Reborn as a Rich Woman in the Eighties-Chapter 757 - 756: Times Have Changed!

In the study, Shao Chengzhi sought out Shao Xingbang for a talk.

"What’s going on between you and Ji Man? I could tell something’s been off these past two days!"

At first, Shao Xingbang tried to brush off Shao Chengzhi, "Nothing at all! Dad! You’re overthinking it!"

He didn’t want to spoil the old man’s mood during the New Year’s celebration.

Because he knew all too well how much his father longed for him to get a girlfriend, marry, and have children.

Shao Chengzhi frowned and chided him, "Don’t give me that young man! I sensed something was wrong since the second day you two returned. I thought you lovers were just having a spat and it would be resolved quickly, so I didn’t ask.

I’m neither deaf nor blind, don’t try to fool me! What exactly happened?"

Shao Xingbang dodged the question, "Dad! The way you discipline, your presence is as formidable as ever!"

Shao Chengzhi wasn’t buying it, "Spit it out! Stop beating around the bush!"

Shao Xingbang gave a helpless smile, "Ah! Since you must know, I can’t hide it from you, I feel Ji Man and I are not that compatible!

But now, with the New Year upon us, I feared it would spoil your celebration, so I didn’t say anything!"

With a hiss, Shao Chengzhi asked, "Where do you think you’re not compatible? Didn’t you think she was quite suitable before you brought her home?"

Having spent the past couple of days with her, he thought Ji Man was alright, albeit a bit cunning.

But as long as his younger son liked her, he would not oppose.

He was at an age where he desired nothing more than his children’s happiness and well-being.

Yet his younger son’s sudden change of heart caught him off guard and he found it difficult to accept.

Shao Xingbang ran his fingers through his hair, "Dad! Times change! You’ve seen it too, she used to be friends with Lin Xia, Xiaozheng and the rest know her! If I truly married her, how would Xiaozheng and the others address her?"

"If it’s true love, none of that should be a problem! Tell me the truth, is there something else I don’t know about?" Shao Chengzhi felt his younger son was hiding something.

He had known about this relationship immediately upon their return, yet he had never sensed that his younger son had any reservations about it.

With a troubled expression, Shao Xingbang crossed his arms, "Dad! Please don’t press me! There are some things I just can’t explain to you! Anyway, we’re not very compatible!"

Since he had already decided to break up, there was no need to discuss Ji Man’s experiences or her feud with Lin Xia with his father.

Shao Chengzhi felt disappointed but didn’t want to force his younger son.

As for matters of the heart, it was important that the people involved felt it was right.

Forced relationships are never sweet, and he didn’t want his son to be unhappy!

"Ah! Well then... have you... have you..."

Shao Xingbang immediately understood what he meant, "Don’t worry, while I was with her, we only held hands. I didn’t cross any lines on principle."

Shao Chengzhi breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully his younger son had strong principles. Otherwise, any mishaps could have led to much trouble later on.

"That’s good! When are you two leaving?"

"The morning of the third day of the New Year! I’ll take her back straight away and then have a clear talk with her!" Shao Xingbang didn’t want to waste the lady’s time.

The reason he hadn’t spoken up at home was solely to avoid ruining everyone’s New Year celebration.

On the second day of the New Year, Shao Meifang’s family visited Shao Chengzhi’s home to celebrate.

Upon hearing that her brother had brought his girlfriend back, Shao Meifang was so anxious she couldn’t wait to return and see for herself what the girl was like.

When she first saw Ji Man, she found her stunningly beautiful.

The girl was tall and good-looking, but there was a touch of melancholy in her eyes, which seemed odd.

She felt too bashful to ask directly, so when she was cooking in the kitchen with Shao Meirou, she inquired, "Sis! Your younger brother’s girlfriend is very pretty, why does she seem so anxious?"

Shao Meirou said, "I’ll tell you, but don’t overreact, and when the time comes, just pretend you know nothing!"

"Okay! Tell me!" Shao Meifang’s eyes lit up immediately, as if she had discovered a new world.

Shao Meirou leaned in close and whispered, "I asked Xiaozheng what gifts would be suitable since they’re leaving tomorrow.

To my surprise, Xiaozheng said he had already talked to our dad, feeling that he and this girl are not suitable for each other! He’s planning to break up with her after they go back!"

"What?" Shao Meifang couldn’t contain her exclamation and was pinched by Shao Meirou.

"Keep your voice down!"

Shao Meifang quickly covered her mouth, lowering her voice as she said, "What on earth is our little brother thinking? If he feels they’re not suitable, why bring her home? Before I returned, I thought our family would be having a wedding soon.

I was at my in-laws’ for New Year’s, and they were curiously inquiring about her for quite a while."

"I don’t know the specifics! Let’s just wait for Xiaozheng to feel like talking about it before we ask!" Shao Meirou repeated her warning uneasily, "You must control your emotions! If I wasn’t worried that you would talk too much with her, I wouldn’t have told you all this in advance!"

"Sure! Sure! I understand the importance!" Shao Meifang was curious but also knew what was at stake.

In the hallway outside the kitchen, Ji Man, coming to wash an apple she had dropped, felt her heart twist in agony.

She leaned against the wall, biting her teeth hard to control herself and keep the tears from welling up.

So it turned out that Shao Xingbang had already decided to break up with her. Probably the whole family knew by now! Only she had been left in the dark!

No wonder, ever since Lin Xia and the others returned, they had changed so much!

Lin Xia had previously shown disdain towards her, but now she was cool and indifferent, devoid of any emotion.

She absolutely would not let Shao Xingbang dump her so easily! No way!

Because Shao Meifang knew about her little brother’s thoughts, she acted very normal during dinner, no longer as enthusiastic as when they first met.

Ji Man knew what was happening and held back without saying a word.

If the family of Shao Xingbang was maintaining a superficial harmony, then she could too.

After dinner, Shao Meifang’s husband He Jinhui, Lu Pengcheng, Lu Zheng, and Shao Xingbang, the four men, gathered to play mahjong.

Shao Meirou and the others sat aside, watching the excitement.

Seeing the children yawning, Lin Xia and Shao Meifang’s daughter He Yuling each picked up a child and went to the room to put them to sleep.

Shao Chengzhi watched the lively scene for a while and also felt tired, so he let the others continue and slowly went upstairs.

After dinner, Ji Man cleverly returned to her room, and when she heard footsteps passing by her door in the hallway, she quietly cracked it open to peek outside.

Seeing the back of Shao Xingbang, she thought this was her chance.

She quietly called out "Uncle."

Shao Chengzhi turned his head and asked politely, "Ji Man, haven’t you rested yet?"

"Not yet! Uncle! May I have a talk with you?" Ji Man knew such opportunities were rare and wanted to seize it.

Shao Chengzhi nodded, "Sure! Follow me to the study!"