He tricked the female lead into becoming his boyfriend, but then went on to criticize the male lead.

Upon hearing Sang Jiuning's voice, Wen Zhaoci immediately stopped what he was doing, slowly closed his laptop, and looked up at Sang Jiuning.

His dark eyes instantly lost their focus from work, replaced by a look of deep grievance. He gazed at her expectantly, his voice soft and gentle, with a hint of coquetry: "Baby, can you stay and have dinner with me?"

The affectionate "baby" made Sang Jiuning's cheeks flush slightly, but she still firmly shook her head and refused seriously: "No, my mother is home alone. I have to go back and have dinner with her. It's too lonely to leave her at home alone."

She thought to herself that she couldn't just focus on spending time with Wen Zhaoci and neglect her mother who was home alone.

Seeing this, Wen Zhaoci's eyes deepened with grievance. He lowered his gaze slightly, his long eyelashes concealing his emotions, and his voice was pitiful and aggrieved: "But I'm alone too. I get lonely too. What should I do?"

Upon hearing this, Sang Jiuning's heart softened. Just as she was about to offer some words of comfort, she saw Wen Zhaoci raise his head, a forced sense of relief and melancholy on his face. He sighed softly, his voice low and forlorn: "Never mind, you should go back. I'm used to being alone. Anyway, I've been doing this for so many years."

As he spoke, he looked back at the computer, pretending not to care, but the slightly taut corners of his lips betrayed his disappointment.

Sang Jiuning felt a pang in her heart when she saw him like this.

She knew all too well what it was like to eat alone or be alone in an empty house. The loneliness she felt in her past life surged back into her heart, making her empathize deeply.

The Wen Zhaoci before her clearly longed for companionship, yet pretended to be sensible; this demeanor made it impossible for her to cruelly ignore him.

Her soft heart completely overwhelmed her concerns. After hesitating for a moment, Sang Jiuning quickly suggested, "Oh, don't be like that. Why don't you come back with me for dinner? It's easy to cook for one more person at home; it's just a matter of adding an extra pair of chopsticks, no trouble at all."

She was simply feeling sorry for him being lonely, completely unaware that she was falling into Wen Zhaoci's gentle trap step by step.

This is exactly what Wen Zhaoci was waiting for!

The next second, the loneliness and grievance in his eyes vanished without a trace, and a triumphant and indulgent smile quickly appeared on his lips. His movements were so fast that no one could react. He suddenly stood up and grabbed Sang Jiu Ning's wrist.

"Okay, let's hurry up and go!"

His tone was light and cheerful, completely devoid of the disappointment and grievance he had just displayed. He took Sang Jiuning's hand and walked towards the villa entrance without saying a word. His movements were swift and decisive, showing no trace of loneliness or desolation.

The warm yellow lights in the restaurant gently spread, enveloping the solid wood dining table and exquisite tableware in a soft halo. The air is filled with the warm aroma of home-cooked dishes, the freshness of steamed fish, and the richness of abalone and chicken soup, making people's appetites whetted.

The dishes on the table were all carefully prepared by Wang Ma; they were simple yet full of the warmth of home.

Fu Xulan sat in the main seat, her eyes gentle as she looked at Sang Jiuning and Wen Zhaoci sitting next to her. With a friendly smile on her face, she broke the silence first: "This must be Ningning's boyfriend. Please sit down, don't be shy, make yourself at home."

Wen Zhaoci sat down with an upright posture, sitting right next to Sang Jiuning. His fingertips brushed against the back of her hand, carrying a faint warmth.

He looked at Fu Xulan, his tone humble and polite, his eyes showing just the right amount of gentleness, completely unlike his usual aloofness towards others at school: "Hello, Auntie, you can just call me Aci. Thank you for preparing so much food, Auntie and Wang Ma."

"This child, why are you being so polite with your aunt?" Fu Xulan smiled even more warmly, picked up the serving spoon, and personally ladled a bowl of steaming abalone and chicken soup for Wen Zhaoci, pushing it in front of him. "Try this abalone and chicken soup. Our Wang Ma's cooking skills are unmatched by ordinary chefs outside."

The piping hot soup was served in a white porcelain bowl, its aroma filling the air. Wen Zhaoci quickly accepted it with both hands and thanked her again solemnly, "Thank you, Auntie. I will definitely try it."

The atmosphere at the meal was exceptionally harmonious at first. Fu Xulan simply chatted gently about everyday things, asking Wen Zhaoci about her life and studies at school, without any of the sharp questions that other elders would ask about her family's financial situation.

Sang Jiuning lowered her head and ate her meal in small bites, occasionally stealing glances at Wen Zhaoci beside her.

Just then, the sound of a door lock turning came from the entrance hall, followed by a steady, somewhat cold set of footsteps slowly approaching the dining room.

Sang Jiuning's hand gripping the chopsticks tightened suddenly, her heart leaped into her throat, and she even subconsciously slowed her breathing.

Fu Yanchen is back.

The man was tall and slender, dressed in simple black casual wear, yet he exuded a powerful aura of dominance. He walked slowly into the restaurant, his gaze sweeping lightly over the tables before finally settling down opposite Sang Jiuning.

When his gaze fell on Wen Zhaoci beside Sang Jiuning, his handsome brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes, and the atmosphere around him instantly dropped several degrees.

Sang Jiuning kept her head down, not daring to look Fu Yanchen in the eye. She was extremely flustered, feeling as if she had been caught red-handed doing something wrong.

Just a few days ago, Fu Yanchen had a serious talk with her. She had clearly promised her cousin that she would break up with Wen Zhaoci.

But only a few days later, she brought Wen Zhaoci home for dinner and openly acted as a couple in front of her mother. Now that Fu Yanchen had caught them in the act, her guilt was almost overflowing. She gripped the hem of her clothes tightly with her fingers and even had difficulty swallowing her food.

Fu Xulan was completely oblivious to the undercurrent between her cousins. She smiled at Fu Yanchen and said in a light tone, "Achen, why are you back so early today? Perfect timing, Ningning's boyfriend Aci is here too, you two can get to know each other."

Wen Zhaoci naturally sensed the hostility emanating from Fu Yanchen, but he still maintained his outward politeness. He put down his chopsticks, looked at Fu Yanchen, and took the initiative to extend his hand to greet him: "Hello, cousin, I am Ningning's boyfriend, Wen Zhaoci."

He deliberately emphasized the words "boyfriend," his eyes calm yet carrying a subtle assertion of dominance. Even though the man in front of him had a powerful aura, he did not back down in the slightest.

Sang Jiuning nervously glanced up at Fu Yanchen's face. The man's expression was gloomy and his eyes were cold. She couldn't tell much about his emotions, but he made her feel very uncomfortable.

She quickly lowered her head, picking at the rice in her bowl, wishing she could shrink herself away from that suffocating gaze.