Zhao Linxiu's heart rippled at Jiang Tingxu's blunt, unvarnished words.
Jiang Tingxu watched helplessly as Zhao Linxiu blushed, then looked away and gave a quiet chuckle.
Jiang Tingxu immediately shuddered. What was it like to see Zhao Linxiu acting shy? He had forgotten. Maybe eight hundred years ago, he could still have caught a glimpse of it, but now Zhao Linxiu was smooth and worldly. Hardly any person or matter could truly take hold of his heart.
"No." Jiang Tingxu was genuinely curious now. "Just because you think Director Zheng is cute?"
"And you?" Zhao Linxiu countered. "What was it about Si You that attracted you at first? Can you still remember?"
Jiang Tingxu said, "Everything."
Zhao Linxiu choked for a moment, telling himself to keep the conversation calm. "Then is it possible that I feel the same way?"
That explanation was acceptable enough.
Jiang Tingxu stopped a waiter, took two glasses of champagne from the tray, and handed one to Zhao Linxiu. Then he saw Si You emerge from the restroom, sit back down, and resume chatting with Zheng Zaisheng. After considering it for a moment, Jiang Tingxu said, "Linxiu, can I take this to mean that you want to be serious this time?"
"What do you mean, serious this time? I've never brought anyone else to meet you before."
Jiang Tingxu could not be bothered with his love-addled brain. "What does your family think?"
Zhao Linxiu froze. "You're thinking that far ahead?"
"Of course." Jiang Tingxu said, "When I decided to date Si You, I was thinking in terms of a lifetime. And Director Zheng's genuine longing for a committed relationship is much stronger than Si You's. He's been through some bad things—you've seen that. They made him someone who always hides and avoids things. If you truly