"Is that your boyfriend?"
The owner finally couldn't hold back his curiosity. He gave a soft cough and asked in a low voice.
Wang Dong'er crushed the fruit in her hand, her little face flushing red as she abruptly turned around.
"How could he possibly be my boyfriend? He doesn't deserve to be, not at all!"
"Y-yes, ma'am. Of course, ma'am. It was my fault for being nosy."
With that tone and that reaction, and after spying on someone else's date, who would believe she didn't have a crush on him? But since Wang Dong'er denied it, the owner couldn't exactly force her to admit the truth.
They weren't friends, and they didn't know each other. He was just making conversation. If she didn't want to talk about it, so be it. He shouldn't push her until she got angry and gave him a couple of stabs.
Wang Dong'er's lips trembled. Frowning, she searched her mind for a reason she'd acted that way, but it seemed she truly had no reason to do so. Nor did she have any reason to feel jealous.
"Looks like those customers are leaving."
The owner glanced over, saw Chu Mo and the others getting ready to go, and hurriedly reminded her.
"Huh?"
Wang Dong'er quickly looked up. Sure enough, all she could see were their retreating figures. She hurried to her feet.
Seeing this, the owner felt relieved. Wang Dong'er was in such a hurry that she surely wouldn't take the fruit with her. He could sell it again and make a killing.
But just as the thought crossed his mind, Wang Dong'er raised her hand and swept all the untouched fruit on the stall into her Storage Soul Tool.
"Oh, right. Xiao Lu said he likes fruit. I might as well take all of this with me."
Only after confirming there wasn't a single piece of fruit left did Wang Dong'er hurry after them.
The owner looked as if he'd eaten a fly. He'd already made a profit, of course, but it still hurt to see his dream of making even more money shattered. He'd better pack up and head home.
They went shopping together—on a date, really.
Several hours passed, and it was nearly noon.
Carrying bags and bundles, Chu Mo and Jiang Nannan arrived at a secluded residential area in Shrek City.
"It's so out of the way."
Looking at the house, so different from the luxurious buildings in the city center, Chu Mo sighed softly.
Jiang Nannan pursed her lips. "I couldn't help it. Prices in Shrek City are too high. I could only afford this place because I sold the pills you gave me."
Creak—
As soon as he pushed open the door, Chu Mo saw a woman in a plain-colored dress drawing water from the well in the courtyard.
Her posture showed off her ample curves, but her face was pale and sickly, as if she might collapse at any moment.
The years hadn't left many marks on her. Instead, they had given her a mature charm. Combined with her delicate, frail appearance, she stirred an instinctive desire to protect her.
She was so focused on drawing water that she hadn't noticed anyone coming in. Jiang Nannan had to wave to get her attention.
"Mother!"
"Nannan, you're back."
Jiang Ruowan looked up with the bucket in her hands, her face breaking into a loving smile. But when she saw Chu Mo, her expression froze.
Thud!
The bucket fell from her hands, and water splashed across her dress. Ruowan didn't seem to notice.
"Hello, Auntie. It's been a long time."
Chu Mo raised his empty left hand in greeting.
"Xiao Mo."
Jiang Ruowan didn't pay any attention to her wet dress. She took three quick steps and came right up to Chu Mo, taking hold of his hand.
"Ahem!"
Jiang Nannan's eyes widened at the sight. Why did this feel so strange?
Jiang Ruowan completely ignored her daughter, Jiang Nannan, and beamed as she looked Chu Mo over, touching his face, hair, hands, and arms.
"You've really grown up. You're a big boy now, and more handsome than ever. I wonder which lucky girl will end up with you."
There was nothing wrong with being warm, but Chu Mo kept glancing at her soaked dress. The white fabric clung to her body, revealing legs as fair as jade—perhaps even fairer. Maybe it was because of her illness.
"Auntie, why don't you change your clothes?"
"Mom, honestly..."
Jiang Nannan also felt that Jiang Ruowan wasn't in the best state.
"All right, all right. I'll change. You and Nannan go inside and sit down. Since you're here today, Auntie will make you something delicious."
Unable to resist them, Jiang Ruowan reluctantly let go of Chu Mo's hand.
"Heh, see? My mom's always talking about you. You came over, and she didn't even ask about me."
Jiang Nannan lightly nudged Chu Mo with her elbow and complained.
It didn't hurt; it felt more like a playful nudge. Chu Mo wasn't upset. He just covered his mouth and chuckled.
"Haha, maybe Auntie just missed me too much. After all, she gets to see you every day."
That was what Chu Mo thought, too. There couldn't be any other reason, could there?
Probably not...
The house wasn't very large. It had a small living room, a bedroom, and a kitchen.
Jiang Nannan usually lived in the dormitory, so Jiang Ruowan was the only one at home. She thought buying two rooms would be wasteful. Besides, even if her daughter came back to visit Shrek City now and then, she would probably go back to spend the night. And even if she did stay over, there was nothing wrong with the two of them sharing a room.
After setting down the things they'd bought, Chu Mo had planned to sit in the living room for a while. But Jiang Ruowan treated him like family. Once she'd changed, she came out and led him into the bedroom.
The bedroom was rather plain, with white sheets that gave it a pure, simple look.
"Hehe, Xiao Mo, you and Nannan can sit on the bed for a while. Auntie's going to buy some groceries. I'll make sure you have a delicious lunch."
Jiang Ruowan's enthusiasm hadn't faded at all. She led Chu Mo over to the bed, then began tying up her hair.
"Mom, how about I go instead?"
Seeing her mother getting ready to go out, Jiang Nannan thought of her frail appearance and couldn't help worrying. She volunteered to go in her place.
She'd expected her mother to refuse out of politeness. To her surprise, Jiang Ruowan finished tying her hair, lowered her hands, and looked up at Jiang Nannan.
"All right. That's thoughtful of you, Nannan. That works out well. Xiao Mo and I can have a chat..."
Jiang Nannan: ...
She felt like she'd been tricked. Jiang Ruowan looked gentle as she stared at him, but she probably wasn't doing it on purpose. Still, once words were spoken, they were like water spilled on the ground. There was no taking them back.
Chu Mo could only watch as Jiang Nannan turned and glared at him before getting up to leave. A moment later, the sound of the door closing rang out.
Only Chu Mo and Jiang Ruowan remained in the room.
The atmosphere was a little awkward. Jiang Ruowan kept her eyes fixed on Chu Mo without looking away, so he was the first to break the silence.
"Auntie, why don't you sit down first?"
Jiang Ruowan replied gently, "Mm~"
But her intense gaze didn't waver. She soon sat down on the edge of the bed, only a fist's breadth away from Chu Mo.
"Xiao Mo, since you came here, have you already joined Shrek Academy?"
She spoke like an ordinary elder asking a casual question.
Chu Mo nodded naturally.
"Mm, I have. But if I fail the Freshman Assessment, I'll be expelled."
Hearing the uncertainty in his voice, Jiang Ruowan quickly took his hand to comfort and encourage him.
"Hehe, Auntie knows what you're capable of. If that girl Nannan can pass, then you definitely can, too."
With her holding his hand, Chu Mo felt a little strange. He couldn't help feeling that Jiang Ruowan was inexplicably excited.
"You've really grown so much. When you treated Auntie's illness before, your hands were still so small. Now you've grown taller than me."
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