This was the fourth time that she was eating alone with Cao Yang for dinner. But each time was the same. Though the atmosphere seemed harmonious, the contents of their conversation were actually quite plain.

They spoke of the news, exchanged some information and talked about a few other casual topics.

They hadn't gone deeper in their conversations before. They never spoke of their relations.h.i.+p or pus.h.i.+ng forward.

Instead of cla.s.sifying their meeting as a date, it was more like a friendly meet-up. Although… they had started seeing each other as friends.

But… Translated by The Novelst

w.a.n.g Man felt that compared to all the other men she had encountered previously, Cao Yang was the only man who could retain his composure in front of her.

The other men who had pursued her - some were enthusiastic, and some were shy, but all of them clearly expressed that they were interested in her.

Facing those interests, it was always her who maintained her composure.

Now she finally had a taste of how the other side felt.

This feeling was uncomfortable.

But she was w.a.n.g Man with her own arrogance. She enjoyed being wined and dined, and couldn't just forget abou that.

Even if she wanted to take the first step, she could only do it vaguely.

When they finished eating, they walked out of the restaurant together. Cao Yang asked, "Where did you park your car?"

w.a.n.g Man answered, "I sent it to be serviced. I took a taxi here."

Hearing that, he nodded. "I'll give you a ride home."

Naturally, she didn't reject the idea. On the road they talked and laughed, the atmosphere very good.

They arrived before the gates of Governor w.a.n.g's house. w.a.n.g Man thanked him and got off the car, not saying anything about inviting him in. With the state of their current relations.h.i.+p, it was too much to even consider bringing him to meet her family.

But when she looked at Cao Yang who waved her goodbye and drove casually off, she stood for a while in front of the gates, alone and feeling lost in her heart.

She turned around at the sound of another black car driving to the gate. w.a.n.g Man stood still.

"Xiao Man," he called.

w.a.n.g Man smiled and went to tuck her hand into the crook of her father's arm. "You're home so early today?"

Governor w.a.n.g nodded. They walked together as he asked, "Just now, was that Cao Yang?"

w.a.n.g Man let out a "mn."

He was concerned, "How are the two of you?"

"Just like that." Even before her father she didn't want to lower herself, so she responded very lightly.

But no matter what, a father could always understand his own daughter. He could hear the repressed note of disappointment in her plain tone.

"No need to rush," he comforted her. "You're not old yet. You can take it slow."

He added, "Stay in the county for a while and get your qualifications. Then I can transfer you back in a few months."

w.a.n.g Man was a little anxious. Of course she knew that she needed her qualifications from the base first - it was the most important step of her career.

But because she worked in the county, she could only return to the city once every one or two weeks, so it was inconvenient for her to be able to meet Cao Yang.

She felt that one of the largest reasons their relations.h.i.+p hadn't progressed to the next step was because they didn't meet often enough. They only saw one another about two times a month, and each time they met their feelings would fade a little, and it was like they were starting from the beginning each time.

But she couldn't rush things now. She had already put so much time into her work at the county; she couldn't just give up halfway.

All she could do was… wait until she was transferred back into the city and try again…

"You and w.a.n.g Man…" Cao Xiong began when he sat with his eldest after dinner, "How's it going?"

"Just like that," Cao Yang replied.

Cao Xiong wasn't pleased with Cao Yang's obvious att.i.tude. He scolded him, "Put your heart into it!"

Cao Yang was helpless: "I'm already doing my best."

He paused before continuing: "She's currently working in the county, so she's not home that often. She can't meet me every time she returns."

Cao Xiong thought back, "She's been there for nearly a year. It's almost time that she's transferred back."

Cao Yang didn't express any reaction. "Mm."

Cao Xiong's finger tapped softly on table: "No need for you to rush. Just take it slowly…"

"Most importantly," he asked, "what do you think about her?"

Cao Yang stilled in his motion to pick up the teacup. He thought deeply for a bit, before responding properly, "She excels in various aspects."

Cao Xiong puffed on his cigarette and let out a cloud of smoke, brows slightly furrowed and not responding.

He did not continue to force the conversation along.

He was already in his fifties. His experience in life told him there was no doubt that the best of the best would attract each other. But… in choosing a life partner, the only consideration was not whether they were excellent in all aspects.

When Cao Yang first met w.a.n.g Man, he had already admired that about her. So he got in touch with her with sincerity.

Just as Cao Xiong was saying, he had really gotten to the age where he needed to start thinking about settling down.

He had been single until now not only because he hadn't settled his heart, but also because he hadn't encountered any women who could make him eager to marry.

Just looking at her, w.a.n.g Man was obviously the best choice in every aspect, including her family background, knowledge, abilities, and appearance. Because of that, he had first become interested in her and they were testing the waters.

After a few of their not-quite-dates, he knew he indeed admired her.

However, it was nothing that made his heart pound.

At least, w.a.n.g Man wasn't able to make him think of taking their relations.h.i.+p further. Currently it was in a state of an almost but not quite relations.h.i.+p.

Just like that, the two maintained their lukewarm relations and continued to keep in contact.

At this point, Xia Rou didn't have the time to worry after Cao Yang any longer.

In her second semester as a senior, it was the last chance for her to go all out before she began university.

Two months after the start of school, Xia Rou handed Cao Yang a notice. "Nah."

"What?"

"Parent meeting."

Ah, that's right. Translated by The Novelst

Since starting high school, all of Xia Rou's parent meetings had been attended by Cao Yang.

It wasn't easy to be a big brother!

Proofread by: Hannah