Su Li went out and searched for a while before finally spotting Meng Sangsang by the pond in the garden.

She sat on the steps, staring blankly at the fish in the pond, completely lost in thought.

Su Li sat down next to her. "Why did you suddenly run out? Everyone was quite worried about you."

"What's the point of staying there if you're not going to come out? To be a clown? I hate seeing him pretending to be responsible and caring about me. It's so hypocritical."

"Uncle is wrong, but you should at least be mindful of the occasion. I think Auntie is quite embarrassed too."

Meng Sangsang took a deep breath and rested her head on Su Li's shoulder. "Forget it, I won't concern myself with their affairs anymore. I'll just live my own life."

Su Li sat with her for a while, until the moon disappeared behind the clouds.

Footsteps sounded behind me.

Su Li glanced at it, then stood up and said, "Then I'll go and keep Grandpa company first. You two have a good chat."

She glanced at Qin Xuan, then walked away.

He casually sat down next to Meng Sangsang, picked up a few pebbles and threw them into the pond, causing the fish to swim away instantly.

“I can take what you just said as a joke. I have already asked A-Ye to help me talk to Grandpa and cancel our engagement.”

"No need, I'm serious."

"What?" Qin Xuan was shocked, thinking he had misheard.

She raised her head and said, "Anyway, I'll marry whoever I want. And if I marry you, we don't like each other anyway, so it won't interfere with each other's lives, and it'll be quite free."

Qin Xuan was both amused and exasperated, and gently rubbed his temples. "My God, you actually think that way."

"Of course, you're a prodigal son who never comes home, so we're just a couple in name only. If I marry you, I can stop my parents from pressuring me to get married and also achieve freedom in my life. Why not?"

"I really want to crack open your brain and see what it's made of to think like that."

Meng Sangsang sat up straight and extended her hand to him, "Qin Xuan, how about we make a collaboration?"

"Um?"

"We'll get married as planned by our elders, but we won't interfere with each other's lives after marriage. I don't care how much you want to have fun outside. We'll go our separate ways and be a couple in name only. How about that?"

Qin Xuan chuckled, seemingly laughing at her naivety, "Why do you think I would agree to your bizarre ideas?"

Meng Sangsang's little face was serious. "This is a good thing for you. Look at all the female friends you have outside. You can go see them anytime, and I won't mind, right? Then we can act like a loving couple in front of our family, so your grandfather won't monitor you every day. Isn't this a good thing for you?"

"You really know how to think of me!"

Qin Xuan's face instantly went expressionless, and he patted his butt and stood up.

"Hey, this method is really good, shall we give it a try?"

Qin Xuan waved his hand with his back to her, it was unclear whether he had agreed or not.

The more he remained silent, the more excited Meng Sangsang became.

She got up and chased after him, shouting, "Stop right there! You have to give me an answer tonight!"

When Su Li returned to the restaurant, she saw Quan Ye standing there making a phone call, asking Xu Ming to bring over some hangover medicine.

She smiled and ambushed him from behind, asking, "What are you doing?"

Quan Ye hung up the phone and pulled her to a corner.

"I'm waiting for you here."

"Why are you waiting for me? Are you afraid I'll run away?"

"I miss you so much if I don't see you for even a second."

"Stop trying to disgust me." Su Li sniffed at him, smelling a strong odor of alcohol.

"Did my grandfather force you to drink?"