"Will there be an empty room when we go to see him directly?"
Xiao Feng chuckled, "He has a small courtyard, reserved specifically for friends and not open to the public. The three of us will have enough space. It's just a newly opened guesthouse, so there might be some inconveniences. I need to ask if the two young ladies are willing to stay there."
"I think Xiao Feng is really thoughtful," Shi Xinxin believed he must have seen their surprised reactions in the rearview mirror and guessed they had forgotten to book a room. But instead of directly pointing it out, he acted considerate, presenting it as a request for them to help him check out his friend's new guesthouse. This thoughtfulness made Shi Xinxin think even more highly of Xiao Feng.
She looked at Tang Tang again. Seeing that she didn't object, Shi Xinxin smiled and replied, "Then we'll trouble you."
"It's no trouble at all, just a small thing."
"Actually, we booked a room yesterday, but the owner called this morning saying there were no available rooms. We were in a hurry to leave and completely forgot about it..." Tang Tang jumped in to explain, trying to save some face for them. Xiao Feng could tell but didn't expose her, smiling gently.
"This is all my fault. When you called me yesterday, I should have made all the arrangements and contacted you. I shouldn't have left everything to you two young ladies."
Tang Tang found herself speechless, realizing Xiao Feng was unyielding.
"Please stop calling us 'young ladies.' She's fine, she has a bit of a lady-like demeanor. But I don't. Just call me Shi Xinxin." Shi Xinxin said jokingly, "Hey, don't call me 'young lady.' My mom is already so warm towards you, and you keep calling me 'young lady' left and right. When we get back, my mom will scold me again."
"Hahaha, then let's all call each other by our names. By the way, Shi Xinxin, I haven't properly introduced myself yet. My name is Xiao Feng, and I'm the head of Xiao Group."
"I've heard so much about you, Chairman Xiao," Shi Xinxin replied with a smile, surprised that he hadn't introduced himself as Tang Tang's fiancé.
Xiao Feng's gentle care throughout the journey felt perfectly balanced, offering them convenience without appearing overly attentive. It was like entering a warm house on a cold winter day and being offered a cup of warm water, not scalding hot water. Upon arriving at the guesthouse, Xiao Feng took on all the hard work. He carried everything and handled all their luggage, showing none of the arrogance of a chairman. After entering their rooms, he meticulously checked all the facilities to ensure they were complete and in good working order. He then informed them he was staying next door and they could call him anytime if they encountered any problems, before leaving them to their privacy.
As soon as the door closed, Shi Xinxin excitedly pulled Tang Tang up. "Hey, he's a good guy! I knew our mothers had excellent taste."
"I never said he was bad."
"So, that means you don't object to him?"
"Why would I object to someone who is good to me? I just don't want to obey my parents."
"I know, I know. That's why I'm urging you to let go of these little reservations. Look at him. His service is so thoughtful, he takes such good care of us, but he's not overbearing in his preparations. Where else can you find a man like that?"
"I know, and I think he's quite good. I used to think this fiancé would constantly put on an act for me, or at least perform for my parents. But you know what? We got along very naturally at his house, and he was exactly like he is now."
Shi Xinxin then thought again, "But if he's always like this, it seems a bit too polite. You can't possibly be one of those 'respecting each other like guests' literary couples, can you?" Even as she said "respecting each other like guests," Shi Xinxin felt it sounded strange, as such a relationship seemed incredibly distant for someone as lively as Tang Tang.
"That's impossible, of course. I think he can sense that I don't really like him..."
"See? You scared him off! I told you to put away these petty emotions quickly."
"But I am trying to control myself. Look, I didn't refuse this time when we went out."
Shi Xinxin sighed, understanding Tang Tang's difficulties. Wanting to break free from her parents' embrace and grow independently was indeed not easy. Especially in Tang Tang's family, where she had been doted on and protected since childhood, her parents wouldn't bear to let her face hardships alone. Naturally, they wanted to give her the best.
"So, the same advice applies: let go of your petty emotions and interact with him as you would a normal friend. He didn't even mention the word 'fiancé' when he introduced himself, which shows he has discretion. You should get to know him better."
Tang Tang was silent for a moment, then nodded at Shi Xinxin. After a short rest, according to their itinerary, they were supposed to go fishing on the lake, then pick fruit, and afterwards make fruit candies and puddings there. Tang Tang was most interested in the snacks.
Shi Xinxin had assumed that after Xiao Feng found his friend's guesthouse, he would distance himself from the two girls, as he likely wouldn't be interested in activities meant for girls. However, Xiao Feng patiently stayed by their side. More than once, his actions made Shi Xinxin feel that he and Tang Tang were a good match. While fishing, Xiao Feng carefully taught Tang Tang how to bait a hook and the proper casting posture. He neglected his own fishing rod, focusing all his attention on Tang Tang's. Consequently, the fish bucket, which was intended for grilled fish that evening, was empty. After playing for a while, everyone felt too hot and collectively decided to end the fishing trip early and go fruit picking instead.
In the orchard, the three of them went their separate ways, but Shi Xinxin noticed that Xiao Feng was quietly looking after Tang Tang.
"Xinxin, come here quickly. I can't reach this one."
When they entered the orchard, no one paid much attention, assuming the fruit trees wouldn't be too tall. Only Shi Xinxin had brought a fruit-picking pole, only to discover later that the sweetest fruits were all at the very tops of the trees, making picking difficult. Hearing the call, Shi Xinxin was about to go over when, after rounding a row of saplings, she found Xiao Feng already there.
"Which one? I'll help you pick it."
"The one on top, no, the bigger one on the left." Under Tang Tang's direction, Xiao Feng acted as a human fruit-picking pole, repeatedly plucking the highest fruits and handing them to Tang Tang.