That evening, Jiang Xiaoli ate oranges while listening to Zhong Yuan tell jokes.

Ten minutes later, she tugged at Zong Jiayu's sleeve. "It's so cold. Are you cold?"

Zong Jia held her hand in surprise and asked, "Your hands are quite warm? Are you sick?"

Jiang Xiaoli sighed, "I was chilled by Brother Yuan's lame joke."

"Haha." Zong Jia and He Dafu laughed at the same time.

Zhong Yuan slumped down and put his notebook down. "These are the jokes I found that I think are really funny."

Jiang Xiaoli thought he was so cute. "Brother Yuan, have you ever thought that Xin Xin doesn't want someone who tells her jokes? She wants to find someone who makes her happy and who is optimistic and cheerful."

Zhong Yuan let out a breath. "So what do you think of me?"

“To be honest…” Her drawn-out utterance drew the attention of the three people.

"Actually, I think you're quite the type that Xin Xin likes."

Zhong Yuan pulled up a chair and sat down next to her. "Really? Don't try to fool me!"

Jiang Xiaoli rolled her eyes at him, "Why would I lie to you! You're always funny, and you're always the happiest one when we're together. Xin Xin also enjoys chatting with you."

Zhong Yuan suddenly became elated, "Now that you mention it, it's true! Xin Xin doesn't usually talk to them much!"

Dafu chimed in from the side, "They're just trying to avoid suspicion, what do you know?"

Zhong Yuan refused to accept the negative news. "Little Pear, do you think Xin Xin would accept it if I confessed my feelings to her?"

"I don't know that." She shook her head.

Seeing that they had finished chatting, Zong Jia unilaterally ended the chat between his girlfriend and his best friend.

Zhong Yuan muttered to himself as he returned to his room, and Da Fu also went back to call Chang Yue.

Jiang Xiaoli said with a smile, "Why are you so domineering?"

Zong Jia pinched her cheek and said, "Let him figure it out himself. He can win over his girlfriend through his own abilities."

She looked him up and down. "Tsk tsk tsk, you were able to win me over entirely because I'm a sucker for good looks."

Zong Jiayu quickly understood what she meant, and he smiled as he moved closer to her, "It's not impossible for Little Pear to like my body."

Jiang Xiaoli pushed him away, "It's not even spring yet, why are you already in heat?"

Zong Jia pinched her chin and said, "Little Pear, you're quite mischievous."

Confident that he wouldn't dare do anything to her at home, she defiantly said, "What can you do to me?"

Zong Jiayu's expression shifted, and he forcefully pulled her into his arms, whispering in her ear, "Since Little Pear invited me, I'll give it a try."

"Who invited you?"

She tried to break free from his grasp, but he was like Popeye after eating spinach; no matter how much she jumped around, she couldn't regain her freedom.

Before long, she was panting heavily from exhaustion.

Jiang Xiaoli was a very pragmatic person. She leaned against him and said, "Brother Ayu, I was wrong. I won't do it again."

Seeing the change in her attitude, Zong Jia chuckled lightly, "Isn't it a little too late to beg for mercy now?"

She leaned in and kissed him on the corner of his lips, saying sweetly, "Brother Ayu, don't be angry anymore."

Zong Jiayu thoroughly enjoyed her attempts to please him and let her do as she pleased.

She saw that this person, despite his attempts to charm her and shower her with kisses and hugs, remained unmoved.

Her expression changed instantly, and she started to give up, saying, "Hmph, do whatever you want, I'm not hiding anymore."

Then he spread his hands, looking like he was letting him do whatever he wanted.

Zong Jia chuckled helplessly and pulled her into his arms. "You little rascal, you knew I couldn't do anything with you, didn't you?"

She grumbled, "You have plenty of ideas!"

Zong Jia kissed her chattering lips, "You're just like Da Yuan, getting the benefits and still acting innocent."

She chuckled, "How can this be called being ungrateful after getting a good deal? This is called one thing subduing another!"

"Hehe, indeed, you've got me under your thumb."

...

On Saturday morning, Zong Jia drove Jiang Xiaoli to the airport to pick her up.

As midnight approached, Xiao Jincheng and the two people accompanying him came out.

Jiang Xiaoli immediately waved to them, "Uncle Xiao! Over here!"

Xiao Jincheng smiled and walked towards the two of them, "Have you been waiting long? Our flight is a bit delayed."

Zong Jiayu took his luggage, and Jiang Xiaoli waved her hand with a smile, "Not long, not long. Zong Jiayu is with me, and the time flies by when we chat."

Xiao Jincheng didn't give Zong Jia a very friendly look, and only nodded at him.

He put his arm around Jiang Xiaoli's arm, and after beckoning the two people accompanying him to follow, he said, "Xiaoli, your aunt and Xiaoyu miss you so much. Your aunt specially braised pig's trotters and vacuum-packed them for me to bring to you."

"Wow, really! That's amazing!" She hadn't had Xu Feng's signature dishes for almost two months, and she was immediately craving them.

"Haha, don't worry, there are several packs! Enough for you to eat for several meals!" Xiao Jincheng said with a smile.

Upon arriving at the parking lot, Jiang Xiaoli led Zong Jia to the back row to sit with the two accompanying people, while she chatted with Xiao Jincheng in the front row.

Xiao Jincheng kept praising, "Wow, our little pear's driving skills are better than many veteran drivers with more than ten years of experience! She drives so steadily!"

She chuckled and said, "Since you're in the car, of course I have to behave better."

Xiao Jincheng asked them about their recent situation with concern.

Jiang Xiaoli knew he wanted to know, so she explained in detail, "I'm quite busy here, but it's fulfilling. My mom is even busier, but I feel she's in better shape overall. You'll see when you meet her later."

She drove all the way to "Guizhi Restaurant". By this time, most of the lunch customers had left, and Li Guizhi was waiting at the door to greet them.

As soon as Xiao Jincheng entered the courtyard, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Sister-in-law, this place is really nice!"

Li Guizhi said with a smile, "Xiao Li did all the decorating for me. You guys chat first, I'll go cook."

Xiao Jincheng quickly stopped her, "Sister-in-law, I just came to take a look. We can go to the hotel to eat later."

Li Guizhi waved her hand, "Since you're already here, just sit and wait for me. It'll be ready soon."

Jiang Xiaoli also advised, "Uncle Xiao, don't you know what my mother looks like? Just wait and eat."

She led the group to her private room. "Uncle Xiao, did you book the same hotel as before?"

Xiao Jincheng nodded, "Yes, I've been to Kyoto so many times, I'm used to it."

He turned to Zong Jiayu and said, "Xiao Zong, I saw the news. The company is doing very well. They even know to thank Xiao Li first."

Zong Jiayu smiled and poured them tea, "Uncle Xiao, I'm just telling the truth, it's only right."

Although Xiao Jincheng wanted to find fault with him, he couldn't really find anything wrong with him, so he could only say, "Keep it up in the future!"

"must."

Xiao Jincheng turned to ask, "Little Pear, how's the renovation of the house we bought going?"

Jiang Xiaoli really couldn't answer this question; she had completely forgotten about it!

Zong Jia came to her rescue, saying, "Uncle Xiao, it will probably take another half month to recover."