The three of them ate, but only Chen Shaojie had a good appetite; Shen Qingqing and Shi Yu’s appetites were just average.
The prepared food wasn’t finished.
The fish stew and vegetables were completely eaten, but half a roasted duck remained, and more than twenty wrapped dumplings were still left uncooked.
The weather hadn’t ward up yet; the dumplings could be left on the balcony to freeze overnight without worries of them spoiling.
Shen Qingqing was at ho alone, and this food would be enough for her for a day.
After helping to clean up, Shi Yu and Chen Shaojie got ready to leave.
Still worried about Shen Qingqing, Shi Yu said, "I’ll co back to see you tomorrow. If there’s any work to be done, just save it for , and I’ll handle it when I co then."
The house chores were all done, and there was nothing Shen Qingqing needed to do.
"You go on your date with Mr. Chen. I’ll stay ho and finish the rest of the manuscripts, then in a few days, I’ll go to the publisher to hand over my work, after which I need so ti to rest."
Shi Yu was a bit puzzled.
During the car accident, she hadn’t planned to take a break; now that her injuries were improving, why was she handing over her work?
"Is there sothing wrong with your health?"
Chen Shaojie imdiately pricked up his ears to listen.
If there was any sign of trouble with Miss Shen, he needed to inform Old Jiang.
Realizing his tendency to tattle, Chen Shaojie’s ears turned red with embarrassnt.
Fortunately, Shen Qingqing and Shi Yu didn’t look at him, so there wasn’t a scene.
Shen Qingqing was used to reporting only good news and not the bad. If it weren’t for being pressured by Jiang Zhixun, she wouldn’t have ntioned her illness at all.
She was the sa with Shi Yu, "I hadn’t taken a proper break for the past few years. Now that I’ve been injured, I want to take better care of myself, and when I’ve rested enough, I’ll return to work."
"Your health is the foundation of everything. If you’re feeling tired, just rest and don’t push yourself too hard."
Shen Qingqing nodded, "I’m fine. You and Mr. Chen should get along well; I’m waiting to eat your wedding candies."
Her words imdiately shifted Shi Yu’s attention.
Her face turned a bit red.
"It’s still too soon for wedding candies."
Chen Shaojie’s ho was in the Northwest. Once he went back to discuss with his family and file the marriage report, these procedures would take ti.
Shi Yu’s work location was flexible, and she was considering whether to contact a publisher over in the Northwest.
If she and Chen Shaojie did end up together, changing workplaces would make things much more convenient for her.
These things weren’t urgent, so Shi Yu didn’t ntion them.
When working on translating docunts, she didn’t like being disturbed, and Shen Qingqing probably felt the sa.
Calculating in her mind, Shi Yu figured Shen Qingqing had enough food for three days at ho without a problem.
"Three days later, I’ll co by, and we can go out for a walk and buy so things."
When they first t, Chen Shaojie had given her so many things, so she wanted to prepare a return gift for him when he went ho.
Shen Qingqing had no objections, "I’ll be here waiting for you."
After chatting for a few more minutes, Shen Qingqing finally saw them downstairs.
"Mr. Chen, would you mind escorting Shi Yu ho?"
Chen Shaojie responded seriously, "I guarantee to complete the task."
Watching them leave, Shen Qingqing stood downstairs for a while longer before slowly heading back upstairs.
Returning to her own space, her body and mind suddenly relaxed.
She took off her coat, lay down on the bed, and didn’t want to move.
Staring blankly at the pure white ceiling.
Maybe because she was too relaxed, she unknowingly fell asleep.
Unlike her recent state, this ti she slept soundly, without dreaming or waking up intermittently.
...
Shi Yu’s rented place was not far from Shen Qingqing’s ho.
Even walking slowly, it would only take half an hour.
Along the way, Shi Yu introduced Chen Shaojie to every building and shop they passed.
Chen Shaojie listened attentively and responded appropriately when she spoke.
Although he lived in the Northwest, Chen Shaojie was well-read and receptive to new things.
No matter what Shi Yu said, he could keep up the conversation.
Back-and-forth interactions, even without Shen Qingqing present, never beca awkward.
The more they got to know each other, the better their impressions of one another.
This blind date left both of them very satisfied.
Shi Yu lived alone, and with no third party present, it wasn’t appropriate for Chen Shaojie, a man, to enter a lady’s ho.
He stopped upon seeing her to the building entrance.
"You head up first."
At tis, Chen Shaojie could be a bit of a traditionalist.
He believed that n should protect won and should defer to them in both big and small matters.
Watching Shi Yu go up the stairs adhered to his principles of behavior.
Shi Yu was a bit concerned, "Will you be able to find your way back to the guesthouse, or should I see you off?"
Chen Shaojie’s lips curled into a wide smile.
He found Shi Yu delightful.
With a playful tone, he clenched his fist against his lips, "Alright, then I can see you back again."
Shi Yu froze for a mont, then realized what he ant.
Her expression was a bit awkward, "Mr. Chen, please maintain so composure."
Chen Shaojie imdiately tried holding back his laughter, standing tall like a soldier at attention.
Shi Yu laughed out loud, "No need to be so exaggerated."
"At your command, ma’am."
Shi Yu blushed.
Shen Qingqing had told her before that Chen Shaojie was easy to get along with and not a stodgy old-fashioned type.
Turns out she wasn’t lying.
Clearing her throat, "Alright, you should go back."
Yet Chen Shaojie insisted on his principle, "You go upstairs first."
Shi Yu liked considerate n, but since this was their first blind date and Chen Shaojie was from out of town, as a host, she felt she should look after him a bit more.
"This ti, you go first."
Chen Shaojie was amused yet helpless, and he thick-skinnedly asked another question.
"Are you free tomorrow? Would you like to visit Elder Jiang with ?"
That was an important figure living in the compound, and Shi Yu was a bit apprehensive.
More importantly, she didn’t have a good impression of Jiang Zhixun and often criticized him in private.
Going to the Jiang Family for dinner again felt embarrassing to her.
However, Madam Jiang had ntioned that Chen Shaojie should bring his girlfriend along, and by bringing it up now, he was reaffirming their relationship.
Refusing...didn’t seem quite right either.
Seeing Shi Yu’s conflicted expression, Chen Shaojie had a sudden epiphany and guessed the cause.
"It’s alright. I’ve badmouthed Old Jiang behind his back too; business is business."
When they got married, Shi Yu would have more opportunities to interact with Old Jiang.
Cursing was just that, and friendship was just that.
Chen Shaojie believed that these two matters could coexist without affecting each other.
After all, Old Jiang was at fault first and had wronged Miss Shen.
Getting criticized was his own doing.
With his words, Shi Yu no longer felt conflicted.
"Then what ti shall we et?"
When visiting elders, they definitely needed to bring gifts.
Chen Shaojie figured he would buy the things first and then pick up Shi Yu.
This way, she could sleep a little longer.
"How about 9 in the morning?"
Shi Yu gave a thumbs-up gesture in approval.
She usually got up at 7 in the morning, so leaving by 9 gave her ample ti.
"I’ll be waiting for you."
"Alright."
Recognizing Chen Shaojie’s persistence, Shi Yu planned to go along and head upstairs first.
But she didn’t expect to hear the most annoying voice.
"Where have you been all this ti, not coming ho? Do you know how long we’ve been waiting for you at the door?"
Contrary to Father Shi’s dissatisfaction, Shi Mu had a smile on her face.
"You didn’t co ho for the New Year, so we’re here today to have a al with you and make up for the New Year’s Eve dinner."
She nudged the young man beside her, "Last ti you didn’t like who I introduced, so this ti I’ve found you another one. Jianguo works at the steel plant, holding a stable job, and he’s a perfect match for you."
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