Chapter 34
At dinner time, all the guests arrived at the restaurant.
Jiang Sheshe looked at a certain blackened dish on the table and blurted out, “Is this even edible?”
Ning Xi looked at Fu Zhi. “My sister Jiang is asking you.”
Fu Zhi: ?
He thought Ning Xi was just passing the buck, but following Jiang Sheshe’s gaze, he realized she was actually looking at the braised pork ribs he had made.
“Do you have no taste?” Fu Zhi rolled his eyes. “What do you mean ‘blackened’? That is clearly a red so deep it looks black.”
If you don’t want to eat it, then don’t!
Jiang Sheshe, who didn’t get along with Fu Zhi, went straight to the seat on the long table furthest away from the braised pork ribs.
Then, she waved at Wei Xuan.
However, Wei Xuan didn’t move. He kept his eyes on Ning Mingyue out of the corner of his eye, watching where she was going to sit.
Jiang Sheshe’s movement stiffened, and her entire expression turned lonely.
Ning Mingyue naturally felt the undercurrents in the atmosphere. She looked at Shen Yibai beside her and Xie Lanchen not far away, her mind racing as she decided where she should sit.
[Whoa, the seating battleground is back again!]
[Hahaha, everyone definitely wants to sit with the person they like.]
Ning Xi had no intention of joining this battleground. She set her sights on her beef and potatoes and sat directly at the very edge of the dining table.
Fu Zhi coughed and sat down opposite Ning Xi with an air of leisure.
Shen Yibai sat down next to Fu Zhi.
Ning Mingyue followed Shen Yibai and sat down. She thought Xie Lanchen would sit opposite her, but to her surprise, he chose the seat opposite Shen Yibai.
At this moment, the seating arrangement on the long table was:
Jiang Sheshe – Ning Mingyue – Shen Yibai – Fu Zhi
(Empty) – (Empty) – Xie Lanchen – Ning Xi
Wei Xuan glanced at Jiang Sheshe and Ning Mingyue, then directly removed a chair and sat in the middle opposite the two of them, ensuring that neither of them was sitting alone.
During the meal that followed, Jiang Sheshe kept her head down and focused on her rice, barely touching the dishes.
It wasn’t until Wei Xuan handed her a bowl of fish soup and said softly, “Have some soup,” that Jiang Sheshe’s expression visibly softened a great deal.
She knew Brother Xuan liked Mingyue, but as long as Brother Xuan still cared about her and treated her well, she was happy.
Sitting next to Jiang Sheshe, Ning Mingyue saw how easily she was coaxed by a single bowl of fish soup and curled her lip.
Halfway through the meal…
Wei Xuan raised his glass and said, “Welcome, Lanchen, to the big family of Youai Villa. This is our first meal together. I hope everyone has a great time from here on out!”
Ning Mingyue also smiled and raised her glass. “To be able to reunite back home is perhaps a destiny granted by the heavens. A toast to destiny!”
Jiang Sheshe: “Welcome!”
Shen Yibai offered a faint word of welcome.
Although Fu Zhi was reluctant, he followed the others and said welcome as well.
Finally, it was Ning Xi’s turn.
Just as Ning Xi was about to say welcome, Jiang Sheshe said, “Let the last person give a closing remark. Otherwise, it’s so boring if everyone just says welcome.”
Ning Xi: *Are you for real, sis?*
Jiang Sheshe smirked triumphantly at Ning Xi.
However, as a veteran master of dramatic performance, Ning Xi could pull something off effortlessly.
She took a deep breath and began her performance-on-demand for the day:
“The reason we are all gathered here today is to celebrate the arrival of our dear friend who has come from afar, Xie Lanchen…”
Hearing this opening, Jiang Sheshe let out a snort of laughter, then realized she shouldn’t laugh and quickly made her expression serious again.
Ning Mingyue thought it sounded a bit familiar.
Ning Xi continued her performance: “Let us raise our glasses and wish from the bottom of our hearts that his future life will…”
Fu Zhi added in a small voice: “Rot! And stink!”
“Shine! And glow!” Ning Xi declared.
Fu Zhi was stunned and then became furious. “Why did you change the lines?! You actually changed the lines for him!”
A male vixen like Xie Lanchen deserved nothing but the ‘rot and stink’ lines.
Why should he get to shine and glow!
Being questioned, Ning Xi gave a self-deprecating laugh and then looked at Fu Zhi. “Don’t talk to me about friendship! Are you talking to me about friendship right now while being so hysterical? No, Fu Zhi! You’re doing this for a man!”
Fu Zhi: …Impressive.
[Sis, you really do burst into a performance anywhere and everywhere.]
[Sometimes being online alone is quite helpless (covers forehead with a bitter smile).]
[Enough (low-pitched vocal fry).]
“Hahahahahaha!” Jiang Sheshe could no longer hold it in.
“That certainly was a unique closing remark.” Although Wei Xuan didn’t understand the meme between Ning Xi and Fu Zhi, he still offered praise.
“I like it very much. Thank you.”
Xie Lanchen smiled and turned his head to look at Ning Xi beside him.
He had a pair of eyes that usually made people feel a sense of distance, but when he stared at someone with such a beaming smile, it created the illusion of deep affection.
Ning Xi feigned modesty. “I’m glad you like it.”
She had a massive reservoir of lines ready to go!
She could give everyone their fill.
The group clinked their glasses in celebration.
Because Ning Xi was sitting in the far corner, she couldn’t reach everyone else’s glasses even when she raised her own.
She made a vague gesturing motion and was about to pull her hand back.
However, at that moment, Xie Lanchen suddenly shifted the direction of his glass and toasted her individually.
The glasses clinked.
The crisp sound sent a quiet ripple through Ning Xi’s heart.
She looked up at Xie Lanchen.
Then, she met Xie Lanchen’s smiling gaze.
Ning Xi blinked rapidly. Was the big villain, Xie Lanchen, actually trying to get on her good side?
Ning Xi was a bit confused.
But what was even more confusing was-
Fu Zhi, who had already been about to pull his glass back, noticed the private toast between Xie Lanchen and Ning Xi. He actually stood up again, gave Ning Xi’s glass a lightning-fast clink, and then sat back down immediately.
The entire sequence was smooth and natural. Combined with Fu Zhi’s current righteous posture of looking everywhere but at Ning Xi, it made her want to give him a “666” for his performance.
[Fu Zhi: If others have it, I must have it too. Nobody stop me.]
[Was Ning Xi the only one who didn’t reach the toast just now? No one else noticed, but Xie Lanchen did!]
[Xilan Flower is so sweet I could die, I’m just saying.]
[…CP shippers, get out of here!]
As dinner ended, Xie Lanchen took the initiative to ask, “What does everyone like for breakfast? I have a habit of waking up early, so I can prepare something for everyone tomorrow.”
Although he was asking everyone, his gaze was fixed straight on Ning Xi.
Jiang Sheshe was shocked. “Feynman actually knows how to cook?”
Xie Lanchen turned his head toward Jiang Sheshe. “A little bit.”
“Then I’ll place an order? Is a panini okay?” Ning Mingyue was the first to smile.
Xie Lanchen nodded.
The others also politely indicated that a sandwich would be enough.
Shen Yibai spoke up indifferently, “I wake up early too. I can make my own breakfast; no need to trouble yourself.”
Xie Lanchen remained noncommittal and looked at Ning Xi, who hadn’t spoken yet.
“What about Ning Xi?”
Ning Xi was still secretly eating when she suddenly heard Xie Lanchen call her name.
“What does Ning Xi want for breakfast? Is porridge okay?”
Ning Xi’s eyes lit up instantly. “Yes, yes!”
She had a quintessential Chinese stomach; for breakfast, she preferred things like porridge and soy milk.
She hadn’t expected Xie Lanchen, who had just returned from abroad, to share her tastes.
In Ning Xi’s heart, her favorability toward Xie Lanchen silently went up by one.
“I don’t want porridge.”
Seeing how happy Ning Xi looked, Fu Zhi started being contrarian again.
Without the Privilege Card setting, Ning Xi didn’t pay him any attention at all.
Xie Lanchen happened to be talking to Wei Xuan next to him. Whether he didn’t hear or didn’t care, he didn’t look at Fu Zhi either.
Fu Zhi felt a wave of frustration; the more he looked at Xie Lanchen, the more annoyed he became.
“I’m also planning to make fried eggs, roasted potatoes, and sausages tomorrow. Does anyone want some?” Fu Zhi scanned the people around the table.
As soon as he said this, everyone fell silent for a moment.
The netizens in the bullet comments were all excited.
[Ahhh! Fu Zhi’s mouth is finally being used for something useful!]
[The boy has improved.]
“Wait, were those three things from yesterday’s breakfast made by you?!” Jiang Sheshe was greatly shocked.
Fu Zhi glanced out of the corner of his eye at a certain someone who was still sneakily eating across from him and gave a light huff of affirmation.
Jiang Sheshe was stunned.
As for Ning Xi, she had a sudden realization. “No wonder I’m dizzy tonight. It’s because I ate the food you made yesterday morning.”
Fu Zhi: “…”
He glared at Ning Xi crossly. “Why don’t you say it’s because of the coffee I bought you last month that you’re dizzy now?”
Ning Xi “realized” again. “So every time I’m unwell, it’s because of you.”
Fu Zhi: “…Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Xie Lanchen smiled as he watched the two bicker, but when his gaze occasionally fell on Fu Zhi’s face, it carried a hint of coldness.
*
After dinner, the Program Team arranged individual interviews for everyone.
Staff: “Ten rapid-fire questions, no hesitating. Are you ready?”
Ning Xi was completely excited. “I’ve loved, save the mother, I can swim, you’re good-looking, I lick the yogurt lid, I don’t lick my fingers after chips, save my mom!”
Staff: “…”
He coughed. “Let’s start with a warm-up. Say ‘Li Bai’s surname is Bai’ three times.”
Ning Xi: “Li Bai’s surname is Bai, Li Bai’s surname is Bai, Li Bai’s surname is Bai.”
Staff: “What is Li Bai’s surname?”
Ning Xi said without thinking, “Li.”
[Bai.]
[??? What’s up with the person above?]
[Even if she’s cured, she’ll still be drooling, hahaha!]
Staff: “Then the rapid-fire challenge officially begins! Pepsi or Coke?”
Ning Xi: “Pepsi.”
Staff: “Durian or stinky tofu?”
Ning Xi: “Durian.”
Staff: “Fu Zhi or Xie Lanchen?”