Chapter 178: Will You Still Act Recklessly Out of Jealousy in the Future?

The song was undeniably a good one.

Sincere, deeply affectionate, melodious, and moving.

The only problem was that it had been released even before the year he was born. Cheng Xingye had no idea how this little rascal managed to dig up such an intensely cringe-worthy old song.

Someone nearby overheard it, casting curious and surprised glances their way. They seemed eager to find out who on earth could have broken the hearts of so many sweet maidens.

Quick as lightning, Cheng Xingye slapped the lock screen button, cutting off the chaotic lyrics. He then casually picked up his water glass, took a sip, and acted as though nothing had happened.

Glancing to the side, he saw the little rascal laughing so hard she was practically doubling over, nearly rolling onto the floor.

He fell into a speechless silence for a few seconds, gracefully pulled back his chair, stood up without a word, and grabbed her by the arm to lead her outside.

"Hey, what are you doing? I haven't finished eating yet!"

Lu Qingyue knew there would be no escaping punishment for making a fool out of him! But it wasn't like she had forced him to play that audio right then and there!

She had only tapped it because of her own itchy fingers, so why on earth was he blaming her?

However, Cheng Xingye kept a firm yet gentle grip on her arm, giving her zero chance of escape.

Following the garden path, the two of them walked a few steps and stepped indoors.

Just as they rounded a pillar, Lu Qingyue was abruptly pressed against the wall, her lips sealed tightly in a thorough kiss.

The man’s scent was crisp and overbearing, rushing aggressively into her breath.

Lu Qingyue’s heart leapt into her throat, beating wildly and chaotically against her ribs.

It was sunset, and the lingering twilight outside spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Although their backs against the pillar shielded them from prying eyes, the two intertwined shadows cast on the ground silently gave everything away.

Terrified that someone might discover what they were hiding here to do, Lu Qingyue anxiously clutched at his collar, her fingers bunching the expensive fabric into several wrinkles.

Yet Cheng Xingye seemed completely unbothered. He lowered his head, pressing close against her, and nibbled lightly on her lips as a form of punishment.

"Will you still go around getting jealous over nothing in the future?"

Refusing to admit she had been jealous, Lu Qingyue huffed, "Hmph!"

The moment she relaxed her jaw, he seized the opportunity to invade, completely sinking her into his slightly aggressive assault.

...

Out on the lawn, the long-table banquet was drawing to a close.

Guests chatted idly in their seats, and Guo Mengyun was laughing and conversing with several other society matrons.

Because Cheng Xingye had just brought the young lady over to greet everyone, curiosity about the Cheng family's future daughter-in-law was now running high. They all crowded around Guo Mengyun, tossing out questions from every direction.

Guo Mengyun sat in the middle of the crowd with a proud smile, gently responding to everyone's inquiries.

"Yes, that young lady just now is Xingye's girlfriend..."

"She hasn't officially visited the family yet, but it's bound to happen sooner or later..."

"There's no rush for marriage, they're still young people..."

Guo Mengyun sat among them with a light smile, when suddenly catching sight of something, her eyes widened sharply. She sprang to her feet at once.

"Excuse me for a moment," she offered a hasty explanation before hurrying off toward the hotel lobby.

As she approached, she saw Cheng Xingye standing sideways by a pillar with his head lowered, appearing to lecture someone.

A jolt of alarm went through Guo Mengyun. She gathered her skirt, took long strides, and marched over with an imposing air.

"Cheng Xingye, let her go right this instant!"

Cheng Xingye, who was in the midst of holding the young girl in his arms and kissing her, stopped dead in his tracks at the sound of her voice.

The moment he turned his head, he found himself locked in a fatal face-to-face with Guo Mengyun.

From afar, Guo Mengyun had seen him drag the young girl off to this secretive spot. Now, seeing the girl pinned in the corner with the corners of her eyes faintly red as if she had been crying, she immediately assumed the young couple was having a lovers' quarrel.

She usually didn't interfere much with Cheng Xingye, but emotional bullying was entirely unacceptable.

Consumed by sudden, unstoppable anger, Guo Mengyun slapped him hard on the arm.

"You've really grown some nerve, haven't you? How dare you bully Dianedianan in front of so many people?"

Taking the scolding completely undefended, Cheng Xingye found it both amusing and speechless. He drawled lazily, his tall frame shielding the young girl behind him.

"How on earth would I dare bully her? You might want to ask her what she just did to me first."

Seeing his nonchalant attitude only made Guo Mengyun even angrier.

Although she knew Lu Qingyue looked obedient and soft on the surface, she was actually quite mischievous behind closed doors and wouldn't necessarily get the short end of the stick with Cheng Xingye.

Still, the physical disparity between men and women meant that if Cheng Xingye truly wanted to bully her, the little girl likely wouldn't stand a chance at defending herself.

At this thought, Guo Mengyun narrowed her brows and said sharply, "Whatever she does to you, you should just take it."

A grown man bullying a girl so much younger than himself—he had no shame saying something like that.

Having finished reprimanding her son, Guo Mengyun turned her head to look at the girl blocked behind Cheng Xingye.

Whether from fright or something else, a thin layer of moisture shimmered in the corners of the young girl's eyes, and she avoided Guo Mengyun's gaze when their eyes met.

Guo Mengyun's expression softened. She reached out to push Cheng Xingye aside and coaxed gently,

"Dianadian, don't be afraid. If he ever dares bully you like this again, just come tell Auntie..."

Lu Qingyue's face flushed crimson. "...Ah?"

The man's tall frame shifted slightly to the side, letting the sunlight from the floor-to-ceiling window stream through.

Only then did Guo Mengyun clearly see that the young girl's lips were slightly reddened, still gleaming with a faint sheen of moisture.

She froze, then turned her gaze back to her son.

Cheng Xingye leaned lazily against the pillar, his collar wrinkled from being grabbed, and the corner of his lips looked slightly grazed.

Guo Mengyun: "???"

Guo Mengyun: "!!!"

Realization dawned on her abruptly!

Aware that she had made a massive blunder, Guo Mengyun broke into a slight, awkward sweat and hurriedly fabricated an excuse.

"Oh, um... I suddenly remembered your father was looking for me just now! You two go ahead, just pretend I was never here!"

Lu Qingyue: "..."

Cheng Xingye: "..."

Before either of them could recover, Guo Mengyun demonstrated exceptional situational awareness by turning on her heel and walking away, moving so fast it was as if she had never appeared at all.

Yet the romantic atmosphere had been shattered, leaving neither of them in the mood to continue.

On the spring evening, a sea breeze swept across the water, the shimmering ripples reflecting the fading twilight.

Cheng Xingye cupped the back of her slender, fair neck, pulling her close with a gentle exertion of force, and lowered his head to kiss the crown of her hair.

" Lu Dianadian, did you see that?"

With one hand still tucked in his pocket, his posture effortlessly cool and arrogant, his thumb unconsciously stroked the back of her neck as he coaxed her in a low voice,

"My parents now view you as their future daughter-in-law and are standing by your side without any principles whatsoever. So—"

He withdrew his hand from his pocket, wrapped his arm around her waist to pull her flush against him, and murmured softly,

"How about we find a time for you to come over and meet my parents?"