Meeting friends (2)
Upon arriving at the club, Xia Tong finally understood why they had traveled so far. The lobby was magnificent, and even though it was nearly empty, the receptionists stood upright and smiled. The corridors were quiet and winding, and the soft carpets were incredibly comfortable underfoot. The hot spring club at the back was fully equipped with various sports facilities and health rooms. There weren't many guests coming and going, but everyone she encountered greeted Fu Jia. They all seemed to be around the same age and from similar backgrounds. Xia Tong looked at them with some surprise: "How do you know all these people?"
"Yes, this place is owned by Xi Ming. It's usually frequented by close friends," Fu Jia explained earnestly.
Oh, so it's a hub for spoiled rich kids in a certain circle. Xia Tong nodded, finally understanding.
There were already many people inside when she entered. Xia Tong only recognized a few familiar faces, including the two who brought Fu Jia back last night, and the two girls she met when she played badminton with Fu Jia last time.
When they came in, some people congratulated them, while others teased them, but no one dared to go too far. After all, everyone in this circle knew that this girl was someone Fu Jia had worked very hard to get. If they accidentally angered this duck that was already in their mouth, they would definitely have a hard time.
"Yo, you're finally here! Welcome, sister-in-law!" Xi Ming, who had been sitting and playing cards, stood up with a grin. His beautiful eyes slanted upwards when he smiled, very attractive, but also a little—flirtatious? Yeah, that's the word, Xia Tong thought to herself.
Fu Jia shoved Xi Ming away as he tried to get closer, standing in front of Xia Tong and frowning: "She's not even familiar with you, why is she getting so close?!"
Xi Ming turned his head to the side and reached out his hand to Xia Tong behind Fu Jia: "All acquaintances start from being strangers, right, sister-in-law?"
Although Xia Tong didn't like his overly familiar manner, she still reached out and shook hands with him.
"I thought the eldest brother would be the first to get married, but I didn't expect the second brother to strike first." After Fu Jia led her to a seat, Xi Ming started babbling again. He seemed to be speaking sincerely and happily, but there was a hint of sourness in his voice.
“Xixi is still too young.” Di Yue, dressed in a black shirt, sat there with a shrewd and calculating look, as if he had everything under control.
Xia Tong had met Di Yue and Xi Ming before, but she was particularly impressed with Di Yue. It wasn't just because he was the "Brother Di Yue" that Hui Yao so fondly remembered, but also because he differed from Fu Jia's rugged and sunny nature. He possessed an almost feminine beauty, and unlike Fu Jia, he didn't try to intimidate people with his imposing presence. His refined demeanor and aloofness were evident in his every gesture. But how could someone like him already have a marriage partner? And Hui Yao? Did she know? And what kind of girl could have captured his heart? Xia Tong was genuinely curious.
“Xixi is too small, I’m just right!” The girl next to Yan Xin was the same one who had played badminton with her last time. Her makeup was noticeably heavier than last time, but she looked beautiful, like a beautiful snake, not at all inferior to the stunning Yan Xin beside her. She blinked her large, almost unreal eyes and looked at Di Yue, who was sitting alone, with a flirtatious air.
Everyone burst into laughter, and one person came up and said, "Hey, Yanzi, it's been so long and you still haven't given up?"
"Yes, I've always been loyal to the boss!" The girl smiled ambiguously, completely unconcerned about the teasing.
"Boss, why don't you take Yanzi in too? She's much more fun than Xixi." Someone, as if there wasn't enough trouble, continued to urge them on.
Di Yue seemed used to this kind of conversation, sitting there motionless, simply swirling his wine glass without saying a word. Suddenly, amidst the laughter of the group, he caught sight of Xia Tong, who had a half-smile on her face, and as if he had discovered something amusing, asked, "What are you laughing at?"
Everyone immediately turned their attention to Xia Tong, waiting for her answer.
Xia Tong nestled close to Fu Jia, her smile carrying a meaningful meaning: "If any naive young girls outside confess their feelings to Fu Jia, don't try to persuade him like this, or I'll get angry!"
The atmosphere froze instantly after those words, and Yanzi, who had just been implied to be an "immature young girl," also turned cold, pursed her lips, and downed a glass of wine in one gulp. Was this a declaration of war between the wife and her mistresses?
Fu Jia was somewhat confused, but still solemnly declared his loyalty: "I have never met any young girls outside."
Xia Tong tilted her head and looked at him jokingly, "Really? You don't know her, but this young lady knows you! Your so-called sister doesn't even look at you right now, do you think I'm stupid?"
Ever since Xia Tong learned that her father was having an affair, she has developed an almost obsessive sensitivity to such matters. She hadn't noticed before because she didn't care, but now that she does, she can't tolerate even the slightest infidelity.
Xi Ming stepped in to smooth things over: "Our second brother has only ever known you since he was a child. He wouldn't remember any other girls even if they appeared in front of him a hundred times."
"Second Brother's devotion is unmatched."
"There's absolutely nothing to worry about with this sister-in-law!"
As soon as Xi Ming started speaking, everyone became lively again, putting the awkwardness from just now behind them. A beautiful woman next to Xi Ming raised her wine glass and gestured to Xia Tong from afar. Xia Tong was a little puzzled, but still smiled and responded.
After a few hours, Xia Tong discovered that Fu Jia's interactions with others were completely different from his interactions with her. Outside, he was used to being pampered and giving orders, acting as domineeringly as he had when he was a child. But when he was with Xia Tong, he would always coax her and care deeply about her opinions. Like right now.
"What do you think of them?" Fu Jia asked her on the way back.
"I only remember a few. Which ones are you talking about?" Xia Tong asked him in return.
"Just say what you remember."
“That Di Yue, I think he’s very good-looking,” Xia Tong said, stroking her chin as she recalled his expression. “He also has a great presence. I quite like him.”
"You like him? You like him?" Fu Jia was displeased. "Don't you think he looks a lot like a woman?"
"Uh...you mean he's effeminate?"
"Do you know why he always wears black or dark green clothes? He actually thinks he's too effeminate, so he wears dark colors to cover it up." Fu Jia had just learned this word and immediately used it on his friend. "And he's also quite cunning. He always comes up with bad ideas to encourage others to do things, and in the end, he takes all the benefits without taking any responsibility."
"I see..." Xia Tong pondered for a moment, then said, "From our girls' perspective, academically speaking, it means being 'demonic' in appearance and 'cunning' in personality, basically meaning being very popular."
"Popular? Humph." Fu Jia was utterly displeased: You don't even like me, yet you like him? You cunning bastard, you'll never know what he did to me.
"Hey? You're upset? I was just giving my opinion from a girl's perspective, it doesn't represent my personal opinion." Xia Tong tried to smooth things over when she saw his sullen expression. So you don't like me praising your friends? Fine, I'll just say they're not good. "Like that Xi Ming, I don't like him."
"Why don't you like him anymore?" Fu Jia asked, somewhat surprised. Xi Ming was the most popular with women among them, and the women he was with were all outstanding beauties in every way.
"Look at him, surrounded by women on both sides, he's definitely a playboy. People with thin lips are also fickle, and the newspapers say that people who are both fickle and fickle have low IQs! By the way, isn't there an idiom called 'thin lips and light words,' which means gossipy? It seems to fit quite well now!" Xia Tong counted Xi Ming's crimes on her fingers.
When Fu Jia heard Xia Tong say that people with thin lips are cold-hearted, he pursed his lips to hide his unease. Low IQ... well, Xi Ming is a member of Mensa, and there are supposedly only thirty members in mainland China. He still couldn't bear to see Xia Tong say such things about his friend, and couldn't help but defend him: "Actually, Xi Ming is just like that; he's not a bad person."
"I didn't say he was bad. I just said his character is probably not good, and his personality is annoying too." Xia Tong looked at him seriously. "And I think it's a problem with his upbringing. His parents didn't raise him well." Xia Tong usually wouldn't be so harsh on good-looking men, but she just hated fickle, bad men who looked like they were plotting to cheat.
"Xi Ming's mother lives abroad most of the time, so he usually spends more time with his father. Therefore, he doesn't receive as much attention and care as he would like."
"I knew it! So it's because of disharmony at home that you need to seek warmth among women! You need to stay away from him. People say you can tell a person's character and personality from their circle of friends. You'll end up being corrupted by him too." Xia Tong earnestly lectured Fu Jia, acting like a wife reciting the mantra of husband management.
"I've been hanging out with them for so long, and you're not the only one I've been with," Fu Jia said, giving her a disapproving look and spouting nonsense that she'd apparently picked up from who-knows-where.
"Hmm, that's commendable. Keep it up, and I'll award you a 'Devoted' prize later." Xia Tong smiled at him, making him feel all warm and fuzzy inside. "Oh, right! Di Yue has a girlfriend now, what about Hui Yao? Didn't Hui Yao like him since she was little?"
Fu Jia's lips gradually fell as he heard about Huiyao's situation. He remembered how Fu Huiyao had previously taken over the stage at a bar, only singing one song. No one dared to stop her, but no one wanted to hear her ruin the show. When he arrived, the usually noisy bar had fallen silent, and all he could hear was her repeating the same sentence over and over: "If I didn't have you, where would I be? What would I regret? But if there were a way, I would still love you. If I didn't have you, where would I be? What would I regret? Anyway, it's too late, anyway, I've lost myself."
The people in the bar looked up at the girl heartbroken over love, silently reflecting on their own past. Before they became numb and indulgent, they too had someone who could make them treat love with the utmost sincerity. Back then, they too had sung love songs until they cried, and they too had cried their hearts out for someone, hadn't they?
When he helped Fu Huiyao down, she buried her face in his chest. This competitive younger sister choked up for the first time and told him her sadness: "Brother, we both loved the wrong person."
At that time, Xia Tong was aloof and distant towards him, which caused him considerable pain and torment. He didn't answer then, but now, facing Xia Tong who was nestled beside him, Fu Jia turned his head back to driving and briefly answered Xia Tong's question: "She loved the wrong person."
She loved the wrong person; I didn't.
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From today onwards, I will update daily! I'll try to finish this story this month, and then go fill in my other unfinished project! Lord Xu Cong! Wait for me!!!
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