Chapter 228: Chapter Two-Hundred and Twenty-Eight: Cozying Up
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The two sisters-in-law were enjoying their shopping trip when they bumped into Xi Cheng and Lin Yu. “Xiang Yang? Yun Nan?” Xi Cheng stopped in his tracks and called out in surprise. Only then did Lin Yu, who was holding his arm, notice the two of them.
Xiang Yang smiled and teased, “Oh, my! Look who it is! I didn’t think I would actually meet a nice guy willing to accompany his fiancée out shopping. Lin Yu, you should let him accompany you more often. You won’t get this kind of treatment after you’re married!”
Xi Cheng chuckled embarrassedly, “Big Bro Shi Ke and Shi Nian are just too busy; otherwise, they would be out here with you two as well. I happen to be free today, so I came with her to pick out a birthday present for my mother.”
Before Lin Yu could say anything, Xi Cheng removed her hand from his arm and said, “It’s good that you two are here; you women can shop together since you have something in common to talk about. We’re done picking out the gifts, so I’ll be going now. You girls enjoy yourselves! Just swipe my card if you want to buv anvthinc. I’ll go look for Shi Nian and Ye Kun: I haven’t had the chance to meet up with them since they went on that trip together.”
And with that, Xi Cheng ran away before Lin Yu could say anything, leaving behind a slightly embarrassed Lin Yu.
Xiang Yang smiled and said, “Never mind; let him go. You can deal with him when you get home. Once those boys get together, they instantly become children, each more immature than the last.”
Lin Yu giggled. Xiang Yang asked, “You two have met before, right?” “Yeah. We had a meal together,” Yun Nan replied indifferently.
Lin Yu’s eyes narrowed at that, and she avoided Yun Nan’s gaze as she commented to Xiang Yang, “The jewelry pieces showcased at your exhibition are really beautiful, Xiang Yang. We ordered a lot of them.”
Xiang Yang inquired, “Have you received them yet? You can let me know if there are any problems with the after-sales service.”
Seemingly overwhelmed and unsure of how to express her gratitude, Lin Yu proposed, “Thank you. I will, Xiang Yang. Why don’t I treat you two to lunch?” Xiang Yang glanced at Yun Nan and smiled. “Sure! Why not?”
Yun Nan didn’t have a good impression of Lin Yu. It wasn’t only because she was close with Gu Man and Shi Gao, but also because she didn’t stop her two friends despite knowing that they had designs on the married Shi brothers and even secretly created opportunities for them.
However, seeing that Xiang Yang was in high spirits, Yun Nan didn’t reject the offer. The trio went to a restaurant and made their orders. While they were waiting for the food to arrive, Xiang Yang went to the washroom.
Now alone with Lin Yu, Yun Nan smiled at her, but before she could say anything, Lin Yu took the initiative to apologize. “Yun Nan, I’m sorry. Gu Man and Shi Gao are both my friends, and they’ve caused you all a lot of trouble. I— I’ve wanted to apologize to you, but I haven’t had the chance.”
Since she’d apologized, Yun Nan couldn’t say anything about it any further. She gave it some thought and decided that Xiang Yang’s emotional health was the priority here. Since that was the case, she wouldn’t expose Lin Yu for now. Yun Nan told Lin Yu, “My sister-in-law doesn’t know that you and Shi Gao are good friends. Shi Gao just made a scene before her not long ago, so you’d better not agitate her.”
Lin Yu heaved a sigh of relief and replied, “Thank you, Yun Nan. Thank you so much.”
Yun Nan didn’t say anything. Lin Yu pursed her lips and remarked, “I’m so envious that you sisters-in-law get along so well. Although Gu Man is my future mother-in-law’s goddaughter and Shi Gao is my friend, they’re actually both just using me. They don’t really treat me as their friend, but I still greet them with a smile and clean up their mess.”
Yun Nan frowned. “Then why bother being friends with them? You can be friends with people you get along with, but you don’t have to if you don’t get along. There’s no need to make do and put up with them.”
When Lin Yu heard this, she knew she’d managed to convince Yun Nan and couldn’t keep the joy from her face. However, that joy was tentative and fleeting. It was nowhere to be seen when Lin Yu said awkwardly, “Shi Gao, Gu Man, and I are all family friends. Our families, including my in-laws, are all inextricably linked. I can’t fall out with them for the sake of my birth family and my in-laws.”
She timidly glanced at Yun Nan before saying, “My birth family is in decline. Now, everything depends on my in-laws. Helping out my in-laws actually also means helping my birth family. I can’t afford to make a mistake.”
Although Yun Nan felt that Lin Yu was oversharing a little since they didn’t know each other that well, her attitude did clearly soften after hearing her words. Yun Nan stated, “Every family has their problems. Both Xiang Yang and I aren’t hard to get along with, but no one in the Shi family will show mercy when someone bullies my sister-in-law. I’m afraid things will also be difficult for you when that time comes. Since that’s the case, why don’t you distance yourself from Shi Gao? It’ll be good for everyone.”
Lin Yu nodded gratefully. “Thanks for the advice. I know what to do now.”
Xiang Yang was unaware of what had occurred between the two girls. Like Shi Ke, she treated Xi Cheng, Ye Kun, and the others like children, so she was quite genial to Lin Yu.
The meal was peaceful. Lin Yu even did her best to cozy up and be nice to Yun Nan before Xiang Yang..