Unlike Peng Guoguo’s frustration, the meal was extremely pleasant for Wen Ying.
Initially, Wen Ying felt a bit nervous because of Xie Tang, but as the conversation flowed, her tension eased.
From Xie Tang, Wen Ying could glimpse the upbringing of the Xie family. It could be said that, except for Xie Jinghu, all the Xie family members she had met or heard about left a positive impression.
Xie Tang reminded Wen Ying of Qin Jiao.
Not in appearance or temperament, but in the similar calm confidence they exuded.
That calm confidence made communication easy, and communication was Wen Ying’s forte as a lawyer!
While Wen Ying observed Xie Tang, Xie Tang was quietly observing her too.
After all, this was the girl Xie Qian liked.
Trusting Xie Qian’s judgment, Xie Tang was predisposed to approve of Wen Ying, viewing her through rose-tinted glasses. But even without that bias, Wen Ying’s personality was naturally likable.
Xie Tang wasn’t particularly artistic and didn’t often watch Hunan TV, but she was active online.
At first, she thought Wen Ying looked familiar, as if she’d seen her somewhere.
Before leaving the campus, Xie Tang finally remembered, “Oh, no wonder you look so familiar! You’re Upstream Fish, aren’t you?”
The girl Xie Qian liked was actually the recently popular bestselling author!
“…That’s me,” Wen Ying admitted graciously.
Xie Tang’s smile widened, “Sorry for not recognising you right away. You’re staying in Shanghai, right? Can I come find you tomorrow to get a signed book?”
Flattered by Xie Tang’s straightforward praise, Wen Ying blushed slightly, “Sister Xie Tang, you don’t need to make a trip. I can bring it to you, or you can give me your address…”
“No, no, I’ll come get it. I’ve got plenty of time. Mailing it is even less necessary—don’t you want to see more of me?”
Of course, she did.
Xie Tang had just shared two amusing stories about Xie Qian’s childhood, which Wen Ying found delightful.
And that was with Xie Qian present, so Xie Tang held back. If he weren’t there… Wen Ying was eager to deepen her friendship with Sister Xie Tang!
Smiling, Xie Tang gave Wen Ying her contact details.
“It’s settled then. Let’s keep in touch!”
Peng Guoguo was confused.
Recalling Wang Shuang’s shock that he didn’t know Wen Ying, Peng Guoguo felt uneasy again.
Xie Tang hadn’t recognised her at first either.
But Xie Tang had clearly caught up, while Peng Guoguo was still in the dark, giving him a subtle sense of being excluded from the group!
Xie Tang didn’t ask Xie Qian to escort her back, instead dragging Peng Guoguo along. Before leaving, she gave Xie Qian a thumbs-up, signalling her approval of his taste.
Xie Qian understood the gesture.
Xie Tang was praising his choice of friends!
What was there to praise?
If Hamster and Wang Shuang were bad people, he wouldn’t waste time befriending them.
Wen Ying wasn’t oblivious. Bringing a guest uninvited was basic social etiquette, and Xie Qian bringing Xie Tang to Wu Chunqin’s house for dinner likely meant something was up. Though Xie Qian didn’t say, and Wen Ying hadn’t planned to ask, on the way back to the hotel, Xie Qian brought it up himself.
“My cousin got dumped today. I brought her to Aunt Wu’s to keep her from overthinking.”
Wang Shuang, who had eaten two bowls of rice with braised pork and was dozing in the taxi, perked up instantly, “Sister Xie Tang got dumped?!”
That someone like Xie Tang could get dumped baffled Wang Shuang.
She had the height, the looks, the brains, and the family background!
Who’d be blind enough to break up with a girlfriend like that?
Xie Qian glanced at him, “What’s so strange? Breaking up with someone incompatible is the best choice.”
Yan Yuchuan was great, and so was Xie Tang.
They just weren’t right for each other.
There was nothing to regret about two incompatible people parting ways. They’d each find the right person eventually!
Wang Shuang thought about it and agreed, slumping back in his seat, “Ugh, with someone like Sister Xie Tang, why worry about finding a partner? I must be stuffed to worry about her.”
With her grades, family, and looks, she was a winner in life.
Comparing himself, Wang Shuang figured he could only find confidence by looking at someone like Peng Guoguo.
But that thought cheered him up.
Finding confidence by outshining Peng Guoguo meant he wasn’t at the bottom!
Suddenly, all the classes, reference books, and practice tests seemed worthwhile.
Without studying hard, he’d be another Peng Guoguo, coasting through high school, going abroad to coast through a degree, returning as a fake elite to join his dad Wang Jun’s business. If the Wang family’s feng shui was exceptional, he might expand the business; if it was just average, maintaining the status quo would be his limit!
That kind of life wasn’t bad.
But only if Wang Shuang never broadened his horizons, then he’d be content.
Now, surrounded by an excellent circle, Wang Shuang’s perspective had shifted. Beyond living off his family’s achievements, he wanted to accomplish something himself.
Not just about making money—it was about his own abilities, his own domain, a more positive pursuit in life—
The more he thought, the more fired up he got, urging the driver, “Hurry up, I need to get back to do practice tests!”
In this hyped-up state, how could he not do a couple more tests!
Wen Ying was amazed.
Wang Shuang’s study enthusiasm was intense. Had Aunt Wu’s intellectual atmosphere rubbed off on him?
Regarding Xie Tang’s love life, Wen Ying didn’t comment in front of Wang Shuang, instead texting Xie Qian, “Is Sister Xie Tang really okay?”
Xie Qian replied via text, “It definitely affects her, but it’s her own matter, and no one can figure it out for her. Don’t worry, Tang’s temperament is like my uncle’s—once she decides, she’s decisive.”
Rather than worrying about Xie Tang, Xie Qian was more focused on dealing with Tai Wu and his group.
Whether Xie Tang and Yan Yuchuan’s relationship was in crisis wasn’t for outsiders to meddle in.
As for how to handle Tai Wu and his crew… that task was for Peng Guoguo, a chance for Green Hair to redeem himself!
Unknowingly, Xie Qian was already thinking like a boss, not needing to handle everything himself.
There were no truly useless employees, only bosses who couldn’t inspire their team or uncover their “talents.”
Peng Guoguo had talents too. Besides his love for dyeing his hair, he wasn’t bold enough for anything too outrageous. As long as someone was stronger, Peng Guoguo would obediently follow orders.
…
Labelled timid by Xie Qian, Peng Guoguo was on edge the whole way, fearing Xie Tang might hit him, but she didn’t.
Yet she also didn’t talk to him, which left Peng Guoguo feeling uneasy.
Xie Tang was so eloquent at Professor Shen’s, but had nothing to say to him—did she look down on him?
Even a beating would be better!
After dropping Xie Tang off at her place and watching her go upstairs, Peng Guoguo didn’t head back to his hotel. Instead, he found a nearby internet café.
Opening a browser, he typed “Upstream Fish,” a name he remembered clearly.
So many pages related to “Upstream Fish”?
Peng Guoguo clicked through them, and the more he read, the weaker his knees felt.
“So, the awesome Xie Qian likes an equally awesome girl?!”
