Chapter 8 (1/2)
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
When the ladies reached the appointed restaurant, the hostess brought them to the private room. Upon entering, they saw Mr. Xu seated at the table with Mr. Zhang. The two men were deep in conversation.
Mrs. Xu sensed Xu Weilai freeze in her tracks, and she tightened her hold around Xu Weilai’s arm.
“You’re here,” Mr. Xu commented to his wife and daughter. “I met Mr. Zhang coincidentally and invited him to join us. We’re all going to be a family soon, anyway.”
He paused for a moment and looked at Xu Weilai. “Weilai, why aren’t you greeting him?”
Before coming, Xu Weilai had had a premonition that this wasn’t going to be a simple family meal. But she had never imagined that her parents would be so bold as to go this far.
Then again, since when had her feelings ever been in the scope of their considerations?
Xu Weilai closed her eyes and suppressed her emotions. When she reopened them, she pasted a smile on her face and called out docilely, “How do you do, Mr. Zhang?”
Mr. Zhang got up immediately and walked over to her. “Don’t stand on ceremony, Weilai. We’re about to be engaged, after all. In the future, just call me Lei.”
He kept his eyes trained on Xu Weilai’s face and made no effort to mask his desire whatsoever. Xu Weilai felt very uncomfortable.
Xu Weilai imperceptibly avoided his outstretched hand. She proceeded to pull a chair out from the table and gave a subservient pose as she said, “Mr. Zhang, please have a seat.”
“Okay! Sure!”
After Zhang Lei sat down, Mr. Xu followed suit. Mrs. Xu sat to his side. Xu Weilai was about to sit beside her mother, when her father said, “Weilai, sit beside Mr. Zhang and keep him company.”
Stunned, Xu Weilai’s hand paused in midair for a moment, before she pulled out the chair beside Zhang Lei and sat down.
Mr. and Mrs. Xu seemed very much in a hurry for her and Zhang Lei to develop their relations.h.i.+p. Therefore, when Zhang Lei deliberately plied her with alcohol, not only did they not stop him, they even encouraged her to indulge him.