QTIMP -Chapter 144 Character Persona – Love Brained (Part 15)

Everyone’s gaze swept over Zhou Chenyu’s face. “He really doesn’t look so troubled anymore,” Father Zhou said as he examined him carefully.

Zhou Chengyu glanced at the old master, who didn’t beat around the bush and said directly, “Today, a pretty, lively, and well-mannered young girl came over and kept him company while he studied all day.”

Zhou Chenyu felt a little embarrassed, while Zhou Chengyu frowned slightly.

Mother Zhou quickly sat up straight and leaned toward the old master, asking eagerly, “Whose daughter is she? How pretty is she? Xiao Yu is only eighteen—how old is the girl?”

The old master smiled at the question. “The girl’s name is Si Qiu. She’s Si Yanan’s daughter, and her mother is Song Qian. She really is quite pretty, but more importantly, she’s clever.

“A’yu has met her before—if you don’t believe me, ask him.

“As for her age, I didn’t ask, but she should be about the same as Xiao Yu.”

Father Zhou immediately turned to his son. “You’ve met her—what do you think of that girl?”

What he meant wasn’t about her looks. He trusted his son’s judgment and wanted to hear his first impression of her.

For families like theirs, while they valued the other family’s status, they placed even greater importance on the girl’s character. Otherwise, one wrong step could implicate the entire family.

Zhou Chengyu took a sip of soup. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he gave a slight nod.
“She seems alright.”

Hearing this, smiles appeared on everyone’s faces. Soon, they began enthusiastically discussing the standing of the Si family and the Song family.

After dinner, Zhou Chengyu stood up and looked at Zhou Chenyu. “Let’s go.”

—

In that instant, Zhou Chenyu felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him.

He had just sat down in the study when something suddenly came to mind. He immediately stood up, about to walk toward the desk.

But a single glance from Zhou Chengyu froze him in place. Uneasy, he slowly sat back down.

Zhou Chengyu looked at the computer in front of him. When he accidentally touched the mouse, the screen lit up. The screensaver was a photo of Si Qiu and Zhou Chenyu—taken before she left.

It was a close-up shot. Though slightly blurred, it was still clear enough: one looked helpless, the other smiled sweetly.

Just then, the phone beside the computer began to vibrate. Message after message made Zhou Chengyu feel like he wasn’t holding a phone, but a running power drill.

“A’Yu, I’m going to find Cousin Lin. A bunch of them are having a barbecue at his place! I might not be able to message you for a while.”

“Wow, there are so many people here! They were just talking about going to the beach. I said I’m not going, and my cousin even said I care more about love than friendship.”

“Oh right, A’Yu, do you know someone named Huang Ziying? She’s being way too obvious in targeting me. Do you think she might have a crush on you?”

“Hmph, the way she talks is awful, but she’s too fragile. I only said a few words back, and she couldn’t take it—she ran off crying.”

He only skimmed through them briefly, then glanced again at the photo on the computer. The girl was clearly very clingy. But someone like that should be paired with a steady and dependable person.

He set the phone down and looked at his restless younger brother sitting across from him.
“This is what your entire day of studying amounts to?”

Before Zhou Chenyu could explain, Zhou Chengyu had already begun testing him on the day’s material. Although the results were fairly satisfactory, he still increased the workload for the next day.

After leaving the study, Zhou Chenyu let out a long breath of relief. Clutching the phone he had nervously retrieved, he quickly returned to his room.

Meanwhile, after leaving the Zhou residence, Si Qiu suddenly remembered to inform Lin Zixiang and the others that she wouldn’t be going to the beach.

These past few days, she had been busy during the day, and in her free time she was constantly texting Zhou Chenyu. Before she knew it, she had completely forgotten their earlier plans.

She made a quick call and learned that they were currently having a gathering. Without much thought, Si Qiu immediately accepted the invitation and drove straight toward the military compound.

To show her sincerity, she picked out some gifts before going to find them. She had heard that a group of them were gathered at his place.

Si Qiu drove over directly. When she arrived, Lin Zixiang and Shao Yang came out to meet her, registered her entry, and guided her car to the small building.

Even before getting close, she could hear the lively noise coming from the courtyard. Lin Zixiang had already mentioned over the phone that these were all children from their compound.

With the new school term approaching, everyone would soon be heading off to different places for studies—or even joining the military—so they had prepared ingredients and planned this gathering.

Once word got out, quite a few people showed up. Some even brought relatives, though not many. So Si Qiu, as a new face—and one who arrived driving her own car—instantly attracted everyone’s attention.

A tall boy, even half a head taller than Lin Zixiang, walked straight over. “Xiangzi, you brought a beauty with you.”

“Get lost, get lost! This is my biological cousin.” Lin Zixiang waved him off. “Come, come—Si Qiu, let me introduce you. These are all my good friends from the compound.”

There were nearly twenty young men and women in total, and Si Qiu greeted them one by one. The boy who had just approached her—Fang Hailong—nudged Lin Zixiang with his shoulder.

“Xiangzi, your cousin is really pretty. How about introducing her to me as my girlfriend?”

Shao Yang immediately hooked an arm around his neck and pulled him aside. “You’re too late saying that. She’s already Zhou Chenyu’s girlfriend.”

Fang Hailong easily shrugged off Shao Yang’s arm. “Huh? What’s wrong with you guys? ‘Good things shouldn’t go to outsiders’—how did the flower of our compound get snatched away by the government compound?”

Just then, a sharp smack rang out. A girl in a red dress, Huang Ziying, threw a skewer of meat aside.

“Can you guys focus on something serious? Fine if you don’t help, but all you do is chase girls. Who knows where this wild girl came from, all seductive—yet you’re all acting like she’s some treasure.”

The remark was clearly targeted. Lin Zixiang immediately lost his temper.

“Huang Ziying, did I invite you here? Even the barbecue was something you volunteered for! If you want to do it, then do it. If not, leave it—who’s forcing you?

“You can’t win over Zhou Chenyu, so now you’re taking it out on my cousin with all this sarcasm? The hell—do you think I gave you face for this?”

Another thinner boy hurried over to stop him. “Xiangzi, Xiangzi—you know how she is. Huang Ziying just has a bad mouth. Don’t take it to heart.”

Two other girls in dresses also stepped in, trying to comfort the quietly sobbing Huang Ziying.

Si Qiu’s expression turned cold. She glanced at Huang Ziying and spoke calmly, her voice not loud but firm and resolute.

“If you want to know who I am, you can ask me directly. This kind of passive-aggressive behavior just shows a lack of manners. And I don’t think there’s anything about my background that can’t be spoken openly. My father, Si Yanan, runs the Si High-Tech Company, which has been a major taxpayer for several consecutive years. My grandfather, during difficult times, earned significant foreign exchange for the country. My mother, Song Qian—on my maternal side, for three generations, all are elite figures in the police force. My grandfather, my uncle, and my cousin have all received the highest honor in the police system—the First-Class Hero Model.”