Jiang Yuning said in a harsh voice:

“He should support them. If my father hadn’t saved his father back then, there wouldn’t even be a him—let alone the good life you’re enjoying today. You people should at least show some gratitude.”

Wang Chunyan’s lips trembled in anger.

“Then tell me this—tomorrow’s your return-to-parents visit, and today you’re bringing leftovers back? Aren’t you afraid people will laugh at Liye?”

“He doesn’t mind. Didn’t realize you were the one running the household.”

After saying that, Jiang Yuning poured all the dishes assigned to her into the container, closed the lid, and walked out.

Li Chunyan was left speechless from the comeback. Looking at the remaining dishes, she suddenly lost interest in taking them home and simply sat down to eat there herself.

…

After going downstairs, Jiang Yuning headed to the counter to pay the bill.

The owner checked the receipt and said:

“That table’s already been paid for. No need.”

Jiang Yuning paused.

Since Xiao Liye had handed all his money and meal coupons to her earlier, it had to be Su Ni who paid.

After thinking it over, she felt she should at least tell Xiao Liye about it. After all, the two of them had eaten the meal, so it counted as a favor owed.

Just then, Xiao Liye walked over and took the containers of leftovers from her.

“Come on, let’s go.”

Jiang Yuning handed him back the money and coupons.

“Su Ni already paid the bill. Here, take these back.”

Xiao Liye hadn’t expected her to actually return the money. He paused briefly, then said without hesitation:

“Keep it for pocket money. Buy whatever you need. If it’s not enough, tell me.”

Jiang Yuning didn’t refuse.

After all, she’d still be staying at his house for quite a while. The stack contained eighty-two yuan, plus ten jin worth of meat coupons and three jin worth of grain coupons.

She tucked them into her pocket and followed him toward the entrance.

Suddenly, Jiang Ping appeared at the doorway with three men behind him.

When he noticed Jiang Yuning, his eyes flickered in surprise.

Thinking about what he’d overheard yesterday and the task Xiao Liye gave him today, he quickly pieced things together.

Though it was a pity Jiang Yuning was a widow, he didn’t say much. His gaze still couldn’t help lingering on her a few extra times.

She was truly beautiful.

The three men behind him immediately spoke upon seeing Xiao Liye.

“Boss Xiao, you said there was matchmaking today, so I came early.”

“Wasn’t I supposed to be the blind date? What’s going on with those two?”

“I was wondering the same thing. You clearly promised me first.”

Jiang Ping looked awkwardly toward Xiao Liye.

“Boss… it’s already one-thirty. They all happened to arrive together.”

Xiao Liye had just opened his mouth to speak when Jiang Yuning’s weak voice came from behind him.

“Then… maybe everyone can just sit together and briefly introduce themselves?”

Xiao Liye’s face darkened instantly.

Turning back and seeing she was completely serious, he snapped:

“What are you doing, recruiting employees? Group interviews now?”

Unable to figure out his attitude, Jiang Yuning asked uncertainly:

“Then… one at a time?”

His expression became even uglier.

The three men, however, had already noticed Jiang Yuning. Their eyes widened in surprise before immediately turning enthusiastic.

“I’ve got a good temper and an easygoing personality. My family’s well-known around here too. Any setup works for me.”

“I’m already a department director. My future’s bright—you really don’t need to compare me with the others.”

“My parents are rich. If you marry me, I’ll spoil you every day.”

Xiao Liye’s chest trembled violently with anger.

He narrowed his eyes and viciously fired back:

“You’re ugly.”

“You’re pathetic.”

“You’re barely four feet tall.”

“Get lost, all of you.”

The three men were clearly dissatisfied with his insults, but none dared argue back.

Jiang Ping stared in confusion.

“Boss, weren’t you the one who told me to bring them here for blind dates?”

Xiao Liye didn’t spare him either.

“Blind date my ass. Take them and get lost.”

Jiang Ping immediately shut up. Sneaking one last glance at Jiang Yuning, he hurriedly dragged the others away.

Inside, he was full of complaints.

The boss was the one who asked him to find blind dates, but now he was also the one refusing to let them meet. No matter what, he was somehow wrong.

Jiang Yuning also had no idea where Xiao Liye’s anger was coming from, but she didn’t dare provoke him further.

Unfortunately, Xiao Liye clearly had no intention of letting her off.

“With that brain of yours, you’d need ten divorces before it’d match how casually you treat relationships.”

Jiang Yuning froze for a moment, then immediately shot back:

“And you’re not casual? You’re twenty-three and still nobody wants you.”

Xiao Liye’s face flushed red from the retort.

“That’s because I focused on my career. What, should I have married young like you and ended up divorced before learning my lesson?”

As soon as those words fell, quite a few people in the restaurant looked over with strange expressions.

After all, in those days, when marriages failed, many people would rather drink poison or jump into rivers than divorce. Second marriages were extremely rare.

Everyone immediately began sizing Jiang Yuning up with ambiguous looks.

For a brief moment, Jiang Yuning stood there helplessly.

Then, furious, she threw Xiao Liye’s jacket back at him and stormed past him.

“…Now everyone knows I’m divorced.

I’m never talking to him again.”

Xiao Liye caught the jacket and noticed the entire restaurant staring after her.

He barked fiercely:

“What are you all looking at? Keep staring and I’ll gouge your eyes out.”

Everyone immediately lowered their gazes.

Xiao Liye walked over to his bicycle, placed the containers and jacket into the basket, then shouted toward Jiang Yuning:

“Why’re you walking so fast? Didn’t you see I brought the bike?”

But Jiang Yuning acted as if she hadn’t heard a thing. She kept her head down and strode forward quickly, clearly showing she had no interest in riding with him.

Watching her get farther away, Xiao Liye became irritated by her stubbornness. He quickly rode after her.

“I’m talking to you. Didn’t you hear me? There’s a bicycle!”

Jiang Yuning only walked faster.

Xiao Liye rode up beside her, steering with one hand while reaching out with the other to grab the shoulder of her knit sweater.

But Jiang Yuning stubbornly stopped walking altogether.

His eyes flashed with surprise.

He immediately rode ahead of her and braked, planting one foot on the ground before turning around with an ugly expression.

“I’ll count to three. Get on.”

Jiang Yuning had been thoroughly provoked too. Turning her face away, she simply sat down on a nearby bus stop bench.

Xiao Liye stared at her stubborn posture, so angry his lips trembled, yet no words came out.

Several seconds passed.

Seeing she genuinely had no intention of moving, he wanted to curse at her but worried she’d become even more defiant. Yet if he held it in, he felt he’d eventually die of anger.

He lit a cigarette and muttered:

“How are you this stubborn?”

Jiang Yuning seemed determined to ignore him completely. She didn’t even respond with a sound.

At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang approached wearing a new blouse and suit jacket, smiling brightly.

“Brother Liye, is she throwing a tantrum at you? Then just leave her here. I was planning to head to your house to wait for Cousin anyway. Why don’t you give me a ride?”

Jiang Yuning became even angrier.

Xiao Liye glanced at Jiang Yuning before replying:

“I still need to take her back to her parents’ place.”

Wang Xiangxiang immediately looked displeased.

“Let her go herself. You’re already so busy. Whenever you’re not working or entertaining clients, you should be resting at home. If it were me, I wouldn’t bear making you run around everywhere.”

Jiang Yuning couldn’t stand the passive-aggressive tone and snapped:

“You’re so considerate, why don’t you marry him yourself? He can be treated like an ancestor while you work as the maid.”

Wang Xiangxiang retorted:

“How is that being a maid? Taking good care of your husband is what a wife should do. Not like you—so selfish. You know Brother Liye is busy, yet you still insist he accompany you back to your parents’ home, and now you’re throwing a tantrum on the roadside making him wait.”

Jiang Yuning immediately stood up and resumed walking, annoyed.

“Fine. You two ride the bike together then. I’ll go back to my parents’ place myself.”

Wang Xiangxiang curled her lips in satisfaction.

Blushing shyly, she glanced at Xiao Liye and was just about to climb onto the bicycle’s back seat—

When suddenly, as Jiang Yuning angrily strode past Xiao Liye, he directly grabbed her around the waist, sat her sideways on the bicycle’s front bar, and rode off.

Wang Xiangxiang’s face alternated between red and pale as jealousy slowly filled her eyes.

“…How is a widow better than me?

Brother Liye’s never even given me a ride before, yet he let her sit in the front.”