Milady's Fine Gentleman 129 TOUCHING BASE

Both Chen Linyun and Xue Jinxu's mobile phones received notifications almost simultaneously. They individually checked their phones.

They received a notification in WeChat message. It was Mo Wenbin. He sent a message to their group named 'Neighbors' and conversation were…

Mo Wenbin : Hello!! Anybody there??? Long time no see folks!!

Xue Guangxi : Hi Senior Wenbin! Agree long time no see. How are you guys? I'm the one separated.

Mo Wenbin : No, you're not the only one. I am too! The couple upstairs has their own world!

Mo Wenbin : Hey, couple upstairs, are you there?

Xue Jinxu is typing…

Chen Linyun is typing…

Chen Linyun : We're outside at the moment.

Xue Jinxu : Miss you guys! Care for a get-together? It's been a long time since the last.

Xue Guangxi : That's great! I'll bring a plus one. She's just a friend.

Mo Wenbin : Hohoho. I don't believe you! Just a friend my ass.

Xue Guangxi : It's the truth! 😤 (angry emoticon)

Chen Linyun : We're free later. We'll be back soon.

Xue Guangxi : I'm free too. There's a recommended barbecue place can we try it there?

Mo Wenbin : Okay, send the address I'll head there now. See you.

Chen Linyun : Guangxi, where are you, we can pick you up.

Xue Guangxi : I'll meet my friend first. Let's meet there.

Xue Jinxu : Who's this friend, Guangxi? Mhmm… See you there.

Xue Guangxi : 😀😀😀

After around one hour they had gathered at the barbecue grill place that Xue Guangxi recommended. There were five of them.

"Hey Guangxi, kindly introduce us to your 'friend' here." Mo Wenbin motioned for Guangxi to proceed with the pleasantries while giving emphasis to the word 'friend', and even winked at the lad.

"What's with Wenbin?" Xue Jinxu asked Chen Linyun.

"Don't mind him. He's just lonely." Chen Linyun said.

"Seniors, this is my friend Kang Sola. I bet Xu-jie and Brother-in-law already met her briefly during their honeymoon." Guangxi said.

Mo Wenbin squinted his eagle eyes. "I had been left out again?" He sighed.

"Aww, Wenbin, it's unintentional, okay?" Xue Jinxu was quick to coax him. "Come on, let's have fun!"

"Kang Sola! Please be comfortable with us. We're like your older siblings." Chen Linyun advised.

"How's Xue Guangxi at the university?" Xue Jinxu pressed.

"Xu-jie! You're making her uncomfortable." Xue Guangxi exclaimed before Kang Sola could answer.

"No, no I'm not uncomfortable… Hehe." Kang Sola said.

"See, she's not. It's you, Guangxi, who's uncomfortable." Xu-jie giggled. "So Kang Sola, how's Guangxi at school?" She urged the kid.

"Well, he's not around most of the time, but when he does, he's easy-going and pleasant to be with. He's well-liked. But, sometimes, he's moody though. Like a girl." She giggled too.

"Hey! Kang Sola, that's slander!" Xue Guangxi said.

"Do you deny?" Kang Sola challenged him.

"Well," He rubbed his head's back with his hand, embarrassed. "I might be sometimes. Only sometimes!"

The group laughed. "Like a girl, huh, Guangxi?" Mo Wenbin teased.

"Hey, Sola, this is your fault!" He complained.

They laughed even more.

"So what's the real score between you two? Guangxi usually brings his current girlfriend to our get-together, never a friend." Mo Wenbin curiously asked.

The two kids were wide-eyed, and waved their hands in sync. "No, no we really are friends!"

"Yeah! The idea is repulsive to her." Xue Guangxi said. "She's not my type too." He shook his head vigorously.

This raised suspicion to the older bunch. But they left them be.

Turning serious, Jinxu asked. "How's the company?"

"Not the same without you in it. The transition was chaotic but we're surviving. Although the new COO might be a little… Nevermind." He smiled. "Just that, there's more pressure on me." He took a sip from his iced tea.

"Xu-jie, can I order some beer?"

"Alright, but just one bottle." Xue Jinx anxiously shot Chen Linyun a meaningful look which was in the lines of 'Guangxi's having a hard time.' Chen Linyun squeezed her hands in response and to comfort her.

In his mind, he's partly to blame of this repercussion. The kid was also suffering the consequences of Xue Jinxu's choice to be with him.

"Are you allowed only one beer? During our cruise you drank at least ten… different…. Hey!" Kang Sola was not able to finish her statement because Xue Guangxi covered her mouth abruptly with his hand. Some of her words came out staggered and muffled. She struggled and grabbed Xue Guangxi's hand away.

For sure Xue Guangxi was panicking. He was still under-aged and his little mischief was brought out to light in front of his strict sister.

However, Xue Jinxu onliy sighed. "Have you been drinking, Guangxi? I trust you know your limit? Don't overdo it, okay?"

"O-Okay, Xu-jie." Guangxi tilted his head, perplexed. Was it her sister's words? She wasn't angry at all? 'It's odd.' He thought.

"Wenbin, how are you? You haven't been spending time with us lately." Chen Linyun asked.

"Oh, I don't want to disturb your lovey-dovey moments. So much dogfood. I'm on cleansing. Purging it in my system in the meantime. Too much of it and my eyes would go blind already." Mo Wenbin whined about the Chen couple.

They simply ignored him . He's always like that.

"Mother told me you left the minsitry. What happened?" Mo Wenbin saked out of concern.

*Ehem* *Ehem* Chen Linyun coughed and bowed his head, with no intention of answering.

"There were conflicts. Personal conflicts." Xue Jinxu answered for him.

"Well, we're all personal here. Can't you share? We're almost related in one way or another with each other here – bloodwise and marriage-wise. Except for Kang Sola, of course."

Kang Sola blushed at Mo Wenbin's statement. 'So is this a family gathering? I'm out of place.'

"The conflict was also marital in nature." Xue Jinxu said, closing the matter.

"Hmph. If you say so. I won't pry anymore. Anyway, since you're out of it, Mother is pressing me to enter government as well. This time to the Minsitry of Finance. I'm considering it, but perhaps in a few more years."

"That's good to hear, Wenbin. At least one of us will continue our family's legacy." Chen Linyun approved of the idea.

"Yeah."

"Jinxu, how about you?" Mo Wenbin asked. "Does your husband allow you to work again?"

"As a matter of fact, yes! I'm planning to start my own business." She said proudly.

"Xu-jie, congratulations!" Guangxi was happy that his sister can still continue her life after all that had happened.

"Thanks! You should be there when my pastry shop opens. I'll send invites." She smiled broadly at them, her almond eyes smiling with her.

"!!!"

"P-Pastry shop?! Xu-jie?" Guangxi was bewildered beyond imagination. He had not witnessed his sister ever bake commercially-ready goods before.

"I haven't tasted yet so I don't know…" Mo Wenbin said. "But if it's Chen Linyun's recipe it should be good."

"Hey guys you're really offending me. Don't worry I won't be the chef. There's a concept behind it." She recovered from their feedback immediately. Nothing can ruin her mood about her new project.

They continued their dinner in mirth. It was a happy night among neighbors and a good catching up too.

All of them were actually accommodating to Kang Sola. It seemed she clicked with them well. Guangxi had told Mo Wenbin her other identity - that she's also a vlogger. By the time the dinner ended, she felt as if she had known them for a good while already, and she had gained more subscibers in her vlog.

Chapter end

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