"Of course not. He's a rich second-generation, just like those spoiled brats from Lei Haixuan! That guy is so arrogant it's unbearable, I hate him!"
"I don't know why Hong Xuanming would find his way to my house..."
Tang Ru frankly expressed her disgust.
Then, as if she had thought of something, she clapped her hands and said, "Oh, I know! My dad must have run into trouble with his business and couldn't find anyone to help him in Hanjiang, so he went to the neighboring Qingjiang City and contacted the Hong family there!"
"Hmph, how detestable! To sell me out for money and make me go on a blind date with Hong Xuanming!"
Watching Tang Ru talk to herself, the people around her shook their heads helplessly.
Ling Feng pondered for a moment and said to Tang Ru, "Leave this matter to me. I'll help you get rid of that Hong Xuanming."
"You?"
Tang Ru looked at Ling Feng with some doubt, "How will you help me?"
Ling Feng stood up directly, tidied his clothes slightly, and said calmly, "Take me to visit your father and tell him you already have a boyfriend. I'll handle the rest."
Tang Ru's large eyes widened instantly, and she shot up from her seat, exclaiming, "You want to be my boyfriend?"
"A fake one."
Ling Feng corrected her seriously.
Seeing this, the people around them exchanged glances, their expressions turning ambiguous.
Tang Ru pouted, sized Ling Feng up and down, and then said coquettishly, "Of course I know it's pretend. Let's be clear, don't you dare take advantage of me!"
"I'm not interested in you."
Ling Feng replied without hesitation.
Tang Ru wasn't angry, she just kept looking at Ling Feng, thinking to herself, "Hmm, he's good-looking, and his aura is quite imposing. Heh heh, he's a good choice as a shield!"
"Okay, I promise to take you to see my dad!"
Tang Ru readily agreed, then extended her hand as if to high-five him, sealing their cooperation.
However, Ling Feng clearly wouldn't do something so childish. He glanced at her and said casually, "No time to waste. It'll be noon by the time we get to your house!"
With that, he walked towards the exit.
Tang Ru awkwardly withdrew her hand, clenched her fist, and muttered, "Hmph, boring guy! Who would want you as a boyfriend anyway!"
Ten minutes later, Tang Ru drove to the Tang family's residence.
As soon as she got out of the car, Tang Ru complained with displeasure, "Don't you have any gentlemanly manners? You came to my house and made me drive you!"
"Strictly speaking, I am your superior, and you are only taking care of Xiao Ran at my house. It's natural for you to drive me."
Ling Feng closed the car door and said indifferently.
His words left Tang Ru speechless, and she didn't know how to retort.
But before Tang Ru could get angry, Ling Feng directly extended his arm to her, "From now on, until that Hong Xuanming is dealt with, my identity is your boyfriend."
Tang Ru looked at Ling Feng's action, her pretty face blushing. She stared with wide eyes, feigning ignorance, "What for?"
"Link arms!"
Ling Feng's voice was extremely domineering.
Tang Ru, with a flushed and angry little face, still reached out and linked her arm with Ling Feng's.
"Why are you so fierce?"
She complained under her breath, but her heart suddenly sped up. Ling Feng's arm muscles were so firm, how could they be so suitable to link arms with?
She felt so safe by his side!
This feeling surged into her heart, making Tang Ru's little face even redder, and she felt extremely ashamed.
"Tang Ru, Tang Ru, you're so pathetic, why are you acting like a fangirl in front of him!"
As she was thinking, she suddenly heard a "ding" and the mansion door opened.
The servant who opened the door saw Tang Ru and smiled brightly, "Miss, you're back."
"Wu Ma, is Dad at home?" Tang Ru asked knowingly.
The servant, Wu Ma, clearly saw Ling Feng beside Tang Ru and then smiled, "Miss, the master is upstairs. There are also some younger members of the Tang family, and a young master from the Hong family in Qingjiang. I heard he's here for a blind date with Miss. Miss, that person is quite arrogant. Please bear with him and don't anger the master."
Tang Ru nodded gratefully at Wu Ma, then went up and kissed Wu Ma's forehead, "Mmm, thank you, Wu Ma. I want to eat the plain noodles you make. You know, I won't touch any of the dishes on that table!"
"Alright, alright, Miss. This gentleman is... Heh heh, I mean, should I prepare a bowl of noodles for this gentleman as well?" Wu Ma asked with a chuckle, looking at Ling Feng.
Tang Ru pouted and directly said, "No need to bother him!"
Ling Feng, however, smiled and nodded at Wu Ma, "Thank you, Wu Ma."
"Oh, okay."
Wu Ma smiled brightly at Ling Feng, nodding repeatedly, her eyes showing satisfaction.
Clearly, Wu Ma had already taken Ling Feng as Tang Ru's real boyfriend.
And in the course of these few words, someone from upstairs had already peeked down.
Seeing Tang Ru, that person then called out downstairs, "Oh, Cousin Tang Ru is back! Haha, Young Master Hong, you have quite some influence. My cousin is a workaholic who rarely comes back once a month, yet she's back as soon as you arrive!"
As this voice rang out, the atmosphere upstairs became lively.
Tang Ru immediately showed a look of disgust and said to Ling Feng, "That's my second uncle's son, Tang Yun! He's also a good-for-nothing who does nothing all day. He attends university in Qingjiang. To put it bluntly, he's Hong Xuanming's lackey! He must have come back with him this time!"
Ling Feng understood and nodded.
It seemed this Hong Xuanming was quite cunning, and he was quite dedicated to pursuing Tang Ru, even planting an informant in the Tang family.
When Tang Zhao heard that his daughter Tang Ru had returned so quickly, his face immediately lit up with surprise.
He had originally thought that Tang Ru would be lucky to return before dinner, and that Hong Xuanming would have to wait for the entire afternoon. Worried that Hong Xuanming would have nothing to talk about, he had found two younger relatives of the Tang family to keep him company.
"Haha, Nephew Hong has come to visit, so it's natural for Tang Ru to return quickly."
Although Tang Zhao said this, he couldn't help but feel suspicious. Had Tang Ru returned a little too quickly?
This was completely unlike his daughter's usual personality.
Thinking this, Tang Zhao felt that something was amiss.
Before Tang Zhao could say anything else, his niece Tang Xiao, who was standing nearby, looked downstairs and immediately chuckled, "Heh heh, Sister Tang Ru is back, that's true. However, it seems she's brought a man back with her. Could it be Sister Tang Ru's boyfriend?"