Old Mrs. Song is reborn; get out of here, you scumbag husband and illegitimate child!

That's a well-said statement.

This is definitely a prospective son-in-law visiting his daughter's home.

"You're here already, why did you bring anything?" Shen Huijun greeted them warmly. "The main room is full of things that were just blasted out, there's not even a place to stand. If you don't mind, please sit on this stone bench in the courtyard for a while."

"Or go upstairs to the living room. There's a tea table there, and I'll make you some tea."

"Not at all, not at all." Zhao Ziheng readily agreed and sat down at the stone table. "I'll wait for Tingting in the courtyard."

Shen Huijun turned and went into the house, deftly bringing out a set of traditional Chinese tea utensils, including the finest Tieguanyin tea.

Two plates of freshly fried oysters, sweet potatoes, and taro were then placed on clean plates.

They also placed the taro cakes that Fu Bao had brought from next door on the stone table.

"Have some tea to warm yourself up first."

Song Xianglan sat down opposite him, her eyes sharply fixed on Zhao Ziheng.

"These are all homemade snacks from our rural area. Try some."

Zhao Ziheng nodded. "Thank you."

I didn't go to get any snacks.

Fu Bao sat on the kitchen threshold, holding a taro cake, her eyes fixed on Zhao Ziheng.

"You're Xiao Zhao, right?" Song Xianglan got straight to the point. "How did you and Tingting meet? Are you both studying at Peking University?"

Zhao Ziheng held a teacup, sitting upright.

"Auntie, I'm Tingting's senior from university. I studied in the United States and just returned to China last month." Zhao Ziheng's tone was full of confidence.

Overseas returnees.

Song Xianglan's heart skipped a beat.

Are you from Beijing?

"Yes, both my parents work in government agencies in Beijing."

Shen Huijun listened with her eyes shining.

Just then.

Song Tingting strode in carrying two empty bamboo baskets.

"Mom, Uncle Zhao said he'll bring some fruit over later. He's gone to pick fruit with Aunt Juhong now."

He hadn't finished speaking.

She spotted Zhao Ziheng sitting at the stone table at a glance.

Song Tingting's expression changed instantly.

"What are you doing here?!" Song Tingting's voice changed.

Zhao Ziheng put down his teacup and stood up. "Tingting, you're back."

"I'm asking you what you did in my house?" Song Tingting's tone was full of accusation.

She didn't tell him about Koizumi Village or his specific address at all.

Seeing her angry face, Zhao Ziheng quickly explained, "I asked around in town. I thought since it's not far, I should at least pay a visit to you, Auntie."

"A visit?" Song Tingting sneered. "You're acting on your own initiative."

Song Xianglan noticed that her daughter was in a bad mood.

"Tingting, how can you talk to people like that? They kindly brought these things to our door," Song Xianglan scolded. "They're all guests, don't be rude."

"Mom, you don't understand." Song Tingting turned her head away, her chest heaving violently.

Shen Huijun quickly tried to smooth things over:

"Sit down and talk. Xiao Zhao came all this way. No matter what, don't get upset."

Song Tingting took a deep breath.

She looked at Zhao Ziheng and said, "Let's talk outside."

After saying that, she turned and walked out of the courtyard.

Zhao Ziheng nodded to Song Xianglan and Shen Huijun and quickly followed them out.

Arrived at the roadside.

Song Tingting stopped and turned to meet Zhao Ziheng's gaze.

"What exactly do you want?"

"Tingting, I just wanted to see where you live. I genuinely want to date you."

"Dating?"

Song Tingting found it ridiculous. "Zhao Ziheng, I don't have those feelings for you. My family and yours are somewhat incompatible, and besides, I don't want to marry someone from Beijing."

Why?

Zhao Ziheng's tone became urgent:

"Is it because of my family's financial situation? Don't worry, once we're committed, I'll talk to my parents and persuade them. You're so outstanding, they'll definitely accept you."

Song Tingting was amused by this.

"accept?"

Song Tingting crossed her arms. "Zhao Ziheng, do you think this is a matter of whether your parents accept me or not?"

"What else can I do? My mom may not be the most amiable person, but as long as I persist..."

Zhao Ziheng is handsome.

After starting work, I will have a good family and a promising future.

So many girls were pursuing him.

He habitually believed that as long as he seriously pursued a girl, he would never be rejected.

You've got it backwards.

Song Tingting interrupted him, "If it were the old Song Tingting who had just left the fishing village, hearing what you said might have made her back down because of her inferiority complex. If I really encountered a family like yours, I might feel that I was not good enough for them. But now, I don't think so anymore."

"So what do you mean?"

"I want to do scientific research in the future."

Song Tingting's eyes were calm and clear-headed. "I will go into the lab and look at the data day and night. This big family you are so proud of has many rules and complicated interpersonal relationships that are not clean enough."

If I were really with you, would your family agree to me being away from home all the time? Would they tolerate me not cultivating those social relationships?

Zhao Ziheng was speechless for a moment.

"I will only focus my time and energy on my profession." Song Tingting spread her hands. "Your family background will not only not help me, but will actually hold me back. I don't like complicated families, and I disdain dealing with those kinds of families."

A wave of bitterness welled up in Zhao Ziheng's heart.

His background, where he was always pampered and adored, has somehow become a burden that people despise.

"My parents work in the system," Zhao Ziheng tried to argue.

"There are differences between different systems."

Song Tingting showed no mercy, "It's no use on me. And most importantly, I really have no feelings for you."

This statement is more hurtful than any analysis.

Even if Peking University brought over a campus heartthrob, Song Tingting would still find him unattractive when she stood in front of him.

Zhao Ziheng was unconvinced. "Don't you have feelings for me, or are you the same way with everyone else?"

Song Tingting thought about it seriously.

"I'm probably a bit cold-blooded and selfish," Song Tingting said calmly. "Feelings aren't really that important to me."

I don't think marriage is a necessary option in life.

Perhaps someday in the future, I'll meet someone I like, and I might even get married. But that person will definitely not be you.

"Perhaps I will marry someone who is suitable, and that person will not be you."

"I've said before that I don't like troublesome people and things. Love is optional for me, even ranking after hobbies."

Zhao Ziheng leaned against the red brick wall, his shoulders slumped.

"Not even a chance to try?" His voice was hoarse. "Can't feelings develop over time?"

"no."

Song Tingting's rejection was crisp and decisive: "I don't have time to develop feelings for you over time. My entire focus is on work. We might not even see each other once a year, so where will feelings come from?"

"We might not even see each other once every two or three years."

Seeing Zhao Ziheng's unpleasant expression, she softened her tone slightly:

"Zhao Ziheng, you're a nice guy, and very handsome too. I'd love to be friends with you, but only as ordinary friends."

Zhao Ziheng looked up at the girl he liked.

The girl in front of me was confident and outgoing.

His eyes were clear and bright, revealing a resolute determination to never turn back even after hitting a brick wall.

In addition, her strong scholarly air, coupled with her impeccable figure and appearance, made her even more remarkable.

It's absolutely dazzling.

Zhao Ziheng felt a sharp, cutting pain in his heart.

Back then, when he first realized he had feelings for Song Tingting, he casually mentioned it at the dinner table at home.

As a result, his mother immediately turned cold and gave him a severe scolding.

At that time, he chose to back down and even went abroad.

Now that I want to go back and look for them, I find that they have already gone too far.

No, back then, Song Tingting had no feelings for him whatsoever.

"Song Tingting, you're too cruel," Zhao Ziheng said with a bitter smile.