Xia Xiaolan said this without looking at Zhou Cheng.

Zhou Cheng felt guilty himself.

Faced with his childhood friend’s pleading look, Zhou Cheng firmly nodded:

“Xiaolan is right. If you’re not weaned, don’t date. If you can’t even decide who to be with yourself, that’s too irresponsible towards the girl! I’m not just talking about Little Yu – it would be the same with anyone else.”

“…!”

How could you be like this, Chengzi?

Shao Guangrong anxiously explained:

“I’m already 26 years old! I don’t use my family’s money, and I don’t even live with them. How is that not being weaned?”

“How is it not? Can you make your own decisions?”

Xia Xiaolan’s retort stumped Shao Guangrong.

He really couldn’t make his own decisions.

He was the Shao family’s only son, spoiled by the whole family. They were willing to invest all their resources in him, and he got whatever he wanted since childhood.

But enjoying his family’s doting came at a price.

The path he should take was planned by the Shao family.

What kind of wife he should marry – the Shao family had standards for that too… Little Yu didn’t meet the Shao family’s standards. Shao Guangrong knew this well, which was why when Little Yu asked him to wait, he patiently did so. He wasn’t waiting for Little Yu to become better – he was using this time to gain more say in his family!

Shao Guangrong looked dejected. “But I like Little Yu, I’m fond of her. Isn’t that the most important thing?”

Wasn’t liking each other the basic requirement for being together?

Shao Guangrong had once thought he would follow his family’s arrangements step by step.

No matter how many girlfriends he dated, it wouldn’t affect his eventual marriage to a woman of equal social status… So why did he refuse the blind date with Tong Lili? Everyone knew Tong Lili liked Zhou Cheng. He had dated so many girlfriends – logically, Tong Lili should be the one looking down on him. What right did he have to be picky about Tong Lili?

Shao Guangrong had always thought he refused the blind date with Tong Lili because it would be awkward seeing Zhou Cheng afterward.

Looking back now, it wasn’t just that.

Because he had seen what it was like when two people who truly liked each other were together!

A man and woman would live together for decades – without “liking” each other, what meaning would life have?

Xia Xiaolan’s expression softened: “It’s precisely because you truly like Little Yu that I’m telling you all this. Your future with Little Yu doesn’t depend on me – it depends on you and Little Yu, but more importantly, on you! Although Little Yu works for me, she hasn’t sold herself to me. I can’t force her to accept you, right?”

Shao Guangrong couldn’t argue with that.

“But I can help with other things…”

Xia Xiaolan asked Shao Guangrong to wait while she called Ge Jian in front of him.

Ge Jian explained the process of transferring Yu Li’s mother.

“Director Xia, everything is settled here. Little Yu is in good spirits, nothing unusual.”

After hanging up, Xia Xiaolan smiled: “Now are you relieved? Little Yu is different from before – she can handle these things herself.”

The rest didn’t need to be said. The problem now wasn’t with Yu Li. She had never hidden her actual family situation, laying everything bare before Shao Guangrong. Was it Yu Li’s fault that her family circumstances were poor and her mother was ill?

It wasn’t Yu Li’s fault.

Yu Li hadn’t shamelessly clung to Shao Guangrong either.

Yu Li didn’t even dare to truly start this relationship.

Shao Guangrong was the more proactive one!

Moreover, Shao Guangrong was several years older than Little Yu. As the initiator and leader in their relationship, Xia Xiaolan felt Shao Guangrong should be responsible for resolving his family’s opposition – though now, even if he managed that, Yu Li might not necessarily end up with him. If it were Xia Xiaolan, she would feel the same way.

Besides, Yu Li wasn’t exclusively devoted to Shao Guangrong. If the Shao family looked down on her, there would surely be other families who wouldn’t, who would truly love and cherish her.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t need to say this to provoke Shao Guangrong – he should understand this himself.

“Knowing she’s doing well there puts me at ease. Sister-in-law, Brother Cheng, I won’t disturb you anymore. I’ll handle the rest myself!”

Shao Guangrong didn’t press Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng for advice – this was his matter, and others could only do so much!

After Shao Guangrong left, Zhou Cheng, with strong survival instincts, examined himself:

“Back when my mother came to find you at school, did you also think I wasn’t weaned?”

The Shao family wasn’t the only one – his mother had done the same thing.

Xia Xiaolan glared at him, “…You dare bring that up?”

How could he not? Knowing it was a sore spot, Zhou Cheng couldn’t just leave it alone.

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t resist his persistence – this man was too thick-skinned. When she wouldn’t answer, he started kissing her, leaving Xia Xiaolan breathlessly surrendering:

“I was quite angry then, but not at you. You were at work and couldn’t control your mother’s thoughts and actions. I was struggling with myself, angry at myself!”

Being questioned meant her abilities weren’t enough.

Xia Xiaolan felt she didn’t like Zhou Cheng then as much as she did now. Dating him had developed naturally – it wasn’t like she had decided on a lifetime commitment as soon as they started dating, determined to spend her life with Zhou Cheng… If they weren’t compatible and the relationship made her unhappy, they could break up.

But she was proud!

“If I lost feelings for you, I could break up with you. But it couldn’t be because of external forces. The more your family opposed me, the more I wanted to prove myself, to show your family whether I was worthy of dating you or not.”

That was shortly after her rebirth.

Because of her foreknowledge, she felt superior to ordinary people – how could she easily admit defeat?

If it were now, her attitude would be more peaceful. Whether facing Zhou’s family or dealing with the minor conflict with Gao Fei that wasn’t a conflict, she wouldn’t have gotten physical with Gao Fei, and Guan Hui’e naturally wouldn’t have come to school to express opposition.

Zhou Cheng held her tighter, “I didn’t handle things well. I was like Shao Guangrong back then, both of us quite self-righteous.”

When even family members would question his choice, wasn’t that self-righteous?

If it were now, even if his family didn’t understand his choice immediately, they would respect it and keep their doubts to themselves!

For a moment, both were silent.

After a long while, Xia Xiaolan broke the silence:

“I chose to prove myself, to show your family. Yu Li’s personality is different from mine. I think Shao Guangrong still has a long way to go if he wants to be with her!”

When Zhou’s family questioned whether she and Zhou Cheng were suitable, they had never looked down on Comrade A’fen.

If Guan Hui’e had shown even a hint of such attitude then, like looking down on Comrade A’fen for being a divorced rural woman… even if she wanted to prove herself to Zhou’s family, she would definitely have broken up with Zhou Cheng first.

How could Zhou Cheng not understand her character? That’s why he felt frightened thinking about it now.

They had encountered quite a few obstacles on their journey together.

Shao Guangrong’s visit reminded his wife of unpleasant memories, so Zhou Cheng decided to treat Xia Xiaolan to a fancy dinner that evening. After handing over all dividends and transferring property rights, he was just a man living on his salary – treating her to a fancy dinner meant dipping into his secret savings.

Xia Xiaolan laughed heartily, “Then I’ll order several more dishes!”

However, they never made it to dinner. Just as they were about to leave, Tang Fujun arrived in the city with his wife, finding their place using the contact information Zhou Cheng had left.

They couldn’t even wait one night, afraid something might change.

Most likely, Tang Fujun had set out shortly after Zhou Cheng left the village since Zhou Cheng and Xia Xiaolan could drive back to the city while Tang Fujun and his wife had to take public transportation.

“Uncle Fujun, come in, and let’s talk!”