A couple of days passed in a blink, and it was Saturday.
Since they had promised to treat Zheng Chenggong to a meal that day, Zheng Shufen woke Qin Yi up early. Together, they went out and bought a large quantity of groceries.
Originally, Qin Yi's intention was to treat guests at a hotel.
But Zheng Shufen felt that eating out was expensive and not worth it. She insisted on buying groceries and cooking at home. Qin Yi had no choice but to go along with her.
Not long after the groceries were brought back, Zhang Guihua and Zheng Dapeng arrived ahead of time.
Since Zheng Chenggong was being treated to a meal, Zhang Guihua and Zheng Dapeng naturally had to be invited as well.
Although Qin Yi, Zheng Shufen, and Qin Lei all held strong reservations about the couple, Zhang Guihua walked over as soon as they entered and saw Qin Yi and Zheng Shufen in the living room sorting through the vegetables.
She looked through the various vegetables in the shopping bags and clapped her hands, saying, "Is this all? Shufen, I don't mean to be rude, but Chenggong helped you so much this time, solving Qin Yi's job problem. You're treating him to a meal with such meager provisions, how can you bear it?"
Zheng Shufen's face turned red with embarrassment. She immediately replied, "Guihua, take a look and tell me if there's anything else you'd like to eat. Just say the word, and I'll go buy it!"
"Forget it, if I have to spell it out, then it loses its meaning!"
Zhang Guihua turned and sat on the nearby sofa with Zheng Dapeng.
She picked up the remote and turned on the television, watching it.
Zheng Dapeng, meanwhile, picked up some fruit from the coffee table and gnawed on it, his legs crossed.
The two of them acted so casually and naturally, as if they were in their own home.
"By the way, Qin Yi, I heard you have a girlfriend!"
Zhang Guihua asked Qin Yi, "What does your girlfriend do? You haven't been out for long, how did you get together with her? Does she know you've been to prison, that your family situation is dire, and that you're even borrowing someone else's place to live?"
"Oh, and how does your girlfriend look?"
Zhang Guihua fired off a series of questions, as if she were investigating someone's entire life history.
Qin Yi listened, rolled his eyes, and chose to ignore her.
When he didn't answer, Zheng Dapeng chimed in, "Mom, look at the sharp questions you're asking, how is he supposed to answer you!"
"Given Qin Yi's situation, do you think the person who fancies him can be in good condition or be good-looking?"
Zheng Dapeng suddenly remembered something, uncrossed his legs, and turned to Qin Yi, saying in surprise, "Qin Yi, your girlfriend, could she be an ugly duckling, or someone divorced and remarried twice or thrice, who already has children?"
Last time, Qin Yi refused to lend him his house, which led to him and his girlfriend breaking up that very day.
Zheng Dapeng deeply resented Qin Yi, so his words also carried a tone of deliberate mockery.
Hearing him say that, Zheng Shufen couldn't help but blurt out, "Not at all, Xiao Xin is very good-looking! And Xiao Xin isn't divorced and remarried; before she met Yi, she hadn't even dated anyone. Yi is her first love!"
That day, when Han Xin visited, although Zheng Shufen hadn't inquired about Han Xin's work or family situation, she had asked some basic questions. Han Xin herself had proactively told her that she had never dated before, and Qin Yi was her first boyfriend.
At this point, Qin Lei came downstairs and added, "That's right, Sister Xiao Xin is very beautiful. She's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen!"
"Pfft..."
Zheng Dapeng burst out laughing, "The most beautiful girl you've ever seen? You stay at home all day, besides your mom and yourself, how many other girls have you met?"
"Oh, right, compared to your face, anyone would seem beautiful!"
Qin Lei felt utterly humiliated. After coming downstairs, she didn't even enter the living room, choosing to stay far away in the dining area.
Zhang Guihua put down the TV remote and pouted, "Shufen, you need to have some logic when you brag! In this day and age, how many normal twenty-something girls haven't dated?"
"Besides, would a beautiful girl like that fall for Qin Yi?"
"Qin Yi has been to prison, and your family's conditions are poor. Why would a beautiful and excellent girl date Qin Yi?"
"Don't brag in front of us, lest we feel embarrassed when we meet her and find out it's not true!"
"You..."
Zheng Shufen was furious and was about to argue with them again.
This time, Qin Yi stopped her.
Qin Yi had long seen through Zhang Guihua and Zheng Dapeng's character. Arguing with them was a complete waste of time.
Anyway, Han Xin would be arriving soon. Once they saw Han Xin with their own eyes, they would naturally realize how ridiculous their words were.
So, Zheng Shufen continued sorting the vegetables by herself.
Once the vegetables were sorted, she went into the kitchen to start cooking.
She pretended not to hear anything Zhang Guihua and Zheng Dapeng said afterward.
Around eleven o'clock, Qin Yi and Qin Lei brought the dishes prepared by Zheng Shufen to the dining table.
Zheng Chenggong also arrived.
Zheng Shufen finished plating the last dish. Seeing that Han Xin hadn't arrived yet, she asked Qin Yi to call and check.
A few minutes later, Qin Yi finished his call and said, "Mom, Xin Xin is stuck in traffic on her way here. She should be about another fifteen or twenty minutes."
Just then, Zheng Chenggong asked from outside, "Xiao Yi, isn't your girlfriend supposed to be coming for lunch today too? Why isn't she here yet?"
Qin Yi walked out of the kitchen, about to answer, when Zhang Guihua spoke before him, "Qin Yi, is it possible your girlfriend is not presentable and deliberately isn't coming?"
"Guihua, what are you saying?" Zheng Chenggong reached out to pull her.
Zhang Guihua, however, shook his hand off and continued, "Or perhaps, you boasted too much earlier and are afraid of being exposed, so you dared not let her come!"
Zheng Shufen could no longer hold back. She picked up a dish and placed it on the table, saying, "Xiao Xin is already on her way and will be here soon!"
"Oh, really?" Zhang Guihua: "Then I'll be eagerly awaiting!"
Zheng Dapeng also put on a curious and expectant expression.
Ten minutes quickly passed, and the doorbell of the villa rang.
Zheng Shufen heard it and immediately said, "It must be Xiao Xin! Yi, hurry and open the door!"
Qin Yi walked over to open the door.
Zhang Guihua, Zheng Dapeng, and even Zheng Chenggong all turned their heads in unison to look at the villa's main entrance.
They wanted to see what Qin Yi's girlfriend looked like.
Qin Yi opened the door, and Han Xin was standing at the entrance.
Today, Han Xin was dressed similarly to her last visit. A white dress paired with five-centimeter silver high heels made her look elegant and graceful.
"I'm so sorry, Qin Yi, I was delayed by traffic. I'm late!" Han Xin said apologetically.
"Not at all, please come in..."
Qin Yi stepped aside, allowing her to enter.