Tang Shuo said sarcastically, "Since Mr. Shen knows that he is a step behind, please take back your inappropriate thoughts, so as to avoid getting hurt and sad in the future."
He was somewhat bothered that Shen Zhe was thinking about Si Lili, especially since Shen Zhe's gaze towards Si Lili was too obvious. As a man, Tang Shuo could naturally see through the covetousness in Shen Zhe's eyes at a glance.
Even if Si Lili was slow-witted, she could at least understand Shen Zhe's thoughts at this point, and couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
After all, she had always regarded Shen Zhe as a friendly older brother, without any romantic feelings for him.
Seeing Tang Shuo's jealousy, she felt a sweet warmth rise in her heart. She nudged him with her elbow and winked at him, signaling him not to make sarcastic remarks.
Then, she continued, "Brother Shen Zhe, you are so outstanding, you will definitely meet a girl who is a hundred times better than me in the future."
Shen Zhe knew that Si Lili was trying to comfort him. To save face for everyone, he smiled at Si Lili and said casually, "Then I'll take Lili's good wishes and hope I won't have to wait too long."
Otherwise, if I still don't have a partner after you get married and have children, your Uncle Shen and Aunt Shen will start nagging me endlessly again.
He knew very well that matters of the heart couldn't be forced, and everything had to be left to fate.
He wouldn't have agreed to go on blind dates if his parents hadn't been pressuring him.
He has been studying abroad for so many years, and his understanding of Si Lili is only from when they were children. He knows nothing about her ideals and hobbies now, and he guesses that she knows very little about him.
If she doesn't have a boyfriend, and the two of them get to know each other after spending some time together, it might not be impossible for them to be together.
However, she already has a boyfriend, and their relationship seems quite close, so there's nothing for Shen Zhe to do with it.
Besides, her boyfriend is handsome, talented, and has an extraordinary temperament, so it's normal that she doesn't love him.
His feelings for her were mostly those of a brother and sister, with little romantic involvement. Once they were out in the open, he let it go.
"It certainly won't be long," Si Lili replied with a smile.
After seeing that Si Lili and Shen Zhe had explained things clearly, Tang Shuo also removed Shen Zhe from his list of rivals.
He and Si Lili chatted with Shen Zhe for a while longer before leaving the coffee shop with Si Lili to enjoy some alone time together.
Shen Zhe chose to go straight home to catch up on sleep and adjust to the time difference.
Around 7:30 p.m., the driver parked the car in front of the Si family's house.
Si Lijue carried the sleeping Xibao in his arms, while Su Niannian took the child's schoolbag as they got out of the car and walked home side by side.
Just as the two reached the gate of the Si family's residence, a melodious female voice came from behind them: "Li Jue, you're back."
Si Lijue and Su Niannian turned around together and looked in the direction of the sound.
Not far behind me stood a woman with a pure and sweet appearance, long hair, and a gentle and charming look.
Su Niannian recognized this woman in a faded photograph when she was helping Si Lili sort through her old belongings. She was none other than Si Lijue's childhood sweetheart, Shen Xinyi.
Su Niannian had been jealous of Shen Xinyi before, thinking that she was Si Lijue's white moonlight and cinnabar mole, and that they were lovers.
Later, although Si Lijue explained to Su Niannian that he and Shen Xinyi were just friends, Su Niannian, with her woman's intuition, always felt uneasy and couldn't shake the feeling.
Just as I feared, she met Shen Xinyi in person so soon.
The moment Su Niannian saw Shen Xinyi's face clearly, she couldn't help but frown, thinking to herself, "Didn't I hear that she went abroad to study a few years ago and didn't plan to come back? But why is she suddenly here?"
An indescribable unease rose in her heart, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.
This feeling left Su Niannian somewhat at a loss. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down, but the unease just wouldn't go away.
She didn't speak, but quietly observed Shen Xinyi in front of her, trying her best to control her emotions so as not to disturb Shen Xinyi and Si Lijue's recognition of each other.
After all, she and Shen Xinyi didn't know each other before, while Si Lijue and Shen Xinyi were childhood sweethearts who grew up together. Shen Xinyi was also looking for Si Lijue himself, so she was like an outsider and couldn't get a word in edgewise.
Si Lijue stared at the familiar figure standing not far away, his face filled with undisguised surprise. He subconsciously opened his mouth and asked, "Xinyi, when...when did you come back?"
With a bright smile on her lips, Shen Xinyi walked lightly toward Si Lijue.
When she came to his side, she parted her lips slightly and replied, "I only got home last night."
I had planned to visit my uncle and aunt earlier today, but the housekeeper told me they had gone back to their ancestral home.
Si Lijue looked at the woman in front of him, her eyes slightly lowered, a faint look of disappointment on her face. Her gaze deepened, and she said, "Well, they should be back in a couple of days."
"Really? Then I'll come visit them again when they get back." Shen Xinyi's eyes, which had dimmed, brightened again, filled with concern as she continued, "Li Jue, how have you been these past years?"
“Very good!” Si Lijue uttered two words calmly.
Shen Xinyi was taken aback by Si Lijue's straightforward answer. She paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "That's good! I've been thinking of you every moment during my years abroad."
I've been worried you weren't doing well, and I've thought about calling you many times, but then I think about you... it seems I was overthinking it.
She hesitated to speak, but her words subtly hinted that she still cared about Si Lijue and wanted him to understand her feelings.
Before Si Lijue could react, the little one in his arms smacked his lips a few times and whispered, "Daddy, delicious!"
Without a doubt, Xi Bao was dreaming. She dreamt of some delicious food and was talking about it to Si Li Jue.
Everyone present heard Xixi Bao's babbling, and it was hard to ignore.
Shen Xinyi shifted her gaze to the little one in Si Lijue's arms and asked curiously, "Lijue, whose child are you holding?"
"This is my son." Si Lijue looked down at Xibao's sleeping face, a smile unconsciously appearing on his lips.
"Your son?" Shen Xinyi's smile froze instantly, a hint of pain flashing in her eyes as she stared at Si Lijue, as if the news had dealt her a heavy blow.
"Yes! My son." Si Lijue ignored Shen Xinyi's unusual behavior and answered with certainty.
Shen Xinyi's face darkened visibly, and her lips trembled slightly as she asked, "When did you get married? I had no idea. And when was this child born?"
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