She couldn't help but say to Ning Wanqiu, "Wanqiu, you've really made it in life. With such a capable son, you're bound to enjoy endless blessings in the future."
Ning Wanqiu replied, "Sister Gu don't praise him too much. Don't be fooled by his current small achievements. If he becomes arrogant, he might end up suffering a big setback."
Zhang Ruoshu adjusted her emotions and calmly said, "Wanqiu, I don't think Xiao Xu is the type to become arrogant. So you don't need to worry. Just wait and enjoy the blessings."
Xu Xiuwen also added, "Yeah, Mom, just wait and enjoy the blessings."
Ning Wanqiu didn't actually think her son would become arrogant. Hearing his words, she felt quite emotional.
The four of them chatted while eating, and the topic mostly revolved around Xu Xiuwen.
For some reason, the conversation suddenly shifted to Xu Xiuwen's childhood.
Ning Wanqiu said, "He was quite naughty when he was little. I was worried he might end up going down the wrong path."
Xu Xiuwen was speechless, "Mom, when was I ever that naughty? Do you think so poorly of me?"
Gu Pandi laughed, "Xiao Xu, you were really naughty when you were young. Do you remember how you used to climb trees and steal fruit with your classmates in third and fourth grade? You even used to knock on people's doors just to run away."
Xu Xiuwen was left speechless. He vaguely remembered such incidents.
In elementary school, he would roam around after school with some classmates. He knew which houses had fruit better than anyone. Sometimes they'd knock on doors and hide when people came out.
But it was just a phase that didn't last long.
Zhang Ruoshu laughed, "I didn't actually know this. Xiao Xu never knocked on our door."
Gu Pandi said, "He definitely didn't dare to knock on your door with your young daughter there. Our door, however, was knocked on twice, and once he was even caught by his Uncle Jiang."
Zhang Ruoshu nodded, as if understanding something.
Ning Wanqiu also chuckled.
At the dinner table, the two women were all older than Ning Wanqiu, although Gu Pandi and Zhang Ruoshu were only a couple of years older.
All three were mothers now, yet each was beautiful and well-maintained, both in looks and figure.
Among them, Zhang Ruoshu was the eldest and most mature-looking.
She had an eye-catching figure with a full bottom and a slim waist, and her clothing and makeup were quite refined, giving her a glamorous and sophisticated appearance.
In his previous life, she would be the type of woman highly admired online, appealing to many younger men.
Gu Pandi, who was the same age as Zhang Ruoshu but a few months younger, differed in her minimal makeup approach.
She was naturally beautiful, with a dignified and graceful look that exuded warmth and charm.
Her figure was just as impressive as Zhang Ruoshu's, with a full bottom, a broad chest, and an aura of a well-bred lady.
Ning Wanqiu, the youngest among the three, had a notable figure as well, but she appeared quite youthful.
Her appearance made her look like a young girl, and no one would guess that she had a son who was already in college.
Ning Wanqiu's demeanor was refreshingly elegant and had a cool, high-class vibe, much like Cheng Lu.
She didn't smile much and often maintained a stern face due to her job as a teacher.
To those unfamiliar with her, she might seem fierce. Indeed, she could be strict with Xu Xiuwen, but she also had her gentle moments.
In summary, each woman at the table had her own distinct charm.
If ranked by looks, Ning Wanqiu was the most beautiful, followed by Zhang Ruoshu, and then Gu Pandi.
Their personalities and styles were equally varied: Ning Wanqiu was cool and youthful, Zhang Ruoshu was a mature beauty, and Gu Pandi embodied the qualities of a refined, gentle lady.
As they chatted, Gu Pandi suddenly asked, "Xiao Xu, have you found a girlfriend since starting university?"
The topic caused an immediate hush at the table.
Xu Xiuwen hesitated for a second before replying, "No."
As soon as he spoke, he felt a gaze upon him.
He knew exactly whose gaze it was.
After a few seconds of staring at Xu Xiuwen, Zhang Ruoshu shifted her gaze away without saying anything.
Gu Pandi, hearing Xu Xiuwen's response, was delighted and smiled broadly.
She couldn't help but say, "Actually, finding a girlfriend shouldn't be rushed. You need to take your time. Xiao Xu, don't you think I'm right?"
Xu Xiuwen nodded, "Yes, Aunt Gu, you're right."
Gu Pandie continued, "So, what kind of girl are you looking for as a girlfriend?"
Xu Xiuwen immediately felt Aunt Zhang's gaze on him.
He thought to himself: I like all kinds of girls, as long as they're good-looking.
But this was something he could only think about internally; it wasn't something he could say out loud.
He quickly replied, "I'd like to find a girl whom I know well and has a clear family background. That way, life will be more stable, and both families can be at ease."
When he mentioned "know well and with a clear family background," Zhang Ruoshu immediately thought of her daughter.
Xiao Youran and Xu Xiuwen had grown up together as childhood friends, so naturally, they were well-acquainted.
As for family background, though it wasn't wealthy, it was certainly clear.
Zhang Ruoshu believed Xu Xiuwen was indirectly referring to Xiao Youran and felt quite satisfied.
Gu Pandi also immediately thought of her own daughter.
She smiled even more happily, "It's good to be well-acquainted and have a clear family background. Xiao Xu, I support your views. You're more mature than most kids, and I like that about you."
Xu Xiuwen didn't know what else to say and just smiled.
Gu Pandi continued, "Last week, Xiao Yu came home and talked about you. She was worried you might start dating in university. If she knew you weren't dating anyone, she'd be very happy."
Xu Xiuwen naturally thought of Gu Aunt and Uncle Jiang's daughter, Jiang Ruoyu.
Jiang Ruoyu, like Xiao Youran, had also grown up with him as childhood friends.
However, Jiang Ruoyu was a year younger and in a lower grade, so they had played together more when they were younger but had less contact in high school.
In his previous life, Xu Xiuwen last saw Jiang Ruoyu when he was a freshman in college.
Jiang Ruoyu had attended a key university in Jinling and, after graduation, joined a charity organization, traveling all over the country.
She only settled down at the age of 30, and she never got married.
Xu Xiuwen remembered that in his past life, Gu Aunt had often worried about Jiang Ruoyu.
Gu Pandi even asked Ning Wanqiu if there were any suitable people to introduce to Jiang Ruoyu.
At that time, Xu Xiuwen wasn't doing well and had limited contact with university classmates, so he had no introductions to offer.
Later, it seemed Jiang Ruoyu couldn't stand her parents' constant pressure to marry and simply left again.
It was said she eventually went to work and live in the Magic City.
As for whether she married or not, Xu Xiuwen wasn't sure.
But since Gu Aunt never sent a wedding invitation and Ning Wanqiu didn't attend a wedding, it could be inferred that she hadn't married.
Thinking of this, Xu Xiuwen couldn't help but shake his head.
He had known these two girls since childhood.
Xiao Youran never married due to misunderstandings and went to England, remaining single for her entire life.
Jiang Ruoyu also didn't marry for unknown reasons.
Xu Xiuwen had been married twice, but neither marriage ended well.
It seemed that their childhood trio ended up quite pitifully.
Xu Xiuwen thought Jiang Ruoyu's reluctance to marry in his past life was likely due to emotional trauma.
He didn't remember Jiang Ruoyu having any early romances in high school.
If not, it might have been that she dated someone in college who turned out to be a scumbag, causing her heartache and leading her to avoid marriage later.
With these thoughts, Xu Xiuwen really wanted to meet Jiang Ruoyu.
He hoped to impart some correct views to her before she went to university and encountered any bad experiences.
That way, Gu Aunt wouldn't have to worry about her daughter's marriage for a lifetime.
Gu Pandi said to Ning Wanqiu, "Wanqiu, with Xiao Xu being such a great kid, he won't have trouble finding a girlfriend in the future. But he should take his time, so don't rush him."
Ning Wanqiu smiled, "I won't rush him."
Xu Xiuwen suddenly asked, "Aunt Gu, did Xiao Yu have any early romances in high school?"
Gu Pandi was momentarily stunned but quickly shook her head, "Of course not. Our Xiao Yu is the most well-behaved. She wouldn't have any early romances."
It seemed Xu Xiuwen's assumption was correct; Jiang Ruoyu must have encountered a bad guy in college.
Xu Xiuwen said, "Aunt Gu, nowadays many boys play with girls' feelings. You should remind Xiao Yu to make sure she understands a guy's character before starting a relationship."
Gu Pandi laughed and replied, "That's something you should tell her. There's a generation gap between us, and it's better if it comes from someone her own age. She would listen to you."
Ning Wanqiu said, "Xiao Yu is about to take her college entrance exams. It's better not to bring up these things now to avoid distracting her. It's not too late to talk about it after the exams."
Gu Pandi thought for a moment and nodded, "Yes, you're right. Let's not mention it for now."
After dinner, Zhang Ruoshu and Gu Pandi prepared to head home.
Ning Wanqiu asked Xu Xiuwen to give them a ride since he had a car.
Aunt Zhang and Aunt Gu both said it wasn't necessary.
Xu Xiuwen said that since he had the wine for Uncle Xiao and Uncle Jiang in the car, it would be convenient to drop it off together.
The three of them went downstairs together.
It was still raining heavily outside.
Xu Xiuwen quickly dashed to the car, opened the door, and got in.
Aunt Zhang and Aunt Gu hadn't brought umbrellas and hurried to the car as well.
Zhang Ruoshu went straight to the passenger seat, opened the door, and sat down.
Gu Pandi, being a step slower, had to sit in the back.
Xu Xiuwen first drove Zhang Ruoshu home.
When they arrived at Aunt Zhang's building, Xu Xiuwen parked the car.
He turned to Gu Pandi and said, "Aunt Gu, wait a moment. I'll take the wine upstairs."
Gu Pandi smiled and said, "No rush."
After getting out of the car, Xu Xiuwen opened the trunk and took out a box of new wine from the Guangming Winery.
Zhang Ruoshu quickly walked to the door and stood waiting for him.
Xu Xiuwen carried the wine over quickly.
They walked up the stairs side by side.
Halfway up, Zhang Ruoshu suddenly asked, "Why did you say at the dinner table that you don't have a girlfriend? If you don't have a girlfriend, what about Youran?"
Hearing the question, Xu Xiuwen turned to look.
In the hallway light, Zhang Ruoshu's expression looked quite unpleasant.
It seemed she was unhappy with Xu Xiuwen's earlier comment.
Xu Xiuwen wore a troubled expression, unsure how to respond.
Zhang Ruoshu probably didn't know he and Xiao Youran had broken up.
Otherwise, she likely wouldn't have reacted this way.
He wasn't sure whether to tell Zhang Ruoshu.
In the hesitation, Zhang Ruoshu snorted and walked off.
Seeing this, Xu Xiuwen sighed and followed with the wine.
As Zhang Ruoshu walked up the steps in front, Xu Xiuwen couldn't help but notice her.
Though he felt it was inappropriate, Xu Xiuwen still took a careful look at Aunt Zhang.
Aunt Zhang was the type of woman who was quite refined and good at dressing up.
Today, she wore a V-neck dark green sleeveless dress with a round-neck black long-sleeve top underneath. The dress was just above the knee, revealing her long, slender legs in black tights.
This outfit was elegant and charming, enhanced by her flowing hair, showcasing the allure of a mature woman.
Xu Xiuwen didn't dare to look too much and quickly averted his gaze as they arrived at Xiao Youran's home.
Zhang Ruoshu reached the door, opened it, and went inside.
She changed into slippers and turned to Xu Xiuwen, saying, "You can come in."
Xu Xiuwen walked to the foyer, placed the wine down, and was about to leave.
Zhang Ruoshu said, "Don't leave just yet. I have more to ask you."
Xu Xiuwen stood in the foyer.
Seeing this, Zhang Ruoshu picked up a pair of men's slippers and placed them in front of him, saying, "We don't have any extra slippers at home. Please wear your Uncle Xiao's."
Xu Xiuwen had no choice but to take off his shoes and put on Uncle Xiao's slippers.
To his surprise, Uncle Xiao's slippers were quite comfortable.
He carried the wine and moved it to the balcony.
Zhang Ruoshu sat on the sofa and looked at him with a slight upward gaze, saying, "Thank you for your trouble."
Xu Xiuwen shook his head, signaling that it was no trouble.
Zhang Ruoshu said, "Please have a seat, Xiao Xu."
Xu Xiuwen took a seat at the other end of the sofa.
Seeing this, Zhang Ruoshu couldn't help but ask, "Why are you sitting so far away? I'm not going to eat you."
Xu Xiuwen awkwardly smiled and said, "I think I might be coming down with a cold. It's better to sit a bit farther away."
Zhang Ruoshu did not insist further upon hearing this.
Zhang Ruoshu suddenly said, "Xiao Xu."
Xu Xiuwen responded, "Yes, Aunt Zhang, I'm listening."
Zhang Ruoshu asked, "Have you and Youran had a disagreement?"
Xu Xiuwen hesitated for a second before nodding, "Yes."
When she had talked to her daughter before, the tone and reactions were off, leading Zhang Ruoshu to suspect there was a problem between them.
But no matter how she asked Xiao Youran, Youran never admitted anything and kept telling her not to worry.
Now, hearing Xu Xiuwen confirm it, Zhang Ruoshu was certain of her guess.
She couldn't help but ask, "What's the reason?"
Xu Xiuwen remained silent this time.
He couldn't exactly tell the truth.
If Aunt Zhang found out that he had been caught cheating by Youran, could she ever forgive him?
Seeing Xu Xiuwen's silence, Zhang Ruoshu didn't press him further.
Instead, she said, "Xiao Xu, Youran is my only daughter. I might have spoiled her too much while she was growing up, so she can be quite willful at times. But deep down, she's not a bad person. You should understand that, right?"
Xu Xiuwen quickly nodded.
Zhang Ruoshu continued, "You've grown up together, and your bond is deeper than most. Youran is still young. If she throws a tantrum, please don't hold it against her. If you're upset, let me know, and I'll talk to her."
Xu Xiuwen quickly said, "Aunt Zhang, Youran is rarely willful now. She's very well-behaved."
Zhang Ruoshu nodded, "That's good to hear. I hope you two can get along harmoniously and avoid arguments. If you have any feelings or issues, don't keep them bottled up. You must talk them out."