Zhou Guanghan also had a girl he liked in college, but they didn't end up together.
Mainly, she wasn't interested in him.
This guy wasn't good at dressing up, was big and rough-looking, with muscles all over his body; staying with him could really scare a young girl.
It would have been fine if he were pale, but he was very dark-skinned.
Secretly liking someone is like continuously being in love; confessing would instantly lead to heartbreak.
How many young men in college don't want a girlfriend?
"Darling, we haven't been together long, is it too soon to meet your relatives? And I haven't even met your parents yet, why are we going directly to meet your... great-uncle on your mother's side?"
Tong Lanlan nestled against Zhou Guanghan's shoulder like a small bird, playing with her hair ends, asking in a sweet, cloying voice.
Zhou Guanghan had a satisfied smile on his face, his gaze at Tong Lanlan full of affection.
"My great-uncle's family is like my parents; my mom and dad would also agree to what they say."
"But you never told me what your relatives do?"
"You'll know when you get there."
Zhou Guanghan found it inconvenient to talk much about Chen Pingjiang's identity.
Tong Lanlan was a third-year student at the School of Communication, petite in build.
Next to Zhou Guanghan, they gave off a distinct Beauty and the Beast vibe.
But as it happened, Zhou Guanghan liked this type; he preferred small and cute girls, not being interested in those with big chests and butts.
Tong Lanlan was also different from most girls; other girls liked handsome pretty boys, not caring about their physique.
Tong Lanlan preferred strong men, which made her feel very secure.
One could say they were a perfect match; they just clicked.
From Chen Pingjiang's perspective, Tong Lanlan wasn't pretty, let alone sexy.
She had a certain "Japanese girl" look, with a bit of baby fat on her face, very kawaii.
Tong Lanlan had come to Tiangong Bar with her classmates before, and Zhou Guanghan was smitten at first sight.
Ultimately, it was Zhao Shaoyang who stepped in to get her phone number, because Zhou Guanghan was too shy.
Since she already liked Zhou Guanghan's type, and he also had the title of Tiangong Bar owner, they eventually got together.
The only thing Tong Lanlan found lacking was that Zhou Guanghan wasn't wild enough; he was always reserved and simple-minded.
It was Zhou Guanghan's first relationship, so it was understandable how much he cared for his girlfriend and how obedient he was to her.
"Oh? Why all the mystery, can't you even say what he does?"
Tong Lanlan felt a bit strange.
They had been together for a while, and this was the first time she heard Zhou Guanghan mention having relatives in Dongjiang.
"If you don't want to say, then don't. But I'm scared, what if your great-uncle doesn't like me?"
"He won't, baby, you're so cute."
Dai Sheng and Zhao Shaoyang were playing on their phones nearby.
Hearing that "baby," they almost felt a hundred thousand bugs crawling on them, quickly exchanged glances, and shivered.
Not wanting to stay and be a third wheel, they moved aside.
As they walked, they mimicked Tong Lanlan:
"What if he doesn't like me!~"
"He won't, ba~by!"
"Ugh!"
Tong Lanlan didn't feel embarrassed hearing them tease; instead, she hugged Zhou Guanghan's neck and pouted,
"Darling, they're so annoying."
"Ai, poor Erzi, he usually looks so manly, but who knew a single word from that little girl could make him so enamored."
Zhao Shaoyang muttered, shaking his head, his eyes fixed on his phone as he played Tetris.
Dai Sheng smiled,
"How can he be like you? You've been with countless women, he's still a virgin to this day."
Zhao Shaoyang sneered,
"He's been emotionally controlled by a girl from the start; he'll have his time to cry later. Can't you tell? That woman is very experienced, definitely not as innocent as she seems. Maybe they clicked, but after a while, she'll find Erzi's personality too dull and probably lose interest."
"Hope for the best, alright? Don't talk nonsense in front of Erzi, so he doesn't get upset."
Zhao Shaoyang nodded,
"It doesn't matter whether I say it or not, I just have a feeling Brother Chen definitely won't agree."
Dai Sheng blew a smoke ring,
"I feel the same way. This girl is completely different once she has a drink and goes dancing. Her best friend isn't simple either; she tries to flirt with me all the time, but I ignored her. Erzi is completely deluded now, covering all her living expenses, but they haven't even slept together yet."
"Idiot, Brother Chen said money is for showing to women, not for spending on them. That's why I say Brother Chen is my idol; his girlfriends are all prettier than the last, more obedient and sensible than the last, and it's like he's collecting stamps, he has every type."
Just as he was saying this, Zhao Shaoyang slapped his forehead, having lost the game again.
"A man should be like my Brother Chen; if I had even a third of his skill, I too could pass through a field of flowers without a single petal clinging to me."
Dai Sheng found it amusing, rolled his eyes, and looked at Zhao Shaoyang with a hint of disdain,
"You? With all due respect, you haven't experienced much good yourself; your mind is completely filled with your 'white moonlight'. Her name is Shen Menghan, isn't it?"
Now it was Zhao Shaoyang's turn to be stunned:
"Holy crap, how did you know that? No, Brother Chen must have told you, I only told him that name."
"Don't worry about how I know, buddy. Let me tell you, even white moonlights have to poop; you should take off those rose-tinted glasses. What kind of girls can't you find among those who hang out at our bar?"
The deeply emotional Zhao Shaoyang merely shook his head slightly:
"You don't understand. To be honest, I didn't even like her that much, but I can never forget her. I can't forget that sunny morning on the way to school, when she rode her bike and smiled at me. A gust of wind blew, and the hem of her pure white dress fluttered."
"Hmph."
The only "steel straight man" among the three spat,
"Men are cheap; they look down on those who like them, but shamelessly chase after those who scorn them. They look like playboys but pretend to be innocent."
***
No matter how unwilling Tong Lanlan was, Zhou Guanghan was unaccommodating this time, which was uncharacteristic of him.
If it were his parents, perhaps he would have said no if she didn't want to go, but with Chen Pingjiang, he couldn't.
Early that morning, Zhou Guanghan drove to the School of Communication to pick up Tong Lanlan.
Perhaps she had woken up too early, Tong Lanlan was still a bit grumpy, her face stiff, and she wasn't as affectionate towards Zhou Guanghan as usual.
Zhou Guanghan merely scratched his head and honestly drove the car.
This showed how dull this guy was; another guy would probably have spent a lot of time coaxing her.
It wasn't until they drove onto Huanling Road that Tong Lanlan noticed something was off:
"Where is this? I've never been here before, it feels especially quiet."
"Yes, I also really like this road every time I go to my great-uncle's house. His house is just a little way past this road."
Tong Lanlan was perceptive after all.
"The signs on the road say we're almost at Zijin Mountain; where are there any apartment complexes here? Even if there were, they'd be detached villas. Don't tell me your great-uncle lives here."
"You didn't ask."
Zhou Guanghan didn't like being distracted while driving, so he kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
"How could I not ask? I clearly asked you yesterday what your relatives do?"
"But you didn't ask where he lives? That I can tell you."
"You... you're such a blockhead."
Tong Lanlan was almost fuming with stomach pain.
The car continued driving.
Tong Lanlan now knew that Zhou Guanghan's mysterious great-uncle probably came from an unusual background.
Tong Lanlan wouldn't believe anyone who said people living in a place like this were poor.
It wasn't until they arrived at Chen Pingjiang's gate that Tong Lanlan's eyes widened, her small mouth wide enough to swallow an egg:
"Wow, your relative doesn't live here, does he? Darling."
Zhou Guanghan nodded,
"Baby, remember to greet them later."
The automatic gate slowly opened, and Zhou Guanghan drove in.
After getting out of the car, Tong Lanlan looked around, her mouth repeatedly uttering "ah ah."
"Why is it so big?"
"Oh my god, the garage is full of sports cars."
"Darling, you're truly a mystery. The first time I saw you, I thought you were a poor boy, since you wore cheap clothes. Later I found out you were a shareholder in Tiangong Bar, and now, unbelievably, you have an unbelievably rich relative."
"Darling, your low profile truly fascinates me. Compared to those ostentatious second-generation rich kids who flaunt their petty wealth, you are too reserved and subtle."
Inside the villa, Xu Fangjuan and Chen Guangming, knowing that Zhou Guanghan was bringing his girlfriend over today, were already waiting in the living room.
After seeing Zhou Guanghan and Tong Lanlan, Xu Fangjuan quickly called out to the nanny,
"Sister Lan, make two cups of tea."
Chen Guangming also greeted them warmly,
"Erzi, why are you just standing there? Quickly bring your girlfriend over to sit."
Zhou Guanghan nudged Tong Lanlan beside him.
Tong Lanlan, who had been looking around, snapped back to reality and quickly called out sweetly,
"Hello, Uncle and Auntie."
"Good, good, come and sit."
Xu Fangjuan was quite happy to hear that Zhou Guanghan was bringing his girlfriend over; after all, they had lived together for several years, and their relationship was deeper than with other relatives.
Moreover, Xu Fangjuan liked Zhou Guanghan's honesty and wanted to help vet his girlfriend.
When it came to such a grand setting, Tong Lanlan felt a bit intimidated, not because she was afraid of meeting the parents, but from a natural awe and curiosity towards wealthy people.
"Where's my great-uncle?"
At the mention of this, Xu Fangjuan's expression turned sour:
"He's still lying in bed. He only came back in the middle of the night yesterday, dragged out drinking by that Old He from the same neighborhood, completely plastered. And he was the one who said you were coming today, but now he can't get up, and won't wake up no matter how much I call."
Chen Guangming gave his wife a smiling glance, thinking, with guests in the house, why is she complaining so much? Isn't she making a spectacle of us?
As expected, after saying that, Empress Dowager Xu seemed to forget about it and began to interrogate Tong Lanlan.
"Girl, how old are you?"
"Girl, where are you from?"
"How did you two meet?"
"..."
Tong Lanlan answered patiently.
After chatting for a while, Xu Fangjuan said,
"Erzi, take your girlfriend around to look. I'm going to wake up that smelly boy."
Tong Lanlan, who had been unable to contain her excitement, finally breathed a sigh of relief and quickly pulled Zhou Guanghan to tour the house.
"Is this what rich people's lives are like? There's actually an indoor swimming pool, a home theater, and a sauna room?"
"Darling, is this relative of yours particularly wealthy?"
"They won't dislike me, will they? They won't look down on me, will they?"
"Brother, say something, why aren't you answering me?"
Zhou Guanghan was naturally simple-minded and slow-spoken, so he genuinely couldn't keep up with Tong Lanlan's machine-gun-like speech.
"I can't even imagine how free and unrestrained people living here must be."
"In the future, I also want to have a house like this of my own. Brother, don't you agree?"
Zhou Guanghan didn't have strong feelings about whether the house was luxurious or not, but Tong Lanlan seemed electrified, her eyes sparkling, full of longing and envy.
On the other side, Chen Pingjiang was sleeping soundly, bare-chested and sprawled out.
Xu Fangjuan entered the room, smelled alcohol, sighed and shook her head.
She walked to the window, threw open the curtains, then unceremoniously kicked Chen Pingjiang's foot.
"What time is it? Erzi has brought his girlfriend to meet you, and you're still sleeping."
Chen Pingjiang honestly struggled to get up, sitting on the bed with an empty gaze.
Commonly known as—bed sickness.
"Mom, I heard you when you came upstairs, it's just that although my body is awake, my mind isn't yet."
After being dazed for a while, Chen Pingjiang finally yawned and got up to wash.
Last night, He Zhiyu and his crowd pestered him into drinking, and he couldn't control himself, getting Chen Pingjiang completely drunk.
While he was brushing his teeth, Xu Fangjuan walked up to Chen Pingjiang and chatted:
"You'll see for yourself later, but I feel that girl isn't very reliable, not like someone who would settle down. Most importantly, I feel like Erzi can't keep that girl in check; one is lively, and the other is like a block of wood."
Spitting out the foam from his mouth, Chen Pingjiang wanted to laugh:
"That old lady is truly meddlesome. I just asked you to support Erzi, not to criticize his girlfriend. Besides, she's not your daughter-in-law, isn't it enough that they like each other?"
"That's what they say, but this boy is someone I've watched grow up, can't I express my opinion?"
Xu Fangjuan, contradicted by her son, rolled her eyes:
"And don't even get me started, at least Erzi is devoted to that girl and truly cares for her. Look at you, chasing after women all day long. I'm telling you, if you don't get serious, you'll hurt Yan Yan's heart one day and you'll regret it. If Yan Yan doesn't want you, I won't want you either."
"Don't look at me like that, you're about to become a father. Unconvinced, are you? I heard you having a WeChat voice call with someone a few days ago, and the voice was neither Yan Yan's nor Xiao Shi's."
Chen Pingjiang, who was brushing his teeth, looked at his mother, first expressing dissatisfaction, then shock, and finally drooping his head.
This mother was truly something, with the potential to be a secret agent.
***
After getting ready, Chen Pingjiang came downstairs and saw Zhou Guanghan and his girlfriend.
Chen Pingjiang wanted to laugh just by looking; the two of them looked so mismatched together.
One was small and cute, the other was strong and powerful.
"Great-uncle."
Seeing Chen Pingjiang come downstairs, Zhou Guanghan quickly stood up to greet him.
Chen Pingjiang nodded, pointed at the dazed Tong Lanlan, and asked Zhou Guanghan,
"What's her name?"
Tong Lanlan, having snapped out of her daze, quickly introduced herself before Zhou Guanghan could:
"My name is Tong Lanlan, are you... are you not Mr. Chen Pingjiang?"
Chen Pingjiang nodded,
"Have a seat."
The moment she sat down, Tong Lanlan gave Zhou Guanghan a warning look with her eyes, and even pinched him:
"You're really tight-lipped! I only found out now."
Zhou Guanghan, being pinched on his soft flesh, didn't wince but instead showed a sweet smile.
During the conversation, Tong Lanlan kept secretly glancing at Chen Pingjiang.
It was no wonder she was surprised; Tong Lanlan couldn't associate the two at all.
Why would the tower-like Zhou Guanghan have a handsome great-uncle like Chen Pingjiang?
They were roughly the same age, so why was there such a big difference in their seniority?
A series of strange questions popped into Tong Lanlan's mind.
She was so anxious she wished she could drag Zhou Guanghan away right then to get an explanation.
Chen Pingjiang merely greeted them and made an appearance; his attitude towards Tong Lanlan was relatively indifferent.
For no other reason than they weren't familiar.
It was still unknown if the two of them would last.
Zhou Guanghan, on the other hand, looked at Chen Pingjiang with eager eyes, hoping to deduce Chen Pingjiang's attitude towards his girlfriend.
Chen Pingjiang was very accurate at judging people; with just a glance, he largely came to the same conclusion as his mother.
The two of them were actually quite incompatible.
Zhou Guanghan's reserved personality was actually more suited for an honest, dutiful, and hardworking girl, one who would cherish him and have eyes only for him.
Perhaps their romance was intense right now, but whether they would last until the end was unknown.
After all, in a girl's eyes, Zhou Guanghan was like an iron block: he didn't know romance, didn't know how to cheer people up, couldn't coax people, and only hid his feelings in his heart, silently giving and silently treating her well.
However, Chen Pingjiang was well aware of his role; he wasn't Zhou Guanghan's parent after all, so it was truly inappropriate to say too much and disappoint Zhou Guanghan.
Men always have to search for the most suitable person through continuous emotional setbacks.
Only in this way can one know what kind of woman's personality they truly like.
Whether to find someone you like, or someone who likes you.
In youth, one doesn't understand, always wanting to find someone they like; only after marriage does one realize how important it is to find someone who likes you.
Let Zhou Guanghan slowly find the answers to these questions himself.
After leaving the living room, Tong Lanlan finally came back to her senses, feeling as if she had been in a dream.
In the underground garage, she pulled out her phone and snapped pictures everywhere.
After photographing the garage, she photographed the villa and the yard.
Then she happily posted on her Moments:
"Today I met my boyfriend's elders at his home, and saw the legendary male god, hehe, I won't tell you who he is."
After posting on Moments, Tong Lanlan looked back at Zhou Guanghan, who was concentrating on driving, and cooed in a sickly sweet voice:
"Brother, you won't abandon me later, will you? Your great-uncle's family is so rich, and you're also very rich, but my family's financial situation is just average. I'm afraid you'll look down on me."
"You won't leave me, right?"
Zhou Guanghan couldn't bear this; he actually seriously pulled over and stopped the car, then promised:
"Don't worry, my family was very poor when I was little. Everything I have now is thanks to my great-uncle. I won't abandon you, baby."
Fortunately, Chen Pingjiang didn't see it.
If he had, he would definitely cover his face.
"I'd rather you be a playboy than a nice guy."
(End of chapter)