[My uncle just said Xia Yunuo is my girlfriend, and now that she's waiting for me like this, it actually makes her seem like it.]
[We're completely innocent together. How can best friends and girlfriends be the same thing?]
[But Xia Yunuo is also adorably silly. She had air conditioning but insisted on waiting for me at the door. I should have come down earlier.]
[Otherwise, if my fair and delicate face gets tanned, I'll feel terrible.]
[Oh, this is so embarrassing... So his aunt and uncle had already told him. I thought he didn't know.]
[Actually, I originally wanted to go inside and sit down to wait, but I felt it would be more polite to wait at the entrance.]
[Yes, that's right, just to be more polite]
[And it's not very hot outside, I think it's fine.]
The two people walked into the store from outside, sat down at the empty seats at the uncle and aunt's table, and greeted the two elders.
During this process, the two gradually heard each other's inner thoughts. When Song Yunshen heard the word "politeness," he almost burst out laughing, thinking to himself, "How can this guy even say one thing and mean another when he's thinking something else?"
Xia Yunuo felt both happy and slightly disappointed; she couldn't explain why her emotions were so contradictory and strange.
After they sat down, Song Yunshen turned to ask her what she wanted to eat.
Xia Yunuo looked up at the menu on the wall and whispered, "Shrimp wontons."
"Great taste." Song Yunshen Shen gave her a thumbs up and smiled, "Their wontons are especially delicious; I order them every time I come here."
After saying that, Song Yunshen raised his hand and called out to the uncle behind the counter, "Uncle! The usual! And an extra serving of wontons!"
"Okay!"
While waiting for breakfast, the four of them started chatting.
This was the first time Zhao Zeheng had met Xia Yunuo, and he couldn't help but look her up and down, secretly admiring her.
No wonder she captivated his nephew; with looks like that, no one could resist.
Is two thousand yuan a bit too little?
Zhao Zeheng thought to himself, then greeted her with a smile. Ruan Zheng, standing nearby, said to Song Yunshen, "Are you coming for lunch today? Yingying's been asking you to have lunch with her." "Ah? Probably not today." Song Yunshen blinked, turned to Xia Yunuo, and pointed to her cheek. "Look, you have to have lunch with our dear Teacher Xia Teacher Xia. What if you stand her up and she gets upset and doesn't teach properly?"
"I... I didn't..." Xia Yunuo blushed and panicked when she heard him say this in front of the elders. She hurriedly explained in a low voice, "I will teach you seriously, I won't..."
"Don't listen to his nonsense." Zhao Zeheng shook his head with a chuckle. "He's just teasing you; not a word of his is true."
"Just like you, you have the nerve to say that." Ruan Zheng glanced at her husband with annoyance, then thought for a moment and suggested with a smile, "How about this, you two don't need to eat lunch at school anymore, after class you can come to our house and eat together, I'll cook for you."
"Huh?" Xia Yunuo hesitated for a moment, "Isn't this a bit inappropriate? It's too much trouble."
"What's the trouble?" Ruan Zheng said. "I'm already cooking lunch at home anyway, so I don't need two more pairs of chopsticks."
"Oh, forget it," Zhao Zeheng advised from the side. "They're having lunch together, clearly wanting some alone time. Why are you bothering them?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Yunuo, who had been hesitant, blushed instantly and quickly agreed, "No, I can go eat. I'm just worried you might find it troublesome. If Song Yunshen agrees, I have no objection."
Song Yunshen rolled his eyes at his uncle. "Fine, then. But Auntie has to go to class this afternoon, right? Will there be enough time?"
"Why don't you just wash the dishes for her?" Zhao Zeheng picked at his ear and chuckled.
"I'll wash them," Xia Yunuo said earnestly. "After lunch, there should be some free time before class, so I can help you wash the dishes."
Ruan Zheng glanced at her husband, then at Song Yunshen, and then smiled at Xia Yunuo, saying, "Then I won't stand on ceremony with you, but Yunshen, remember to lend a hand later." "Okay." Song Yunshen smiled and nodded in agreement.
At this moment, breakfast was served.
The uncle and aunt got up to say goodbye, not wanting to disturb their breakfast, and quickly left the breakfast shop.
Xia Yunuo looked at the steaming shrimp wontons in front of her, then turned to Song Yunshen: "Aren't we going to trouble your aunt with this?"
"Don't always think you're a burden to others." Song Yunshen picked up the chili sauce and poured a small spoonful into the clear broth of the wontons. "My aunt means that we can have lunch at her place from now on."
"Is... is that so?" Xia Yunuo was stunned. Seeing Song Yunshen pick up the chili sauce and vinegar bottle and gesture to her, she reached out and took the vinegar bottle, pouring some into her wontons.
"Actually, this is also a matter of reciprocity," Song Yunshen persuaded. " Yingying is still young, and as her mother, my aunt certainly hopes that you, as her teacher, can do your best to nurture Yingying's growth."
"If simply providing you with lunch is enough to make you feel grateful and maintain a serious and responsible attitude in class, then..."
"For my aunt, this isn't much of a hassle; in fact, it's a win."
Xia Yunuo pursed her lips, lowered her head, and took a bite of wonton, hissing from the heat. She finally managed to get it into her mouth before continuing, "But the cost of the meal..."
"I know your family might not be well-off, so you're probably a bit sensitive about money and don't want to owe anyone anything materially," Song Yunshen said. "But money isn't the only measure of a relationship."
"My family is quite wealthy, and so is my uncle's. But we all started from humble beginnings and gradually worked our way up to where we are now, so we don't look down on others." "We're good friends now, which is why I'm opening up to you like this. I hope you won't overthink things when you're with us."
[Ugh, it feels so hard to say anything, and I don't even know if she'll listen.]
[After all, it's just a few dollars for lunch; my uncle can earn that back by typing a few hundred words on the keyboard. It's practically the same as not spending any money at all.]
[However, that's not entirely true. Xia Yunuo is quite sensitive about this. She had previously refused to let me treat her to lunch.]
But that's also why I admire her; I hope she doesn't mind.
As Xia Yunuo listened to Song Yunshen thoughts in her mind. Her emotions fluctuated constantly, rising and falling like a small sailboat facing the waves.
Song Yunshen is like a distant lighthouse, giving people a sense of security.
[Actually, I understand everything he's saying, but my family is very poor, and my mother always tells me that I shouldn't spend other people's money casually when I'm away from home.]
Dignity is something you give yourself. If you don't respect yourself, why should others respect you?
[ Song Yunshen and his family are certainly good people, but I can't keep taking advantage of them just because they're good to me.]
[However... as I said, I'll help with the dishes, so it's not like I didn't contribute anything.]
[School ends around 11:00 AM. If lunch is eaten at 11:30 AM, it'll be finished around 12:00 PM, and washing dishes will take about half an hour.] [That way, I can start class at 12:30 PM, spend more time playing with Yingying in the afternoon, and then finish class promptly at 3:00 PM.]
[This doesn't mean I'm taking advantage of them.]
After thinking it through, Xia Yunuo looked at Song Yunshen again and said sincerely, "Thank you, I understand. I won't stand on ceremony with you. I'll have lunch with you from now on."
When Song Yunshen heard her say these words, Xia Yunuo's thoughts at that moment were still echoing in his mind, and his eyes softened involuntarily.
"Okay, let's eat. It won't taste good if it gets cold." Song Yunshen didn't dwell on the topic and pushed his steamed buns towards him. "These are dipped in vinegar. Try them; they're one of the restaurant's signature dishes."
"Mmm." Xia Yunuo tried one, then hissed from the scalding broth inside. After swallowing it cutely, she said with a lingering taste, "Delicious."
The two leisurely finished their breakfast; it was only 7:30.
Song Yunshen didn't stand on ceremony with his uncle since breakfast had already been paid for, and took Xia Yunuo out for a free breakfast without any hesitation.
After finishing breakfast, Song Yunshen got up and left with Xia Yunuo. When they reached the entrance of the residential area, he said, "Come with me."
"Huh?" Xia Yunuo was taken aback for a moment, but still followed Song Yunshen into the residential area. "What's wrong? Did you forget something and need to go back to get it?"
"More or less." Song Yunshen smiled and led her to the charging shed downstairs at Building 24. He found his own electric scooter, picked up a helmet, and said to her, "Stand still."
After saying that, Song Yunshen came to Xia Yunuo and personally helped her put on her helmet. "Okay, get on the bike." Xia Yunuo stared blankly at the electric bike in front of her, then raised her hand to touch the helmet on her head. Just thinking about how Song Yunshen had helped her put it on made her head feel like a kettle was steaming.
Then she realized that although her older sister and younger sister had both been to Song Yunshen's house before her, they certainly hadn't ridden on Song Yunshen's electric scooter.
So, I must be the only girl Song Yunshen has ever driven around with, right?
The thought of this possibility made Xia Yunuo feel hot all over, and her cheeks flushed red.
"What are you standing there for?" Song Yunshen put on his helmet as well, turned around and saw Xia Yunuo still standing there blankly, so he urged her, "Hurry up."
"Oh, oh!" Xia Yunuo snapped out of her daze and quickly climbed onto the back seat of the electric scooter.
Unlike Xia Jinshu, who chose to sit sideways, Xia Yunuo didn't think much about it and simply spread her legs and sat down.
After Song Yunshen sat down, Xia Yunuo realized how close she was to Song Yunshen!
She instinctively held her breath; her heart was pounding like a drum in her chest.
Her two little hands were clenched tightly in front of her chest, looking somewhat awkward and unsure of what to do with them.
"Give me your hands." Song Yunshen reached behind his back and beckoned to her.
Hearing his words, Xia Yunuo instinctively offered her two small hands. The next second, Song Yunshen grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands to his waist for support. "Hold on tight, don't fall."
"Hmm..." Xia Yunuo felt her cheeks were so red they could fry an egg on them, burning hot.
She gently pinched the hem of Song Yunshen's school uniform with her two small hands, trying to keep about half a fist's distance between Song Yunshen, without pressing herself completely against his back.
But even from this distance, she could faintly smell the pleasant scent emanating from Song Yunshen.
She didn't know what the smell was, but it smelled wonderful, almost addictive. It was the kind of smell that made her instantly recognize Song Yunshen, even with her eyes closed, which gave her a sense of peace.
[ Song Yunshen smells so good!]
Hearing Xia Yunuo's somewhat infatuated thoughts, Song Yunshen's expression became rather strange, and he couldn't help but lower his head and sniff.
It doesn't taste like much.
That's strange.
Could it be the scent of the laundry detergent?
"Let's go." Song Yunshen didn't think any further, started the electric car, and slowly accelerated.
He didn't do anything suspicious, and drove smoothly towards the school. Xia Yunuo watched the street scene recede into the distance, her little hand unconsciously gripping Song Yunshen's clothes.
When the electric scooter went over the speed bump, even though Song Yunshen had tried his best to slow down, the sudden jolt still startled Xia Yunuo, causing her to press herself against Song Yunshen's back.
"Are you alright?" Song Yunshen raised an eyebrow as he felt the touch on his back.
I didn't expect it to have a slight curve?
I never would have guessed it when they were wearing their school uniforms.
"N-nothing..." Xia Yunuo blushed and quickly separated from Song Yunshen, returning to her previous state.
This time, however, she began to secretly look forward to the next speed bump.
Unfortunately Tangning New Residence is very close to the school; it's only two intersections away from the school gate.
By this time, Xia Yunuo could see many students from Ningjiang Middle School walking along the roadside in their school uniforms. It was only after seeing them that she suddenly realized something.
Song Yunshen.
"Um?"
"Should we get off earlier?" Xia Yunuo whispered. "You're not going to drive straight to the school gate, are you? The teachers will see us." "Are you scared?" Song Yunshen asked with a mischievous grin.
That's not what I meant...
"Don't worry," Song Yunshen said with a smile, "Let's park in front of the milk tea shop later, and then I'll park the car there."
"Hmm." Xia Yunuo gently, then suddenly asked, "That milk tea shop isn't also owned by one of your relatives, is it?"
"How could that be?" Song Yunshen said speechlessly. "Do you think my family can control everything? Or do you just want some milk tea?"
"I won't drink it," Xia Yunuo quickly shook her head.
An electric scooter was parked in front of the milk tea shop.
After Song Yunshen stopped the car, he and Xia Yunuo got off the electric bike and then put their helmets away.
Just then, a figure walked out of the milk tea shop humming a song. Halfway through the song, the figure lowered their head, took a sip of milk tea, and showed a contented expression.
But the next second, he saw the two people who had just stopped the car, and his face froze.
As Xu Zhuoyue watched Xia Yunuo get off the back of Song Yunshen's electric scooter, his eyes widened instantly when he recognized her.
"Holy crap!?"