"That serious?"
Shi Ran's eyes widened, her heart filled with trepidation.
"Shhh," Tang Si raised a hand to his lips in a 'shushing' gesture. "Don't let Little Chili hear. She's already worried about her second brother, and her mood isn't great."
"Mm, mm, I know."
Shi Ran nodded, resting her elbows on the table and propping up her chin, a frown of thought on her face.
A moment later, Meng Jingwei emerged from the restroom and sat at the dining table. "Shi Ran, thank you for your hard work. I didn't realize you could cook."
She managed a forced smile.
"Haha, of course I can. When I was little, my parents would go to the fields to work, and I had to help them with chores and prepare meals. My skills are just average, though, miles away from the chefs at Yipin Ju."
Tang Si pursed his lips into a smile, feigning a relaxed demeanor to lighten the atmosphere. "Sister Wei, please try it and see if it's good."
"Okay."
Meng Jingwei picked up her chopsticks, scooped up a mouthful of greens, and chewed. She nodded repeatedly. "Not bad."
The taste was unexpectedly delicious. "It's better than I expected. The greens are stir-fried to a crisp, with a faint sweetness when you chew them. Very light and very tasty."
"Really?"
"Of course." Meng Jingwei praised without exaggeration, then turned to Tang Si. "You try some too."
Tang Si had initially doubted Meng Jingwei's words, but when he picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of the greens, his eyes lit up. "It really is quite good."
He raised an eyebrow at Shi Ran, a satisfied smile curving his lips. "What other surprises are there that I don't know about?"
He teased her, mimicking lines from a television drama.
Shi Ran was amused. "It's just okay. Don't tease me. Let's eat quickly. The dishes will get cold soon."
The three of them chatted while sipping their congee.
Knowing Meng Jingwei was in a low mood, Shi Ran racked her brain to tell her jokes, making Meng Jingwei chuckle.
Perhaps it was the weight of her worries, but even the funniest jokes couldn't lift her spirits.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door. "Miss Meng?"
"Come in."
Meng Jingwei replied. The person outside heard her and pushed the door open, stepping inside.
The person entering was Kang Xiaolu.
The moment she saw him walk in, Meng Jingwei's eyes brightened. She immediately put down her bowl and chopsticks and stood up. "Have you heard from Ah Ye?"
The nervous expression on Kang Xiaolu's face was instantly tinged with a hint of disappointment as he shook his head. "No, there's no news from the boss yet. However, however..."
"However what?" she asked.
"Downstairs, someone named He Xiaobei has arrived," Kang Xiaolu said, gesturing downstairs to Meng Jingwei.
He Xiaobei was Lao Chen Tou's hidden clan name.
Upon hearing this, Meng Jingwei understood.
Her brow furrowed. Although she knew Lao Chen Tou would come, she hadn't expected him to arrive so early in the morning.
Seeing Meng Jingwei's grave expression, Tang Si immediately said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here. Nothing will happen."
"Xiaolu, let him come up."
Meng Jingwei instructed.
Since Lao Chen Tou had found them, it was best to sit down and have a proper talk with him.
Given his influence in the hidden clan, he was bound to know where Qing Muye was.
"Yes, Miss Meng."
Kang Xiaolu turned and walked out.
Tang Si and Shi Ran exchanged glances. Shi Ran immediately stood up. "Sister Wei, I'll clear away half of the dishes first, just in case Grandpa Chen spots us. Ah Si and I will wait in the next room."
"Oh, Ran Bao'er has gotten smarter."
Tang Si looked at her with a hint of surprise and smiled.
"What are you smiling about?" Shi Ran playfully smacked Tang Si's arm. "Hurry up and help me clean!"
So, the two of them cleared away their bowls and chopsticks, carried some items, and went into the adjacent room to hide.
[Temporary hiatus due to unforeseen circumstances. Will make up for it with ten thousand words tomorrow or the day after.]