Luo Yan scratched his head. "Xiao Bai said she wanted to give you a surprise, so I didn't tell you in advance."
Zhou Lijuan let go of him. "I knew you were just like your father—wooden, with no surprises at all. I was wondering why you suddenly came back this time. So it was Xiao Bai's idea. In that case, it's fine."
"Hello, Auntie."
Xiao Xiao's voice came from behind them.
Zhou Lijuan pushed her son aside and happily went over to greet her.
"Xiao Bai came too? Come, let Auntie have a look at you."
"Oh my, you've gotten so thin. Look at this little face—there's no flesh left."
"Work must be hard, right? Did Xia Yan fail to take care of you? Tell Auntie. If he dares treat you badly, I'll smack him."
Xiao Xiao hurriedly waved her hands. "No, no, Auntie. Luo Yan treats me very well."
"Then Auntie can rest easy."
Zhou Lijuan pulled Xiao Xiao into the shop. "You two sit here for a while. I'm going to the market to buy a chicken and stew some soup to nourish Xiao Bai."
Luo Yan said, "Mom, I'll go with you."
"No need. Stay here with Xiao Bai. I'll be right back." With that, Zhou Lijuan bustled out of the door.
Luo Yan and Xiao Xiao looked at each other.
Then Xiao Xiao suddenly burst out laughing.
She looked at Luo Yan smugly. "See? Auntie really dotes on me."
"Yes, yes, yes. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were her daughter and I was a stranger."
"Oh? Are you jealous?"
"No."
"You obviously are!"
That day, Luo Yan and Xiao Xiao stayed at the shop all day. They only returned to the base after dinner that evening.
The next morning, Luo Yan went to