"What’s the matter, Li Ya? Feeling unwell?" Shulin asked.
Li Ya shook her head, "No, no."
"Must be hungry, right?" i Xiang made an excuse for her, "We walked quite a bit today."
"Mhm, hungry."
"It’ll be ready soon, ready soon," Shulin said with a comforting smile.
"Eh? What’s Brother Xiao Hai having?" i Xiang asked.
Chen Cheng took a sip of his tea, "He can’t eat raw, cold food, so he ordered a bowl of ran. It’s being prepared outside."
"Oh, I see!"
The dishes were quickly served.
Various fresh sashimi, exquisite sushi, so yakitori, and of course, there were also two bottles of sake.
"Want so?" Chen Cheng opened the bottle and asked Shulin.
Shulin nodded briskly, "Sure."
i Xiang swallowed, "Brother Cheng, I want so too."
After pouring a cup for Shulin, Chen Cheng also poured for i Xiang, "You drink less."
i Xiang pinched her fingers, smiling sweetly, "Just a little bit."
Naturally, Li Ya couldn’t break her rules, so she held her tea and drank more.
"Let’s start eating," Chen Cheng spoke, picking up the first piece of scallop sashimi and placing it on the small plate in front of Shulin.
i Xiang, sticking to her usual habit, didn’t say much, "I’m gonna start."
Shulin tasted a bite of scallop, it was fresh, sweet, and crisp, an excellent texture.
"Mmm, very fresh." She nodded in approval and then also picked up a piece for Chen Cheng, "You try too."
Chen Cheng smiled as he accepted it, tasting it carefully, "Indeed not bad."
i Xiang also ate a piece of scallop, nodding repeatedly, "Delicious! Fresher than what I’ve had in Japan."
Su Liya, however, was eating without tasting anything. She chanically picked up a piece of sushi and put it in her mouth but couldn’t taste any flavor.
Her mind was not on the food at all, but on how to put into action the plan she had discussed with i Xiang.
"Li Ya, why aren’t you eating?" Shulin asked with concern.
"Oh, I am eating."
Su Liya forced a smile, picked up another piece of sushi, but didn’t put it in her mouth right away.
Chen Cheng, observing her absent-mindedness, and recalling Chen Donghai’s report, intentionally asked, "Are you worried about sothing?"
Su Liya froze for a mont, her eyes flickering, unable to look at him, "No... nothing."
i Xiang leaned on Su Liya’s shoulder, helping out again, "Li Ya might be too tired from playing, she hasn’t recovered yet. Right?"
"Yes!"
Shulin chuckled, "You usually don’t like to exercise. I told you to join for fitness, but you’re reluctant. Have a good bath later when we’re back, relax."
"Got it, Mommy."
i Xiang kicked Su Liya’s leg under the table and picked up so sweet shrimp for her, "Li Ya, have so of this. It’s delicious~!"
Li Ya looked at i Xiang and understood sothing from her eyes, "Okay, sure, Sister i Xiang."
Then, she began to eat heartily.
Shulin was finally reassured and her tense nerves relaxed.
She raised her glass, "Co on, cheers."
Four glasses clinked, lightening the mood in the private room.
Alcohol is indeed the best regulator.
Although only Chen Cheng and Shulin were drinking, they still drank quite a bit.
The two of them also got closer and closer, and if it weren’t for i Xiang and Li Ya being there, Shulin would have certainly taken the initiative to kiss him.
"No more sake, Chen Cheng." Shulin held the empty bottle, addressing him by his full na for the first ti.
Seeing that she’d had enough, Chen Cheng said, "Then let’s not drink anymore."
"Ah? Are we going back now?" Shulin obviously still wanted to spend more ti with Chen Cheng.
Chen Cheng glanced at the ti, "It’s about ti, we’ll co again next ti."
The sober Su Liya knew the opportunity had co and quickly said, "Mommy, I have an early class tomorrow."
Only then did Shulin put down the bottle, "My darling daughter is the most important. Let’s go ho."
She staggered to her feet, not sure if she was truly drunk or pretending, and her body swayed and fell into Chen Cheng’s arms.
Chen Cheng wrapped his arms around her, the faint scent of perfu mixed with the sll of alcohol from Shulin’s body entered his nose, stirring his heart.
Wen Shulin lifted her head to gaze at Chen Cheng, her eyes slightly glazed as a seductive smile crept across her lips, "Oops, sorry, I think... I’m a bit tipsy."
Chen Cheng supported her, "It’s okay, take it slow."
After paying and leaving the store, Chen Cheng said to Chen Donghai: "Xiao Hai, you go ahead and take i Xiang back."
"Alright, Mr. Chen."
i Xiang looked up at Chen Cheng, "Brother Cheng, aren’t you going back?"
Chen Cheng looked back into those sparkling eyes, "I’ll send these two ho and then return."
"But you’ve been drinking too."
Chen Cheng shook his cellphone, "I’ve called a designated driver."
i Xiang nodded her head and quickly pulled Li Ya aside, where they began to whisper among themselves.
Watching this, Wen Shulin, slightly inebriated, sighed: "It’s good to be young, with never-ending things to talk about."
Chen Cheng tightened the trench coat around her, "You’re young too."
"Aunt Wen, we’ll head back first." After their secret talk, the two ca back, and i Xiang gave a slight bow, "Thank you for today."
"It’s who should say thanks, i Xiang." Wen Shulin took her hand, "We should hang out with Li Ya more often."
"Sure will." i Xiang looked at Li Ya one more ti, "We’ll chat online."
"Alright!" Su Liya nodded rapidly.
i Xiang got into the luxurious car, and the designated driver Chen Cheng had called also arrived.
He sat in the passenger’s seat while Wen Shulin and Su Liya sat in the back.
"Did you have fun today?" Wen Shulin asked.
"I’m happy, having you guys with , everything is fun." Su Liya’s gaze kept falling on the side profile of Chen Cheng’s face.
Wen Shulin let out a breath tinged with the sll of alcohol, "Good girl."
The car drove smoothly, and before long, they were at the base of Wen Shulin’s apartnt building.
Chen Cheng got out of the car first, then helped Wen Shulin out.
Su Liya also followed them out.
"Li Ya, I’ll leave her to you." Chen Cheng said: "Have a good rest once you’re ho."
"Chen..."
Wen Shulin didn’t let go of Chen Cheng’s hand, "Co upstairs for a bit. You sll like alcohol, and Xiao Er is going to nag at you for drinking again."
"Yeah, and have so fruit." Su Liya interjected hastily: "Drink so water."
Chen Cheng glanced at Wen Shulin and then at Su Liya, eventually nodding his head, "Alright, I’ll co up for a bit."
Su Liya’s face bead with a radiant smile, and she hurriedly stepped forward to support Wen Shulin’s other arm, "Mommy, take it slow."
The three of them entered the building together.
In the elevator, Wen Shulin leaned half her body against Chen Cheng’s chest and said softly, "It’s been a long ti since I’ve felt so relaxed."
"You’ve really been exhausted lately." Chen Cheng replied: "But after the storm cos the calm, everything is getting better."
Wen Shulin’s eyes curled with joy, "I have you to thank for that."
Chen Cheng smiled faintly.
Once inside the house, Su Liya took a pair of n’s slippers out of the shoe cabinet, "Brother Cheng, here."
Wen Shulin slipped out of her high heels, "We prepared these especially for you. Otherwise, you’re always barefoot whenever you co."
She tied up her long hair and walked toward the bedroom, "Li Ya, go wash the fruit. I’ll change my clothes first."
"Okay."
Chen Cheng didn’t expect Wen Shulin would prepare these things for him, but what he was even less prepared for, was that the mont the bedroom door closed, Li Ya’s lips swiftly closed in for a kiss.
Chen Cheng’s eyes widened, he looked at her, then in the direction of the bedroom.
"Uncle, I missed you." Su Liya’s arms encircled Chen Cheng’s neck, her whole body pressing tightly against him.
Chen Cheng swallowed hard and asked in a low voice, "What exactly were you and i Xiang conspiring about?"
In just a second, Su Liya knew that it was Chen Donghai who had spilled the beans.
But she wasn’t angry, nor did she speak. Instead, she responded with a passionate kiss.
Chen Cheng’s heartbeat had never been so fast, and he dared not even blink.
"You’re nervous, Uncle." Su Liya teased, blinking playfully and whispering, "That’s not like you."
"Stop ssing around."
"I’m not."
Su Liya cradled Chen Cheng’s face, looking deeply into his eyes, "So now, have you guessed what i Xiang and I were discussing?"
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