Chapter 240

After Su Ruo arrived, she handed the menu to Yu Pengfei and told him not to stand on ceremony, to order a few dishes he liked.

Upon receiving the menu, Yu Pengfei immediately gave it to Li Zhaodi, saying he wasn't familiar with it and asking her to help order.

Li Zhaodi didn't decline, took the menu, first ordered a few dishes Yu Pengfei liked, then ordered a few dishes Su Ruo and Bai Xinya liked.

Su Ruo and Bai Xinya exchanged glances; it seemed Li Zhaodi often brought this little boyfriend out to eat, but the two tacitly picked up the tea on the table and took a sip, neither saying anything.

After Li Zhaodi finished ordering, she only then realized she had actually ordered eight dishes, belatedly wondering if she had ordered too many and wanting to remove two.

Su Ruo said: "It's our first time inviting little Yu to a meal; it's fine if we order a few extra dishes, let's just leave it as is!"

Li Zhaodi then said nothing more.

Since it wasn't yet mealtime, the restaurant wasn't crowded, so the dishes arrived quickly; throughout the meal, Yu Pengfei kept looking after Li Zhaodi, constantly serving her food, while Su Ruo and Bai Xinya ate little.

After everyone finished eating, Li Zhaodi and Yu Pengfei went to settle the bill; they argued for a while, but in the end Li Zhaodi paid.

After Li Zhaodi paid, she asked the waiter for a few oil-paper bags, packed up the leftover dishes, and had Yu Pengfei take them home for his mother and older sister to eat.

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Yu Pengfei's face, but seeing the fish and meat on the table hardly touched, he ultimately did not refuse.

After leaving the restaurant, Su Ruo said to Yu Pengfei: "It's getting late; you can head back first. We can talk more next time."

Yu Pengfei also thought about quickly taking the fish and meat in the bag back home for his mother and older sister to try.

Unlike Su Ruo's family, his own was poor and rarely could afford such good food, so Yu Pengfei wanted to bring it back while hot; he therefore didn't refuse, waved goodbye to Su Ruo and the others, and hurried away.

Li Zhaodi watched Yu Pengfei's retreating back, took a step forward, but the words in her mouth never came out.

Actually, Li Zhaodi felt Yu Pengfei's performance today was poor, and she wanted him to show more in front of his master, but she didn't expect him to just leave like that.

The composure Bai Xinya had maintained for years finally broke after Yu Pengfei left, and her expression immediately darkened.

"Li Zhaodi, as a friend, I only advise you of one thing: spending money on a man will bring misfortune, especially before marriage, for a woman who lavishes all her heart and soul on a man."

After Bai Xinya said that, she turned and left straight away, clearly quite angry.

Bai Xinya never imagined that Li Zhaodi, who is so sharp and capable in her career, would actually be a love‑brain.

She didn't even consider that a guy who makes his girlfriend pay for everything before marriage, and who takes both food and things, could be any kind of good man.

If that man had even a shred of backbone, he couldn't spend his girlfriend's money, let alone do so with such self‑righteousness.

Li Zhaodi had never seen Bai Xinya so furious before; she momentarily hesitated and felt at a loss, not knowing what to do.

Feeling uneasy, Li Zhaodi said to Su Ruo: "Master, actually Pengfei is quite good; those clothes and watch are things I bought for him willingly."

Su Ruo sighed and said: "What Bai Xinya said is also for your own good; after all, she's been through this, and she's a few years older than us, so she sees things more clearly."

Li Zhaodi immediately replied: "My master knows." She isn't someone who can't distinguish good from bad, so she naturally knows Bai Xinya said those things for her benefit.

But precisely because of that, Li Zhaodi feels a bit upset, since she really thinks Pengfei is quite good, and she doesn't want them to misunderstand him.

Su Ruo felt somewhat helpless, but also knew that's just how it is: those involved are confused while outsiders see clearly; if she herself can't see through it, no amount of others' advice will help.

Su Ruo: "I don't object to you being together; if spending money makes you feel happy and joyful, I think there's nothing wrong with that."

After all, we aren't short on this bit of money; if spending can buy emotional value, then the money is well spent.

But I still say the same thing: dating is fine, marriage is not!

Zhao Di, a marriage with too large a class gap is hard to be happy, especially when in this marriage the woman is strong and the man weak.

A man needs tremendous emotional intelligence and IQ to overcome this gap and the outside judgments and rumors.

Your little boyfriend is still too immature; I don't think he can overcome these.

Moreover, he still has an elderly mother and three older paternal aunts at home; you are now willing to spend money to support this little boyfriend.

But would you be willing in the future to spend money to support his whole family?

Just as you said, he is an extremely kind person, and also extremely filial and values his own family.

How could such a person bear to enjoy fine food and drink while watching his own family suffer hardship?

Today you can buy him clothes and a watch; someday he will also want to buy things for his own family—will you buy them or not?

Even if these things mean nothing to you, you could take responsibility for their whole family's food, clothing, housing, and transportation, but human greed is endless.

If someday his sisters want houses, cars, jobs, children's education—will you provide those or not?

Li Zhaodi gaped at Su Ruo, she wanted to say no, but then thought of how Yu Pengfei always told her how difficult it was for his sister and mother to raise him.

Once I have money, I will surely take good care of them and let them live good lives.

Previously Li Zhaodi was moved by this, thinking Yu Pengfei was a kind and responsible good man.

But now this idea suddenly developed a crack…

Li Zhaodi has always lived in a family that heavily favors males over females, so she dreams of having an unbiased mother and a responsible brother who would protect her.

Thus, when Yu Pengfei appeared, he almost made up for all her shortcomings and fantasies, so Li Zhaodi almost immediately fell for him.

At this moment, Yu Pengfei became Li Zhaodi's redemption, nurturing her unfortunate childhood self, even though Li Zhaodi is now so strong that she fundamentally doesn't need this redemption.

Li Zhaodi remained silent, her reason telling her that the master was right, Yu Pengfei is absolutely not a good match.

But her heart told her otherwise, that Yu Pengfei is not that kind of person.

Thus, she is greatly anguished and torn.

Su Ruo said nothing more, happy people use their childhood to heal their whole life, unhappy people use their whole life to heal their childhood.

This is a hurdle for Li Zhaodi; she must figure it out herself, otherwise whatever anyone says is useless.