Shen Qingqing and Fu Jingshu exchanged a glance and immediately got up and walked towards the kitchen. They saw smoke billowing out of the kitchen, and Shen Yaoyao stumbled out.
She was a bit dishevelled, her clothes dirty, and a red smudge on her face, seemingly from ketchup.
"I don't know how it happened, I couldn't turn off the fire..."
Before she could finish, Shen Qingqing pushed her aside and walked in. The kitchen was a mess, with meat half-thawed in water, splashing everywhere.
The vegetables were on the chopping board without being washed, still with dirt on them.
Most importantly, the gas was still on, and the flames were leaping higher. Shen Qingqing quickly used a pot lid to cover the flames and then turned off the switch below.
Fu Jingshu, standing at the doorway and seeing the mess inside, looked furious.
Shen Yaoyao didn't dare to speak and just stood aside.
Shen Qingqing cleaned up the kitchen and put away all the ingredients, leaving only some vegetables, eggs, and noodles. She made three simple vegetarian noodles.
As soon as the vegetarian noodles were served, Shen Jinxi eagerly slurped a mouthful, giving them high praise, "Delicious!"
Shen Qingqing took out a tissue to wipe his mouth, "Eat slowly, no one is going to snatch it from you. Remember to blow on it, don't burn yourself."
She exhorted him earnestly, and Shen Jinxi obediently nodded.
Anyone looking at them would think they were a mother and son with a very close bond.
Shen Yaoyao was unwilling. Although she didn't care for Shen Qingqing's noodles at all, the fact that she wasn't making any for her made her uncomfortable. Seeing Fu Jingshu not eating, she couldn't help but speak sarcastically.
"Jingshu probably can't eat this bowl of vegetarian noodles. Why don't you have the maid make another one?"
Fu Jingshu shot her a cold glance, "At least that's better than burning down the kitchen."
Shen Yaoyao choked. Shame gradually crept onto her face, and she also felt wronged. She simply didn't know how to cook, and she had been willing to go into the kitchen just to please him.
But how could he...
Suddenly, she saw Fu Jingshu pick up his chopsticks and start eating the noodles leisurely.
How could he eat them? He had germophobia and was a picky eater. How could he eat noodles made by that woman?!
But no matter how much turmoil was in her heart, Fu Jingshu ate the entire bowl of noodles clean, not even leaving any soup.
She finally realized that staying any longer would only be humiliating herself.
Watching her dejected figure leave, Chenchen let out a sigh of relief and mumbled, "Finally gone."
His voice was not loud, but Fu Jingshu still heard it. However, he said nothing. He only said to Shen Qingqing, "I will pay you a fee later as compensation for cooking for me and Chenchen."
Shen Qingqing finished the last sip of soup and sighed with satisfaction, "I don't want any compensation."
Fu Jingshu raised an eyebrow and looked at her, "Really don't want it?"
"It's just a meal, I ate it myself too," Shen Qingqing patted Chenchen's head, "But I heard Chenchen say that his birthday is coming up soon."
Shen Jinxi and his mother were of the same mind and immediately understood her intention. He quickly chimed in, "That's right, Daddy, I want to invite Auntie!"
Shen Qingqing patted Chenchen's head, her gaze fixed on Fu Jingshu, "If you don't mind, could you give me an invitation card?"
Fu Jingshu looked at the two of them, one big and one small.
At first glance, their eyes and brows bore some resemblance.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, and couldn't help but think of the paternity test. His expression remained unchanged, "Yes."
Shen Qingqing stayed and played with Chenchen for a while longer before leaving the Tan family's residence.
As her car was driving on the road, about to reach the villa, she took a turn. Her phone suddenly rang. She glanced at it, and at that very moment, a car suddenly sped out from the corner!
She hastily swerved the steering wheel, and the other car also dodged to the side.
When she finally stepped on the brake, Shen Qingqing was covered in a cold sweat. She opened the car door, got out with a stern face, and walked towards the white sedan.
Before she could even knock on the window, it slowly rolled down.
The words of accusation she was about to utter got stuck in her throat. "Yuan Zichen?"
Yuan Zichen was also surprised to see her, but thinking about what just happened, he felt full of guilt. "I'm sorry, I was a bit absent-minded just now and almost hit you. I'm really sorry. Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine." Since it was an acquaintance, Shen Qingqing found it hard to blame him, but she couldn't help but say, "You have to be careful when you drive in the future."
Was she concerned about him?
Yuan Zichen nodded his head in a very good-natured manner, "I'm sorry. I was busy with work last night and stayed up all night. Today, I only slept for a little over two hours, so..."
He rubbed his throbbing forehead, but seeing her, he didn't seem to feel uncomfortable anymore.
Shen Qingqing thought of the kind-hearted dean and said, "Don't drive when you're tired."
A smile flickered in Yuan Zichen's eyes, "Okay."
"Are you here for something?" Shen Qingqing remembered that he didn't live around here.
"I came to find you."
"Find me?"
"Yes." Yuan Zichen glanced at the villa not far away, "Aren't you going to invite me in for a sit-down?"
Shen Qingqing only then reacted and quickly invited him in, pouring him a glass of warm water, "What did you need me for?"
Yuan Zichen was looking around the villa and replied with a smile, "You're such an impatient person."
Shen Qingqing blinked. Was it her imagination, or did his words sound a bit doting?
Yuan Zichen coughed lightly and said, "Actually, to be precise, this matter is related to your mother. My mother also sent me here today."
Upon hearing the word "mother," Shen Qingqing immediately dismissed her previous thoughts. "Explain it clearly."
Yuan Zichen's tone held a hint of gentleness, "My mother found your mother's information in the archives and discovered that she left you a property, located in a suburban villa area."
Shen Qingqing was stunned for a moment, a complex mix of warmth and bittersweetness filling her heart.
So, her mother had really planned for her.
Yuan Zichen knew she must be feeling emotional right now, so he thoughtfully remained silent until she calmed down, then said gently, "I brought the will."
He took out a well-preserved will from his briefcase, which was in the form of a letter.
This will seemed to have been written in a hurry, without overly sentimental words. However, every sentence expressed a mother's love for her daughter.
Shen Qingqing looked at the will, unable to recover for a long time.
After an unknown period, she finally regained her composure and looked up at Yuan Zichen, feeling a bit embarrassed, "I'm sorry, I..."
"It's alright."
Yuan Zichen wore a forgiving smile, genuinely feeling that it was alright. Moreover, he thoughtfully changed the subject.
"Are you free today?"
"Yes," Shen Qingqing knew what he was going to say, "But you look very tired. How about we make an appointment for tomorrow?"
Yuan Zichen was taken aback for a moment and asked, "Aren't you in a hurry?"
Shen Qingqing carefully folded the will, "I am in a hurry, but your health is more important."
She didn't want another incident like the one just now to happen, otherwise, how would she explain it to the dean.