Wang Xiaoliang carried a large bag of snacks and several boxes of cut fruit
as he headed out from the fresh food section at the very back of the supermarket. Just as he rounded a shelf, he spotted two people he knew.
Wang Fen and Chen Xiaoying.
Sharp-eyed, Chen Xiaoying spotted Wang Xiaoliang at once. A smile immediately spread across her face, and she hurried forward a couple of steps, calling out warmly.
"Wang Xiaoliang!"
Wang Xiaoliang paused.
He had intended to go around the shelf to avoid them and pretend he had not seen them, but she had beaten him to it. There was no avoiding them now, so he had to stop.
He gave a polite smile.
"Hello."
He met all sorts of people almost every day now, and had long since lost the shyness and awkwardness he had once felt around them.
Chen Xiaoying glanced over the shopping bags in his hands and asked with a smile, "Buying so much? Why isn't Zijin here with you?"
"She has something to do. She'll be here soon," Wang Xiaoliang replied succinctly.
"I see." Chen Xiaoying's eyes shifted, and she immediately offered an enthusiastic invitation. "Perfect, then. No time like the present. Let me treat you to a meal today. Zijin will definitely agree."
"Not today. We have other things to do."
With that, he nodded to both of them by way of greeting and continued toward the supermarket entrance with his purchases.
As he reached the entrance, the automatic glass doors opened.
Ouyang Hai, along with Zhao Shengkai, the last person he wanted to see, stood in his way.
"Wang Xiaoliang, what a coincidence. Why do we run into you everywhere?"
Ouyang Hai was also surprised to see Wang Xiaoliang, but he was not sarcastic. "Xiaoliang, long time no