Chapter 11: Grandfather Sends Them Out on a Date

Shi Runrun tucked Lin Auntie’s words firmly in her heart.

So at noon, she finished every bit of her nutritious meal, including the chicken soup her grandmother had lovingly prepared for her. She had to admit, her grandmother’s cooking was truly superb—the soup was rich and fragrant, and the chicken tender and juicy, not at all dry. She savored every mouthful.

After lunch, she returned the thermal lunchbox to Lin Auntie, who was waiting outside, and asked her to relay a thank you to her grandmother. Such a delicious, heartfelt meal—she hadn’t tasted anything like it in ages.

After bidding Lin Auntie farewell, she went back to her dormitory for a midday rest.

Only she and Cen Huan were in the dorm; the other two roommates, academic stars, spent their lunch breaks buried in the library and hadn’t returned. Alone together, the two sisters felt freer, able to talk about anything.

As they chatted, Cen Huan suddenly cleared her throat and, adopting a serious tone, asked, “Runrun, now that you’ve registered your marriage with Young Master Xiao, you’re a married woman. So what about Qiao Yu? There’s no possibility for you and him anymore!”

Qiao Yu...

Shi Runrun was momentarily stunned by the question, then gave a bitter smile. “Huanhuan, I haven’t thought about him in a long time. I’ve already forgotten.”

It was all in the past...

Back in her freshman year, when she was naïve and newly arrived on campus, she’d developed a crush on an older student. But when she confessed, not only did he not respond, he was recommended for overseas study the very next day, and from then on, she never saw him again.

Her first romance never blossomed, let alone bore fruit.

And now, she was someone else’s wife...

...

There were only two classes after three in the afternoon.

After class, Shi Runrun intended to return to the spot where she’d gotten off that morning, to meet Xiao Xuezheng. But she suddenly remembered she’d forgotten to tell him to meet her there when she left in the morning...

So, as she and Cen Huan left the teaching building and approached the school gate, they encountered a commotion.

All the girls—and even the boys—were rushing toward the school entrance, followed by bursts of excited exclamations.

“Wow! The man leaning on the car at the gate is so handsome!”

“Seriously! And his car is the latest Maserati!”

“I can’t take it! Who is he waiting for?!”

Listening to this, Shi Runrun was suddenly filled with a sense of foreboding.

Sure enough, Cen Huan, after going over to take a look, began frantically waving at her. “Runrun! Come here quick! Your husband is here! Ahhh! Young Master Xiao! My god!”

Shi Runrun: “...”

No way... The man surrounded by the crowd was Xiao Xuezheng?!

Hadn’t she told him not to appear at the school gate...

At that moment, Shi Runrun truly wanted to run away...

But she knew if she did, she’d be in for a rough time at home with that troublesome man.

So she could only cover her face and walk forward.

The crowd automatically parted for her, and as she approached, the imposing, well-dressed man, hands in his pockets, leaned casually against the white luxury car, coming into her view.

Shi Runrun: “...”

To say she wasn’t struck by his looks would be a lie.

Every time she saw him, she was always amazed by his appearance—but... but this wasn’t the right place!

Why was he showing off at her school gate?!

Xiao Xuezheng noticed her at that moment.

The next second, his long, crossed legs moved as he strode over to her.

Then, while she was caught off guard and the crowd erupted in excitement, he reached for her hand, gently grasped it, and said softly, “Why did it take you so long to come out? Let’s go.”

Without asking her opinion, he simply led her toward the car.

“Wow! So the heartthrob was waiting for Shi Runrun! Isn’t she the beauty of our finance department?!”

“Shi Runrun and my idol are actually involved! I can’t accept it! He’s already taken!”

“Let go! Shi Runrun, let go of his hand!”

...

In the midst of the uproar, Xiao Xuezheng opened the passenger door. Shi Runrun obediently got in, covered her face, and quickly shut the door and window.

She feared that if she were a second slower, she would drown in her classmates’ spit.

Fortunately, he started the car quickly, and they sped away from the school gate, ending the farce.

On the way, Shi Runrun glanced at him as he drove—the handsome profile made her blush. She asked quietly, “Where are we... going?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

Shi Runrun pressed, “And why did you show up at the school gate like that? All my classmates saw you. Now I’m famous at school...”

Finally, he turned, glanced at her, and spoke slowly: “The finance department’s beauty? You—this—are considered a beauty?”

Shi Runrun: “...”

---

What was that supposed to mean...

Was she really not pretty enough?

Granted, she was a bit humble... and her situation was rather miserable... but her face... it was still...

Fine, Shi Runrun couldn’t argue anymore...

This troublesome man!

Always bullying her!

“Don’t change the subject! You showed up at my school gate on purpose just to embarrass me, didn’t you?!”

He smiled without saying a word, shifted his posture, resting his arm on the car window, his slender fingers lightly tapping his brow.

In truth, he'd spent the afternoon busy with company affairs, when suddenly his grandfather called.

He was told the restaurant was booked, the cinema reserved, and was ordered—yes, ordered—to take his granddaughter-in-law out for dinner and a movie, to nurture their relationship.

He’d argued at the time that the simplest way to cultivate feelings was to spend a night together in bed—why go out at all...

But his grandfather scolded him and threatened to shut down his company if he didn’t comply.

Xiao Xuezheng had no choice but to agree and came to pick her up, intending to take her home.

As for deliberately appearing at the school gate, he’d done it on purpose!

Who told her to act as if he wasn’t presentable that morning?

He wanted her—her classmates—to know he was her legitimate husband!

He harbored selfish motives, but how could the simple-minded Miss Shi ever understand them?

On the way, Shi Runrun’s stomach started growling.

Right, she was actually hungry.

Xiao Xuezheng glanced at her, smiled without speaking, and stopped at a luxuriously decorated restaurant nearby.

Shi Runrun looked at the surroundings and immediately didn’t dare get out, hurriedly waving her hands, saying, “You want to eat here? This place must be expensive! Xiao Xuezheng, why don’t we go somewhere cheaper?”

He sneered, got out, walked to her door, helped her out, took her hand, and led her inside, saying in a low voice, “No need for us to pay. Grandpa took care of everything!”

Shi Runrun: “...”

So... do wealthy people always waste money like this? She couldn’t understand.