The table of four had no idea they had become the hot topic among the customers in the restaurant.
Tan Mo and Qin Muye sat next to each other. They browsed through the menu together.
They scanned the QR code on the corner of the table and placed their orders via the online system.
“Uncle, Yeqing, what are you guys going to eat?” Tan Mo asked.
“Just order whatever you fancy. I’m fine with whatever you usually like,” Wei Zhiqian said.
“Muye can order for me.” Ming Yeqing smiled. “You guys already know what I like.”
Wei Zhiqian glanced at Ming Yeqing nonchalantly.
Was this young man trying to provoke him?
Ming Yeqing was trying to imply that Tan Mo knew what he liked.
This would be considered quite intimate knowledge, even between childhood friends.
Wei Zhiqian had ignored the words you guys.
Once Tan Mo and Qin Muye finished ordering, they chatted for a while.
Tan Mo said to Wei Zhiqian, “Uncle, we’re heading to the toilet.”
Wei Zhiqian nodded his head. Once they left, Ming Yeqing finally spoke up to Wei Zhiqian, “Brother Zhiqian, to be honest, you don’t have to treat me with such animosity.”
Wei Zhiqian raised his eyebrows. Ming Yeqing had always greeted him in a very distinct manner.
From the start, he’d addressed him as Young Master Wei.
Why had he suddenly changed his greeting today?
This young lad was rather sly.
Wei Zhiqian felt that Ming Yeqing had something up his sleeve, especially since he had suddenly changed his manner of address.
“Tan Mo and I are merely friends. I treat her like a younger sister.” Ming Yeqing smiled. “Our relationship is purely platonic, and I’m fairly certain Mo Mo feels the same way.”
Judging from his usual interactions with Tan Mo, Tan Mo most likely knew where he stood.
“Brother Zhiqian, you don’t have to keep such a close eye on me.” With Wei Zhiqian and Qin Mufeng keeping such a tight eye on him, he felt quite pressured.
It was fine if Qin Mufeng intended to keep tabs on him.
But why would Wei Zhiqian join in?
Ming Yeqing wanted to shake off Wei Zhiqian as soon as possible.
“However, there are many boys in school who are interested in Mo Mo. Now that Mo Mo has turned 18, they have started pursuing her more boldly.” Ming Yeqing continued to speak amiably, “I’m not a threat at all. Rather than keep an eye on me, you should watch out for those who are really going to pose a threat.”
As Ming Yeqing said this, he shook his head. “Wait, that’s not right. Those boys shouldn’t really be considered a threat to you. You are on a whole different level from them.”
“What do you mean?” Wei Zhiqian frowned slightly.
Ming Yeqing gulped down a mouthful of mineral water. Then he asked with a smile, “Brother Zhiqian, why are you so anxious about the suitors who are pursuing Tan Mo? Is it because you plan to be her gatekeeper?”
“Of course,” Wei Zhiqian spoke in a low voice. “On the surface, some boys may put on airs. However, their true characters are actually utterly foul. I must investigate all the boys who are interested in Mo Mo. If they fail in any aspects, I will eliminate them.
“How can all these immature children match up to Mo Mo? They can’t even take good care of themselves. How could they be able to care for Mo Mo?” Wei Zhiqian said. “I must choose a good one for Mo Mo.”
Ming Yeqing: “…”
Wei Zhiqian was still doubting him.
Didn’t these immature children in school include him?
Ming Yeqing kept the smile on his face. He kept reminding himself not to bicker with such a stubborn fool.
No matter how smart and awesome Wei Zhiqian was, it couldn’t conceal the fact that he was clueless at matters pertaining to relationships.
“Then what does Brother Zhiqian think are some qualities that would meet your standard?” Ming Yeqing continued to smile.
Wei Zhiqian was bewildered. What was wrong with this lad today?
He added the words Brother Zhiqian to every line he spoke.
Was he trying to make up for all the times he hadn’t said it in the past?
Brother Zhiqian, Brother Zhiqian…
He was going to be brainwashed. His entire head was filled with the words Brother Zhiqian.
Hold on!
Wei Zhiqian froze.
As the words echoed in his head, he suddenly realized that these words sounded very familiar to him.
Didn’t Qin Muye address him in the same way too?
Qin Zhiqian stared at Ming Yeqing and narrowed his eyes. Brother Zhiqian…? That is how Muye addresses me as well…”
Now he finally believed him.
If Ming Yeqing had really liked Tan Mo, he would have called him Uncle, just like Tan Mo did.
However, Ming Yeqing had never addressed him in this way before.
In the past, he’d greeted him as Young Master Wei. This maintained a certain distance between them.
Today, he was addressing him as Brother Zhiqian.
He was actually choosing his words intentionally to prove that he really didn’t have any interest in Tan Mo.
What’s more, this manner of address was exactly the same as how Qin Muye addressed him.
“Does Qin Mufeng know?” Wei Zhiqian suddenly asked.
Ming Yeqing smiled. What does this have to do with you?
You’re quite a nosy fellow!
In the end, he heard Wei Zhiqian question him. “What is wrong with Mo Mo? Why don’t you like her?”
Ming Yeqing: “…”
Something was wrong with his brain!
He wasn’t allowed to like Tan Mo. But showing no interest in her was wrong as well…?
Wait, no. According to Wei Zhiqian’s logic, Tan Mo was so good that everyone should be interested in her. However, no one was qualified to like her.
Everything finally clicked.
“You have poor taste,” Wei Zhiqian stated.
“…” Ming Yeqing took a deep breath. He threw the question back at him, “Does Brother Mufeng know?”
That this was what he thought about his sister?
He liked Qin Muye. Did that mean he had poor taste?
“…” Wei Zhiqian didn’t want to cut off his friendship with Qin Mufeng. “Please ignore what I just said.”
Ming Yeqing grinned and said, “Or would you prefer it if I called you Uncle?”
Wei Zhiqian drummed his fingers on the table top. “Young man, how should we end this?”
“No, I’m just joking.” Ming Yeqing quickly adjusted his facial expression. “Brother Zhiqian, you still haven’t answered the question. What is your standard for the perfect boy?”
“First, he must have a good family background. Mo Mo grew up pampered. She has never suffered,” Wei Zhiqian explained solemnly. “The Tan family and I have doted on her all this time. We can’t let her marry someone only to suffer a miserable life, right?
“It doesn’t matter whether she’s dating or getting married. Her life with the boy can’t be worse than the life she’s living now,” Wei Zhiqian said.
“What’s more, apart from having a good family background, he must also be capable. This way, he would be able to take good care of Mo Mo. If he isn’t capable enough, what will the family eat? If he’s not capable enough, how will he protect Mo Mo? If he had to choose between money and Mo Mo, he would choose money. If he weren’t capable enough, choosing Mo Mo would mean that Mo Mo would have to suffer with him.”
Ming Yeqing: “…”
You have really thought this through.
“What’s more, he must be mature. He can’t be someone who was spoiled by his family, nor should he be someone who always got his way. If everyone has been accommodating him and taking care of him all this time, he wouldn’t know how to care for others. Ever since she was young, everyone has doted on our Mo Mo. She has never had to dote on someone else before. Some of these people in the second generation can’t even take good care of themselves. How will they be able to take proper care of Mo Mo? This is another important consideration. Not everyone with a good family background is acceptable.
“Those who are unfaithful are an absolute no. Those who are well experienced in the area of relationships would not be acceptable either.”
