Xu Keke didn't explain much, and asked Sister Hua to take the two of them to wash up first. "Do you have any clothes you don't wear anymore? Change her into something clean. What do you think we should do with this little guy? Your grandson is too young. But it would be best to find him some clothes to change him out of. Also, have Yuegui get them some food. It seems they're not hungry, but I guess they haven't eaten much either."
Hearing Xu Keke say this, Sister Hua understood how to treat the two of them.
Zhou Xiangnan listened inside for a moment, greeted the ladies, and then came out. She saw that the old woman had brought back an old woman and a child; the old woman's clothes weren't typical of southern clothing. Because she worked in theater for many years, she was familiar with clothing from different regions. The little one's clothes were fine, but she could tell at a glance that the old woman's attire was that of a woman from the inland countryside of the north.
Zhou Xiangnan asked Xu Keke, somewhat puzzled, "Where did you pick this up from? What are you going to do with it?"
"Sister Hua, you take them there first." After sending them away, Xu Keke pulled Zhou Xiangnan into the small study next door.
"What are you doing, so mysteriously? Could it be that they have some kind of background?"
Sister Hua didn't need an explanation, but she couldn't keep it from Zhou Xiangnan. Ever since Zhou Shiyuan left, Zhou Xiangnan had consciously taken on his brother's responsibilities. Family matters could be kept from Wang Shujin, but they couldn't be kept from Zhou Xiangnan.
However, Xu Keke wanted to make things clear to her, not only because Zhou Xiangnan was not easily fooled, but also because with Zhou Shaoqiu's current resources and connections, it was impossible to get many things done without getting past Zhou Xiangnan and Zhou Zi'an.
Actually, she could have solved it herself without their help, but Xu Keke isn't a particularly diligent person. Like the clarification notice this morning, with Zhou Zi'an there, why would she bother figuring out a solution herself? After all, who would pass up a shortcut and choose the long way around?
After Xu Keke explained the background of the old man and the child, Zhou Xiangnan didn't believe it. "How did you know?"
“My classmates, you know how they are, they love to gossip. I overheard them mentioning her, where she was from and what names she used to have. I happened to see it in the newspaper this morning, and that's when I remembered. I was just curious, but I didn't expect to see something like this.”
Xu Keke took out the newspaper, pointed it out to Zhou Xiangnan, and changed the story, saying that she had secretly rescued the person after those bad guys left.
"Definitely, otherwise why would these people arrest them?"
Although Zhou Xiangnan had his doubts, he could never imagine that his usually weak niece could fight three people at once.
"You're acting strange today. How did you come to your senses and decide to stop having entanglements with that Mr. Ji? You know, his methods are quite effective on vain girls. Those young girls wish they could turn their sweet love into candy and share it with the whole world. They're afraid others won't know how great and beautiful their love is."
Xu Keke shuddered. She couldn't understand how anyone could be so perverted as to expose their private life to others. "I don't want to. That's too fake. Who would show their true self to others? That's insane. I don't want to get entangled with Ji Mingkai because of what my mother said yesterday."
"What did you say?" Zhou Xiangnan asked curiously. "You mean he's lost his family's support, and the two of you are living on air?"
"No," Xu Keke couldn't help but roll her eyes, "I mean, he hasn't broken his engagement for so many years, but after seeing me, he suddenly proposed to tear it up. I thought about it, and I don't think I have the ability to make a man so infatuated with me. So he must have some other purpose in doing this. I even feel that I could just be a cover for him. It's terrifying to think about, so I'm thinking of cutting ties with this person as soon as possible."
Zhou Xiangnan had always felt this was a romantic tale. Such romantic affairs happened almost daily in Shanghai, especially for those of them who worked in theater; they heard these stories every day. Now, hearing Xu Keke's words, Zhou Xiangnan looked thoughtfully at his sixteen-year-old niece, in the prime of her youth. What did that man want? Was he truly in love with her?
Seemingly realizing that something was amiss with the host, the ladies who had been playing cards with Wang Shujin all made excuses and left early after lunch.
At noon, newspaper vendors were shouting throughout the city, "Read the newspaper! Read the newspaper! Zhou Shaoqiu, the daughter of the Zhou family, has issued a statement clarifying that she has no romantic relationship with the talented Ji Mingkai. She will also be engaged to the son of Minister Feng soon."
Surprisingly, this news wasn't just published by the Tomorrow Daily; many other newspapers, having received the news, also published additional reports on it. Xu Keke looked at the newspaper Zhou Zi'an had Sun Cheng specially deliver, and the more she read, the angrier she became.
Seeing Zhou Xiangnan walk into the living room, she quickly handed her the newspaper. "Look, what's going on with your brother? Just clarify things, why add the recent engagement?"
Zhou Xiangnan took it and glanced at it, saying nonchalantly, "You were there when he called this morning, but he said he was already engaged. I guess he met your Uncle Feng. It's obvious that this was arranged by you, Feng Shaozhe. Otherwise, so many families wouldn't be supporting it at the same time. Everyone is definitely focused on Minister Feng's son getting married, downplaying your clarification. Isn't that a good thing?"
What kind of situation is this? She doesn't even know who Feng Shaozhe's son is, what he looks like, and yet she's being asked to get engaged to him. Well, fine, Xu Keke admits that she's waiting for that person. Her intuition tells her that this person is definitely still alive in this life. She has to find him.
"If I disagree after the engagement, can we break off the engagement?" Xu Keke asked Zhou Xiangnan nervously.
"It's best not to!" Zhou Xiangnan rarely spoke so seriously. Xu Keke's heart skipped a beat.
The doorbell rang. Xu Keke was about to ask why when Zhou Xiangnan said, "I don't know who it is, so don't come out."
She walked out slowly and gracefully, wearing high heels.
To everyone's surprise, Ji Mingkai was the first to arrive. Zhou Xiangnan kindly advised him to go back, stating bluntly that it was his freedom to write novels however he pleased, but he should not make any further hints or explicit statements that the women in his stories were someone from the Zhou family. Finally, Zhou Xiangnan told him that regardless of whether he was engaged or not, the Zhou family did not want to have anything to do with him anymore.
Ji Mingkai seemed not to understand what Zhou Xiangnan was saying, and firmly said, "No matter what you say to me, I will not be angry or care. This is a matter between Shaoqiu and me, and I want to hear what she has to say."
Xu Keke walked out of the living room. "Let me tell you, there was no possibility between us before, and there won't be in the future. I advise you to go back to your fiancée. As far as I know, she should be in Shanghai right now. Also, if you continue to pester me, I will continue to publish articles in the newspaper tomorrow saying that you are harassing me. So, today's clarification notice could turn into a letter of rebuke tomorrow."
"You said Wan'er is in Shanghai?" Ji Mingkai's eyes widened as he looked at Xu Keke in disbelief.
Xu Keke and Zhou Xiangnan exchanged a knowing glance and then rolled their eyes together. Calling each other so intimately, and then claiming there's no affection between them—no one would believe it.
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