QTIMP -Chapter 149 Character Persona – Love Brained (Part 20)

The key point was that he had been carrying his own luggage the whole way. It wasn’t much, but seeing him with his hands tucked into his suit pockets, casually following behind, made him feel a bit uneasy.

He was wondering what exactly his second brother’s purpose was in coming here. He wasn’t naive—having grown up in a family that emphasized education, he tended to think deeper than most.

So when his second brother suggested taking a walk around the campus after reporting in, he quickly drew his own conclusion.

He followed behind, watching as his brother leisurely strolled from the dormitory building over to the girls’ dormitory.

From a distance, a group of attractive people came into view. Zhou Chenyu suddenly felt a bit flustered, partly because he saw Si Qiu’s parents.

Another part of him didn’t understand why his second brother had brought him here. Had he guessed the nature of their relationship and disapproved, coming specifically to explain things to her parents?

Although recently he sometimes felt that Si Qiu was a little clingy, wanting his attention at all times and trying to occupy every bit of his free time, he had no thoughts of breaking up. Aside from the minor flaws he had noted, Si Qiu was beautiful, well-shaped, came from a good family, and had excellent manners.

Getting into such a prestigious university and program was proof of her intelligence. Every sign pointed to her being an ideal candidate for a future wife.

So when they approached her family, he tried to present himself in the most proper way, while nervously keeping an eye on his second brother.

What if his brother said something that might affect his relationship…?

He seemed helpless. If he dared to show disrespect toward his second brother over this, when they got home, Grandpa would punish him and insist that he break up with Si Qiu immediately.

Feeling a little discouraged, he still followed his brother and took the initiative to greet them.

“Hello, Secretary Zhou.”

Zhou Chengyu’s face carried a gentle, jade-like smile. “Uncle Si, you are far too polite. Our younger generations are getting to know each other, and the relationship is good. From my side, I am your junior. Your words are truly flattering.”

Hearing him speak like that, Si Yanan and Si Anqi didn’t feel pleased. Instead, a chill ran through them. Someone who humbled themselves so much—surely they didn’t have another agenda, right?

After all, aside from his current position and the influence of Old Master Zhou behind him, the reputation this person carried on his own wasn’t exactly that of someone easy to deal with.

So now, their earlier cheerful smiles had become a little forced.

“Oh, Secretary Zhou, you are too kind! I wouldn’t dare to use my daughter to gain favor with your family. The two children are young and spirited; if they get along well, it’s just their own fate. I, as a father, wouldn’t dare to let my daughter’s presence be leveraged. Otherwise, her mother would really come over and give me a scolding! After all, this little girl is the darling of the Song family.”

He spoke as if joking, laughing heartily, but the meaning was clear: the children’s relationship was their own. He had no intention of using it to climb closer to the Zhou family. He didn’t want the children to suffer in the process, and his family had little influence, fearing they might become a burden to the Zhous.

The last remark mentioned Si Qiu’s mother. Their Si family was a merchant household, but the Song family was not insignificant—they could provide support for Si Qiu if needed.

Both sides were intelligent, so there was no need to spell everything out. In just a few sentences, the key points had been made.

Zhou Chengyu naturally understood their concerns. He lowered his gaze slightly, concealing the emotions behind his eyes, aware that he had been a little impatient today.

However, having navigated officialdom, he quickly adjusted his emotions.

“Uncle Si, you’re too polite. I’ve only met Si Qiu a few times, and since she’s close to Xiao Wu, I treat her like my own sister. So when Xiao Wu spotted her from afar and saw him pull me over, I just came over to greet you.”

His words made it clear that their meeting was accidental; he had only come to say hello and to keep an eye on his younger brother’s friend. There was no other intention or motive.

Si Qiu gently tugged at her father’s sleeve.

Regardless of whether the other person was speaking truthfully or not, their words had reached a point where they had to be treated as genuine.

Si Yanan naturally understood this and responded smoothly: “Si Qiu is fortunate to receive your care. But this child is delicate and can’t bear hardship; a little grievance might cause you trouble.”

Zhou Chengyu heard a softening refusal. He pressed down on the corner of his mouth, lowering his voice slightly to make his next words sound more solemn: “Nonsense. Si Qiu is a girl—lively, yes, but far from troublesome. Besides, girls should be indulged a little so they suffer less.”

He then shifted his gaze to Si Qiu’s face, his smile becoming even warmer.

“In the future, if anything comes up at school, go to Zhou Chengyu. If he doesn’t listen, come to me—your second brother will stand up for you.”

Only he fully understood the deeper meaning behind this sentence.

Si Qiu felt a surge of being cherished, slightly overwhelmed, yet softly said, “Thank you, Second Brother Zhou.”

Meanwhile, Zhou Chengyu glanced at Zhou Chengyu, who was already moved, thinking that his second brother had made an effort to build good relations with the Si family for his sake. Now that Second Brother used him as an excuse, he happily accepted it.

He stepped forward; his height was only slightly shorter than Zhou Chengyu, yet his temperament was gentler and more approachable.

“Uncle Si, Aunt Si, hello.”

When his gaze fell on Si Qiu, his smile became even more sincere.

“Auntie, you brought Si Qiu here to register, right? Looks like the luggage has been settled. It’s getting late—shall we invite you all to join us for a simple meal?”

Zhou Chengyu nodded inwardly. Over the past month, nearly two months of learning had not been in vain. While the person hadn’t become much smarter, they had matured and were more thoughtful.

“Uncle Si, what do you think?”

They could refuse Zhou Chengyu’s invitation, but Zhou Chengyu’s offer was hard to decline. So they agreed cheerfully.

The five of them began walking toward the parking lot.

Two cars followed Zhou Chengyu’s, arriving at a private dining restaurant that only served six tables per day. You couldn’t order dishes; the chef cooked whatever was on the menu.

However, during reservation, the chef would ask about dietary restrictions. A chef willing to accommodate so many requirements was clearly highly skilled.

Si Qiu had heard praise about this restaurant before, but reservations were extremely difficult. The earliest available table had already been booked three months in advance, and trying to book further out was impossible—the restaurant simply wouldn’t accept it.