"Right, we’re back, and by all accounts, we should go express our thanks."
i Xiang thought for a mont, "Then what should I bring?"
"You don’t need to bring anything; just co with ," Chen Cheng said simply as he took a couple of bites, "Giving too much isn’t good either."
"What’s the reasoning behind that?" i Xiang didn’t understand.
Chen Cheng put down his chopsticks and explained, "Sister-in-law helped us a lot, and this friendship is very precious. Giving a gift is just a way to express our feelings, not to repay the favor. Giving sothing too expensive might actually create a distance and put Sister-in-law in a difficult position."
Xiao ier also nodded along, "Xiao Cheng is right, just showing the sentint is enough, after all, a light gift may carry heavy affection."
i Xiang picked up the conversation, "Is it like when you asked to bring rice?"
Chen Cheng smiled and nodded, "The situation was different then, but the principle is pretty much the sa."
i Xiang’s mind suddenly cleared, "Right, it seems it shouldn’t be too expensive."
"What rice?" Xiao ier asked curiously, "The one grown by i Xiang?"
i Xiang nodded repeatedly and told Xiao ier the whole story from beginning to end.
Only then did Xiao ier fill in the latter half of the story that Chen Cheng did not ntion last night, and the whole matter ca full circle.
"This is so complicated," she exclaid, her eyes looking at the sweet and well-behaved foreign girl in front of her,
"i Xiang, you can relax now. Without any worries, you should really enjoy life."
i Xiang felt the care and responded, "Yes! I will! Thank you, Sister Xiao Er!"
Xiao ier smiled and offered i Xiang another piece of deep-fried dough stick, "Eat more, if there’s anything you don’t like, just tell !"
"It’s delicious!" i Xiang said with a mouthful of the crispy dough stick, "It’s so luxurious!"
After thinking for a while, she said, "Sister Xiao Er, how about I cook dinner tonight?"
Faced with i Xiang’s eagerness to volunteer, Chen Cheng nearly choked on his porridge.
And Xiao ier was quite surprised, "Can you even cook?"
"Yes! Sushi, sashimi, tempura, miso soup..." i Xiang counted off on her fingers, "And Mapo Tofu, I’m really good at that!"
"Wow, that sounds amazing!"
Xiao ier turned her head to look at Chen Cheng, "Do you have ti tonight?"
"I do," Chen Cheng wiped his mouth, "But..."
Before Chen Cheng could finish, Xiao ier had already agreed with i Xiang, "Then let’s try i Xiang’s cooking tonight! Whatever ingredients you need, we can pick them up from the store later."
i Xiang nodded excitedly, "Mhm!"
But then, calming down, she asked, "Eh? Do convenience stores have them?"
...
...
After breakfast, the three of them headed to Wanbao Hall.
Xiao ier packed up the best sea cucumbers and fish maw and handed them to Chen Cheng, "You two go on with your errands, I need to start preparing here."
i Xiang was the first to take the bag, "Okay, Sister Xiao Er."
Chen Cheng shrugged, "Alright, we’ll head over then. We’ll be back as soon as we’re done."
Xiao ier also tied up her long hair, "Mhm, take it easy on the road."
The two left Wanbao Hall and Chen Donghai was already waiting outside.
Seeing them, he opened the car door, and Chen Cheng with i Xiang got in.
"Let’s go to CCTV Building," Chen Cheng stated the destination.
"Sure thing, Mr. Chen."
The Da Lao slowly drove away from the Big Willow Tree, and as they turned at the intersection, i Xiang’s barely contained hands finally grasped Chen Cheng’s.
"It’s so cold?" Chen Cheng looked at her sideways and drew both her hands into his, warming them in his palms.
i Xiang still wore a smile, snuggling closer into Chen Cheng’s embrace.
Chen Cheng looked at the natural skin texture beneath the A-line dress, "You’re not even wearing socks? No wonder you’re cold."
i Xiang looked up and shook her little feet, "I am wearing them~ Look."
The black cotton socks only reached up to her calves, Chen Cheng smiled helplessly, "This is Beijing, the climate is different."
i Xiang stuck out her tongue playfully, "In Hokkaido when it snows, I dress like this too~"
Saying so, she snuggled closer into Chen Cheng’s arms, "By Brother Cheng’s side, I won’t be cold."
Chen Cheng held her even tighter, "Japanese girls really aren’t afraid of the cold. But you should still be careful, don’t catch a cold."
"Mhm!"
"I’m thinking about having Xiao Lu take you to buy so clothes so ti," Chen Cheng planned, his peripheral vision on i Xiang’s attire, "Get so winter wear that fits the local style."
"Is that Miss Tong?"
Chen Cheng nodded, "I’ll be quite busy when I’m back, so if I can’t accompany you, she can take you shopping. Since you two know each other, it should be convenient."
"Okay, I’ll listen to Brother Cheng."
i Xiang hugged Chen Cheng’s waist, "Did you sleep well last night?"
"Not being lulled to sleep by your storytelling, I couldn’t drift off," Chen Cheng said with a smile.
i Xiang imdiately pulled away her hand and gently covered Chen Cheng’s eyes, "Then close your eyes and rest for a bit, I’ll tell you a story right now."
Chen Cheng obediently closed his eyes, feeling i Xiang’s approach, slling the faint fragrance on her, and his lips curved up unconsciously.
i Xiang cleared her throat and began to narrate softly in Japanese: "むかしむかし（a long, long ti ago)..."
Chen Donghai heard the noise, imdiately turned off the news on the FM radio, and "i Xiang’s radio show" began exclusively echoing through the entire Da Lao’s cabin.
...
...
Only after Da Lao arrived at the parking lot of the CCTV building did i Xiang’s little hand move away from Chen Cheng’s eyes.
"Brother Cheng, did you just fall asleep?" i Xiang asked.
Chen Cheng slowly opened his eyes, looking at her as she went from blurry to clear, and smiled, "I didn’t fall asleep, but it was very comfortable."
i Xiang smiled a little, "Then tonight..."
Before she could finish her sentence, she realized that nightti storytelling wouldn’t be possible.
Chen Cheng saw through her little thought, pinched her cheek, "There will be chances."
"Okay!"
"Mr. Chen, the person has arrived."
Chen Donghai, with sharp eyes, imdiately spotted Chu Qin coming out of the basent elevator.
Chen Cheng patted i Xiang’s leg, "Co on, I’ll introduce you to soone."
The two of them got out of the car, and i Xiang, carrying the gifts she had prepared, followed closely behind Chen Cheng.
"Sister-in-law," Chen Cheng approached with a full-faced smile.
Chu Qin also carried a smile, her gaze naturally fell on i Xiang who was half a step behind Chen Cheng.
"You’re back, Xiao Chen."
The three of them stood still, Chen Cheng nodded, "I got back yesterday. Ca to report to sister-in-law today straight away."
"Ha ha ha, you’re still such a joker."
Chu Qin laughed heartily, her gaze then shifting to i Xiang.
Chen Cheng stepped aside, leading i Xiang a half step forward, "This is Hoshino i Xiang."
Chen Cheng did not ntion the relationship between them, but Chu Qin was a smart person and understood it imdiately.
The arduous effort that Chen Cheng has made, if she were only a common friend, nobody would believe it if said.
"Sister-in-law, hello, I’m i Xiang." i Xiang handed over a bag containing sea cucumbers and fish maw, and gave a standard bow, "Just a little token of my appreciation, please don’t take it seriously."
Chu Qin looked at the sweet and foreign-flavored girl in front of her, her smile growing deeper.
"Hello, hello, i Xiang, what a pretty na, as beautiful as you."
i Xiang stood straight, her smile growing sweeter.
"Xiao Chen, you’re really sothing."
Chu Qin’s broad-mindedness lay not only in her ability to read the room but in also giving both parties face.
Although she had already t Xiao ier and ng Wanning, facing i Xiang, she still said,
"Got a girlfriend just from going abroad?"
i Xiang’s cheeks flushed instantly, she subconsciously glanced at Chen Cheng, yet dared not look directly.
Chen Cheng was quite nonchalant, wrapping his arm around i Xiang’s shoulder, "That’s why I say, sister-in-law is sister-in-law! You’ve seen right through us."
"Brother Cheng..." i Xiang was surprised that Chen Cheng would acknowledge their relationship in front of an outsider.
Chu Qin smiled understandingly and said to i Xiang, "Don’t listen to Xiao Chen’s nonsense, he’s just not honest with his mouth, but he’s a pretty good guy. If you need any help in Beijing, feel free to look for sister-in-law."
i Xiang nodded hurriedly, "Thank you, sister-in-law!"
Chen Cheng took over the conversation, "These are so farm products that Xiao Er prepared for you, they’re not worth much, but they’re nourishing and good for beauty."
Chu Qin then took the bag from i Xiang’s hand, "You shouldn’t have, really."
"Sister-in-law, you’ve helped and i Xiang so much, this little gift is nothing."
Chen Cheng said sincerely, "If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t know when we could have co back."
"We’re all family, don’t talk like an outsider," Chu Qin put the bag aside and looked at Chen Cheng, "That what..."
"What what?" Chen Cheng asked.
Chu Qin glanced at i Xiang, thinking that since i Xiang had brought gifts prepared by Xiao ier, she had already accepted such a role.
"Just right, Xiao ng is waiting upstairs today. You... Hmm?"
Chen Cheng leaned back slightly, and Chu Qin, smiling, waved her hand, "Let’s talk next ti."
"We’re here anyway, let’s go up and have a look," Chen Cheng responded nonchalantly.
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