Yu Ning thought this, and indeed did so.
When the auntie and Chen Chuan were chatting animatedly and their gazes fell on her once more, she spoke with a smile. "Auntie, I don't understand your hometown dialect. Were you complimenting my looks?"
The auntie was taken aback by her bluntness, then laughed. "Yes, seeing how pretty you are, walking beside Chuanzi, I thought you were his girlfriend."
"Oh." Yu Ning drew out the final syllable, unable to resist the urge to tease. She tilted her head to look at the man beside her. "Then how did Boss Chen respond?"
Chen Chuan felt that her fair, delicate, and pretty oval face was a bit thick-skinned.
He ignored her deliberate provocation and didn't want to continue this topic with the auntie, so he said, "Aunt Fang, I'll head to my second uncle's house first."
The auntie nodded. "Alright, you go on then. We'll chat another day. Girl, when you have time, come sit in my shop. Just walk straight down this alley about ten meters—there's a Fang's Noodle Shop there."
Seeing that this auntie was warm-hearted, Yu Ning agreed with a smile. "Don't worry, Auntie. I'm staying here for three months. I'll definitely come try it."
The auntie was surprised. "Staying that long?"
"Yes."
"Did you also use that... what do you call it... annual leave to come here and unwind?"
"No, I quit my job to come here."
"What did you do before?"
Yu Ning had a quirk: when she encountered a question she didn't want to answer, she wouldn't deliberately embarrass the other person, but she would talk nonsense.
She replied casually, "Just worked for a boss."
Aunt Fang asked curiously, "Then why did you quit?"
Yu Ning made up nonsense. "Don't even mention it. The boss saw how pretty I was and wanted to take advantage of me. When I refused, he made things difficult for me in all sorts of ways. I got so angry that I grabbed the two strands of hair on his head, beat him up, and quit."
"I thought bosses like that only existed in TV dramas. What a black-hearted bastard."
Aunt Fang was clearly getting into it.
Just thinking about such a pretty girl being ruined by some stinky old man in his fifties or sixties—how pitiful, how hateful.
She wanted to applaud right there in the street. "Girl, good for you. You shouldn't show mercy to people like that."
Chen Chuan listened from the side, furrowing his brows.
Yu Ning looked very good when she smiled. In the sunlight, those slightly upturned fox eyes seemed to hold all the light of early summer in their dark gray pupils.
Although she spoke with a straight face, he had a strange intuition—she was making it up.
This woman was full of nonsense. There was completely no way to tell which parts of her words were true and which were false.
Aunt Fang asked again, "Then have you thought about what kind of job you'll look for after you're done unwinding here and go back?"
Yu Ning lied without blushing or her heart skipping a beat. "Not looking anymore. Work is too tiring. I'm planning to find a man to marry and have him support me."
"Aiyo." Aunt Fang laughed and slapped her thigh. "Then what do you think of our Jidong Town?"
"Great! The scenery is good, and the people are good. Auntie, don't tell me you're going to introduce someone to me?"
"Then tell Auntie first. What kind of man are you looking for? Auntie will screen them for you."
Yu Ning rubbed her chin, pretending to fall into deep thought. "Eight chi tall, with the grace of a jade tree in the wind. He has to know how to care for people, and be able to earn money. All the money he earns should be spent on me—none of that stinginess. Best if he has no parents; I don't want to deal with mother-in-law issues."
"……"
"……"
When these words came out, not to mention rendering Aunt Fang speechless, even Chen Chuan glanced at her wordlessly.
Aunt Fang paused for a few seconds before stammering, "You... you girl... your requirements are too high."
Yu Ning was completely oblivious, not stinting on self-praise. "Auntie, didn't you just say I was pretty? Then doesn't a pretty person like me deserve a man outstanding enough to match her?"
Aunt Fang looked troubled. "That's true in principle, but this condition of having no parents is too harsh. If he has parents, after you have children, they can help out. How nice."
Yu Ning smacked her lips. Listening to advice meant a full belly. She nodded. "It's fine if he has them, as long as they're not the difficult type who likes to stir up trouble."
Aunt Fang turned her gaze to Chen Chuan. "Then I think Chuanzi is quite suitable."
Yu Ning took the opportunity to size him up, then leaned closer to Aunt Fang, aligning herself on the same side, and pouted in disdain. "Too dark."
Chen Chuan: "..."
They were clearly two people meeting for the first time, yet they could chat like they'd known each other for seven or eight years.
He really couldn't figure out how someone could be so naturally familiar with others.
Before he could speak, Aunt Fang was already vigorously selling his merits. "Dark is a bit dark, but he runs to the orchard on the mountain every day—how could he not be dark? But he's eight chi tall, good-looking, and has money. The key is that he's a good person, steady and hardworking, and knows how to care for people. His mother—you should have met her—is very easy to talk to."
Yu Ning nodded as if seriously considering it. "Hearing you put it that way, Auntie, it does seem quite suitable."
"Isn't it!" Aunt Fang looked proud. "I've watched Chuanzi grow up since he was little. When it comes to character, there's absolutely nothing to say."
Yu Ning raised her brows, looking into Chen Chuan's deep, dark eyes, and asked teasingly, "Boss Chen, Auntie says we're a good match. Want to go get a certificate this afternoon?"
Chen Chuan felt that stopping to wait for her to finish chatting with Aunt Fang had been a mistake.
The homestay wasn't far anyway—he should have just left her behind and gone ahead.
Thinking this, his face darkened. Without a word, he strode off.
Tank swayed in place for a moment, then silently chased after Chen Chuan.
Yu Ning narrowed her eyes at the man's upright back with his broad shoulders and narrow waist, a hint of a smile rippling in her eyes.
But she clicked her tongue and complained indignantly, "Auntie, look at him. A celestial fairy like me proposes to him, and he actually ignores me and walks away. Isn't that a bit ungrateful?"
"You girl, talking about marriage as soon as you open your mouth. Chuan is an honest man. You'll scare him like this." Aunt Fang shot her a look.
"Is that so? Then I'll try to change."
Yu Ning responded nonchalantly, her gaze remaining locked on the most eye-catching figure among the people. "He seems really angry. Auntie, I'll go coax him first. Let's chat another day."
"Alright, go quickly."
Yu Ning smiled and waved, quickening her pace to catch up with Chen Chuan. "Why are you walking so fast? I didn't bring my phone. Aren't you afraid I'll get lost?"
"Didn't you and Aunt Fang chat quite well?" Chen Chuan glanced at her.
"It was pretty good. That auntie is quite the talker." Yu Ning took two quick steps, blocking his way, and asked with a smile, "The certificate I mentioned just now—are you really not going to consider it?"