent.
"Didn't he tell you what we talked about?" Lan Lan retorted.
"He hasn't approached me yet," Liang Yufeng replied.
"Oh, then he probably felt embarrassed and didn't have the nerve to tell you." Xu Zhengxi, being someone who cared so much about his image, should have been very conscious of how he appeared in front of younger people.
"Embarrassed?" Liang Yufeng asked. "What do you mean?"
Seeing his curiosity, Lan Lan recounted to Liang Yufeng everything Xu Zhengxi had discussed with her. Hearing that Lan Lan had refused Xu Zhengxi's money and chosen to leave him, the frown on his brow eased slightly.
Then, Lan Lan spoke about the auction. "Your father is completely out of touch with the times. What era is this, still playing the game of offering money to make me leave my son? I need to educate him on a new way to play: the highest bidder wins."
Liang Yufeng: "..."
Although she appeared materialistic and difficult to bully, this outcome was undoubtedly satisfactory to him.
After Lan Lan finished speaking, Liang Yufeng pulled her into his embrace again. "If you dare to take his money, see how I'll deal with you."
Lan Lan had already anticipated this. She wasn't foolish. Compared to offending Liang Yufeng, offending Xu Zhengxi was clearly the better option. "Can he be as rich as you? Mr. Liang is a man of immense wealth now. I can't pick up a sesame seed and lose a watermelon."
Although these were flattering words, the underlying meaning was that she wouldn't leave him. Liang Yufeng showed a subtle smile. "Are you off work? Are you free tonight? Let's have dinner together."
Since he had come, Lan Lan had no more thoughts of working. She agreed and left with him, picking up her bag. As the two of them exited the office, they attracted many gazes. Everyone already knew about their relationship and no longer whispered about it, but their eyes still held a lingering ambiguity. Fortunately, Lan Lan had strong psychological resilience and ignored them.
When the two arrived at a restaurant for dinner, they encountered Shang Ting and her friends. Shang Ting gracefully stepped forward and greeted Liang Yufeng, her gaze finally settling on Lan Lan. She smiled in a friendly and amiable manner. "Miss Lan is here too."
Looking at the smile on Shang Ting's face, Lan Lan had to admit, her acting skills were superb. Lan Lan, too lazy to play along, responded casually. Shang Ting didn't seem to mind and exchanged a few words with Liang Yufeng before going to dine with her friends.
Being a daughter-in-law from a wealthy family was indeed not something ordinary people could do. No wonder Xu Zhengxi had set his heart on Shang Ting. Such "dignity" must be to his taste.
Lan Lan didn't feel any displeasure due to Shang Ting's appearance. Liang Yufeng gazed at her for a moment, and seeing that her expression was normal, the words he was about to explain got stuck in his throat.
During dinner, Lan Lan received a rare call from her parents. Her parents had returned from their trip last week and had bought her gifts. "Are you free this weekend? Your father and I will come to see you."
"Yes, please come." Lan Lan happily agreed. Her relationship with her parents had always been very good. "Are you driving, or taking the high-speed train? I'll pick you up."
Lan Lan was not originally from Nanjiang. Her father, Lan Zhong, and mother, Yu Ran, were both in Xizhou City, not far from Nanjiang. The high-speed train ride was only half an hour.
"Your father is driving. We have a lot of things, so we'll go directly to your apartment. Is there anything else you want to eat? We'll buy it and bring it to you," Yu Ran asked.
Lan Lan mentioned a few items and chatted with Yu Ran. Only then did she realize that Liang Yufeng was staring at her.
Lan Lan instinctively offered an explanation. "It's my mother's call."
Liang Yufeng didn't know much about Lan Lan's parents. When they were together back then, he rarely saw her contact her parents. She was only in her first year of university, and almost all her classmates called their parents daily. She seemed much more independent than her peers.
Liang Yufeng had occasionally chatted with her about her parents. He only knew that both her parents were senior executives in financial companies, so they must have been very busy. "Have your parents retired now?"
"Yes, they retired a couple of years ago," Lan Lan said with a smile. "They know how to enjoy life and are traveling everywhere now. I'm the only one still working for others in our family."
Although her words sounded like a complaint, they were filled with happiness and warmth. Even from mere snippets, one could feel that her family atmosphere was excellent.
"Oh, right, I can't go to your place this week. My parents are coming over," Lan Lan remembered the important matter. "We didn't see each other during Chinese New Year this year. Let's make up for a family holiday."
Liang Yufeng responded with an "Mm." He suddenly became very agreeable, deviating from his usual teasing style.
On Friday evening, after Lan Lan returned home, Yu Ran and Lan Zhong were already waiting at her apartment. They had brought many things, filling the living room.
As soon as Lan Lan entered, she couldn't help but ask, "Excuse me, Mr. Lan and Mrs. Yu, did you bring the entire shopping mall over for me?"
"Does little Miss Lan like it?" The elderly couple also joked with her. Their family atmosphere had always been like this, without the rigid hierarchical concepts of traditional families.
Yu Ran and Lan Zhong didn't cook much, so Lan Lan ordered takeout. While waiting for the food, they tidied up the things together. Yu Ran casually chatted with Lan Lan. "Have you found a boyfriend recently?"
"No, your daughter has been busy with her career lately and doesn't have time for romantic entanglements." Lan Lan had never hidden her relationships from her parents. Her frequent change of boyfriends was not a secret, but she wasn't a love-struck fool who would let men affect her development and future. Therefore, Yu Ran and Lan Zhong had not interfered too much.
"Then it seems work has made significant progress?" Lan Zhong asked curiously.
"You could say that. Your daughter is now truly half a little Ms. Lan," Lan Lan said with a smile. "By the end of this year, I should be promoted to the position of department manager. How about that, pretty impressive, right?"
"Impressive." Lan Zhong gave a thumbs-up, never stingy with his praise for Lan Lan.
While Lan Lan's family was enjoying a harmonious time, Liang Yufeng and Xu Zhengxi were locked in a tense confrontation.
Early Friday morning, Liang Yufeng received notification from Xu Zhengxi to return to the Xu family's old residence that evening. Without needing further explanation, Liang Yufeng could guess what Xu Zhengxi wanted to discuss with him.
Indeed, as soon as he returned, Xu Zhengxi told him, "You'd better break off with those messy women outside as soon as possible. I will set a date with the Shang family, and after you get engaged to Shang Ting, I don't want to see any other women by your side..."
"When did I ever say I was going to get engaged to Shang Ting?" Liang Yufeng retorted to Xu Zhengxi. "Did you decide for me?"
Perhaps it was the coldness in Liang Yufeng's gaze that made Xu Zhengxi inexplicably flustered. Losing face, he questioned, "I am your father. What's wrong with deciding for you? Don't think that just because you're grown up, I can't control you."
"Then try me," Liang Yufeng said dismissively, his four words dripping with arrogance.