After leaving the company, Quan Jiu went directly to B1. When she arrived at the parking spot, she saw someone she considered a bit superfluous.
Chu Rong.
Dressed in a casual white stand-collar shirt, with a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his high nose bridge, which did nothing to conceal his good looks, but rather added a gentle and refined aura to his chiseled features. He looked like a completely different person from the cold-blooded and ruthless CEO Chu in the business world.
Quan Jiu frowned slightly, "What are you doing here?"
Chu Rong elegantly stepped forward, took her shoulder bag from her shoulder, retrieved the car keys from the outer pocket, unlocked the car, opened the door, and completed the actions in one smooth, natural flow. It was so seamless that Quan Jiu almost had the illusion that there were no conflicts between them, and that she was the one being difficult.
However, as soon as this thought surfaced, she immediately suppressed it. She focused on the present, a faint smile playing on her lips. She didn't refuse, but rather gracefully settled into the back seat.
If you're willing to be the driver, then be it.
After getting into the car, Chu Rong handed her a brown paper bag from the front.
Quan Jiu paused before reaching out to take it. It was warm. Upon opening it, she found a cup of milk tea and a bowl of fried potatoes. The fried potatoes, in particular, had a fragrant aroma of sour, spicy, and numbing spices, and their golden-yellow color, dotted with a few red chilies and green vegetables, made her salivate even before eating.
She did enjoy these snacks, things like stir-fried cold noodles, stinky tofu, hot and sour glass noodles, snail noodles, and fried potatoes. But since marrying Chu Rong, she had rarely eaten such things. Only when she had a particularly strong craving would she secretly go out to eat a little.
Later, after having children, for their health, she had also almost stopped eating these things.
How did he know she liked these junk foods?
Quan Jiu's mind raced with thoughts, but her gaze couldn't be pulled away from the fried potatoes.
If she couldn't see them, it would be one thing, but with them right in front of her, she couldn't resist.
She struggled internally for a moment, but finally succumbed to the allure of street food.
She took a sip of the milk tea. It was soy milk and boba flavor, creamy and fragrant, especially the boba, which was full of milky flavor, her favorite. Then she took a bite of the fried potatoes, with their sweet and sour, spicy, and numbing taste. It felt so long-awaited that she almost cried.
Quan Jiu forgot everything around her, drinking the milk tea and eating the fried potatoes, a satisfied smile unconsciously blooming on her face.
Chu Rong, through the rearview mirror, saw Quan Jiu eating with delight, and the corners of his eyes gently curved upwards.
...
The drive to the Chu family's old residence was not short. Coupled with Friday traffic, it took over an hour to leave the city and another half hour to reach their destination.
As soon as Quan Jiu entered the courtyard, Mi Mi and Tu Tu rushed to embrace her.
"Mommy."
The two children spoke in unison, their arms around Quan Jiu's neck, expressing how much they missed her.
Yuan Zijun and Chu Zhenhua followed closely behind, as did the household staff, all of whom greeted them in unison, "Young Master, Young Madam."
Quan Jiu felt a little uncomfortable and was about to explain when Yuan Zijun took her hand and said kindly, "Grandpa has always thought that you and A Rong have a good relationship. Since Mi Mi and Tu Tu came to the old house this time, his spirits have been better than ever. He can even walk around the yard every day now."
The implication was that any marital issues should be put aside in front of the elderly man who was nearing his end.
Quan Jiu understood and nodded in agreement, then took Mi Mi and Tu Tu to see Grandpa Chu.
Compared to the birthday banquet last time, Grandpa Chu's spirits were indeed much better today. He looked at Quan Jiu with a face full of affection.
"Jiu'er, it's been a while. You child, you haven't visited Grandpa in so many years. The children are so big now, why are you only bringing them to see Grandpa now?"
As Quan Jiu was unsure of what to say, Chu Rong stepped forward from behind and explained, "She went abroad to study for five years and only returned this year."
Grandpa Chu reacted with a sudden "Oh," and patted Quan Jiu's hand, praising, "Yes, yes, learning has no end. After leaving school, you must continue to learn. So you've been abroad all these years? No wonder you haven't come home. If you don't come home, you should call more often, don't let your family worry."
Quan Jiu felt guilty and deeply touched, her eyes welling up with tears as she remained silent.
Yuan Zijun spoke up again to help Quan Jiu out of her predicament, "Dad, you didn't even recognize people before, how could you remember Jiu'er? Jiu'er has always missed you."
"Oh, me? I don't recognize you anymore? Oh dear, I recognize everyone now, I recognize them. Ah, when people get old, they tend to get confused. Jiu'er, it's good that you're back. Mi Mi and Tu Tu are also well taken care of. You've worked hard, child."
Quan Jiu wiped the tears from her eyes, shook her head, and choked out, "Grandpa, I've missed you so much all these years."
The family was reunited in harmony. Even the old servants in the house couldn't help but shed tears. Chen Ma even took out a handkerchief to wipe her eyes, then saw Old Li standing there like a wooden post and chided him, "The young madam is back, what's with that expression?"
Old Li suddenly snapped back to attention and chuckled. It wasn't that he was unhappy; he simply hadn't yet connected the obedient young madam before him with the fierce, wolf-like young madam from that night.
After expressing her emotions for a while, Chen Ma smiled and stepped forward, asking, "Master, Madam, have you eaten yet?"
Yuan Zijun repeatedly agreed and asked Chen Ma to set the table.
Quan Jiu's face showed surprise, "Mom, you haven't had dinner yet? Why didn't you eat first? It's past nine o'clock, and Grandpa is still hungry?"
"No, Grandpa and the children have already eaten. Your father and I wanted to wait for you to come back and eat with you." Yuan Zijun lovingly pulled Quan Jiu to sit in the dining room. She looked at her more and more fondly, holding Quan Jiu's face and unable to let go. "How did my daughter grow up to be so beautiful? So cute and pretty. In the words of young people today, she's both salty and sweet, both regal and cool. Mom bought you a lot of beautiful clothes. It's a bit late today, we'll try them on tomorrow."
Quan Jiu's heart felt warm, and she couldn't help but laugh and cry, "I bought too many, I won't be able to wear them all, it's a waste."
"You can wear a different set every day, how can you not wear them all? We have plenty of money, what's the point of saving it if we don't enjoy ourselves?"
Yuan Zijun glanced at her son and then whispered slyly in Quan Jiu's ear, "Before the divorce certificate comes through, buy more. Buy whatever holds its value. If things go well, have him supplement your child support and transfer it to your son's account. Later, when dividing the family property, you'll have your share of the public assets and your private assets."
Chu Rong's expression soured, "Mom."
Yuan Zijun narrowed her eyes and smiled, then called out to the kitchen, "Chen Ma, hurry up! I'm starving."
Chen Ma efficiently served the dishes, and the seven family members gradually took their seats, eating and chatting.
...
After dinner, it was already past ten o'clock. Quan Jiu took Mi Mi and Tu Tu to wash up and sleep. When she had settled Mi Mi, she went to Tu Tu's room and saw Chu Rong reading a storybook to Tu Tu by the bedside. Tu Tu, with the innocence of a child, was asking some whimsical questions.
Quan Jiu stood at the doorway and watched for a moment before silently turning to leave. Regardless, she could not deprive the children of their longing for paternal love, nor could she prevent the father from giving them paternal love.
Returning to her room, she looked at the familiar surroundings, and a sense of emotion arose within her.
The Chu family truly treated her like their own daughter, showering her with affection. The dining table was filled with her favorite dishes, and even this room had not changed at all, remaining clean, tidy, and fragrant.
She still had a home.
Thinking this, Quan Jiu comfortably lay down on the bed. As soon as she lay down, the door suddenly made a "click" sound. She turned her head and saw someone walking in with an air of entitlement.