Meng Tao accidentally wet the sleeves of her sweater while washing her hands. She went back to the bedroom to change into another one. When she came out, she saw Xu Hengze and Pan Lina standing under the corridor. Xu Hengze had his back to her. Pan Lina also saw Meng Tao and she deliberately clung to Xu Hengze like a sticky candy, acting coquettishly and murmuring to him, just like a pair of lovers in love inseparable on the street. Of course, this phenomenon can only be seen in later generations.

Meng Tao has better hearing than most people. She heard Pan Lina tell Xu Hengze that she didn't want to hang out with women, because three women would be a big drama, noisy and full of gossip. She wanted to go to the men's table with Xu Hengze.

Xu Hengze whispered a few words to persuade her, saying that she would not be interested in men talking about things over alcohol. Pan Lina did not listen and kept pestering Xu Hengze. Xu Hengze had no choice but to take Pan Lina's hand and lead her into the living room.

The moment she turned around, Pan Lina glanced at Meng Tao, raised her eyebrows, looked proud, and walked away with her chin held high, like a winner.

Meng Tao: “…”

If I understand correctly, then the woman is demonstrating or showing off to me?

It's totally incomprehensible and sick!

Pan Lina and Xu Hengze arrived late today. Meng Tao watched them come in. Xu Hengze took Pan Lina directly to talk to Director Shen and Xu Zhen. Meng Tao was also taking care of a few girls, so she didn't take the initiative to go over and say hello. Later, she had to make cold dishes, and she was so busy that she really ignored the couple.

But she did not feel sorry. Xu Hengze coming to the Shen residence was just like Shen Yu going to the Xu residence, as if he was at home. As for Pan Lina, Meng Tao was too lazy to care about her.

To be honest, if it weren't for Xu Hengze, Pan Lina might not have been able to come to the party today. Meng Tao and Shen Yu had decided on a whim to invite relatives and friends, and did not specifically invite Pan Lina.

It’s not that Meng Tao is petty, but she can feel that Pan Lina has a kind of - how to say it, maybe it can’t be said to be deep hostility, but it is definitely extreme rejection and very bad emotions towards her.

The two of them had different auras, so their first meeting was a complete mess.

Pan Lina was the one who offended him first, but she kept holding a grudge against him. Why? If that was the case, why not just go your separate ways? Why bother pretending to be nice? Xu Hengze returned to Beijing for the holidays and reunited with Pan Lina. The couple was very sweet and always together. Xu Hengze was a serious and pragmatic person. After he knew about the feud between Pan Lina and Meng Tao, he asked Shen Yu to apologize to Meng Tao on his behalf over the phone. When he returned to Beijing, he personally took Pan Lina to apologize to Meng Tao. But it was Xu Hengze who was talking. Pan Lina kept her lips tightly shut, looking impatient and insincere.

Shen Yu said to Meng Tao: Hengze is your cousin after all, just wait and see, give Hengze a chance, and hope he can teach his wife well. If Pan Lina continues to be so irresponsible in the future, you can no longer be my cousin.

Meng Tao deeply agreed with this, but every time she saw Pan Lina following Xu Hengze to the Shen residence, acting arrogant and cold in front of her, as if to say, "Who do you think you are? I look down on you." She felt very angry and had a headache.

Fortunately, Xu Hengze will soon return to work, and Pan Lina will not come to the Shen residence alone. As for the Xu residence, she will definitely not be able to go there often after giving birth and raising the child.

There will be no discomfort if we don't meet.

When Meng Tao returned to the restaurant, Xu Liwen and Gu Yingying called her over to sit next to them. Han Dongdong also wanted to sit next to Sister Tao Tao, so he came over to pull her away, but was stopped by Xu Yingshuang, who said Tao Tao could sit wherever she wanted and no one was allowed to pull her, in case she accidentally hit her stomach.

Except for Xu Zhen, who was of a higher generation and could not take care of things, Xu Yingshuang was the most senior person at the table. Yan Baozhi jokingly called her "the head of the table", and what she said made sense. Everyone obeyed her and did not argue. Meng Tao smiled and walked to her mother-in-law. Xu Zhen had been looking at her and waving at her, but she could not speak.

Meng Tao sat down and talked to Xu Zhen for a few words, asking about the barbecue and dishes that were sent to Xu's house. Xu Zhen gestured to tell her: they were packed in a thermos bucket and sent by the driver. There were six dishes, a lot of barbecue, and two bottles of fruit wine.

As the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were talking, the head of the table raised his glass and suggested that everyone have a drink before starting to eat.

Meng Tao picked up the wine glass and clinked glasses with everyone, and found that the seat on her left had been changed. Originally it was Aunt Gao who was sitting there, but now it was Dou Nannan.

Dou Nannan: "Why are you looking at me? Can't I sit here?"

"Where did you take Aunt Gao?" Meng Tao looked around the table but didn't see Aunt Gao.

"She should go out and see if the charcoal stove outside is sealed. It's not like there are no seats. She can sit anywhere when she comes back."

Meng Tao was speechless. She used her chopsticks to serve food to her mother-in-law and put a chicken wing into Dou Nannan's bowl. "I'm inviting you to dinner, not to chat. I don't have time either. So many people are talking to you. Isn't that enough?"

"You asked me to help you carry your luggage from Hong Kong?"

"yes."

"Today's meal doesn't count. You have to treat me to another meal, a formal one."

"This isn't official yet? Then what is?"

"It has to be a high-end hotel, or Lao Mo. You see there are so many people here, I just confused them. It's just ordinary, not special at all, and I don't feel your sincerity."

"You're asking too much."

"Not at all. Just think about it, I was a weak woman helping you and your wife..."

"Okay, I promise you!"

"That's about right. When?"

"Wait until I give birth to the baby."

"Humph, you might as well wait until the child is one year old."

"Look at me, I have such a big belly, but I have to walk on the street with you. Is it to highlight your extraordinary beauty?"

Dou Nannan chuckled: "It's not like I haven't done it before."

"That was in Hong Kong. Anyway, no one knew me. Now that I'm about to give birth, I'm getting fatter and uglier. I just want to stay at home."

“…”

As they were chatting, Aunt Gao came back. Dou Nannan politely stood up to make room for her, but Aunt Gao smiled and waved her hand: "No, no, I can sit anywhere. I'll go get another set of bowls and chopsticks - a girl just came."

"Who is it? Where are you?" Meng Tao asked.

"It's Miss Dou. Xiao Han and I went to pick her up. Now the two of them are going into the living room to say hello and she will be here soon."

Xu Yingshuang said, "Sissi is here, so she should sit next to Dongdong. Dongdong and Baozhi, you two should move over."

Sure enough, after a while, Dou Qianqian ran in with a smile on her face. She greeted Xu Zhen and everyone first, then sat down between Han Dongdong and Yan Baozhi. Aunt Gao took the tableware and set it up. Han Dongdong poured fruit wine for his future sister-in-law. Dou Qianqian said that she was late and wanted to toast everyone. She drank half the glass in one go. Everyone applauded and cheered. The atmosphere in the restaurant was warm and the laughter was crisp. It was even more joyful and lively than the living room.

(End of this chapter)