Chapter 102: Stay Over Tonight

Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Stay Over Tonight

Zhang Yun grumbled inwardly that she was showing off at his door in the middle of the night and stealing all his thunder. He decided not to be polite and asked directly, "Can I help you?"

Hearing this, Ouyang Mingruo’s eyes widened. When did anyone ever dare to speak to her with such an attitude?

The villagers who had followed them to watch the commotion were also shocked. What kind of way was that to speak! A girl came all the way to find him in the middle of the night, and he was just going to leave her standing at the door? And he even asked if he could help her?

Everyone had heard him say, "You actually came," which meant the girl had told him beforehand. He had also recognized the car, which meant they were very familiar with each other.

And now he was putting on airs and acting tough? He deserved to be single!

Ouyang Mingruo put on a shy expression and asked weakly, "Yun, aren’t you going to invite me in?"

Except for the clueless children, everyone at the scene got goosebumps. This... this... her tone was far too cheesy! But combined with her beauty and aura, it felt like a line from a romance drama, leaving them completely mesmerized.

What kind of dumb luck did this Zhang Yun have to land such a stunning catch?

"Zhang Yun! Keeping a girl waiting at the door, is that any way to behave?"

"She came from so far away to find you. Finding her way to our little mountain village must have taken her forever. She probably hasn’t even had dinner yet. Do you have any conscience at all?"

Hearing everyone’s vocal support, Ouyang Mingruo played along, putting on a pitiful expression that seemed to say she was just happy to see Zhang Yun and wouldn’t complain.

This roused everyone’s protective instincts even more, and they urged Zhang Yun to quickly bring her inside.

Just like the past few days, in order to get a better vantage point for the drama, they simply stepped forward and ushered Ouyang Mingruo inside.

Zhang Yun spread his hands helplessly. Did these people even know her? Whose side were they on?

Could the power of beauty truly pave the way, even in a rural village?

Zhang Fu also came out to warmly welcome her.

"You must be Zhang Yun’s father? My name is Ouyang Mingruo. You can just call me Mingruo." Ouyang Mingruo immediately greeted him and introduced herself with elegant politeness.

The onlookers couldn’t help but sigh in low voices. "Ouyang Mingruo! Just listen to that compound surname and name. Just like her beauty and aura, it’s like she walked right out of a TV show."

"Exactly. Around here, girls used to be named Di, Xiang, or Hua. Nowadays, it’s Han, Yi, or Xuan."

"Please, come inside! Zhang Yun has been talking about you non-stop. You truly are outstanding!"

Zhang Fu hurriedly invited her in. Faced with someone who had the aura of a superstar like Ouyang Mingruo, he was actually a bit nervous and at a loss for what to do.

"Please sit. This is fresh sweet rice wine, and here’s some sweet rice wine with egg. I heard you were coming, so I prepared this especially for you!"

Zhang Fu’s words almost made Zhang Yun spit out a laugh. His old man sure knew how to smooth-talk.

Zhang Yun hurried over. "What are you talking about? This was made for me to eat. She drove here; she can’t drink..."

The neighbors hadn’t followed them inside, but they were watching from the doorway and immediately chimed in to assist.

"Listen to you! The poor girl hasn’t even had dinner yet. She needs something to line her stomach first."

"It’s so late, is she still going to drive back? She should definitely stay the night here! What does a little sweet rice wine matter?"

"Zhang Yun, I’m telling you, you really don’t understand girls at all."

Ouyang Mingruo hadn’t had much of an appetite for the sweet rice wine with egg, but hearing this, she immediately picked up the bowl of rice wine first.

"Mr. Zhang, then I won’t stand on ceremony." She then took a sip.

Even if the alcohol content of sweet rice wine was low, it was still alcohol. A sip was a sip, and that gave her an excuse not to leave.

"You..." Zhang Yun reached over to take it. He wanted to point out that he had already drank from that bowl, but with so many people watching, it was hard to say. What if she didn’t mind and kept drinking? Everyone would read even more into it!

Thinking he was trying to stop her from drinking, Ouyang Mingruo—who had originally just meant to take a sip—simply took several large gulps instead.

"It’s delicious."

"Eat something first! I’ll go heat up some food for you," Zhang Fu said, hurriedly pushing the bowl of rice wine and egg in front of her.

"You don’t have to, Mr. Zhang. I’ll be full after finishing this."

"You two chat, I’ll go prepare a little something." Zhang Fu gave a simple, honest smile. He didn’t want to be a third wheel. "Keep Miss Ouyang company while she eats, and don’t be stingy!"

"..." Zhang Yun was speechless. Was he being stingy?

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang!"

As Zhang Fu walked out, Ouyang Mingruo made a funny face at Zhang Yun.

She hadn’t expected things to turn out like this. She had navigated her way here using the address provided by Dong Junwu. Driving to a rural village so late at night, she had been afraid the villagers might gossip about her.

To her surprise, she had only been here for a little while, just standing there and putting on a slight performance, and all the nosy neighbors—and even Zhang Yun’s father—were speaking up for her and scolding Zhang Yun!

Watching Zhang Yun’s helpless expression made Ouyang Mingruo feel like the food tasted even better. "This is really good!"

Zhang Yun pulled a stool over so the two of them were sitting with their backs to the door. He then lowered his voice. "What are you doing running over to my house? And so late at night. People are going to think you’re my... you know."

"Don’t worry! When I asked for directions, I told everyone I was looking for my boyfriend, Zhang Yun. I didn’t say my live-in son-in-law."

"Live-in my foot!" Zhang Yun glared at her. "Jokes aside, showing up at my house like this will really make people think you’re my girlfriend."

"That’s perfect!" Ouyang Mingruo chuckled softly. "Then those village girls named Hua, Xiang, Zihan, or Yuxuan won’t be pining after you anymore."

"..." For some reason, Zhang Yun suddenly remembered the scene from earlier. Xiuxun had definitely seen this, and he felt a flash of irritation. "Just eat! When you’re done, head back to the county town. There are no hotels in this town fit for Miss Ouyang."

Ouyang Mingruo stated matter-of-factly, "I’ve been drinking. I can’t drive."

"I’ll drive you!"

"That won’t work. I can smell it on you; you’ve definitely been drinking too." Ouyang Mingruo was determined to stay the night.

Zhang Yun decided to gross her out. "Exactly! And I’ve already drank from both of these bowls."

"I don’t mind." Ouyang Mingruo gave a half-smile. "You took my pants off back then, who knows if you secretly kissed me? Since I’ve already accepted you, what does this matter?"

Zhang Yun almost shouted, forcing his voice down. "Don’t talk nonsense! When did I ever take your pants off? If people hear you, they’ll think I assaulted you."

"Taking off my stockings is close enough. Does molesting my feet not count as assault?" Ouyang Mingruo leaned a bit closer.

Zhang Yun quickly pulled back to create some distance. There were still plenty of nosy spectators at the door behind them. They already looked like they were whispering intimately; if she leaned any closer, people would think they were making out.

"Let’s drop that. Why are you here? Did you come specifically to find me?" Zhang Yun steered the topic back.

Ouyang Mingruo pointed at him. "I told you, you’re the man I’ve set my sights on! You can’t run away."

"..."

"Lawyer Dong said he saw a little lawyer here who was your girlfriend. I felt threatened, so I came in person!"

"..."

Zhang Yun didn’t bother explaining his relationship with Gu Ming’er. Let her misunderstand.

"But judging by Mr. Zhang’s reaction and how welcoming everyone has been to me, I’m certain that little lawyer is not worth mentioning. There’s no way she’s your girlfriend."

Ouyang Mingruo looked a bit smug. "What did your dad just say? You talk about me all the time, and he prepared this specifically for me after you told him I was coming!"

"Spare me the theatrics. My dad was just being politely hospitable!"

"Really?" Ouyang Mingruo flashed a mysterious smile, then turned around to ask the doorway, "Uncle Zhang, neighbors, would it be inappropriate for me to stay the night here? Zhang Yun is telling me to go find a cheap motel myself..."