"Aren't you living together?" Su Yang was stunned. "Didn't you two go house - hunting together when you returned to school at the beginning of the year? You even took Juanzi and me to see that Jingfeng Community. I accompanied you when you signed the contract!"
The "Juanzi" Su Yang mentioned was Zhao Juan, the dormitory leader of their dorm 501. She was from Haicheng and had started her internship in a company arranged by her family last month.
Hearing this, Fang Shuqin pursed her lips, frowned tightly, looking as if she had something to say but hesitated.
Seeing this, Su Yang just patiently waited without urging her to explain.
The surroundings gradually became bustling. One table after another was filled with people, but the atmosphere at Su Yang and Fang Shuqin's table seemed out of place with the laughter and chatter around them.
The spicy hot - pot on the table was bubbling with steam, but the two people sitting opposite each other were silent, the quietness almost suffocating.
Suddenly, Fang Shuqin looked up, as if she had made a great decision.
"Yangyang, Xiaoxuan only lived in the house in Jingfeng Community with me for half a month and then moved out. But she still paid her share of the rent on time. So she made me swear not to tell you guys about this."
"Paid on time?" Su Yang was very surprised. "She doesn't even live there anymore, but still splits the rent with you every month?"
Fang Shuqin nodded. "She's living on Zhongshan Road now. I have the exact address at home. Since she sent me a package last time and I didn't throw away the delivery box, I'll go back and look for it for you."
Su Yang nodded and then suddenly asked Fang Shuqin seriously, "Qinqin, tell me the truth. Is Xiaoxuan... in a relationship?"
"I don't know." Fang Shuqin shook her head. This time, there was no evasion in her eyes. Instead, there was a hint of earnestness. "To be honest with you, Yangyang. I've also felt that Xiaoxuan has changed a lot in the past six months. But like you, I don't believe those rumor - spreading posts on the forum were written by her. You should look into it. The innocent will prove their innocence. We've just graduated from college, and everything is just beginning. I don't want her... to change so quickly..."
By the end of the hot - pot meal, both of them felt a bit heavy - hearted.
When they were about to part ways, Fang Shuqin said to Su Yang, "Xiaoxuan has a sensitive personality. If it's really inconvenient for you to talk to her, call me. If this is just a misunderstanding, she will definitely be able to explain it clearly!"
"Okay!" Su Yang nodded and then asked her, "Your job is settled, right?"
"Yes." At this, a faint smile finally appeared on Fang Shuqin's face. "I just signed the contract yesterday."
"That's great, Qinqin!" Su Yang reached out and hugged her, sincerely congratulating her. "You're the second official office worker in our dorm!"
"When I become a full - time employee, I'll treat you guys to a meal." Fang Shuqin also hugged Su Yang tightly in return.
"Then I must have a good meal and take advantage of you..."
The two then parted ways at the subway station. When going down the escalator, Su Yang looked back.
Fang Shuqin's petite figure had already disappeared into the bustling crowd. The noon sun covered the gray road, and the smell of midsummer was fermenting wantonly in the air. The scorching heat seemed to be evaporating their last bit of youth and fearlessness.
Many years later, when Su Yang recalled this graduation season, all that filled her heart were regret, remorse, and hesitation about the future...
That day, Su Yang had an extremely rare and leisurely afternoon in the villa.
She first submitted two suitable resumes online, and then went to the basement to watch an old movie.
At around three o'clock, Su Yang received the current address of Zhao Jingxuan sent by Fang Shuqin.
She took a look. It was a decent community in the old city. According to the rent price, the rent there was not cheap.
Su Yang thanked Fang Shuqin. Just as she was about to check the map on how to get there, Su Quansheng suddenly called her.
"Dad." Su Yang answered the call and greeted Su Quansheng without much emotion.
"Yangyang, come home for dinner tonight. I'll send the driver to pick you up?" Su Quansheng sounded in a very good mood.
Su Yang frowned and refused, "I have something to do tonight. You..."
"Your sister and Aunt Minghui won't be at home tonight. It's just Dad at home. Come over. Dad has something for you to give to your mom."
Su Quansheng spoke politely. Since he mentioned He Juan, Su Yang finally nodded.
The Su family's car picked up Su Yang on time at 4:30 and drove around half of the city.
When Su Yang stepped into the long - absent Su family mansion again, Su Quansheng, who came out smiling to greet her, made her feel a strange sense of unease.
"It's so hot outside. Come on, come in quickly!"
Su Quansheng warmly led her to the dining table. Only after seeing Su Yang sit down did he turn around to open a bottle of red wine.
Come to think of it, this seemed to be the first formal dinner just between the father and daughter in many years.
Seeing Su Quansheng push the half - filled wine glass towards her, Su Yang simply waved her hand.
"Dad, what do you want to give to Mom?"
Su Yang didn't have much affection for Su Quansheng, but she knew that He Juan still had feelings for him.
"Child, how can you ask for something as soon as you sit down without even taking a bite of the food?" Su Quansheng glanced at her and pointed at the table full of dishes. "Come on, eat first. We'll talk after dinner."
Su Yang had no choice but to pick up the chopsticks and start to eat.
But just as she took the first bite, she heard Su Quansheng ask with a smile, "Yangyang, you've registered your marriage with President Xu, right?"
Su Yang looked up at him and suddenly understood that this dinner was Su Quansheng's "Hongmen Banquet".
"How do you know?" Su Yang retorted.
Su Quansheng paused in the act of drinking and said in a somewhat displeased tone, "Child, is this how you talk to Dad? Dad is just concerned about you!"
"Dad, you don't have to act like this. Just say what you want to say. I..."
Just as Su Yang was speaking, Su Quansheng's phone rang.
Seeing Su Quansheng make a "wait" gesture to her, Su Yang had no choice but to fall silent.
Unexpectedly, as soon as Su Quansheng answered the phone, he started laughing. While laughing, he said loudly, "President Xu, it's okay, it's okay. I know you've been busy recently... Oh, right, Yangyang is having dinner with me... What? Haha, yes, she came to see me. President Xu, how about after your meeting, you swing by here on your way and pick Yangyang up?"
"Dad!" Su Yang immediately stood up, causing the chair behind her to make a sharp screeching sound.
But Su Quansheng just squinted at her and then calmly continued on the phone, "Okay, then you go ahead with your work. I'll let Yangyang wait for you at home."
Su Yang lowered her eyes and looked at the man in front of her who was biologically related to her. She only felt that the smile full of material desires on his chubby face was about to fall off.