Chapter 69
After chatting with Qin Ai for a while, Zuo Bian hung up the video call. Since she had plans to have lunch with Qin Ai and her family, she started choosing her outfit and getting ready.
Like most girls, despite having a closet full of clothes, Zuo Bian always felt like she had nothing to wear.
“I suddenly realized I have no clothes. Should I go shopping for new clothes?” Zuo Bian looked at her wardrobe, which held hundreds of garments, with a troubled expression.
555, with its floppy bunny ears, emerged from behind and hugged Zuo Bian’s leg. “I want to buy new clothes too! I want a new fluffy body!”
To 555, different styles and colors of plush toys were its new clothes. It couldn’t afford new clothes in the system world due to its debt, but it could be a freeloader in this world, supported by Zuo Bian.
Zuo Bian crouched down, patting 555’s head. “Okay, next time I go shopping for clothes, I’ll buy you some new plushies.”
“Yay!” 555 nodded vigorously, its bunny ears bouncing.
Zuo Bian continued browsing her clothes and finally chose a crimson dress. The rich red color didn’t overpower her features but instead made her look even more radiant.
It was a vibrant and captivating beauty, striking and alluring, capturing hearts at first glance.
“I think this looks okay.” Zuo Bian twirled in front of the mirror, admiring the dress.
Little Frog and 555 applauded enthusiastically, although one had plush paws and the other had tiny arms, they could only clap with their mouths.
“Clap, clap, you look great today, Host.”
“Clap, clap, ribbit, Xiao Bianbian looks super pretty, ribbit! I recommend this cherry-colored lipstick, ribbit.” Little Frog hopped onto Zuo Bian’s vanity table and nudged a lipstick tube with its chubby body.
Zuo Bian picked up the lipstick. “Thank you, Little Frog.”
“You’re welcome, ribbit.”
The cherry-colored lipstick had a glossy finish. After applying it, Zuo Bian’s already beautiful lips looked like ripe cherries, tempting and inviting.
Zuo Bian wasn’t a makeup expert yet, but she had a wide array of cosmetics and accessories.
To match the dress and lipstick, she chose a pair of cherry earrings and a delicate platinum necklace.
Her lips and earrings were already eye-catching, so she didn’t need a flashy necklace, it would be too much.
With 555’s guidance, Zuo Bian curled her hair.
This time, 555 was actually helpful. But it also helped that Zuo Bian was naturally beautiful. As long as she didn’t do anything too drastic, she wouldn’t look bad.
Du Yundong knocked on the door. Zuo Bian opened it, and her mother was stunned by her beauty.
“Our Xiao Bian can dress herself up now! You’re so beautiful. I was going to take you to get your hair and makeup done, but it seems unnecessary now.”
Zuo Bian lowered her head, a shy smile playing on her lips. Her downcast eyes held a captivating allure, like a stroke of vibrant color on a canvas.
Du Yundong took Zuo Bian’s hand, sighing. “Xiao Bian has really grown up. In a few years, you’ll be a true beauty.”
Zuo Bian had always been beautiful, but her beauty lacked soul before. Now, she was lively and radiant, her charm blossoming.
“Mom is also very beautiful. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be this pretty.” Zuo Bian looked at Du Yundong’s face.
Du Yundong was in her forties. Although she took good care of herself, the traces of time were still visible on her face. She was still beautiful, but her beauty was now imbued with the wisdom and grace of age, gentle and loving.
“Xiao Bian is so sweet. Come on, are you eager to see Xiao Qin?” Du Yundong teased.
They had just had a video call, but Zuo Bian still wanted to see Qin Ai in person, so she nodded. “Mm, I miss her.”
Du Yundong chuckled, covering her mouth. “Look at you, so lovey-dovey.”
On their way to the restaurant, Zuo Bian listened to her mother recount her love story with her father, Zuo Yan.
Their relationship hadn’t been smooth sailing at first. Du Yundong had fallen for Zuo Yan at first sight.
He was a quiet and seemingly simple man, an anomaly among their boisterous and playful peers.
Zuo Yan didn’t make a move, so Du Yundong did. Compared to Zuo Bian, she was much more direct, constantly professing her love and asking him when he would marry her.
But Zuo Yan was a clueless young man who hadn’t experienced love before. He didn’t even realize he had fallen for Du Yundong. He even replied to her love letter, which she had painstakingly copied from the internet, with a note saying that their main task as students was to study.
However, they were university students at that time. University life wasn’t as stressful as high school, and many students were dating. They wouldn’t be caught by teachers and have their parents called in.
“I was so angry back then! I had spent so much effort copying that love letter, and he told me to focus on my studies and not waste time on such things.”
Zuo Bian listened with fascination. What was student life like? She had never experienced school life in this world. Her memories were mostly blank, and she could only imagine it through stories and other people’s experiences.
“Later, to make your father realize his feelings, I pretended to have a boyfriend, my distant cousin. And then your father finally came to his senses and started pursuing me. We got married after graduating from university. Now that I think about it, it was a mistake to get married so early.”
“Is it bad to get married early?” Zuo Bian asked.
Du Yundong looked at Zuo Bian, her eyes softening. “It’s not bad. Marriage is a happy thing, especially after we had Xiao Bian.”
Zuo Yuan, who was sitting in the passenger seat, turned his head and asked, “Mom, have you forgotten about me?”
“Our Xiao Bian is so beautiful, I’m reluctant to let you get married.” Du Yundong ignored Zuo Yuan and straightened Zuo Bian’s hair.
Zuo Bian, worried that her brother’s confidence would be hurt, quickly comforted him. “Brother, look, you’re riding in the same car with us. Mom still cares about you.”
Poor Zuo Yuan had been relegated to another car. He was only able to ride with Zuo Bian and Du Yundong because he had squeezed his way in.
So, Zuo Bian’s words, instead of comforting him, made him even sadder.
【Host, you’re really bad at comforting people.】
It wasn’t just that she was bad at comforting people, her words were like daggers to the heart.
Zuo Bian also realized this, so she closed her mouth, swallowing the words she wanted to say.
However, her silence also hurt Zuo Yuan’s feelings. He thought Zuo Bian couldn’t even think of anything to say to comfort him.
But men don’t cry easily. Zuo Yuan silently digested his sadness.
Soon, they arrived at the restaurant they had booked. The restaurant was very private, so they didn’t have to worry about being photographed by reporters and having their words twisted.
It had only been a few hours since she last saw Qin Ai, but it felt like days to Zuo Bian.
And today, Qin Ai was also wearing red. She had on a crimson silk blouse with intricate patterns on the collar and cuffs, a slightly darker pencil skirt, matching pointed-toe heels, and her signature red lipstick.
Such a bold color would overwhelm most people, even if they could pull off the look, their aura wouldn’t be able to handle it. But on Qin Ai, it looked harmonious and natural.
Qin Ai usually preferred white or light colors. It was rare for her to wear red, and she looked incredibly stunning.
The moment Zuo Bian saw her, Qin Ai was all she could see. Qin Ai was always beautiful, but today, she was even more so.
Unlike Zuo Bian’s red, which was sweet and warm like honey, Qin Ai’s red had a cool undertone. Even though it was like a burning flame, it also gave off an air of sharpness and unapproachability.
Zuo Bian’s red was sweeter, like the cherry-colored lipstick on her lips, luscious and inviting, promising a taste of sweetness.
The same color, one cool, one sweet, they looked incredibly harmonious together, like a matching couple’s outfit.
Zuo Bian asked, “Qin Ai, why are you wearing red today?”
Qin Ai touched Zuo Bian’s earlobe, her finger brushing against the little cherry earring. The plump cherry swayed gently.
“Because I want to make a good impression on your parents,” she said.
Zuo Bian smiled. “You don’t have to worry, my parents already like you. But you look really good in red, so beautiful.”
“You too.” Qin Ai’s gaze was intense. Zuo Bian could see her reflection in Qin Ai’s eyes, her own face flushed red.
Du Yundong, who had walked ahead, turned around, wondering why her daughter wasn’t following her. She saw the two lovebirds chatting and smiled, not wanting to interrupt them.
Zuo Bian didn’t know why she looked away. She changed the subject. “Where’s Xiao Tian? I haven’t seen him.”
“Xiao Tian accidentally fell asleep. He was sleeping so soundly, so I didn’t wake him up.”
Qin Ai wasn’t lying. After being threatened by Qin Ai’s gaze, Qin Tian had gone back to his room to sleep and had accidentally fallen asleep. But Qin Ai hadn’t woken him up. If she did, he would definitely wake up and insist on coming along.
Qin Tian loved热闹(renao, a lively and bustling atmosphere), he would never miss a family gathering if he could help it.
“Did Xiao Tian stay up late playing games again? Lack of sleep can stunt his growth at his age,” Zuo Bian said worriedly.
If Qin Tian were here, he would probably feel another stab to his heart. Fortunately, he wasn’t.
Qin Ai said, “I’ll make sure he goes to bed early and wakes up early.”
Zuo Bian looked around and realized that her parents and Qin Ai’s mother were gone.
“Qin Ai, they’re gone.”
Qin Ai took Zuo Bian’s hand. “They probably went to the private room first. Let’s go.”
“Mm-hmm.”
When Zuo Bian and Qin Ai arrived at the private room, they were met with strange looks. The parents were both pleased and amused, while Zuo Yuan, the lone soldier in the siblings’ group, looked heartbroken.
He had been mentally prepared for this for a long time, but he still couldn’t fully accept that his innocent and adorable sister had been snatched away by Qin Ai, the big bad wolf.
Zuo Yuan chose to ignore reality, focusing on his drink. But every time he looked up, he would see Zuo Bian and Qin Ai chatting sweetly across from him.
He was sitting right opposite them, with a perfect view. The problem was, he couldn’t find anyone to talk to and alleviate the awkwardness.
The parents were discussing the engagement, the couple was being lovey-dovey, and he was all alone. Zuo Yuan wished Qin Tian were there.
However, if Qin Tian were here, Zuo Yuan would probably spit blood because Qin Tian was a fan of Zuo Bian and Qin Ai’s pairing!
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