"He’s indecisive, can’t take pain, can’t make decisions, and can’t win fights. Who else can he blame but himself for his incompetence?" said Ni Yanqing with disdain.

"Who in Jing City doesn’t know that Cheng Sanlang, Cheng Yimo, is graceful and gentle, with a scholarly air? And you expect him to resort to violence?" Xu Ancheng looked at Ni Yanqing with amusement. "The Deng Family gave you a chance, didn’t they? Why not make a move?"

"What if I say something and we can’t even be friends anymore?" Ni Yanqing looked a bit sad.

"Ha, who would have thought that the decisive and steadfast future head of the Ni Family is so indecisive when it comes to feelings? You’re just like that Cheng San," Xu Ancheng teased.

Xu Ancheng proposed a plan to Ni Yanqing, "Now that everyone in Jing City knows, Cheng San is interested in Deng Yiyi. Do you think the person you care about would linger on them?"

"She’s not someone who changes easily. If I make a move now, I’d be taking advantage of the situation, I..."

"That’s why you’ve reached this age and still don’t have a partner." Xu Ancheng shook his head with a small laugh. "One shouldn’t have regrets. If you’re not proactive, there are plenty of others eager to be so. If someone else gets there first, just go cry by yourself."

Xu Ancheng left it there; he couldn’t stand those who hesitated in matters of the heart.

Turning back to the tent, Xu Ancheng picked up Baozi and then spoke to Yi Roujing, "Ni Yanqing and Jiang Bomeng graduated from Qing University; I met them after saving Hua Yizhong."

"The Hua Family and Ni Family are quite close; the Hua family’s grandaunt married into a branch of the Ni Family, so the two families have always been in contact."

"Ni Yanqing and Jiang Bomeng invested in the business I started with Zhou Zeyuan. But to me, the Zhou Family is all I know, while the Ni and Jiang families were just acquaintances with feisty kids."

"After acknowledging my roots, Ni Yanqing and Jiang Bomeng took me to visit their homes. That was when I finally met the elders of both families."

Yi Roujing seemed to understand a bit more, realizing that the Ni and Jiang families highly value their lineage. While they don’t interfere with their children’s friendships, bringing someone home is another matter.

"So you’re now considered accepted?" Yi Roujing asked with a smile.

"Kind of." Xu Ancheng nodded. "Because of my dad’s relationship with Mr. Cheng, the Cheng Family reached out to me frequently afterward."

"Actually, these families, though concerned with lineage, simply want to associate with those they know well. If people with ill intentions mix in... Families like theirs have lost important loved ones in this regard."

Yi Roujing realized this—different times, now people who want to make achievements or even just survive have paid a hefty price in this era.

"They’re all good people," Xu Ancheng concluded, "worth associating with, but the main ones are all big guys, you..."

"Ancheng, did you forget about me?" Ni Yan’an peeked over, with a finger pointing at herself, a big smile on her face.

Xu Ancheng’s lips curled into a smile, "Ni Yan’an, she’s Yanqing’s little sister."

"What else?" Ni Yan’an anticipated.

Xu Ancheng paused for a moment, and Ni Yan’an looked aggrieved, "Sister-in-law, I’m just like a little cabbage in the field, enduring all by myself, without anyone to care for."

"Sister-in-law, can I visit the Xu family to play with you?"

"Of course," Yi Roujing replied immediately. "But sometimes we stay at Beiluo Lane, number 58. You should know the Xu family’s phone number, just contact us in advance, so you know where we are."

"I might only be free on holidays and weekends. I’ve been admitted to the Industrial University this year, so I have to study during the week."

Yi Roujing chuckled at the mention of the university name—what a coincidence.

"Aunt An’an, my aunt also went to Industrial University," Baozi chimed in.

"Really?" Ni Yan’an took Baozi from Xu Ancheng, "Ancheng, sister-in-law, I’m going outside with Baozi to chat. You two come over later, the barbecue is about to start."

"Alright." Xu Ancheng nodded.

With just the young couple left, Xu Ancheng naturally took Yi Roujing’s hand and played with it in his palm.

"Did you meet by chance today?" Xu Ancheng asked, "I didn’t tell you before, did I? Were you startled? Did Yanqing test your skills?"

Yi Roujing raised her eyebrows, "You do know your brother—he did test me with one move."

"Hua Yiran can do martial arts, can’t he? When Hua Yiran visits the Ni family, or when Ni Yanqing visits the Hua family, they inevitably spar."

"From the military boxing you did on the last day of military training, Hua Yiran could tell you knew martial arts. So when speaking to Ni Yanqing, he brought it up. Just the other day, I happened to be at the Ni family delivering something, and they caught me and questioned me."

"But how did Ni Yanqing recognize me and Baozi?" Yi Roujing asked, curious.

"Ahem, he saw the photo in my wallet." Xu Ancheng wouldn’t admit that he was showing off in front of them.

"Ancheng, sister-in-law, lunch is ready," Ni Yan’an called out loudly.

When the two went outside, Cheng Yijin and the others were already gone. Yi Roujing suddenly thought of something, "That Zhou Zeqiu isn’t Zhou Zeyuan’s sister, is she?"

"Kind of," Xu Ancheng nodded, "but don’t mind her. She’s not from the same household as Zhou Zeyuan. She’s the result of Zhou San’s second uncle’s affair outside."

Yi Roujing was taken aback, "This, this is possible? The Zhou family’s reputation wasn’t affected?"

Nowadays, having an affair is notorious, let alone bringing them in.

"Zhou San’s second aunt couldn’t have children, so she turned a blind eye. But they took the kids home while sending away the adults. After having several more, none were sons. Now there are three illegitimate daughters, Zhou Zeyuan’s second uncle’s family is forced to live elsewhere and only come around for important occasions, during the New Year and holidays."

"Ha ha."

When they reached the two lit fires, one had a wire net over it with six aluminum box lunches, and the other had pork belly slices, mushrooms, corn, sweet potatoes, Baozi, Mantou, and other ingredients waiting to be cooked.

"Wow, this looks amazing," Yi Roujing commented on the aromatic grilled pork belly. "Oh, I brought some, too."

Yi Roujing proactively brought out the bento Mrs. Kang had prepared for her and Baozi.

As soon as she opened the lid, she was met with Ni Yan’an’s excited exclamation, "So pretty!"

Mrs. Kang had made small rice balls as per Yi Roujing’s request, with meat, canned vegetables inside, and some wrapped with sausage. Baozi’s had meat floss, specially fried by Mrs. Kang, suitable for children.

Another box contained fried eggs, cut into strips with scattered vegetable bits visible inside.

In addition to rice balls and fried eggs, there was fresh fruit.

"How did you fry the eggs so beautifully? They look thick and tender," Ni Yan’an said straightforwardly to Yi Roujing, her face almost written with the words ’want to eat’.