Chapter 21: Mistaken as a Stand-in
Knowing he had no chance, Xu Lingfeng didn’t stay long and turned to leave.
After Xu Lingfeng left, Shen Zhouyue also started packing up.
On the way back, Shen Zhouyue couldn’t help asking, “You came back quite early today.”
“When did you and Lingfeng meet?”
The two spoke in unison.
Shen Zhouyue explained briefly.
“That really is quite a coincidence.”
“The formal wear for tomorrow’s banquet is ready. I had someone send it home, but they said no one was home, so I came back early today.”
If he hadn’t come back, he might have been cuckolded!
When they reached the villa entrance, sure enough, a person was standing there.
Wearing a black suit and holding a large box in his hands, it must be the formal wear!
“Uncle Liu, sorry to trouble you.”
Yu Tingzhou took the gift box from Uncle Liu’s hands and invited him inside to sit for a while.
Uncle Liu smiled and said, “This formal wear was made according to the measurements you gave. It’s not precise enough after all. You try it on and see if there is anything inappropriate. I’ll take advantage of tonight to alter it for you.”
Yu Tingzhou nodded, knowing this was Uncle Liu’s habit.
So he poured a cup of tea for Uncle Liu, while he pulled Shen Zhouyue into the room to change clothes.
The clothes fit very well; there was no need for alterations.
The next afternoon, Shen Zhouyue and Yu Tingzhou set off wearing their formal wear.
The place where the banquet was held was a private estate.
Considering the relationship between his mother and Auntie Wang, Yu Tingzhou specially left a bit early.
When they arrived, they saw many cars already parked at the entrance; obviously, quite a few people had arrived.
“Let’s go!”
Shen Zhouyue nodded and followed Yu Tingzhou, walking into the estate.
Inside the estate was a very large courtyard filled with many tables, chairs, and a large swimming pool.
From the looks of it, the dinner party was to be held in the courtyard.
In just a short while, those tables in the courtyard were already filled with food, looking very sumptuous, but by evening, it would probably get a bit cold. He wondered what the hosts were thinking.
Shen Zhouyue withdrew his gaze and silently followed Yu Tingzhou.
Just as they entered the house, someone came up to greet them.
“Tingzhou, you are such a busy man. Heard from your mom that you got married. This must be your partner!”
The speaker was a woman who looked over thirty, with delicate features, a slightly plump figure, and outstanding temperament.
When the woman looked at Yu Tingzhou, there was kindness in her eyes; she should be Yu Tingzhou’s elder.
“Auntie, I just got married and took Zhouyue on a honeymoon, so I haven’t come to see you these days.”
Shen Zhouyue looked surprised. He lowered his head, muttering to himself, Could this be today’s birthday star?
Before Shen Zhouyue could recover, the woman’s gaze turned toward him.
“Oh my, is this young man shy?”
“Sure enough, a good appearance; you two are a perfect match standing together.”
Yu Tingzhou smiled and said, “Brother Chengyu and Sister Qingyue are also a good match.”
“Oh, don’t mention them; I’m worried to death!”
At this moment, other guests arrived.
The woman didn’t say much more, just sighed and turned to leave directly.
Yu Tingzhou looked at Shen Zhouyue’s confused appearance and briefly explained the woman’s situation just now.
That person was today’s birthday star, Wang Yueyue.
This estate belonged to her family. She had a son named Chengyu, who got married a year ago, but his relationship with the family wasn’t very good.
“I’ll take you to meet some others. Remember not to blow your cover.”
Yu Tingzhou walked toward a place where people were gathered not far away.
Most of them were young people. Yu Tingzhou knew most of them, and their relationships were fairly good.
He took Shen Zhouyue to the group and asked, “What are you all gathering together for? So lively?”
“Brother Tingzhou, you’re here too!”
A girl with delicate features hopped in front of Yu Tingzhou, smiling very happily, her hand naturally trying to hug Yu Tingzhou, but was quietly rejected by him.
“This is my partner. We got our certificate over a month ago.”
Hearing himself mentioned, Shen Zhouyue pulled the corner of his mouth into a shy smile, “Hello, everyone.”
The smile on that girl’s face froze instantly, and her expression became somewhat unsightly.
“Why did Brother Tingzhou suddenly get married? I heard before that there was no one by Brother Tingzhou’s side.”
The girl’s expression was so obvious that even a fool could guess she liked Yu Tingzhou.
Not to mention there were no fools present.
Shen Zhouyue raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced at Yu Tingzhou, as if saying, Didn’t expect you to be quite lucky with women!
Yu Tingzhou’s hand around Shen Zhouyue’s waist pinched lightly. The spot was somewhat ambiguously sensitive. Shen Zhouyue’s legs went weak instantly, and he only steadied himself by leaning on Yu Tingzhou.
“Zhouyue and I knew each other years ago, just were separated for some time. We met again not long ago, had feelings for each other, didn’t want to miss out, so we got the certificate.”
With Yu Tingzhou’s explanation, everyone invariably showed teasing expressions, except for that girl whose face was still not very good.
“Brother Tingzhou… why… wasn’t it agreed…”
Before she could finish her words, her eyes were already red, filled with tears.
A companion who had a good relationship with this girl immediately pulled her away to another place, comforting her in a low voice.
Someone worried that Shen Zhouyue would misunderstand the relationship between Yu Tingzhou and that girl, so they immediately helped explain, “Fang Yue has always liked Tingzhou, but Tingzhou is usually very busy, and the two basically have no chance to meet.”
“Sister-in-law, please don’t misunderstand Tingzhou.”
What their relationship is like has nothing to do with me…
Shen Zhouyue secretly pursed his lips, his emotions complicated, but on the surface, he wore a smile, “I naturally know Tingzhou’s feelings for me and won’t misunderstand.”
But it’s all fake… I have no right to misunderstand…
“By the way, did Brother Chengyu and the others do something recently? I saw Auntie mentioning him, and her mood wasn’t very good.”
Mentioning this matter, everyone instantly became enthusiastic.
“Brother Chengyu kept a woman outside, not very old, probably still a student. She makes Sister Qingyue unhappy all day long. Qingyue was so angry she went straight abroad.”
“You weren’t here a few days ago, so you don’t know how big of a fuss this matter caused. At that time, Auntie was furious and kicked Brother Chengyu out of the house directly.”
No wonder Brother Chengfeng was standing at the door welcoming guests today; it seems Auntie was really angered.
The Cheng family and the Su family were cooperating on a big project. Under such circumstances, how could they let the younger generation of the two families divorce?
“If you ask me, Sister Qingyue just has too good a temper. Just go directly to that female student’s school and make a scene; no need to quarrel with Brother Chengyu!”
Shen Zhouyue frowned immediately seeing their biased attitude.
“If it weren’t for your Brother Chengyu, how could such a thing happen? If he really had a sense of responsibility, getting a divorce directly would be fine too. Why keep a foot in both camps?”
Making both girls unhappy for no reason.
As soon as Shen Zhouyue’s words came out, everyone fell silent.
Looking at everyone’s expressions, Yu Tingzhou smiled and explained, “He has a straightforward nature and doesn’t know the inside story of some things. Don’t hold it against him.”
Aside, a girl wearing a red dress with bright and beautiful looks heard this but couldn’t help rolling her eyes, “I actually think he’s right.”
“Speaking of this matter, it’s all Chengyu’s fault. If I were Sister Qingyue, I would definitely cooperate with that girl and make Brother Chengyu lose both person and money.”
Shen Zhouyue didn’t expect someone to have such thoughts and looked at that girl with surprise.
“Why are you all looking at me? Did I say something wrong?”
“Oh my little aunt, don’t cause trouble. Today is Auntie’s birthday; let’s not talk about these unhappy things.”
The girl didn’t even look at these people, walked to Shen Zhouyue’s side, held his hand, and said, “I can’t communicate with you guys; I’ll talk to sister-in-law.”
Yu Tingzhou didn’t stop her either. Before Shen Zhouyue could recover, he was pulled aside.
“Is there something?”
Shen Zhouyue felt the way this girl looked at him was a bit strange, so he couldn’t help frowning.
“Did you and Brother Tingzhou really know each other before?”
“I’m telling you this because I find you pleasing to the eye. Brother Tingzhou had a junior before. He liked that junior very much. If not for a strange combination of circumstances, he would be with that junior now.”
“I saw that junior’s appearance in Brother Tingzhou’s Moments. He looks at least ninety percent like you. If not for the eyes being different, I would suspect you are that junior from back then.”
The girl looked at Shen Zhouyue with undisguised worry in her eyes.
After listening, Shen Zhouyue smiled helplessly and said, “You think your Brother Tingzhou is treating me as a stand-in for that junior?”
The girl didn’t speak but nodded, obviously thinking so.
If not for this reason, inexplicably finding someone so similar to the person he liked before to marry, what other reason could there be?
“Didn’t your Brother Tingzhou say that he and I knew each other long ago, and being together now is love at first sight?”
When Shen Zhouyue said this, he deliberately lowered his head to hide the expression on his face, afraid that if he didn’t cover it well, the anomaly would be discovered.
“Really?”
“Could it be that you are the junior Brother Tingzhou liked?”
The girl looked surprised. Shen Zhouyue smiled and said, “I am not his junior, so don’t let your imagination run wild. Tingzhou is not that kind of person either.”
That was true.
Brother Tingzhou had always been gentle and cultivated, never rebellious like others of the same age, doing things that made elders unhappy.
The only out-of-line thing was liking men, but he had never forced others or messed around. Presumably, she had misunderstood.
“Oh, I seem to have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Xu Lingyue.”
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