C10 Get along with Me

Mao Jiarong was enjoying his drink when he suddenly froze at the sight of Tong Fu standing at the bar's entrance. "Tongtong, what are you doing? Why'd you bring her here? The bar's not even open, and Fenng Yun isn't around."

"Relax! She's just another woman. I asked her to come because I wanted to talk to her," Mao Tongtong replied with a smile as she approached. "Miss Tong, sorry for calling you over without a heads-up."

"No worries. Since I'm with Fenng Yun and you're his friend, it makes sense for me to be here," Tong Fu replied with a smile, finding a spot to sit with Mao Tongtong.

"Make yourself comfortable. I'll grab you something to eat and drink. What would you like?"

"Juice, please. I'm not a fan of alcohol," Tong Fu said, glancing around the room.

Mao Tongtong nodded and walked away, her heels clicking on the floor.

About ten minutes later, a server informed Mao Jiarong that a lady had arrived early and asked if she was his friend.

Seeing Tong Fu sitting alone, Mao Jiarong approached her. "Hi, I'm Mao Jiarong, the owner of this bar. You must be Tong Fu. Nice to meet you," he said with a smile, offering her a Coke. "Sorry, we only serve alcohol here, so if you don't drink, this is the best I can do."

"Don't worry, I'm not picky."

"Actually, I get along well with Fenng Yun and understand his temperament. If he ever gives you a hard time, don't just take it—stand up for yourself! By the way, are you really Fenng Yun's fiancée?" Mao Jiarong asked in a teasing tone.

"Sort of! Fenng Yun and I are just trying to see how things go. Our families arranged it, so I have to stay by his side for now," Tong Fu said, fully aware of her situation and knowing Mao Jiarong wasn't just any friend of Fenng Yun's.

"Got it. Thanks for letting me know. Feel free to drop by anytime! Drinks are on the house for you. Fenng Yun's off on business and won't be back for a while. If you need anything, just ask. Also, my sister, Tongtong, can be a bit much sometimes, so don't take it to heart if she oversteps."

"No worries, I don't mind."

As they chatted, Tongtong stood in a corner of the bar, recording their meeting. The bar was empty at this hour, and they were seated in a secluded spot, making it look like a secret rendezvous.

After filming, Tongtong approached with some food. "Sorry about that, the bar isn't open yet! I took a bit of time to whip up something to eat."

"Don't worry about it. I only came because you mentioned it was important. If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way," Tong Fu said, standing up to leave.

"Miss Tong, no need to rush off. We're all friends here, and even though Fenng Yun isn't around, we should still take good care of you, right? Since you're already here, why not stay a bit longer? Or do you have other pressing matters?" Mao Jiarong said warmly.

"There's nothing particularly urgent," Tong Fu replied, sitting back down and looking at Mao Tongtong.

"Actually, the reason I asked you here today was to talk things over. I've thought it through, and I want us to be good friends moving forward. I admit, maybe I had feelings for Fenng Yun, but it was more like family affection. We grew up together, so naturally, our bond is stronger than most. So, when I found out he had someone new in his life, my reaction was a bit..." Mao Tongtong explained with a smile, clarifying her unusual behavior from the other day.

"I get what you're saying. Honestly, looking back on that day, I think Fenng Yun went a bit too far. Even though we're in a great place now, it wasn't right to act that way in front of you..." Tong Fu said with a hint of shyness. "Anyway, let's get along well from now on."

"Yes, from now on, we're friends. Everything before was just a misunderstanding! My brother is here today, so he can vouch for us!" Mao Tongtong raised her beer, glancing at Mao Jiarong. "Cheers!"

Mao Jiarong really couldn't figure out what Mao Tongtong was up to. Raising his glass, he said, "Tong Fu, my sister can be a handful. If she ever gives you a hard time, just let me know, and I'll set her straight."

"Wow, whose brother are you, anyway?" Mao Tongtong exclaimed, downing a big gulp of beer.

"It's getting late, so I should head out. I'll catch up with you guys another time."

"Hey, Tong Fu, don't rush off! I've been meaning to tell you, your hair could use a little attention, and those nails too. I know you’ve been stressed about Fenng Yun being sick. Those rumors were just my silly antics. To make it up to you, let me treat you to a hair and nail makeover today. What do you say?"

Mao Tongtong smiled, taking Tong Fu's hand. "Come on, do it for me, okay?"

Tong Fu was puzzled by Mao Tongtong's sudden kindness but nodded. "Sure, if you're treating, why not?"

The two of them ended up getting their nails done, along with a hair treatment and a spa session. After the full pampering session, Tong Fu felt genuinely relaxed.

Back home, her mother always thought these things were too expensive, so they rarely indulged. Tong Fu inherited her mother's frugal nature and seldom treated herself. Little did she know, her father had taken a liking to another woman.

Qiao Zi had a slim figure and a beautiful face, with a unique charm. Not only that, but she was also skilled in makeup.

Tong Fu had long regretted her past decisions. If she had taken her mother to learn about makeup and fitness back then, maybe she would still have a complete family, and she wouldn't have been used by her father as a bargaining chip, sent to Fenng Yun.

Seeing that Tong Fu seemed upset, Mao Tongtong approached her and said, "Tong Fu, it was my fault last time. From now on, let's be best friends. Whenever I go to events, I'll bring you along. And if you want to go somewhere, take me with you. Let's just forget about the past, okay?"

"Sure, since you put it that way, I agree. By the way, didn't you say you knew Fenng Yun from way back? Why not tell me about him? What does he like or dislike? I've been curious about that lately," Tong Fu replied with a smile.

The two of them finished getting their hair and nails done and then went out for a meal together. Not far from where they got their hair done, there was a bustling hot pot restaurant.

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