Since childhood, Zhao Luoning had never liked Ning Huaizhi.
The Ning and Zhao families were old family friends. The children of the two families grew up together. For example, Zhao Luoning and Ning Huainan got along quite well. They had played around and been naughty when they were young.
But as for Ning Huaizhi, Zhao Luoning just couldn't bring himself to like him.
He always thought Ning Huaizhi was a strange person. When he glanced at others with that meaningful smile, it seemed as if he was hiding a malicious intention.
An orange tree growing south of the Huai River bears oranges, while the same tree growing north of the Huai River bears trifoliate oranges.
Ning Huaizhi was just like a trifoliate orange, grown in a desolate place, sour and hiding ill - intent.
Zhao Luoning felt goosebumps all over when being stared at by Ning Huaizhi's ambiguous look. Just as he was thinking about finding a random topic to excuse himself and leave, he heard Ning Huainan say,
"Sure enough, Luoning is really smart. We were just betting on whether you could recognize Huaizhi or not."
Since Ning Huainan was complimenting him, out of courtesy, Zhao Luoning could only smile.
Ji Shisu, supporting Mrs. Zhao, happened to pass by. From afar, he saw Zhao Luoning smiling sweetly at another man.
Before Zhao Luoning could reply to Ning Huainan, Ji Shisu interrupted him.
"My lady."
Ji Shisu suddenly showed up and used such an intimate address, which made Zhao Luoning a bit taken aback for a moment.
Before Zhao Luoning could react, Ji Shisu had already appeared in front of her. There was a doting smile on Ji Shisu's face that Zhao Luoning had never seen before.
Ji Shisu simply ignored Zhao Luoning's puzzled look and stood shoulder to shoulder with him. They were a perfect match, the man handsome and the woman beautiful.
"My lady, you haven't introduced me yet."
Ji Shisu's strange behavior took Zhao Luoning a long time to come to his senses. He awkwardly dodged Ji Shisu's hand around his waist and briefly introduced everyone to each other.
Ning Huainan didn't seem to want to see Ji Shisu. When he saw him coming, he dejectedly dragged Ning Huaizhi away. As for Mrs. Zhao, not wanting to interrupt the younger generation's conversation, she had long been helped back to the main hall by a maid.
Soon, only Ji Shisu and Zhao Luoning were left.
"Ji Shisu, I need an explanation for your abnormal behavior just now."
Ji Shisu just left a sentence "I like it." and then chased after Mrs. Zhao, leaving Zhao Luoning completely confused.
If it weren't for Ji Shisu's still - as - bad attitude, Zhao Luoning would really have suspected that his head had been caught in a door.
After saying goodbye to the Zhao family, Ji Shisu was about to take Zhao Luoning back to the Ji Mansion.
As soon as Zhao Luoning got into the carriage, he was like a different person from the well - behaved Miss Zhao in the Zhao Mansion.
He sat upright in a corner of the carriage, closing his eyes to rest, freezing the air in the carriage a lot.
"Zhao Luoning, you're not going back with me like this, are you?"
Zhao Luoning didn't even bat an eyelid, looking as cold as ice.
"Don't worry. I'll do enough to save your face."
Zhao Luoning was really angry. It was all Ji Shisu's fault for doing such strange things and making him embarrassed in front of Ning Huainan.
He was just giving him a taste of his own medicine.
At this moment, the carriage suddenly stopped. Zhao Luoning fell straight forward and just happened to fall on Ji Shisu, who was about to go and check the situation. Ji Shisu was also dragged down by Zhao Luoning and fell.
Just as the inside of the carriage was in a complete mess, the curtain of the carriage was lifted, revealing a delicate oval - faced girl.
"Brother Shisu, what are you doing?"
Ji Shisu looked up and saw who it was. He quickly helped Zhao Luoning sit still first, then got up from the ground himself. After all this, he made room for the oval - faced girl.
The girl was quite unrestrained and got into the carriage very familiarly.
After a brief introduction, Zhao Luoning found out.
It turned out that Ji Shisu also had a childhood sweetheart.
This was Ji Shisu's little childhood sweetheart, the granddaughter of Marshal Shu, named Dan Yao.
"Dan Yao, why didn't you let me know when you came back? I could have sent someone to pick you up."
Ji Shisu chatted with Shu Dan Yao warmly. Zhao Luoning sat beside Ji Shisu, being the most silent listener.
"I guess this is sister - in - law."
When Shu Dan Yao mentioned him, out of courtesy, Zhao Luoning still gave a faint smile.
"Brother Shisu, it's only been a little over a year, and your taste has changed. You've always disliked heavily - made - up women, haven't you?"
Here came another difficult person. Ji Shisu really knew how to attract attention.
Thinking of Ji Shisu's behavior in front of Ning Huainan, Zhao Luoning knew it was time to fight back.
"Sister Dan Yao doesn't know. After all, I'm my husband's legitimate wife and the mistress of the Ji family. I have the responsibility to save face for my husband. Husband, am I right?"
This sentence left both Ji Shisu and Shu Dan Yao at a loss for words.
Shu Dan Yao deliberately ignored Zhao Luoning, pretending not to hear him, and just chatted with Ji Shisu on her own.
"Brother Shisu, I remember that we used to talk about poetry and literature together, often staying up late at night. Thinking about it, childhood was really fun."
Just as Shu Dan Yao's hand was about to touch Ji Shisu's sleeve, Ji Shisu dodged it imperceptibly.
Ji Shisu didn't reply to Shu Dan Yao but picked up Zhao Luoning's words instead.
"Luoning is different from outsiders."
Zhao Luoning closed his eyes to rest and didn't bother to respond.
After all, Shu Dan Yao was not even worth a second look in his eyes. As for Ji Shisu, he was already used to this playboy's unreliability and didn't bother to care.
Just when Zhao Luoning felt the air in the carriage was stuffy, Yu Chi's voice came in.
"We're here."
Ji Shisu jumped out of the carriage first and turned around to pick up Zhao Luoning. Shu Dan Yao lifted the curtain and just saw Ji Shisu's outstretched hand. She wanted to reach out, but unexpectedly, Ji Shisu stepped aside. Seeing this, Yu Chi had to come forward to help. When Ji Shisu was about to help Zhao Luoning, he found that Zhao Luoning was on the other side of the carriage and had already been helped down by Cai Xue.
Ji Shisu wanted to accompany Zhao Luoning to pay respects to the old matriarch, but was stopped by a single sentence from Zhao Luoning.
"Second Master, you'd better entertain the distinguished guest well."
Zhao Luoning took Cai Xue and walked into the door without looking back, leaving Ji Shisu looking helpless.
"My new sister - in - law is really a tough one. Brother Shisu, you're in for it."
Ji Shisu looked completely helpless in front of Shu Dan Yao.
Shu Dan Yao smiled. She didn't need Ji Shisu to greet her. She was as at ease as if she were in her own home. She simply asked the guard at the door to help her carry her things and then walked in.
As soon as Zhao Luoning entered the door, he changed his expression.
"Cai Xue, why can't Ji Shisu stop his love affairs?"
Zhao Luoning complained angrily to Cai Xue. Fortunately, there were few people on this path.
"Staying up late to talk about poetry. Cai Xue, we don't need to envy others. I'll stay up late and talk with you tonight."
Cai Xue was speechless. Not to mention that she had no interest in poetry and literature at all, she and Zhao Luoning were together every day. There was nothing worth talking about all night.