Chapter 168: Chapter 167: Because of Your Brother
Zhang Xin picked up a piece of fish, turned her head, and asked Zhang Zhao: "When I called you, were you still in class?"
Zhang Zhao was about to pick up the fish with his chopsticks but quickly stopped: "Yes."
Zhang Xin frowned: "Did I interrupt your class?"
Zhang Zhao seemed a bit flattered: "No, not at all."
Zhang Xin softly said oh and looked at Zhao Meimei, trying to control her slightly anxious mood, asking politely and naturally: "After last time we met, I’ve been thinking of inviting you and your brother to visit my home, but your brother has been quite busy. Perhaps when I finally arrange a day with him, you could come along?"
Zhao Meimei had a good impression of Zhang Xin, and upon hearing her question, she responded, "Sure."
Zhang Xin held the jug of sour plum juice and filled the cups of Zhao Meimei and Wang Jiayue: "Wasn’t your brother busy trying to rent a booth earlier? How come he hasn’t gone recently?"
Zhao Meimei replied casually: "Not sure, hasn’t he been hanging around with my Brother Chao all the time?"
Upon hearing Qu Chaozong’s name, Zhang Xin tightened her fingers around the chopsticks. No wonder...
Since unintentionally meeting Shi Yang last time, Zhang Xin had been waiting for Shi Yang to reach out to her. Unexpectedly, not only did Shi Yang fail to call, but he also stopped going to the mall.
Zhang Xin’s previous confidence started to falter immediately. Could it be that Shi Yang is planning to give up on renting the mall space?
If that’s the case, then all the effort she put in earlier would have been wasted. Realizing this, she felt uneasy.
Zhang Xin arranged today’s meeting with Zhao Meimei specifically to find out what Shi Yang had been up to. Now, upon hearing the outcome, her heart skipped a beat—Shi Yang switched to working with Qu Chaozong, running around kindergartens. Could it be that he’s really giving up on the mall channel?
During the meal, only Zhao Meimei ate enthusiastically. Wang Jiayue wasn’t very used to interacting with strangers; she ate a couple of bites and then put down her chopsticks.
As for Zhang Zhao, his attention was all on his sister. He attentively served tea and poured water, occasionally pricking up his ears to listen to Zhang Xin and Zhao Meimei’s conversation. When he noticed Zhang Xin frequently mentioning Zhao Meimei’s brother, a trace of displeasure flickered in his eyes, yet he didn’t say anything. He ate a couple of bites himself and then handed Zhang Xin a napkin.
After hearing about Shi Yang from Zhao Meimei, Zhang Xin lost her appetite, but she dutifully fulfilled the role of the host. At the dining table, she displayed the demeanor of an elder sister, concernedly asking about the kids’ academic situations, discussing the choice between arts and sciences—all things that are forgotten after being spoken.
Once the meal was over, Zhang Xin settled the bill and led the three out of the restaurant. Her car was parked right at the restaurant entrance. She said to Zhang Zhao: "Make sure you take Meimei and her friend back to school!"
Zhang Zhao quickly agreed obediently.
After Zhang Xin said goodbye to Zhao Meimei and Wang Jiayue, she drove away.
Zhang Zhao watched Zhang Xin’s car depart, turned around, and said: "I’d like to take a walk."
Zhao Meimei nodded, linked arms with Wang Jiayue, and turned to leave.
Zhang Zhao called out to Zhao Meimei: "I want to ask you something, mind walking with me?"
Wang Jiayue proactively said: "I’ll head back to class then."
After Zhao Meimei bid farewell to Wang Jiayue, she turned and walked with Zhang Zhao towards the back gate of the school.
From the restaurant to the school’s back gate, Zhang Zhao was utterly silent. His thin upper lip pressed into a line, eyebrows lowered, deeply engrossed in his thoughts.
When they reached the wall beside the gate, Zhang Zhao halted and picked a concrete platform beside the road to sit down, gesturing to Zhao Meimei.
Zhao Meimei also sat beside him without saying anything.
Zhang Zhao habitually reached for his pocket to take out a cigarette, startling momentarily when he put it in his mouth, then turned to Zhao Meimei: "Hope you don’t mind if I smoke?"
Zhao Meimei shook her head, observing Zhang Zhao expertly light the cigarette and take a deep drag, couldn’t help but ask: "Does it really taste that good?"
Zhang Zhao exhaled smoke through his nose, raised an eyebrow: "What?"
Zhao Meimei pointed at the cigarette in his hand: "Is this stuff particularly fragrant?"
Zhang Zhao shrugged and handed the pack to her: "Want to try?"
Zhao Meimei took it and examined it carefully in her hand, then shook her head: "No, it’s bad to get addicted to this stuff."
Zhang Zhao chuckled: "Then just don’t quit!"
Zhao Meimei lifted her thin eyelids and eyed him disdainfully: "You should smoke less; it isn’t good for your health."
Zhang Zhao softly tugged at the corner of his mouth, took another deep drag from the cigarette, and then casually stubbed it out.
In terms of height among girls, Zhao Meimei was considered tall, but when they sat side by side, Zhang Zhao still needed to lower his head slightly to meet her gaze.
Zhao Meimei’s skin tone was wheatish, unlike Zhang Xin’s almost transparent whiteness. Her eyebrows and eyes were subtly elongated, exuding a bold heroic spirit, especially when she laughed or scolded, her eye corners slightly lifted. Zhang Zhao couldn’t quite put his finger on why, but when he was with Zhao Meimei, he never thought of her as a girl. In his eyes, Zhao Meimei seemed like a presence without gender.
No, it wasn’t just Zhao Meimei. In his mind, aside from Zhang Xin, everyone else lacked that special spark; he couldn’t articulate what it was, just something particularly captivating.
"How did you meet my sister?"
Zhao Meimei was taken aback, she thought for a moment before replying: "Had dinner together once."
Talking about this, Zhao Meimei couldn’t help but ask: "Hey, why did your sister invite me for a meal today? Was it you who asked her to?"
Zhang Zhao glanced at her: "No, my sister specifically asked for you."
Zhao Meimei asked curiously: "Why?"
Zhang Zhao squinted: "Because of your brother!"
When Zhao Meimei heard this, her expression immediately became odd: "What do you mean by ’because of my brother’?"
Zhang Zhao scrutinized her expression: "During the meal, my sister asked about your brother, but nothing else!"
Zhao Meimei retorted without thinking: "Still, it’s not because of my brother."
Zhang Zhao: "Is your brother getting along with my sister well?"
Zhao Meimei glared at him: "What are you talking about! What do you mean by my brother getting along with Sister Xin? It’s clear Sister Xin is dating my Brother Chao, what’s it got to do with my brother!"
"Who?" Zhang Zhao questioned: "Your Brother Chao?"
Zhao Meimei rolled her eyes: "The one who picked me up from the principal’s office when Robber Hao was looking for my parents last time, didn’t you see him?"
Zhang Zhao tried to recall but had no memory of it. He asked again: "Is your Brother Chao really getting along well with my sister?"
Zhao Meimei hesitated, then admitted truthfully: "They haven’t officially introduced themselves to each other, so I can’t say for sure."
Zhang Zhao pondered silently for a moment, then suddenly stood up, brushing off his school uniform: "Let’s head back to class."
Zhao Meimei stood up and felt a bit confused. She opened her mouth, uncertain of what to ask, so she stopped talking and followed him through the back gate back to school.