Reborn: I'll Never Fail My Childhood Sweetheart Again
Chapter 643 - 236: The Empress Dowager’s Worries: Her Son Is Too Much of a Lady-Killer (Part 3)
The loafer somewhat understood what his mother was thinking. Just from the way the two elders treated him and Qin Shiqing, he could tell they had interpreted the meaning of his words.
This was also intentional by Su Zelin, with a bit of "you figure it out yourself" implication, ambiguously revealing a few things, giving the two elders a heads-up in advance, lest they keep trying to matchmake him with Qin Shiqing, and then one day find several daughters-in-law, leading to him getting a good scolding.
Of course, in their eyes, he might still be very much a scoundrel, but as long as he wasn’t scoundrelly to Qin Shiqing, everything was negotiable. At least, breaking ties wouldn’t happen.
It’s not like if I don’t want to date Qin Shiqing, they’ll disown me, right? That clearly wouldn’t make sense.
Zhao Lixia became quite worried, glancing at the good daughter, Qin Shiqing, then at her own rascal son, suddenly feeling that Su Zelin was unworthy.
Yet, no matter how unworthy, he was still her son after all.
She really hoped to become family with Qin Shiqing through his relationship.
Granny Su never worried that the mother-in-law conflict from soap operas would occur between herself and the neighbor’s daughter.
However, that would be too unfair to Qin Shiqing.
Thinking it over and over, Zhao Lixia became very annoyed, recalling that she too had experienced a similar fate with Su Jianjun before, sharing a common foe, casting unfriendly glances at father and son, making Qin Shiqing more puzzled.
Why did Aunt suddenly seem to have a grudge against Uncle Zelin, what did they do to provoke her?
After dinner, having cleared the dishes, Granny Su and Qin Shiqing continued watching "Romance in the Rain 3".
Granny particularly loved this series, having been obsessed with "Romance in the Rain 1" and "2" back then, eagerly waiting for "Romance in the Rain 3" to air.
However, tonight Zhao Lixia watched absent-mindedly, not fully engaged.
This continued until the end of the show, Qin Shiqing went home, and Zhao Lixia sought out Su Zelin. She feared if she didn’t clarify that matter, she wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully in the days to come, it had to be addressed early.
"Zelin, do you have a girlfriend over at the school?"
Granny Su asked bluntly.
Then added: "And not just one?"
"How is that possible!"
Without even thinking, Su Zelin flatly denied it.
Although this was the truth, the dowager could not accept it all at once; she’d probably need blood pressure medication.
It was said that back in the day, his dad was quite a playboy at the steel plant too, and although he eventually succumbed to the dowager, she remained resentful of it, despising Su Shimei deeply for it. When she found out he mistreated Qin Shiqing in a past life, she chased him from one end of the alley to the other with a broom, hitting him all the way.
Therefore, this matter had to be handled slowly, like boiling a frog in warm water.
Just as Zhao Lixia was slightly relieved, the loafer changed his tune.
"But I do have a few female friends that I get along with pretty well."
The dowager stared wide-eyed.
"Getting along well with female friends, what sort of relationship is that?"
"Just that they’re fond of me and want to be friends with me; I can’t refuse to make friends with others, right? That would be very impolite!"
Su Zelin sighed, accurately placing a metaphorical pot on the dowager’s head: "Alas, no choice, mom, you birthed me so handsome, it’s not like I wanted this, you know!"
"Nonsense, I see you’re quite enjoying it just like your dad back then!"
Zhao Lixia couldn’t help but scold.
"Dad is dad, and I am me. Mom, don’t compare me with dad; we’re not the same kind of person!"
Su Zelin righteously declared, "Those girls and I are just good friends of the opposite sex!"
"Hmph, your dad also said the same back then!"
Zhao Lixia gritted her teeth, "You brat, confess honestly, are you going to Lin’an frequently because of those girls?"
Su Zelin traveled frequently between Lin’an and Jianglan; the dowager had felt something was off for a while, taking this opportunity to get clear answers.
"No, it’s mainly for work, but there is a girl who is in my company and also my assistant, we see each other a lot, can’t avoid her, can I?"
Su Zelin spread his hands.
He thought it best to first reveal someone who could cook for the dowager.
"Your assistant?"
The dowager was shocked.
She initially thought it was some girl from the Finance Academy, didn’t expect a coworker from the company to pop up first.
Her son is an executive, which means the assistant is practically a secretary?
"She isn’t a lot older than you, right?"
She probed.
Though it’s said a woman three years older is worth a gold brick, she feared her rascal son might end up with someone over thirty, divorced with two kids.
Your dad back then was genuinely happy to be a dad.
You mustn’t become a dad in this way, making me a grandmother!
"No, she’s only two years older. When I met her, she just graduated from college!"
Afraid his mother would misunderstand, Su Zelin quickly clarified.
That’s fine then!
Zhao Lixia breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Eh, why did I say that’s fine, this is already a bad sign.
This rascal son working in the company, having a secretary around, seeing each other daily, also being the one who serves tea and water.
What’s that saying?
Oh right, familiarity breeds affection!
Who’s to say they won’t end up together later?
I don’t mind the two-year difference, but because of this, there’s no hope for Qin Shiqing.
"How far have you guys progressed?"
Granny Su pressed on.
"Colleagues, at most a superior and subordinate relationship, we’ve just had a few meals together."
Su Zelin laughed.
"That’s it?"
Zhao Lixia was dubious, feeling there’s more to it.
Yet, no matter how complicated, even if she were a secretary, she couldn’t make her son resign from New Era and stop being an executive because of it, right?
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