Mrs. Fu, please be mindful of the appropriate boundaries.

Xu Qingcheng's thinking was simple: if he left a good impression on her mother, it would be harder to break up with her later.

He left a very bad impression, and Zhao Lan might even advise her to break up with him.

Miss Xu's plan was absolutely perfect.

The imperfection is that the male lead refuses to cooperate. In fact, he completely refuses to cooperate.

"Then tell me, what do you want to do?" She was at her wit's end and wanted to hear his thoughts.

"I didn't want anything, it's just a meal."

"This isn't just a meal. You're acting like my boyfriend, not a stranger. And it's not business either."

Xu Qingcheng said anxiously, "Look at us now, we don't look like a couple at all. It's obvious at a glance."

Fu Jingting crossed his arms. "So, what do you think couples should be like?"

"Be more affectionate."

The man raised an eyebrow. "You want me to be intimate with you in front of your mother?"

I really want to find the bottom of a hot pot and throw it right in his face!

Xu Qingcheng closed her eyes, deciding that it was pointless to talk to someone who was like a chicken and a duck.

She didn't expect him to be as attentive as a real boyfriend; that would only make things more complicated. But at the very least, she didn't want Zhao Lan to immediately realize that their relationship was just an act.

It's really hard to strike the right balance.

"Alright, find your own feeling. Just don't make it too unrealistic." Xu Qingcheng picked up her clothes and prepared to leave.

Fu Jingting grabbed her wrist. "Shall we leave now?"

It was nearly midnight.

"There's no use for me staying; it's my period." Xu Qingcheng smiled, as if to say, "You're useless."

Fu Jingting felt a lump in his throat. Was this all she ever thought of him?!

Hmm...that seems to be true.

Where is your driver?

"It's late, let him go home." Xu Qingcheng put on her coat and went to the entrance to change her shoes.

Fu Jingting grabbed her arm. "Sleep here tonight, I won't touch you."

"I have to fly to Jinzhou tomorrow morning, an early flight, I have to leave at 5 o'clock." Xu Qingcheng tugged at her wrist, but couldn't budge it.

"I'll have the driver take you tomorrow morning. It takes you an hour to get home from here anyway. Besides, it's closer to the airport from here, so you don't need to get up so early. I don't feel comfortable letting you go back and forth like this."

Xu Qingcheng blinked, somewhat unable to understand his sudden change of behavior.

But what he said was true.

Xu Qingcheng felt a warmth in her heart, but before she could feel it for even two seconds, she heard him continue, "Am I considerate enough, affectionate enough, and a boyfriend enough?"

"..."

Xu Qingcheng slammed her bag down on the entryway shelf, forcing a particularly fake smile. "It's enough. You can use the guest room tonight."

Fu Jingting couldn't help but laugh when he saw her storm off to the guest room.

……

Silver Bay Hotel.

Fu Jingting arrived ahead of time. He stared at the constant reminders Xu Qingcheng sent him on his phone and chuckled.

There's some traffic on the road, so we might be a little late.

I'll text you when we're almost there, and you can meet us at the hotel entrance. It's not to make things difficult for you, just a matter of courtesy.

My mom likes to drink Longjing tea, so I asked the hotel staff to brew a pot.

My mom might ask what your family thinks of me. Just say their opinions aren't the most important thing; yours are. You can subtly imply that they're not entirely satisfied, but that's all.

Also, if they ask how we met, just say we met at a friend's gathering. Since the newspapers say you're head over heels for me, then you'll have to be the pursuer.

【besides,】

Fu Jingting scrolled through the messages one by one. She must have spent the entire journey texting him. He couldn't help but reply, "No need, there are more. I'll handle it. I have to make sure it's worthy of your expensive sexy lingerie."

Xu Qingcheng's face flushed instantly.

"So busy? Constantly receiving messages?" Zhao Lan turned her head to look.

Xu Qingcheng was startled and quickly hid her phone. "No. It's Jingting. He said he's arrived and is waiting for us at the hotel entrance."

"No need to wait, let him go up. His status is too conspicuous, it's not good." Zhao Lan patted her hand.

"Let him wait, that's what he should do." Xu Qingcheng pouted, looking a little shy.

However, I realized it wasn't a good idea, so I texted him and said, "Why don't you go to a private room instead? It'll be easier to keep a low profile and avoid being photographed."

He replied with an "Mmm" and then fell silent.

Zhao Lan looked at her and smiled.

"When I went to the Ye family with you last time, you weren't this uncomfortable. Are you afraid I won't want to go?"

"Feeling like I'm sitting on pins and needles? Really?" Xu Qingcheng chuckled. "It's not like I'm formally meeting your parents, and our relationship isn't at that stage yet. Why would I be nervous?"

"Yeah, why are you so nervous?" Zhao Lan's voice softened.

Xu Qingcheng wanted to say that she was afraid of being exposed.

But in reality, she could only evade the question and dared not tell the truth. As a result, when she tried to explain, Zhao Lan felt that the child was taking it to heart.

Xu Qingcheng was speechless and could only pretend to be stupid.

The car has arrived.

Xu Qingcheng got out of the car and saw Fu Jingting already standing at the door, helping Zhao Lan open the car door.

As Xu Qingcheng got out of the car, she heard him call out, "Auntie."

His voice was as deep and pleasant as ever, but it seemed to carry an added hint of respect.

He was dressed in a black suit and white shirt, looking neat, energetic, and polite.

Zhao Lan nodded, seemingly satisfied.

"I'm sorry, I didn't expect the traffic to be so bad. We should have left earlier and kept you waiting." Zhao Lan apologized, her voice neither humble nor arrogant, carrying the pride and gentleness of someone from a scholarly family.

"No, please." Fu Jingting gestured for them to proceed.

Zhao Lan took a step forward.

Xu Qingcheng quickly stood beside Fu Jingting.

The location he chose was truly excellent—quaint and elegant, with realistic landscaping, exactly the style Zhao Lan liked.

Once inside the room, Xu Qingcheng took off her shawl and coat and had the waiter hang it up. Before Fu Jingting sat down, she tugged at his hand, as if she had something to say to him.

The man turned around, his eyes falling on her, a hint of amazement he suppressed deep within.

Xu Qingcheng's clothes were chosen by Zhao Lan; she wore a white embroidered cheongsam that perfectly accentuated her figure.

She styled her hair in a braid, adorned it with floral jewelry, and wore light makeup. Her eyes, which had lost their sharpness and allure, were simply refreshingly elegant.

His mother also often wore cheongsams, but Zhong Wanxiu was a lady from a respectable family, and her daily words and actions always matched her clothing.

Perhaps it's because I'm used to it, I don't feel any difference.

But Xu Qingcheng always gave him the feeling of being flamboyant and glamorous. When she suddenly toned down her colors and became so elegant and poetic, he also thought she looked beautiful.

It's very beautiful.

Zhao Lan said that a truly elegant woman can be clearly seen when she wears a cheongsam, but Xu Qingcheng doesn't really like it because the cheongsam with its open front and high slits makes it inconvenient to walk.

A woman like her is the center of attention even without deliberately highlighting her figure.

Wearing a cheongsam, I'm afraid I'll attract a lot of attention.

Xu Qingcheng doesn't really like exposing herself to lecherous men, so unless she has ulterior motives and deliberately wants to seduce someone, she rarely wears sexy clothes.

Now that Fu Jingting was staring at her, she blushed and retorted, "What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen anything like this before?!"