CHAPTER 533: CHAPTER 528: A CONTEST BETWEEN MEN

Luo Zhiyong hesitated before shaking his head, "Not yet."

Hearing that he hadn’t eaten, Fang Pingying paused before saying, "Then let’s eat together here, just in time Fengsheng just brought some crabs over, we can all try them out."

Luo Zhiyong glanced at her and nodded, "Okay."

"Then you go check on Ruirui and Yaoyao first; I still need a while to finish up here," Fang Pingying said, then went back to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Seeing this, Liu Fengsheng also exchanged greetings with Luo Zhiyong and followed into the kitchen.

Luo Zhiyong stood not far from the kitchen door, watching the two of them both wrapped in aprons standing together. His eyes flickered, he took a few steps toward the kitchen, and stared fixedly at Fang Pingying, asking, "Do you need help?"

Fang Pingying turned around, her lips pursed as she met Luo Zhiyong’s gaze. She understood the look in his eyes, but she remained silent.

In Fang Pingying’s eyes at that moment, Liu Fengsheng was just a normal friend, and she didn’t think he had any special feelings for her. But with Luo Zhiyong, she knew that their relationship was still vaguely connected, and she didn’t like this state.

Since it was all over, better to cut it off completely; she would rather let Luo Zhiyong misunderstand her and Liu Fengsheng.

Just then, Liu Fengsheng also looked up, smiling at Luo Zhiyong and said, "No need, Zhiyong, I can help her out. You rarely come by, go see Yaoyao and Ruirui."

Luo Zhiyong felt extremely awkward upon hearing Liu Fengsheng’s words.

Liu Fengsheng’s tone was undeniably that of a man of the house, whereas, in contrast, he had become the guest.

But Fang Pingying also spoke, and he couldn’t openly object, so he nodded and went to see Ruirui and Yaoyao.

At first, Ruirui and Yaoyao were clamoring for their father; and now seeing him arrive, they were ecstatic, circling around Luo Zhiyong, stammering with excitement.

Tingting wasn’t particularly familiar with Luo Zhiyong, and seeing that he came to see the two little ones, she greeted him with an "Uncle Luo, hello," then walked away to read books in Luo Honglan’s room.

When Luo Honglan came out of her room, she was overjoyed to see Luo Zhiyong had come, sitting next to him and whispered, "Big brother, you really came. Just now Yaoyao was crying for you."

Luo Zhiyong didn’t directly respond to Luo Honglan’s words but frowned in a low voice and asked her, "Does he come over often?"

"Who?" Luo Honglan hesitated, then realized who Luo Zhiyong was referring to and said, "You mean Fengsheng? Well, he doesn’t come over often, but we do see each other quite a bit. He’s busy with work, and Tingting spends a lot of time at our place, so he often comes by to pick her up in the evening."

Luo Zhiyong was aware of this fact. Originally, seeing Fang Pingying and Liu Fengsheng together in the kitchen, he had thought something had developed between them. Now hearing what Luo Honglan had said, he felt a small relief.

He glanced at Liu Fengsheng sideways and asked Luo Honglan, "What do you think of Liu Fengsheng?"

Luo Honglan had a good impression of Liu Fengsheng and smiled, saying, "Pretty good, he speaks gently and is kind to others."

Luo Zhiyong nodded, staying silent, but his eyes would occasionally sweep through the kitchen.

Inside the kitchen, Liu Fengsheng and Fang Pingying were standing side by side, busily working together, creating an amiable atmosphere, just like a married couple – one leading the kitchen, the other assisting.

The two were chatting and laughing about something unknown to outsiders; the scene pricked Luo Zhiyong’s eyes with jealousy.

He thought he was diligently dealing with his family situation, and once resolved, he and Fang Pingying would be together again. He never intended to leave her, and their current separation was merely to sort things out at home.

No matter how difficult home affairs were, he shouldered them alone, allowing Fang Pingying a respite. His agreement to divorce Fang Pingying aimed to protect her from any further domestic chaos.

Once everything was cleared up, he planned to return. He believed Fang Pingying still harbored feelings for him in her heart.

He never even imagined letting go of Fang Pingying.

But he had neglected Liu Fengsheng, his biggest rival.

As a man, he had long noticed Liu Fengsheng’s special feelings for Fang Pingying. Now that they were divorced, it was natural for Liu Fengsheng to pursue Fang Pingying.

Any man would seize such an opportunity.

Yet, Luo Zhiyong was unwilling to give him that chance. His eyes slightly narrowed, he asked Luo Honglan to watch the children and headed straight to the kitchen.

The kitchen was too cramped to fit another person comfortably, so Luo Zhiyong didn’t enter. He stood at the doorway, rolled up his sleeves, and declared, "I’ll help out."

This wasn’t a request for permission, but an insistence on joining in.

Liu Fengsheng paused his work to look at Luo Zhiyong’s actions, and then, still smiling, said, "No need, Zhiyong. Just go and sit down; we’ll be done here soon."

Luo Zhiyong let out a hearty laugh and playfully responded, "How could I do that? After all, you’re a guest. It wouldn’t be right for the host to stand idle while a guest is working."

Liu Fengsheng’s eyes were hiding a twinkle, and as he looked up to meet Luo Zhiyong’s gaze, he replied with a chuckle, "Well, technically, we are both guests now, so there’s no need to differentiate."

In truth, both men understood each other’s intent in that moment, as their rivalry escalated to a fever pitch. But for the sake of Fang Pingying’s presence, they refrained from making direct accusations.

"Since we’re all guests, I’ll assist, especially as I’m more familiar with this place than you." After speaking, Luo Zhiyong deftly took over – or rather, snatched – the scrubber from Liu Fengsheng’s hand, pushing him out of the kitchen. Standing beside Fang Pingying, he smiled at Liu Fengsheng and said, "Fengsheng, why don’t you go and sit in the living room? We’ll be finished soon."

The astute Liu Fengsheng saw right through Luo Zhiyong’s actions. He smiled faintly, without arguing, because he believed some things can’t be forced. If he couldn’t force it, neither could Luo Zhiyong.

After greeting them, Liu Fengsheng went to the neighboring washroom to wash his hands and then took a seat on the sofa in the living room.

Fang Pingying had been silent all the while but was acutely aware of the contention between the two men. Or rather, to Fang Pingying, it seemed that Luo Zhiyong was the one being competitive.

Because, initially, it was Liu Fengsheng who was engaged in his task before Luo Zhiyong aggressively took over.

Fang Pingying knew why Luo Zhiyong was acting this way. Although she had yet to fully accept their divorce, they were now separated, and life should move on independently, whether she found someone new or he did. Their paths should no longer intersect.

She disliked Luo Zhiyong’s obvious behavior, which might give people the impression they were still entangled. If so, what was the point of their divorce?