Feng Feng: [If this counts as meeting parents.]
Lan Lan: [Yours is more like catching someone in the act.]
Feng Feng: [...]
Lan Lan: [Not talking anymore, Feng Feng made me noodles, I'm going for a late-night snack.]
Following Lan Lan's message was a photo of noodles. Under the warm lighting of the restaurant, the bowl of beef noodles looked even more appetizing. Looking at the bowl, Feng Feng could imagine how thoughtfully Liang Yufeng had cooked it for her.
Liang Yufeng already enjoyed taking care of Lan Lan in daily life, and even more so after Lan Lan became pregnant. No matter when or where, he cared for her without complaint, never saying a harsh word.
Feng Feng herself had little faith in married life, but after seeing Lin Mei and Lan Lan, she suddenly felt that starting a family wasn't so bad. With this thought, Feng Feng subconsciously glanced towards the bathroom.
Before she could look for long, the doorbell rang. It was the staff delivering lunch. Feng Feng came back to herself and opened the door. After they had set out the lunch and left, Shen Su also came out of the shower. He had changed into a hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants. His hair was still damp, making him look much younger.
However, Shen Su himself was only in his early thirties. It was just that his usual attire was more mature, and his actions were calculating, making him appear a bit older.
Shen Su sat down opposite Feng Feng. Seeing her staring at him, Shen Su touched his chin. "President Feng, if you look at me like that, I'll get shy."
Feng Feng scoffed, "Show me what it looks like when you're shy."
Shen Su raised an eyebrow. "Do you like this type?"
Feng Feng didn't want to joke about it. She took a bite of sausage and casually said, "I saw your WeChat Moments."
Shen Su's smile became even brighter. "Yes, I was in a good mood and wanted to show off."
He looked more and more like a peacock displaying its feathers. Feng Feng gave him a cold eye-roll. "Did your parents see your Moments before they video-called you?"
Shen Su: "You're still thinking about that? Don't worry, they're open-minded people, they won't have any prejudice against you."
That wasn't what Feng Feng was afraid of. She could feel that Shen Su's parents were not rigid people. But meeting them in such an awkward way was completely outside her plan. This was undoubtedly the most embarrassing thing in her life, bar none.
Feng Feng stared intently at Shen Su, her eyes gradually showing a hint of probing. Shen Su couldn't stand Feng Feng's gaze. Every time she looked at him like that, he would feel guilty.
Shen Su: "Eat, don't look at me like that. This really was an accident."
Feng Feng replied faintly, "Did I say it wasn't an accident?"
Only then did Shen Su realize he had been led into a trap by her gaze. "Your look clearly shows you suspect me. By heaven, when you came out, I wanted to remind you, but you didn't give me a chance."
Feng Feng: "I haven't asked anything yet, and you've already said so much. Are you feeling guilty?"
Shen Su: "..."
Having successfully rendered Shen Su speechless, Feng Feng felt a bit better. She didn't doubt Shen Su's motives for this incident; she was just admonishing him because he had posted a photo of a cake on his WeChat Moments.
Even though only the two of them knew what had happened, she still felt uncomfortable.
After lunch, Feng Feng and Shen Su left the hotel together. For the next two days, their itinerary was in the Bay Area. Today they would spend Christmas Eve, tomorrow they would attend a concert, and then fly back to New York to prepare for New Year's.
The Christmas and New Year holidays were consecutive, allowing for a break of over half a month. This was Feng Feng's first business trip that coincided with a holiday. During these days in the Bay Area, Shen Su basically acted as her navigator. He took her shopping, to exhibitions, to concerts, bought coffee beans, and even went to a flea market to find a few decorative items.
Shen Su was not only a good bed partner but also a good companion for fun. Feng Feng hadn't traveled with him before. With this experience, she suddenly felt that bringing Shen Su on future trips would be a good choice.
On the flight back to New York, Feng Feng asked Shen Su, "How long are you off for Chinese New Year?"
Shen Su: "Hmm?"
The traditional holiday was only a few days. Feng Feng was definitely not asking about that. "President Feng wants to ask me out for Chinese New Year?"
Feng Feng said, "I want to visit a few countries in Southern Europe and need a tour guide."
Shen Su was amused. "A part-time escort tour guide like me isn't common, is it?"
"I'm quite familiar with Italy and Spain. Do you have any cities you'd like to visit in these two countries? I can genuinely be your tour guide." After teasing her, Shen Su's attitude became serious as he asked about Feng Feng's preferences.
Feng Feng didn't have any specific places in mind, nor was she good at planning trips. So, she entrusted everything to Shen Su. "You arrange it. It should be around the period from Chinese New Year to the Lantern Festival. I'll use a few days of my annual leave as well."
Shen Su teased, "President Feng really has me figured out. Didn't you ever think I might disagree?"
Feng Feng gave him a cold glance. "It doesn't matter, I'll find a professional tour guide."
On the way back to New York, Shen Su told Feng Feng a lot about his travels. Shen Su's familiarity with these places exceeded her imagination. Based on their previous experience in the Bay Area, Feng Feng casually asked him, "Do you also have girlfriends living in Barcelona and Milan?"
Shen Su paused. "Not exactly."
But it was similar. "You remember Qin Siruan, right?"
Feng Feng certainly remembered. Qin Siruan was a photographer who traveled all over the world. Shen Su seemed to have been with her for many years. Upon hearing this, she wasn't surprised. She even asked, "Where else have you been with her? You can add them to my itinerary in the future."
Shen Su was made to feel both amused and exasperated by Feng Feng. Logically speaking, shouldn't they be settling old scores now?
Seeing Shen Su's indescribable expression, Feng Feng asked again, "What's wrong?"
"Sometimes I really don't know what to do with you." Shen Su looked helpless. "You're always like this, I don't feel like you care about me."
Feng Feng: "Like what? By being indifferent when you tell me stories about your ex-girlfriends?"
Shen Su: "So you knew."
Feng Feng retorted, "Then what do you want me to do? Be like you, clinging to past events all the time?"
"Are you sure your old, trivial accounts can withstand my scrutiny?"
Feng Feng had only been emotionally involved with Wen Zhouyuan and Li Yue. Shen Su, on the other hand, probably couldn't remember them all himself.
Encountering someone like him and then digging up old accounts would be asking for trouble.
Shen Su: "No need to dig them up, just asking casually would be enough. At least I'd feel your care."
In the end, he still needed a sense of presence.
Feng Feng indulged him. "How many girlfriends have you had in total? And how many have you slept with? Name them, let me hear."
Shen Su choked for a long time and couldn't utter a single word: "..."
Feng Feng subtly curled her lips. Heh, a fatal blow.
After realizing he couldn't answer, Shen Su began to make excuses and quibble. "That question is too tricky."