It took some time before Liu Jinfei calmed down with Shen Lingqing’s help. Shen Lingqing wondered why he reacted like this. It wasn’t like she had suspected something like this would happen, but she had been in several misunderstandings before that she’d gotten used to staying calm upon hearing unsolicited advice and comments.

“Are you okay?” She asked Liu Jinfei, whose eyes shone with tears. She didn’t expect that he would react like this, but she couldn’t blame him for Madam Xia’s misunderstanding.

“E-en. I was just caught off-guard,” he answered before glancing at the two older women seated across him.

“That’s Madam Xia. My grandmother knew her for a long time. I’m sorry for troubling you.”

Liu Jinfei downed the second glass of water Shen Lingqing passed to him. Thankfully, Shen Lingqing was able to clear the misunderstanding between them, but he couldn’t understand why Madam Xia had assumed that he was Shen Lingqing’s husband.

“Is this a common occurrence in your family?” Liu Jinfei asked when he noticed that Shen Lingqing wasn’t perturbed by Madam Xia’s words earlier._-.

“No, not really,” Shen Lingqing replied, “but ever since I turned eighteen, many people have been wondering if I would get engaged to someone. Too bad for them, my parents aren’t interested in meddling in my private affairs. My father married in secret, so she assumed…”

Liu Jinfei nodded in understanding. However, even for him, it was surprising to hear that the ShenLu couple was giving their daughter a leeway to choose who she wanted to get married to, while other wealthy families had already found prospective suitors for their daughters once they reached the age of ceremony.

“Then, you must be glad that your parents aren’t pressuring you to marry so early.”

“It’s more like they aren’t willing for me to get married anytime soon.” Shen Lingqing resumed having her meal as she conversed with Liu Jinfei. She knew well that her father hoped that she wouldn’t consider settling down soon, while her mother wanted her to prioritize her career before having a family of her own.

“It would have been better if other parents had the same opinions as yours.”

It was one of the things that Liu Jinfei didn’t like when it came to wealthy families. Most, not all, would use their daughters to establish a connection with the other families through marriage, turning these poor women into nothing but a chess piece that could easily lose their value over time.

“Hn. We can’t judge other people for what they have done. Whether they made the right decision or not, it’s not our place to criticize them.” Shen Lingqing sipped from her drink as she glanced at her grandmother, who was busy conversing with Madam Xia.

Thinking about it, even her father and Uncle Xue were forced by her grandparents to marry. It’s just that those two found decent women to marry without their parents’ involvement. With that being said, it didn’t mean both Shen brothers had avoided the blind dates the previous matriarch set for them.

Wasn’t it for her father shooting down Madam Xia’s daughter that he was led to marry her mother on the cruise ship?

Shen Lingqing wasn’t sure if her parents were fated to meet, regardless of the circumstances they were in. She briefly wondered if she would meet her fated partner in the future.

Alas, what her mother said to her before was right. She needed not worry about falling in love nor finding someone to love because it would eventually come and find her. In the meantime, she should work to improve herself until the right man would come along.

“So this man… is she your friend, Qingqing?” Madam Xia asked. She couldn’t help but ask the Shen princess.

However, Shen Lingqing wasn’t able to answer her question, since the man answered for Shen Qingqing instead.

“Hello, I’m Liu Jinfei. I’m working for Miss Shen at the restaurant she’s currently managing.” Liu Jinfei chose to introduce himself politely.

“Liu Jinfei?” Madam Xia gasped and glanced at Zhang Jingwei for confirmation. “Oh, you’ve gone under the radar for some time now. It’s good that you are doing well.” She smiled knowingly at Liu Jinfei.

Liu Jinfei smiled back as if he wasn’t offended by the old woman’s words. He knew well that he couldn’t truly leave his identity as the previous young master of the Liu family… whether he liked it or not.

“Thank you for your concern, Madam. Indeed, I’m really doing fine now. Right, Miss Shen?” He glanced in Shen Lingqing’s way.

Shen Lingqing raised a slender brow, but she didn’t respond. She had no idea why Liu Jinfei was suddenly dragging her to their conversation. What was he trying to imply, anyway?

Who cares if they knew that he was part of the Liu family? It’s better for Liu Jinfei to keep his distance from upper-class society. After all, Shen Lingqing didn’t want him to get offended by the talks about him and his family.

Their lunch was spent in low chattering and in peace. Madam Xia apologized to Shen Lingqing and Liu Jinfei once again before leaving, while Chairman Zhang had an amused look on her face.

“Mama, is there something else you want to do?” Shen Lingqing asked as she wiped her lip clean with a napkin.

Zhang Jingwei hummed and looked between her granddaughter and Liu Jinfei. Well, she wasn’t ready to let go of Shen Lingqing and Liu Jinfei yet. She had no idea when she would have a chance to spend time with her granddaughter, anyway.

“Well, how about some afternoon shopping? I heard that you were to attend another banquet in a month.”

Shen Lingqing groaned at that. She didn’t understand the upper-class’s obsession with hosting several banquets and parties like this. She could have stayed at home and rested rather than partying with two-faced women.

“Very well. I should accompany you then.” She rose from her seat with Liu Jinfei’s assistance.