Two (below)

Lan Ning retorted: "Am I not considered as someone who accompanies for meals and sleeps?"

Yan Youran raised both hands: "I also have this need, and it is quite simple. My mother is just like your mother used to be, constantly bombarding me with pressure. I have been in a relationship for three years, and at my age, if I don't get married soon, I will become a laughingstock."

However, when she heard that Lan Ning and Guan Zhi had done a prenuptial agreement before their marriage, she was still taken aback when Lan Ning brought it up: "Isn't this quite hurtful to feelings?"

Moreover, both one's own parents and the grandparents on the maternal side are very satisfied. This is something that can please the entire family, and there is actually nothing wrong with that

Thus, this topic is akin to a roller coaster, and Lan Ning does not wish to continue, while Yan Youran shares the same sentiment

Classmates and friends discussed their work troubles again. In an effort to divert Yan Youran's unpleasant feelings, Lan Ning briefly mentioned the difficult problem that Luo Danian had posed to her.

As a close friend, Lan Ning naturally understands, and she understands Yan Youran even better

Therefore, she no longer spoke of anything

Originally curled up, Lan Ning suddenly sat up straight. Behind her head, there was a small tile lamp, its light enveloping her. Yan Youran felt as if she were as thin as a piece of paper, yet still had to stand upright, as if returning to the past.

Lan Ning instinctively touched her face, and then she understood what she was laughing at

But what is more important in this world than being inexpensive and delicious

Lan Ning tasted it and indeed said: "Their ingredients are average, their cooking standards are also average, and the quality of their products is truly unstable"

She now thinks that if marrying Guan Zhi back then was partly a decision made out of necessity and partly a result of half-hearted consent, in retrospect, as time flows like water and everything is stable, it does not seem to be a particularly poor choice after all

Lan Ning scolded her: "It's both cold and spicy, aren't you afraid of getting sick from it?" She replaced the chilled mustard greens and cold cucumber with hot dragon gourd and shrimp roe diced dry, and added two portions of winter mushroom and abalone soup, while ordering a salad as a cold dish

Yan Youran furrowed his brow and said: "This is called 'Those who are not of my kind will surely have different intentions.' He is wary of you!"

My surname is Pei

Yan You then told her: "The first time I saw him, it was as if I were seeing my teacher."

Lan Ning said enthusiastically: "Jingyangchun! They have a processing center in Qingpu! The quality of their products is absolutely reliable. Although they have only opened five stores, they already have the awareness to establish a central kitchen, which is quite forward-thinking. Now, all the dishes in the branches have the same flavors, which ensures quality stability"

Yan Youran wiped her mouth, her gaze clear as a pool of autumn water, capable of piercing through to the heart.

Yan Youran indeed said: "Xiao Ning, you are a good student of time, striving for progress every minute. You make the most of your time and never waste it"

A noble forehead, delicate eyebrows, and a well-defined chin contribute to an overall expression of determination on the face. When they ponder, their gaze becomes intensely focused on a single direction, drawing in those before them, compelling them to engage in the thoughts of this individual.

Lan Ning tugged at the corners of her mouth, forming an arc that could be considered a smile. She said, "Indeed, Shi Wei once mentioned that wasting time is shameful."

Yan Youran asked her before her wedding: "How did you suddenly get married to your old flame? You didn't give me any psychological preparation."

Yan Youran picked up a piece of fish for her and said, "Come, come, come, eat the fish first." After saying this, her phone beside her vibrated. She answered it, her tone cold and firm, "I told you not to come pick me up, just leave it at that."

She blurted out: "What time is it?"

Lan Ning sighed in despondency, remaining silent.

When Yan Youran first brought her boyfriend Pei Yuchen before her, she was boredly flipping through a magazine, looking at gossip from the entertainment industry. Upon hearing Yan Youran's introduction, she raised her head, momentarily dazed, doubting whether she was in a state of weightlessness or time travel.

The hostess came to call the number, and it was their turn to go in. Once seated, Yan Youran casually ordered: "Boiled fish, spring water frog, half a portion of stir-fried shrimp, chilled Chinese broccoli, and cold cucumber salad"

Lan Ningxiao: "These are all common dishes, which family can't make? It seems they operate on a marketing-driven model"

However, the two individuals have differing opinions, and they have had countless disagreements over the topic of marriage.

Yan Youran looked around, surrounded by couples, immersed in their affection for one another, and felt a sense of kinship: "This is an environment for white-collar workers, with blue-collar prices, offering high cost-effectiveness. It's great to save costs while dating, isn't it?"

But Yan Youran asked her: "Regardless of anything, a marriage certificate is like a contract. Since it is signed and sealed, it must be taken seriously. Lan Ning, have you thought this through?"

At this moment, the boiled fish was served first. Yan Youran was extremely hungry, and as he picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth, he frowned after taking a bite: "Why is the fish so flaky and the taste so poor"

Yan Youran laughed at her: "Come on, with such a handsome guy accompanying you for meals, sleep, and play, who knows who is actually benefiting from it?"

Yan Youran did not ask much, their friendship was quite good, and they never relentlessly pursued each other's privacy

She lightly tapped Lan Ning's hand, saying: "You are right. If we truly think that everything is in the past, and just turn a blind eye, going through life aimlessly, isn't that what life is all about? You and I are the same."

Since her university days, she has always been strong-willed and never shows weakness. After graduation, she worked for a well-known fashion magazine in the city, achieving remarkable success in just a few years. Even the class reunion organized yesterday was meticulously planned to be perfect

Lan Ning lowered his head again, eating the food on his side. For some reason, he chose to say something inappropriate: "You know, if you think about it, Pei Yuchen might feel like he is just a supporting character in front of you"

Lan Ning thought, feelings were originally sparse, how much could they be hurt?

Thus, she is able to calmly tell Yan Youran now: "We are different; our needs in various aspects are more compatible, so we got married. It is simpler compared to others"

Lan Ning picked up the menu and flipped through it, discovering something intriguing, and quickly handed it to Yan Youran to divert her attention.

Guan Zhi expressed some schadenfreude and then asked her: "Do you regret it?"

This was precisely the anger that had been building up inside Lan Ning, which she had suppressed without expressing. She was not without indignation and displeasure, stating: "I joined the company right after graduation, and everything I thought, did, and acted upon has been almost labeled with a 'temporal dimension.' Just because the person I married is his competitor, it shouldn't lead to such a lack of magnanimity! Over the years, I never imagined that Luo Danian would also lack generosity."

Lan Ning turned to Yan Youran and explained: "If they have a strong central kitchen, they will definitely be able to produce better products; standardization of output is not something that every household can achieve effectively"

As soon as Yan Youran finished speaking, another waiter came over to serve the spring water frog. Taking the opportunity, Lan Ning asked: "Isn't your raw material of poor quality? Don't you have a central kitchen for processing and quality control?"

Just one sentence, and then be silent

Yan Youran was indeed attracted and asked, "Aren't they afraid that the menu will be copied?"

Yan Youran stared at her for a long time before saying: "Luo Danian trusted you in the past, perhaps not because you bore the label of 'time dimension', but because you bore the label of temporal dimension."

Look, look, their awareness is indeed avant-garde, turning the menu into a magazine, along with discount coupons for other entertainment venues, which can be sold directly to consumers

She said: "Xiao Ning, I know what you want to say. Ever since you first saw Pei Yuchen, you have been wanting to ask me, haven't you?"

Only Shi Wei preferred to wear white, embodying a truly understated scholarly demeanor, yet his actions were full of vigor. On that day, Pei Yuchen wore a brown-black trench coat, exuding a hint of despondency and nonchalance, distinctly contrasting with Shi Wei.

As Guan Zhi initially stated: "We accompany each other, and there is nothing wrong with that"

I never expected today's topic would cross the line, as friends subtly wield their blades, inadvertently prying open each other's veins

Yan Youran looked at her and smiled, asking, "So which one do you think is the best?"

Yan Youran scoffed at her, saying, "Have you listened to Guan Xiaosheng sing too much?" She sighed again, "Women of our age, with no ceiling on our careers, striving for independence in life, appear to be thriving on the outside, yet are riddled with internal wounds. If we don't secure a man, everyone assumes we are leftovers. Even if you are as beautiful as Xi Shi and as wealthy as Little Sweet, there will always be gossip from aunts and relatives saying, 'This is a woman in her late twenties still single.'

After she finished speaking, a sudden inspiration struck her, and before she could think it through, she saw Yan Youran gazing at her with a beaming smile

At that time, Lan Ning spoke vaguely about the past, not really wanting to elaborate on the reasons, simply stating: "We have all reached an age where making a fuss over a romantic relationship, crying out to the heavens and acting as if our lives depend on it, is truly contrary to our style. If we meet someone suitable, we might as well just go with the flow and get married, right?"

Ultimately, their marriage resembles a partnership more than a romantic relationship, and resembles neighbors more than a husband and wife

The atmosphere relaxed, and Lan Ning jokingly said: "I never expected that such a shrewd person like you would fall into the hands of a young writer. Indeed, it seems that literary figures are often sentimental."

Lan Ning gazed absentmindedly at the dim yellow light; in the bustling atmosphere of this restaurant, this light was ordinary and unremarkable. Life is like this light, ultimately destined to return to simplicity.

Lan Ning returned home and turned on the television, which was broadcasting "Winter Sonata." Wei Zhen's friend's new boyfriend bore a striking resemblance to Jun Shang. She carefully etched the features of Shi Wei in her mind, realizing that Pei Yu Chen only resembled him in outline.

Lan Ning advised her: "He is also being proactive. Since neither of you wants to break up, let's each take a step back and consider the long-term plan."

Lan Ning cannot be said to be unfamiliar with this friend. The slight hints of disappointment revealed today during their meal together are already sufficient; there is no need to delve deeply into the hidden pain. What she needs is companionship. After tomorrow, with her radiant appearance and graceful neck like Yan Youran, she will naturally find ways to cope.

The waiter is highly professional, adept at handling situations with subtlety: "We will strive in this direction."

Lan Ning said: "How miserable I was back then, I was almost forced by my mother to go to the People's Square for a blind date. She even said that if I didn't get married by the age of twenty-seven, she would sever our mother-daughter relationship. Finally, I was able to obtain a marriage certificate at the age of twenty-eight, my mother almost went mad with joy."

Yan Youran's boyfriend, Lan Ning, is well-known; he is a rising star in the cultural sector who recently won a literary award and is becoming an increasingly prominent figure in literature. Yan Youran has been in a relationship with him for three years and is looking to achieve a final outcome.

Indeed, this idea was proposed by her, and Guan Zhi did not oppose it. The two of them each listed their assets, and it was only then that Lan Ning realized that over the past few years, Guan Zhi, without a proper job, had been making money through various odd jobs, earning more than she did with her legitimate profession, which inevitably led to countless grievances in her heart

Lan Ning felt that he had lost his composure and was very embarrassed