The feud between Xu Lize and Tang Ning, the mutual dislike they have for each other, actually dates back to their childhood.
They were amazingly placed in the same class from kindergarten all the way through primary school, junior high school, and high school.
Although Tang Ning had taken a fancy to Xu Lize's good friend, Young Master Chen, in high school, the adults from both families were very fond of playing matchmaker and always secretly paired Xu Lize and Tang Ning up.
In order to divert the focus and the elders' attention, Tang Ning also liked to use Xu Lize as a shield, making everyone think that the person she liked was Xu Lize.
It wasn't until later that she secretly debuted while secretly dating Chen Qichuan that this matter was finally put to rest. However, this "fateful bond" between Xu Lize and Tang Ning was thus formed.
Afterwards, Mrs. Xu felt quite regretful. She would tell everyone she met that they had missed out on a perfect daughter - in - law.
After Tang Ning and Chen Qichuan's relationship became stable, she curiously asked Xu Lize why he hadn't even said a single word of refutation when she used him as a shield. She even thought for a while that Xu Lize had really liked her.
In response, Xu Lize rolled his eyes at her and said expressionlessly that he didn't bother to explain because it was too much trouble.
Just like at this moment, Xu Lize glared at Tang Ning rather rudely and said with a look of disgust, "Stop causing trouble. Don't you have a lot of dirty secrets in my hands? Why don't you ask Young Master Chen if he's interested in your past romances?"
"Ha!" Tang Ning rolled her eyes at him in return. "Come on, those weren't romances. I'm just popular. Don't you understand?"
Xu Lize looked like he didn't want to bother with her. Seeing the little woman in front of the barbecue grill taking the chicken wings handed by Lu Yanke and starting to eat, he directly threw the teacup in his hand, got up, and strode over.
Tang Ning suddenly found the mobile game boring. She simply propped herself up halfway, rested her chin on Chen Qichuan's shoulder, and looked at Xu Lize's tall and straight back thoughtfully. "I've never seen him care so much about a woman other than Ren Sijia. No, I think he cares more about Miss Su than Ren Sijia."
"Ren Sijia?" Suddenly, Song Huaizhou, who had been silent all this time, chimed in. "I attended an event last week and met some friends who invest in orchestras. They said that the Aihui Symphony Orchestra will soon return for a tour."
Tang Ning turned around and asked, "Really?"
Song Huaizhou nodded. "Didn't Aihui change its boss last year? The new boss is from Haicheng. The news spread within their circle, so it should be accurate."
"Then Ren Sijia is coming back?" Tang Ning frowned.
"Maybe. Isn't she the principal of the first violin group?"
"Maybe?" Tang Ning was a bit dissatisfied. "Don't you have to find out for sure?"
Song Huaizhou laughed. "You're so nervous. Others might think you still have feelings for Aze!"
"Can you talk properly?" Tang Ning grabbed a wooden spoon from the tea table and threw it at Song Huaizhou. "I'm just afraid that this inexperienced schoolboy will mess things up and lose his good wife in the end."
"Tangtang, don't swear." Suddenly, a warning voice sounded beside Tang Ning's ear.
She was slightly stunned and quickly put on a flattering smile for Chen Qichuan and coquettishly said, "I didn't swear."
Song Huaizhou couldn't stand the two of them being so lovey - dovey in front of him. He dusted off his trouser legs, stood up, made a ring with his thumb and index finger, and whistled loudly.
Not far away, Oscar, who had been running around wildly, suddenly turned around and ran straight towards where Song Huaizhou was standing.
Yan Sui and Xu Zhiying, who had been chasing after it, were both stunned.
Yan Sui wiped the sweat from her forehead and shouted at Song Huaizhou, "Fourth brother, you're not playing fair..."
Xu Zhiying was a smart girl. She immediately saw Song Huaizhou's intention. She could only helplessly pat Yan Sui on the shoulder and pretended to be heart - broken. "Alright, Sui Sui. You've used up your quota for having fun today!"
When Xu Lize walked up to the barbecue grill, he could already smell the mouth - watering aroma of the meat.
He glanced at Pei Yanhui, who was grilling lamb chops while smoking a cigarette. Then he stretched out his arm and took away the disposable paper plate that Su Yang was holding.
Su Yang watched helplessly as the chicken wings she was about to eat flew away. She instinctively let out an "ah" sound and only realized that Xu Lize was standing behind her when she turned around.
"Why are you..."
Su Yang instinctively resisted, but before she could finish her sentence, Xu Lize interrupted her. "Didn't you learn your lesson after last night's trouble? Do you still want to go to the hospital today?"
Xu Lize put the plate with the chicken wings aside, picked up a cream bun that was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside from the small charcoal fire, blew on it to cool it down, and then put it in Su Yang's hand. "Don't be greedy. You can only eat vegetarian and cooked food."
Su Yang was not convinced. "Then why did you bring me here? You might as well just let me drink plain porridge at home tonight!"
Xu Lize smiled. The setting sun in the distance dyed a warm glow in his eyes. "Do you really think we're here for these things?" He pointed at the barbecue grill in front of him. "It's just for fun. There's a kitchen behind, and we've hired someone to cook. Otherwise, most of these things wouldn't be edible."
"Are you saying you don't trust my cooking skills?" Pei Yanhui came over when he heard this and said vaguely with the cigarette in his mouth.
Afraid that the second - hand smoke would choke Su Yang, Xu Lize wrapped his arm around her and turned her around so that she was facing away from Pei Yanhui. Then he said, "I'm afraid these high - quality ingredients will be wasted."
After saying that, he led her away from the barbecue grill. When passing by Chen Sui, Xu Lize nodded to greet him...
The evening twilight gradually began to fall. Su Yang followed Xu Lize in a daze. She thought he was going to take her into the bamboo house, but instead, he pulled her towards the lotus pond.
Listening to the laughter and noise getting farther and farther behind them, Su Yang couldn't help but ask curiously, "Where are we going?"
"For a walk." Xu Lize held her hand with one hand and put the other in his pocket. He walked leisurely.
Since coming to Haicheng, Su Yang had never seen such a large private farm. Hearing this, she also slowed down and followed his pace, fully enjoying the leisure of stealing half a day's leisure in this busy life.
"Is this entire large area Mr. Pei's... Mr. Pei's private property?" Su Yang didn't know how to address Pei Yanhui and always stammered when mentioning him.
Xu Lize let go of her hand and patted her head. He smiled and said, "You can just call him Second Brother like Yingying does. He'll be happy. Don't call him 'Mr.' He thinks it's pretentious."
Su Yang pursed her lips and nodded, indicating that she understood.
At this time, the two of them happened to walk under a tall willow tree. The drooping branches swayed gently in the wind and were within reach.
Su Yang stood on tiptoe to reach for them, and accidentally knocked a willow leaf onto Xu Lize's head.
Seeing this, she couldn't help but laugh. When she reached out to take the leaf, her hand was suddenly wrapped in his large palm.
She felt a touch of metal on the back of her hand. Suddenly, Su Yang gathered the courage to ask, "Why do you always wear your wedding ring now?"
"I've always worn it." Xu Lize was slightly stunned.
Su Yang shook her head. Since they were already on this topic, she didn't think there was any need to hold back. "On the first day I went to work, when you came to pick me up, you weren't wearing the ring."