“How long have you been busy? What shall we eat later?” Huo Zhenzhen asked Jiang Ci on the phone with a cigarette in her mouth.
Jiang Ci: “It’s almost over.”
They had said in the video call that they would meet today, Jiang Ci would bring the skin care products and make-up that Huo Zhenzhen wanted. She has been eating lightly for a few days, and now she just wants to have something to say: “Let’s eat hot pot later.”
Huo Zhenzhen: “No problem….Should we call President Lu?”
Jiang Ci: “No need.”
Huo Zhenzhen: “Why are you polite to me? There were so many people who had hot pot, let alone how much I’m taking from her.”
Jiang Ci: “I’m not polite to you, she is busy.”
Being busy was an excuse. The moment they entangled and fell on the sofa, Jiang Ci’s embarrassing skyrocketed. A few days have passed since she had not healed, and she was getting along with Lu Xingxue, who she was consciously avoiding—— But she didn’t share this plan with Huo Zhenzhen.
Huo Zhenzhen does not doubt that she has her: “The CEO position is really hard… By the way, I asked Xiao A to eat with us.”
Jiang Ci: “Xiao A? You two——”
“What? You want to ask if I and Xiao A are a couple?” Huo Zhenzhen went “haha” and laughed: “Because I invited you and President Lu, you think Xiao A is my partner. I’m convinced by your logic.”
“…” Jiang Ci said silently, “Why are you so sensitive? I didn’t think about it at all.”
Huo Zhenzhen laughed even more loudly: “Yes, yes, I am sensitive. Xiao A, did me a favor, “
Jiang Ci: “What’s he mad at you for?”
Huo Zhenzhen said, Jiang Ci listened: “The store was busy the other day, he and I had been busy with meals, and we didn’t want to eat takeout, so we went out for a bite. I met Gu Xiaowei and his wife. I think that Xiao A had a tattoo, and his wife just said what kind of pot goes with which lid. I think she has a big belly and doesn’t care about her.”
Jiang Ci: “…Huh?”
Huo Zhenzhen: “Then the point came. Not only did Gu Xiaowei not hold her wife accountable, but instead questioned me, suspecting that I had greened him early in the morning and cheated on him with Xiao A. Xiao A was violent and charged, and he beat Gu Xiaowei severely.”
Jiang Ci was speechless hearing this: “…When you and Gu Xiaowei were in love, I didn’t think he played too much. How could you be so quick to bounce back after breaking up?”
Huo Zhenzhen: “Hey, don’t talk about love anymore, I feel like vomiting when I think about it now.”
Waiting for Jiang Ci to finish work and go to the hot pot restaurant to meet with her, Huo Zhenzhen and Xiao A were eating a sugar cane. Jiang Ci saw that there was a bruise on the corners of Xiao A’s mouth, and said as she sat, “Are you injured?”
Xiao A laughed out two rows of white teeth: “I was careless.”
Huo Zhenzhen pointed to the sugar cane and spit out the scum in her mouth: “If you want to eat, take it yourself.”
Jiang Ci hesitated: “I won’t eat it.”
The three people chatted while boiling the hot pot, Xiao A described the process of beating Gu Xiaowei to Jiang Ci again. He imitated the appearance of Gu Xiaowei being beaten and jumped to his feet, making Huo Zhenzhen amused. She lied on Jiang Ci’s shoulder and smiled .
“When Gu Xiaowei’s wife went to pull him free, Gu Xiaowei hit Xiao A. if not for Xiao A being worried about her stomach, Gu Xiaowei would not even touch a strand of Xiao A’s head.”
After laughing, Jiang Ci asked Huo Zhenzhen: “He is really married?”
“It’s over, even if it isn’t, they definitely set a date. I don’t want to be pregnant.” Huo Zhenzhen remembered Wen Nian who was also pregnant: “How is Wen Nian? I think she is not in good condition, she still vomits now. Huh?”
Jiang Ci’s smile faded: “…the child is gone.”
Huo Zhenzhen’s eyes widened, but she didn’t ask any more questions. She just patted Jiang Ci on the shoulder. She grabbed a spoonful of fat beef and told Xiao A: “Hurry up, there are so many dishes today, don’t waste it. .”
It’s almost over. Huo Zhenzhen took a call, and her face became angry without saying a word: “Gu Xiaowei! You have more to do!?”
She hung up the phone, Huo Zhenzhen frantically complained to Jiang Ci: “I blacked out his number, and he borrowed someone else’s mobile phone. He is too shameless.”
Jiang Ci: “What did he say to you?”
Huo Zhenzhen: “I’m not asking why I should green him.”
Jiang Ci was served.
After a hot pot meal, Huo Zhenzhen was not satisfied, so she had to go to the bar to have a drink with Jiang Ci, but when she heard Jiang Ci say that she had a job first thing in the morning, she didn’t insist on it, and let go of her hand. Afterwards, she left together with Xiao A.
Jiang Ci took a taxi home, got off again two blocks in advance, and wandered back all the way.
Passing by the fruit shop, she glanced at the shop. She wanted to see the ragdoll cat, but she saw Lu Xingxue at a glance.
Lu Xingxue was chatting with the clerk; Jiang Ci lowered her head and walked past quickly.
Soon after Jiang Ci’s home, Lu Xingxue also came back. Maybe it’s because of the lights in Jiang Ci’s room, so she came over and knocked on her door: “Jiang Ci.”
Jiang Ci leaned against the door before she opened it, her face was as if nothing had happened: “What?”
Lu Xingxue: “Mom called me and invited me to have dinner tomorrow. Are you free?”
Lu Xingxue had agreed to go before, and it was normal for Jiang Lin to contact her. Jiang Ci didn’t want to go, but if Lu Xingxue went to eat alone, Jiang Lin would inevitably come and nag her again. Jiang Ci was afraid of trouble, so she nodded obediently, “I’m free.”
Lu Xingxue laughed: “Where do you work? I will pick you up.”
Jiang Ci: “No need.”
Lu Xingxue: “…”
Jiang Ci also recognizes her own refusal to be too direct: “…the rush hour is off work, the road is blocked, you are not on the way, I can go by myself, and I will be able to do it at about 6:30.”
Lu Xingxue did not insist, and lifted the bag in her hand: “At the fruit shop, I squeezed a glass of sugar cane juice.”
Jiang Ci recalled Huo Zhenzhen and Xiao A in a hot pot restaurant eating sugar cane, because she cared about her image, even if she wanted to eat, she couldn’t accept. She didn’t expect Lu Xingxue to squeeze a glass of sugar cane juice.
This was really a good coincidence.
“Thank you.” Jiang Ci reached out and took it.
Lu Xingxue looked at her, raised her lips, said nothing, turned around and went back to her room.
Jiang Ci closed the door of the room and took a sip of sweet sugar cane juice through a straw. ‘…I feel that my embarrassment is 80% cured.’
……etc.
You can’t hold fresh fruit juice, you can only drink it just after you squeeze it. Lu Xingxue is very particular. If she were not sure that Jiang Ci was at home, she would not have brought fruit juice back.
Jiang Ci immediately understood that as she hurriedly passed by outside the fruit shop, she was seen by Lu Xingxue.
I saw her, but I didn’t say anything. Under normal circumstances, I should call her when I see her. Thinking back to Lu Xingxue, her sugarcane juice, that smile–
Jiang Ci’s embarassment: 80%→0%
……
In the evening, Jiang Ci made her way to Songling Road No. 3, the time approaching 7 o’clock. Lu Xingxue was not there yet, Jiang Lin was not at home, and Tong Zhenni is even less present Tong Tingkai sat on the sofa and stared at Tong Junhao’s homework. Only the kitchen aunt went in and out, and was very busy.
“Sister is here!” Tong Junhao jumped up: “Sister, accompany me to play games!”
Tong Tingkai twisted his ears: “Sit down!”
Jiang Ci: “……”
It seems that Tong Junhao got into a lot of trouble in the schooll. People who dote on him like Tong Tingkai are beginning to behave well.
Tong Junhao wailed, covering his ears and drawing ghost symbols on the workbook again.
“Your mother went out and has something to do, so she should be back soon.” Tong Tingkai raised his wrist and glanced at his watch.
Jiang Ci: “Oh.”
Tong Tingkai asked about Jiang Ci’s work again. The father and daughter rarely see each other. Jiang Ci’s feelings for him are also very complicated. After a few words, the two of them are in a state of speechlessness. His eyes were on Tong Junhao’s body.
Tong Junhao, whose ears were still aching, involuntarily straightened up his waist.
As expected, the sound of a car engine came from the yard, and Jiang Lin and Lu Xingxue entered the house one after another.
Tong Tingkai stood up from the sofa and greeted them with Jiang Ci: “Everyone is here, let’s eat.”
He patted the back of Tong Junhao’s head again: “Smelly boy, write after dinner.”
He didn’t mention Tong Zhenni. It seems that Tong Zhenni wouldn’t be attending this dinner today either. This is nothing but Jiang Ci felt that Lu Xingxue and Jiang Lin appeared together.
Seated, Jiang Ci took the initiative to talk to Lu Xingxue, and asked her softly, “How did you come with my mother?”
Lu Xingxue leaned close to her ear, and the warm breath radiated on her auricle : “I will tell you later.”
Jiang Ci was itchy, but she resisted it.
A few people were eating food around the table, Jiang Lin and Tong Tingkai opened a bottle of Ning Shuyue’s wine, and the topic naturally turned to Wen Nian’s miscarriage.
“Shuyue and I shed tears every day, cryinng while tidying up the baby’s clothes, crying while reading the recipes during pregnancy, I feel that she has never been so sad in her life.” Jiang Lin sighed.
Tong Tingkai: “Wen Nian is still young, why is she anxious.”
[avel: she had a miscarriage you twat. even I’m not that insensitive]
Jiang Lin: “Yes, if you take care of your body, your child will be born healthy. That’s how I persuaded her.”
Tong Tingkai and Jiang Lin said, here, they have a tacit agreement and stopped talking.
Jiang Ci stared at them calmly.
Jiang Lin smiled and looked at Lu Xingxue: “Xiaobai, how is Grandpa these days?”
Lu Xingxue: “His body is okay, it’s the personality, he doesn’t like to communicate with people, and he always stays alone.”
“I’m getting older, and I have so much experience, and loneliness is inevitable.” Jiang Lin noted Lu Xingxue’s expression. Seeing Lu Xingxue nodded slightly, she said again: “I think, if there are little children that can play coquettishly around him, maybe he can be more cheerful?”
Jiang Ci: “…” Mom, can you be more direct?
Lu Xingxue understood it naturally, and replied: “Well, I’m thinking about it.”
Jiang Lin sighed with naked eyes and smiled at Tong Tingkai. Tong Junhao hurriedly swallowed the food in his mouth: “Where is the little kid? You are not going to send me to Grandpa Lu, right?”
Tong Tingkai was amused by him and laughed, Lu Xingxue also pursed her lips, Jiang Lin touched the round head of her baby son: “Fool, where’s the little child from? It’s your sister, of course!”
Tong Junhao plunged into Jiang Lin’s arms: “No matter! Anyway, you are not allowed to send me away!”
Jiang Lin: “Of course I won’t send you away, you are mother’s little treasures..”
……
The thick European-style dining chairs are placed very close, Jiang Ci is next to Lu Xingxue, really restless, speechless, and embarrassed.
A perfunctory “consideration” reveals the thoughts of Jiang Lin and Tong Tingkai.
Jiang Lin kneaded Tong Junhao like a dough, and looked at the entrance and exit of the restaurant: “Isn’t the crab steamed yet? Let me take a look at the kitchen.”
Jiang Ci: “I’ll go.”
Without waiting for Jiang Lin to say anything, she pushed aside the chair and went to the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Aunt Wu noted the steaming pot, and when Jiang Ci came in, the steaming pot just finished counting.
“Everything okay?” Jiang Ci asked her.
“Ah-Ci”, Aunt Wu greeted her with a smile: “Are you impatient? It will be ready soon.”
“No hurry.” Jiang Ci walked to the window and opened it wide.
The night breeze blew in, with the fresh smell of the lawn outside the courtyard, and her depressed mood was much calmer.
Aunt Wu picked up the crabs one by one and put them on the plate: “Ah-Ci, I will bring the crabs to the table first. Could you please bring the dipping sauce?”
Jiang Ci replied: “Okay.”
Aunt Wu went out carrying a whole plate of crabs and bumped Lu Xingxue at the kitchen door. Aunt Wu smiled at Lu Xingxue, and Lu Xingxue gave her a smile.
Aunt Wu walked away, Lu Xingxue stepped into the kitchen and asked Jiang Ci: “What’s the matter with you? Or are you uncomfortable? I think your complexion is not very good.”
Lu Xingxue got closer and closer, Jiang Ci said nothing, then took a long breath and looked at her directly: “Why don’t you just reject her?”
Lu Xingxue did not answer, Jiang Ci lowered her voice: “We shouldn’t give people hope that we only have a year to– “
Her voice stopped abruptly.
Lu Xingxue’s fingertips swept across Jiang Ci’s face, picking out the wind-blown hair behind her ears. Then she seemed to have realized that Jiang Ci had said something. She stared at Jiang Ci’s eyes, and asked her softly, “I’m sorry I was a little distracted. What did you just say?”
Jiang Ci heard her heartbeat, “ba-dump.”
Lu Xingxue waited for several seconds, but Jiang Ci never said any more, so she picked up the dipping sauce from the cooking counter: “I’ll go out, she’s waiting.”
When she sat down with Lu Xingxue next to her, Jiang Ci’s heartbeat gradually returned to normal.
She turned her head to look at Lu Xingxue. Lu Xingxue was expertly peeling crab shells. As if she had eyes on the back of her head, knowing that Jiang Ci was looking at herself, she compared her crab with the crab in her hands and turned to ask: “Do you want me to peel it for you?”
Jiang Ci: “…I will do it myself.”
Lu Xingxue put the peeled crab on the plate in front of Jiang Ci.
Jiang Lin’s face was full of unconcealed ease and joy.
The people at the table ate their dinner, lost in their own thoughts, when suddenly the door was slammed open. Tong Zhenni flew in on high heels, and she was still far away from the dining table, so she threw her bag over!
The small light-colored sachet smashed into the crab dip, the juice splashed all over, and the pot was overturned.
Tong Zhenni screamed hysterically: “Why are you doing such a disgusting thing! Are you my dad!?”
TL: zen
PR/Edit: avel
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