After packing everything, Brother Zhixun finally ca back.
He had gone to buy so things and borrowed so tools to help Shen Qingqing install a latch on the door behind her room.
When it cos to safety, there’s no room for carelessness.
Madam Jiang praised his thoughtfulness. "Check other places for Qingqing too, will you? That light bulb—see if it needs replacing."
Brother Zhixun had already checked it earlier—no issues.
He worked quietly, saying nothing.
Even though this wasn’t his profession, many things ca naturally once you got the hang of them.
In no ti, the latch was securely fixed.
He tested it a few tis, only stopping after making sure there were no problems.
With both Brother Zhixun and Madam Jiang lending her such a big hand, Shen Qingqing couldn’t possibly not invite them to a al.
"There’s probably a restaurant nearby. Should we go check it out?"
Madam Jiang nodded. "Zhixun recently went to have lamb soup with Qin Wenqiang’s family. Why don’t we go try it too?"
"You still rember Qin Wenqiang, right? He used to visit the house all the ti. Now he’s onto his second child."
"Of course I rember. It looks like his family is doing quite well."
Madam Jiang gave Brother Zhixun a aningful look. "With two kids already, how could they not be? Who knows, maybe in a couple of years, baby number three will be here."
Brother Zhixun and Shen Qingqing tacitly chose not to respond to this topic.
Zhixun: "Are we eating or not?"
Madam Jiang: "We are."
The destination was far from the school. It took a half-hour drive to reach.
Madam Jiang reassured Shen Qingqing, "Don’t worry about missing your bus—you can eat slowly. After we’re done, Zhixun can give you a ride."
In her mind, she was already planning—after the al, she’d go to the nearby mall for a stroll.
She wanted to create so alone ti for the two of them!
Zhixun glanced at his mother—she really was his biological mom!
Madam Jiang responded with a proud look.
If not for her help, who knew when this brat would manage to win over Qingqing?
Now that Qingqing was a college professor—young and beautiful—even without Zhou Hansheng in the picture, plenty of other n would undoubtedly pursue her.
Ti was of the essence to seal the deal.
If Zhixun returned to his unit and couldn’t visit Qingqing at school every day, who was to say she wouldn’t end up being taken by soone else during a lapse in his presence?
Having experienced sothing like this once already, Madam Jiang couldn’t bear to watch Qingqing be wooed away by soone else again. If that happened, Zhixun would likely be utterly devastated...
So, she’d do everything in her power to help.
For her son’s happiness, she didn’t care about her dignity anymore.
The restaurant they chose was a privately owned one. They picked a table by the window and sat down.
A waiter brought over the nu and handed it to them to order.
Shen Qingqing motioned for Madam Jiang to order first.
In matters like this, Madam Jiang never killed the mood. If soone told her to order, she really would.
"Zhixun has a big appetite—he can finish four pounds of at easily."
Brother Zhixun felt embarrassed. Anyone who didn’t know him might think he was a glutton.
"I’m not hungry."
Madam Jiang scolded him, "Do you think Qingqing doesn’t already know how much you can eat?"
From the mories Shen Qingqing hadn’t regained yet, she truly didn’t know what Brother Zhixun’s appetite was like.
But since he trained all year round and was quite large in stature, he probably didn’t have a small appetite.
Lamb cost two yuan per pound. Adding in side dishes, the total wouldn’t exceed twenty yuan.
Her salary wasn’t high, but treating soone to a decent al wasn’t a problem.
It wasn’t like she ate out every day—this was a rare occasion. Eating well and fully was worth it.
After ordering the lamb, Madam Jiang let Shen Qingqing and Brother Zhixun choose the other dishes.
Brother Zhixun pressed his long finger onto the nu and slid it toward Shen Qingqing, silently indicating that she should order whatever she liked.
Shen Qingqing scanned the nu carefully and picked three additional dishes based on Beijing-style tastes.
One at, two vegetable dishes.
She looked up at the man across from her. "Brother Zhixun, do you think we need to add anything else?"
Since the divorce, Brother Zhixun disliked hearing "Brother Zhixun" co out of Shen Qingqing’s mouth.
It always sounded distant.
As if she were intentionally drawing a line between them.
But at this mont, for so reason, her voice saying his na sounded unexpectedly pleasant to him.
He glanced at her, noting the light layer of lipstick on her lips, making them look soft and pink like flower petals.
Incredibly alluring...
The tips of Brother Zhixun’s ears suddenly turned red.
He rested his fist against his mouth and cleared his throat to cover his discomfort.
"This is enough."
There were only three of them—four dishes were more than sufficient.
Since Brother Zhixun didn’t add anything, Shen Qingqing circled rice under the staples section and handed the nu directly to the waiter.
Being a newly opened restaurant, the service was excellent.
They even brought complintary tea to the table.
The weather had already turned cool, and the cozy atmosphere made Shen Qingqing relax.
The lively surroundings and the familiar yet unfamiliar scenery outside the window reminded her she was back ho!
Her mood brightened unexpectedly.
While sipping tea, the corners of her lips curled up slightly.
Brother Zhixun’s attention was entirely on Shen Qingqing, and he imdiately noticed the change in her mood.
His sharp features softened, and a faintly perceptible smile played on his lips.
He didn’t know what Shen Qingqing was happy about, but her good mood bolstered his own.
The lamb soup was prepared in advance, so the dishes arrived quickly.
The soup ca in an iron pot and was still bubbling when it was served.
Afraid it might scald Shen Qingqing or Madam Jiang, Zhixun had already moved the bowls, chopsticks, and teacups aside before the waiter even approached, making enough space for the pot.
Only when the pot was safely placed did he subtly let out a breath of relief.
Under the table, soone suddenly stepped on his foot.
Brother Zhixun looked up helplessly, only to see his mother winking and signaling for him to serve Shen Qingqing so soup.
"Mom, why are you kicking ?"
If Shen Qingqing weren’t there, Madam Jiang would’ve started scolding him.
She was doing this for him!
And yet he wasn’t cooperating!
No wonder he was still single at thirty-three!
"Brat, what’s with the attitude? Can’t I step on you by accident?"
Brother Zhixun’s lips twitched. "Fine. Whatever you say is right."
Shen Qingqing felt an inexplicable urge to laugh, but she pressed her lips together and served Madam Jiang so soup, adding a spoonful of lamb.
Then she served herself a bowl.
Out of politeness, she asked, "Brother Zhixun, do you need to get yours too?"
Brother Zhixun stared at her. "If it’s not genuine, then don’t force yourself."
With that, he took the ladle from her hand.
Fingers brushed against each other.
One soft, one rough.
Shen Qingqing quickly pulled her hand back. The spot where they’d made contact tingled faintly, leaving her slightly flustered.
She moved so fast that she nearly knocked over her teacup.
Madam Jiang chided Brother Zhixun, "What are you fumbling around for? What’s the rush to take it from Qingqing?"
Brother Zhixun: "Reincarnation of a starving ghost!"
Madam Jiang: "..."
She rolled her eyes in exasperation. Did he really think she couldn’t see through his little acts?
He was just worried about Qingqing burning herself, which was why he hurried to take the ladle from her hands.
But that damned mouth of his—he could never say the right things.
If he wouldn’t say nice things, so be it—but now he’d irritated Qingqing. How could she possibly appreciate his thoughtfulness?
Shen Qingqing was starting to get used to Brother Zhixun’s temperant and wasn’t offended. Instead, she picked up her spoon and took small sips of the soup.
The lamb soup was rich and creamy, its aroma tantalizing, and it tasted even better.
It had been a long ti since Shen Qingqing had eaten such good food, and at that mont, even just drinking a bowl of soup made her feel content.
Brother Zhixun sat directly across from her, watching her reactions.
His eyes carried a hint of a smile.
He didn’t need to do anything or say anything—just sitting there, watching Qingqing eat her al, was enough to fill his heart with happiness.
He rubbed his fingers together and couldn’t resist using his spoon to pick the most tender, skin-on piece of lamb for Shen Qingqing.
But just as he placed it into her bowl, an unexpected guest arrived.
A middle-aged woman with a haughty deanor looked at Shen Qingqing with obvious disapproval in her eyes.
Her face bore a polite smile, yet it gave off an impression of sharp hostility.
"So it really is you. I saw you from outside the window and thought I must’ve been seeing things. Just back in the country, and you’re already busy having als with your ex-husband?"
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