Chapter 82 It'll be a bit difficult for you two to get your marriage certificate.

Tan Zhaojing is always punctual, but he was a few minutes late today. His girlfriend, whom he had been longing to see, had just returned and he hadn't even had a chance to warm up to her before being called away. Anyone would be upset.

The patriarch didn't criticize, only felt sorry for him. He should have been resting after returning from his business trip, but the old man suddenly called out.

Tan Jiani went along too. Anyway, she had nothing to do at home, and it was good that she came and witnessed the first 'crime scene'.

Grandpa arranged a blind date for my brother without even asking for his consent.

I know the other person, Sister Chen Sa...

Seeing them come in, her gaze didn't linger on her brother, but instead peered towards the doorway, as if looking for someone.

She turned around in confusion, "Sister Chen Sa, is anyone else coming?"

"I don't know, this is your home."

"..."

The blind date that followed was somewhat expected by Tan Jiani. Her brother kept a straight face throughout, while Sister Chen Sa was full of enthusiasm, but only towards her grandfather, making the old man smile with wrinkles all over his face.

After a moment of confusion, it dawned on me that winning over Grandpa was just as important as winning over my older brother.

For no reason at all, I felt a little sorry for Lin Zaoyi, just a tiny bit, because she stubbornly insisted on being with her brother.

They'll break up sooner or later.

After chuckling to himself, the old man didn't forget to play matchmaker, saying, "Zhaojing, take Sa'er to the yard to see the fish."

Tan Jiani didn't think her brother could move, but he really did obey.

"......"

Don't even mention having your eye on them?

What should Lin Zaoyi do?

Let it be, let it fend for itself.

As soon as the two left, she quietly followed them.

Outside, the autumn air is crisp and clear.

At the pavilion, Tan Zhaojing stopped, his tone still relatively calm for the moment, and asked, "What are you thinking?"

"What do you mean, 'what do you think'?" Chen Sa had already discerned Tan Zhaojing's attitude from just this one sentence. She couldn't bring herself to speak gently at all. "You don't think I've taken a liking to you, do you?"

Tan Zhaojing: "...No, not at all."

Chen Sa's expression softened slightly. "That would be for the best. You have something you like, and coincidentally, I have one too."

I agreed to come just to see how that person would react, but it turned out they never came at all.

Since that's the case, she'll give it a little push.

She gestured with her chin toward the man in front of her, "Do me a favor."

He didn't even listen and just said, "I can't help."

She laughed in exasperation, "I haven't even said what it is."

Tan Zhaojing: "I can't help with anything."

Chen Sa understood perfectly. "Afraid your girlfriend will misunderstand? Don't worry, I'll explain it to her."

Tan Zhaojing's eyes narrowed slightly. "Do you know who it is?"

Chen Sa hates beating around the bush the most, and said bluntly: "It was hard not to see the favoritism at that banquet."

There was no gloating in my voice, but I said, "It'll be a bit difficult for you two to get your marriage certificate."

She was sincere, but his words were harsh: "It's none of your business."

Chen Sa chuckled, "I'm too busy worrying about you. Let's make a deal: you pretend to be my boyfriend a few times, and I'll cover for you with your grandfather a few times. That way, you can have some peace and quiet for your dates, and your grandfather won't find out anything."

Tan Zhaojing's expression remained completely unchanged. "Find someone else. I don't have time."

Chen Sa also wanted to, but none of the others could achieve the same effect as talking to Zhaojing.

"Aren't you going to think about it?"

Tan Zhaojing: "Not considering it."

Tan Jiani didn't leave; she remained hidden behind a silver fir tree a few meters away.

During that time, I took the opportunity to add Lin Zaoyi as a friend, and after she accepted, I found an angle to take a photo of my brother and Chen Sa together.

The stepmother's actions were for their own good; the sooner they separated, the more peaceful they would be.

After we finished talking, Sister Chen Sa walked around a corner and came this way, probably because she saw her.

There was no point in hiding any longer, so she gave a polite smile and said, "Sister Chen Sa."

Chen Sa smiled and said, "Good girl."

He reached out and patted her head. "Your brother's blind date is such a big event, why did only your dad and Aunt Ming come?"

This question left Tan Jiani completely bewildered. "Then who should come over?"

Chen Sa: "Of course, it's the other parents."

Tan Jiani was speechless for a couple of seconds. They were already making such a big fuss before anything was even started.

This shows that Sister Chen Sa has feelings for her brother.

He subtly hinted, "Sister Chen Sa, my brother is just average. You should look around some more."

"OK."

One is definitely worth choosing, while the other is considered perfunctory.

The latter sighed silently, "Sister Chen Sa, you go ahead and shop, I have something to take care of."

Lin Zaoyi's message was delayed, and he was getting anxious.

While tapping the screen, I saw the message: "What are you doing?"

The reply was very quick this time. [?]

"......"

Tan Jiani typed, head down, "Didn't you see the photo?"

I saw it.

Unable to see the other person's reaction, she felt only indifference towards those three words.

Aren't you jealous?

At this moment, she began to doubt whether Lin Zaoyi truly loved her brother, and whether she was only with him for something else.

Lin Zaoyi didn't reply; she locked her phone and tossed it aside.

Eat, of course you're eating.

It felt like something had stabbed my heart, sharp yet dense, spreading slowly from my limbs into my bloodstream.

What can we do?

He brought it on himself.

She was stubborn and indulged herself, she was weak and fell for him, she was shameless and insisted on being together. No matter how heartbreaking the consequences are, she deserves it.

The phone rang; it was him calling.

He didn't refuse to answer; he held the phone to his ear.

A clear, gentle voice came from the other end: "Dinner's ready."

She replied casually, "I'll go in a bit. What about you? What are you doing?"

After asking the question, I felt like a jealous woman.

It seemed someone was calling him, "Zhaojing, the old man wants you to come over."

Tan Zhaojing glanced sideways. "Wait a moment, I'll call my girlfriend back."

Butler Zhao: "..."

Don't be so direct; he's the old man's man, after all.

He pretended not to hear, turned his back, and walked towards the inner courtyard.

Tan Zhaojing's attention was completely focused back on the phone. "I met a woman I didn't know well, arranged by my grandfather."

The level of frankness surprised Lin Zaoyi. "You..."

The two were not on the same wavelength. Tan Zhaojing thought her hesitation was because of his blind date, and she still needed to make a proper explanation: "You can't convict someone if you don't know the truth."

Lin Zaoyi unconsciously fiddled with the back cover of the device. "So you've taken a liking to it."

I vaguely heard him sigh softly, "No."

"Morning ceremony."

The man's low, gentle voice came through the airwaves again, as if whispering in my ear, with a faint breath, "Ignorance is no excuse, please forgive me this once, okay?"

Lin Zaoyi was able to resist the temptation and said, "I'll decide based on the situation."

"Decid what?" the man pressed.

She didn't answer, "You go ahead with your work, your grandfather is waiting."

Tan Zhaojing remained unmoved. "Then let him wait."

How disloyal.

Lin Zaoyi believes that it's better to say some things face-to-face, at least you can see the other person's eyes, otherwise you won't feel at ease.

"Brother Zhaojing, let's talk about it when you get back, okay?"

Tan Zhaojing bluntly stated, "I'm afraid that if I come back, I'll become my ex-boyfriend."

Lin Zaoyi was even more blunt, "You're not in a legitimate position right now either."

Tan Zhaojing: "..."

She knows how to stab someone.

After hanging up the phone, I moved to the study.

The air inside was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

Without any preamble, Tan Zhaojing stated bluntly, "Grandpa, if there is a next time, I will not give you that face."

The old man's eyes darkened. "Which family does the girl you've taken a liking to belong to?"

Tan Zhaojing: "When the time is right, I will show it to you."

The old man let out a short, cold laugh from his throat. "It seems that girl didn't meet my standards."

Tan Zhaojing remained calm throughout, saying, "I don't know if she meets your standards, but she's very good to me."

I was about to pour him a cup of tea, but considering the old man's habit of taking a nap at noon, I changed it to plain water. "I have something to do, so I'll head back now."

Upon arriving at Xiyuan Garden, Tan Zhaojing didn't go upstairs; instead, he stood there and dialed his girlfriend's number.

"Go downstairs."

Lin Zaoyi: "You finished your photoshoot so quickly?"

Tan Zhaojing: "...Are you implying that I returned too early?"

Lin Zaoyi retorted, "If you want to continue dating, that's not out of the question."

There was a half-second silence on the phone. Tan Zhaojing sighed softly, "Does she have to make me angry?"

"No, I'm coming down now."

At this time, only Aunt Sun was sitting in a chair in the living room scrolling through her phone. When she saw Miss Zaoyi pass by, she turned her gaze and saw her run straight towards the car parked in the courtyard.

In the brief interval between the opening and closing of the car door, it was absolutely certain that the person sitting in the driver's seat was Young Master Zhaojing, not the driver.

Strange, something's not right.