“Ah, we don’t get to sit around and have dinner together a lot. There’s no need to be too formal.” Father Hu was slightly chubby and had a kind look. He looked very friendly.
Even after he had said that, very few of them talked while they ate. They only started chatting after they were done eating.
“That friend of yours, Shu Yan, is quite competent.” The ideas that she had proposed recently worked out very well.
Hu Ruixue gave Hu Ruiyang a look and said, “Big Brother, don’t you think you are paying too much attention to Shu Yan?”
She had leaned on her family for a little bit of help when she started her company but mainly it was herself and Shu Yan who grew it to where it was today. Hu Ruixue did not wish her company being labeled as part of the Hu’s business. It was the company belonging to Shu Yan and herself.
“Oh, listen to yourself. You are overthinking this. I am just saying that she’s very competent. Perhaps she can offer up some suggestions for my company as well,” said Hu Ruiyang with a smile.
“You will have to talk to her about that yourself. I am not going to relate that for you.” Hu Ruixue knew that Shu Yan wasn’t a big fan of Hu Ruiyang. Regardless, that was all Hu Ruiyang’s own doing. He was too aggressive and Shu Yan was the very independent type. It would only make sense that she disliked him.
Hu Ruiyang hesitated for a little while and asked out of the blue, “What do you say if I pursue Shu Yan?”
Hu Ruixue, who had just taken a sip of tea, spit it all out.
“What are you doing?” Mother Hu gave Hu Ruixue a stare when she saw that.
“What are you talking about? You? Pursuing Shu Yan?” Hu Ruixue looked at him with disbelief. Then she grunted lightly, “Don’t bother. You don’t stand a chance.”
“I’m divorced. She’s divorced. And both of our have children. What do you mean I don’t stand a chance?” Hu Ruiyang was in an alliance marriage before and the two of them were very amicable with each other. They had a 10-year-old daughter together. Five years ago, his ex-wife asked for a divorce out of the blue quoting she wanted to study and live abroad as a reason. The two divorced amicably and his ex-wife left China and had not been back since.
His parents had suggested plenty of times to him subtly and not-so-subtly but he had declined them. He picked Shu Yan because, her ability aside, he was truly very curious how an uneducated woman growing up in a family like hers would have such a drastic change.*
“She is seeing someone already. That’s why you don’t stand a chance.” Truth be told, her brother was good looking, competent, and rich but he really didn’t make a good spouse. Nevermind that Shu Yan was already seeing someone, Hu Ruixue would not recommend her brother even if Shu Yan was still single.
Hu Ruiyang sighed in disappointment. “I just thought about pursuing her and someone had already beat me to it. Who’s her boyfriend? What does he do for a living?”
“What does that have to do with you? One way or another, you don’t stand a chance. You make it sound like you will for sure win her over if only you pursue her. My Yanyan has very high standard. She won’t just go for any regular Joes,” said Hu Ruixue with a light grunt.
“Hu Ruixue.” Fire was coming out of Hu Ruiyang’s eyes. “How could you say that about your own brother?”
They heard a giggling and saw Hu Lingyu busted out laughing next to them.
“Oh, nothing. I just found aunty’s description very fitting.” Hu Lingyu quickly got up and headed upstairs before Hu Ruiyang got mad at her. “I still got homework to you. See you all later.”
“Shu Yan is your partner at work? Didn’t you say she’s pretty and nice? How come you didn’t help him out if your brother is interested?” Mother Hu had rarely heard her son saying that he was interested in a woman.
“I said she already has a boyfriend. Mom, stop stirring the pot already.” Shu Yan and her brother would not be a good fit.
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Translator’s rambling:
What the *bleep* kind of reason is that?? *bleep*! Jerk!