Awkward Dinner

Ryan pondered over Violet's suggestion and nodded. "I guess, I don't have much choice." He followed Violet as she led him to the dining area. He shifted his gaze at Violet and noticed the easy-going smile on her face.

"You're not trying to poison me during this meal are you?" 

The corner of Violet's lips started to twitch. 

She was starting to enjoy the silence between them. However, a certain someone did not know how to keep his mouth shut.

Violet gave a sideway glance at Ryan, wondering if he would die if he did not say anything that could make her upset.

This person was just too annoying.

"Tempting." Violet clicked her tongue. "But, no. There's too much eyewitness for that. If I am going to poison you, I would plan it really carefully so that no one would suspect me. But you are here and your mother knows it too. If something happened to you, I would be the number one suspect, right?"

Ryan chuckled. He found out that Violet was really good at arguing. 

The two of them tacitly stopped their argument as they showed up at the dining room.

Grandpa had a smile on his face as he watched them walk in. He motioned Ryan to it next to him and the two of them started to make a small talk.

Violet watched Ryan for a brief second. Seeing him talking politely to her grandfather made her feel at ease. 

Remembering that her cousin, Sarah was still in the kitchen, Violet decided to leave the men to talk.

Violet noticed that Sarah was peeking behind the wall as she walked over to the kitchen.

"What is he doing here?" Sarah whispered as she glanced towards Ryan. Her expression showed that she was not too happy to see Ryan around.

As someone on Violet's side, Sarah was displeased with the dating arrangement that the elders had forced onto Violet.

Violet heaved a heavy breath. "What do you think? He was forced by his mother to come over and meet Grandpa to show some courtesy."

"Sheesh. His mother's quite persistent with all the marriage stuff." Sarah gave Ryan another glance. "I guess, we should be nice to him while Grandpa's around, huh?"

"I guess so," Violet shrugged. "Let's play nice so Grandpa wouldn't suspect anything."

"Alright." Sarah nodded.

The cousins stayed in the kitchen to prepare the meal that they had promised their grandfather. Fortunately, they made a lot of food. The food should be enough with Ryan around.

"You're in luck," Grandpa said when Violet walked in with a bowl of dishes. " Violet's an excellent cook. She enrolled in a cooking academy a few years ago before she decided to run a cupcake shop. That's right. Have you been to her cupcake shop?"

"I have." Ryan nodded. 

"What do you think about it?"

There was an awkward look on Ryan's face. He had been to Violet's cupcake shop when he was looking for her the other day. However, he did not get to look around.

"I guess, it was alright." Ryan let out a cough.

Fortunately, Sarah walked out of the kitchen while carrying a few more dishes. "Grandpa, let's eat first while the food is hot. I'm sure that you are hungry after working in the garden all day."

The old man laughed happily. The joy on his face was transparent. He loved that the house became livelier with his granddaughter accompanying him for a meal.

"You should definitely try her apple pie," Grandpa suggested. " Violet made the best apple pie. They are to die for!"

Ryan looked at Violet and raised a brow.

It was a while ago that he joked about Violet poisoning his meal. Now, he found out that Violet was making apple pie.

A poisonous apple?

Violet raised her head and met Ryan's gaze. She rolled her eyes when she understood his gaze.

This man is too annoying.

"Please, eat to your heart's content. Don't be shy," Grandpa pointed to a few dishes on the table. He watched Ryan and Violet alternately and saw how Ryan was watching Violet. Meanwhile, his granddaughter was ignoring that man. A faint sigh escaped him.

No matter how he looked at it, Grandpa Wu felt that this was a lover's quarrel.

"So, I take it that your problem has all settled?" Grandpa Wu asked.

Violet looked at her grandfather in puzzlement. "What problem?"

"I thought it was strange when my granddaughters made a sudden decision to pay me a visit," Grandpa smiled. "Then, your boyfriend came and it all made sense."

Violet nearly choked on her rice when her grandpa said the word 'boyfriend'.

Fortunately, there was a glass of water in front of her.

Violet grabbed the glass and drank her water to calm down.

"Are you alright?" Sarah whispered.

"The two of you were fighting, didn't you?" Grandpa guessed. "It's alright to fight once in a while. But you shouldn't stay mad at your boyfriend for long, Violet. Or he'll end up looking for someone else," Grandpa said, winking.

Violet laughed. "Yes, Grandpa." She was too lazy to explain her complicated relationship with Ryan. It was best for her to agree with anything he said.

The four of them continue to have their dinner in quiet. Grandpa and Ryan would have small talks.

Violet ate her meal slowly. She felt that this meal was too awkward. She wondered if she would get an indigestion for it.

Fortunately, Ran did not stay for too long. Once he finished his meal, Ryan stood up and made up an excuse to leave.

Hearing that he would have to return to L City for his work, Grandpa Wu decided not to force the young man to stay.

"Thank you for dinner," Ryan said to Grandpa as they walked Ryan toward his car.

Grandpa nodded and smiled. "You should thank my granddaughters. They're the chefs of the day."

Ryan smiled. "Thank you. Both of you. That was really a delicious meal."

"You're welcome," Sarah replied. 

Violet nodded in acknowledgment.

"You should come and visit me again with Violet when you have time," Grandpa said as he patted Ryan on his shoulder.

"I will," Ryan nodded. Then, he slid into the driver's seat, started his engine, and lowered the window. He looked at Violet and smiled. "I'll see you soon." 

Violet heaved a heavy sigh. She hoped that she wouldn't see Ryan again. Unfortunately, she was supposed to go on a date with this annoying man soon.