"So, that’s how it is." Feng Gui said, "Brother Jingpeng, why don’t I drive over to pick you guys up? I was actually planning to come by car to get you, but Uncle Zhou insisted that I had driven too long already and I was too tired, so he strictly wouldn’t let me come."
Zhou Jingpeng replied, "My sister and I can take the bus."
Feng Gui said, "Take the bus? The smell in there isn’t fit for human noses. Brother Jingpeng, you and Little Li should just hail a taxi and come over. Let me know how much it costs later, and I’ll reimburse you for the whole amount."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jingpeng felt truly uncomfortable. Was Feng Gui really such a damn show-off? A fire of irritation was building up inside Zhou Jingpeng, but he still suppressed it and said, "It’s fine, my sister and I are used to taking the bus everywhere. If there’s nothing else, let’s leave it at that." Ending the call without waiting for a response, he hung up the phone.
"What a piece of work, thinking he’s so grand just because he has money?" Zhou Jingpeng sighed. Just a brief exchange over the phone had drastically lowered his opinion of Feng Gui. Marrying his sister to this man was something he wasn’t very comfortable with, to be honest.
Just then, with a "squeak," Zhou Li pushed the door open and came in, saying, "Brother, I’m back!"
"Sister, you’re finally back." Seeing his sister return relaxed Zhou Jingpeng a bit as he said with a wry smile, "Where did you go just now? I’ve been looking all over for you."
Zhou Li looked at her brother apologetically and said, "Brother, I went out to buy some things. Don’t worry about me; if something can’t be avoided, I might as well face it head-on!"
After hearing his sister say this, Zhou Jingpeng was momentarily stunned, thinking to himself, what happened to make this girl change so much just by stepping out for a bit? He didn’t ask any further, only said, "Sister, don’t worry. After the meeting, if you really have no interest in Feng Gui, just be upfront about it. I absolutely won’t let you be mistreated."
Zhou Li was touched by her brother’s concern, but she also felt helpless because she knew very well that her brother was duty-bound to filial piety. If their father insisted, Jingpeng could probably do nothing about it. She sighed and then asked, "Brother, when are Mom and Dad arriving? Have they called you?"
"They just called." Zhou Jingpeng answered, "They’ve already arrived in Baiyun City, but they won’t come here directly. They said the two of us should go to Haitian Hotel for lunch together."
Zhou Li responded indifferently, "Oh," then continued, "Brother, can I use your phone?"
Zhou Jingpeng’s expression shifted slightly, but he still took out his knockoff phone and said with a smile, "Here, take it."
Zhou Li took the phone and went directly into her room, then dialed Leng Xuan’s number and relayed the plans for lunch at the Haitian Hotel...
"I understand!" came the indifferent voice of Leng Xuan over the phone, "I’ll borrow a car and pick you guys up directly."
"Hm?" Zhou Li was taken aback, then she said, "That’s not necessary, my brother and I will take the bus."
"This is part of the plan!" Leng Xuan stated.
"..."
"..."
After some discussion, Zhou Li said, "Oh, alright then." Hanging up the phone, she opened the door to go out and returned the phone to her brother.
Zhou Jingpeng asked, "Sister, who were you calling?"
Zhou Li’s cheeks flushed slightly as she replied, "A classmate, he said he’d drive over to pick us up in a bit."
"Classmate?" Zhou Jingpeng noticed his sister’s shyness and was surprised, asking, "A male classmate or a female classmate?"