After leaving the private room, Xing Di asked Jiang Nan Chen with curiosity, "How did you offend Chu Rong?"
Jiang Nan Chen chuckled, "Then why did you deliberately provoke him earlier?"
Xing Di grinned, "I just can't stand his attitude."
"He can't stand mine either," Jiang Nan Chen said with a half-smile.
Xing Di, with a gossipy look, asked, "He was so obvious just now. Could it be that my boss's man is him? And those two little ones are his children?"
Jiang Nan Chen frowned slightly, "That's Jiu Jiu's business. If you're really curious, go ask her."
Xing Di didn't mind and murmured, "I haven't heard of anyone surnamed Chu getting married. Besides... even if it is him, their relationship is clearly not good. He's the only one making an effort, and my boss doesn't even pay him any attention."
He then added, unconvinced, "You really don't know? Haven't you known my boss for several years? How could you not know who the father of the children is? Judging by your attitude, you clearly want to pursue my boss. Does that mean my boss is... divorced?"
Jiang Nan Chen gave Xing Di a helpless glance, then said seriously, "I don't care who the father of the children is, or what Jiu Jiu has been through. I only like her and the children."
Xing Di nodded unconsciously, "Those two little ones are indeed quite cute."
After going downstairs, Jiang Nan Chen and Xing Di parted ways.
After getting into his car, Jiang Nan Chen realized the gifts for Mimi and Tu Tu were still in the car. He sent a message to Quan Jiu: "The children's gifts are still in the car. I need to go to Lijing Yuncheng tomorrow for some business, so I can bring them over then."
Quan Jiu was listening to Wang Feifei talk about Fan Xuan.
"...That drama queen, I've tolerated her for so long. The moment she speaks, I want to stuff her mouth with socks. Today, I finally got to vent my anger."
Quan Jiu thought for a moment and asked, "The one sitting next to you?"
"That's her. Liu Wenwen has such a good temper, she was even provoked to slap her, which shows how much she talks."
Quan Jiu smiled dismissively, glanced at her phone, and replied: "Haha, okay. Tu Tu was still thinking about it just now."
Jiang Nan Chen thought for a moment before replying again: "There was an uninvited guest tonight. You didn't eat well, did you? As compensation, how about I treat you and the children to a meal tomorrow?"
Quan Jiu sighed inwardly. She was the one who should apologize. Chu Rong's anger towards her had inexplicably spread to Jiang Nan Chen, ruining everyone's dinner gathering. The nice dinner ended awkwardly because of her.
"I should be the one apologizing to everyone. I had some past grievances with him, and he deliberately came to ruin everyone's mood today."
"Don't always take the blame on yourself. It's not your fault. Shall we eat together tomorrow? To make up for today?" Jiang Nan Chen replied again.
"I have to write a script," Quan Jiu sent a crying emoji. "With so many artists, scripts are in short supply."
Jiang Nan Chen knew her personality and didn't try to persuade her further. He said a few words of encouragement to rest well and ended the chat.
Wang Feifei continued to talk about Fan Xuan, "She clings to Jiang Nan Chen whenever she has a chance, making Jiang Nan Chen want to avoid her now. And she still has the nerve to talk about others, when she herself doesn't... reflect on herself." She should take a piss and look at herself.
"Alright, don't be angry. She's just an irrelevant person. Why let her ruin your mood? She's not important, why bother thinking about her all the time?" Quan Jiu said with a smile, comforting her.
Wang Feifei thought, "That's true. What is she? Why should I remember her?" Then she started talking about interesting stories from the filming set. They chatted and laughed, and soon arrived at Lijing Yuncheng.
Mimi and Tu Tu were already getting sleepy. They yawned and hopped out of the car, saying goodbye to Wang Feifei.
Quan Jiu saw that it was getting late and advised, "Why don't you sleep at my place tonight? It's too late."
"My parents told me I must go home today, they have something to announce. I'll come another day." Wang Feifei waved goodbye, and her car turned and drove away.
"Then be careful on the road," Quan Jiu reminded her, and then heard a "Jiu Jiu" from the direction of the entrance. She turned around and was surprised, "Senior Brother..."
Tu Tu ran over and hugged Guan Shi's leg. The cute little boy said, "Uncle Guan Shi, are you waiting for us here?"
Guan Shi picked up Tu Tu and smiled, wiping a bit of oil stain from the corner of Tu Tu's mouth. "Yes, what delicious food did you go to eat?"
"Pork ribs, shrimp, meatballs, chicken feet... so many," Tu Tu counted on his fingers.
Quan Jiu pulled Mimi over and saw that Guan Shi looked a bit haggard. She asked with concern, "Didn't you stay up late yesterday? Why aren't you resting at home? Are you still busy with work on your day off?"
"No," Guan Shi smiled and stroked Mimi's head. "I've been a bit unlucky lately, so I went to a temple to get a charm, and I got one for you too."
He took out a small box about the size of a baby's fist, opened it, and inside was a delicate and beautiful small lucky bag.
Quan Jiu accepted the lucky bag with a surprised laugh, "You really went to the temple to pray for blessings? Then you probably didn't sleep much during the day. No wonder you look so tired."
Guan Shi touched his face and joked, "What, has your senior brother's former handsome and elegant demeanor disappeared? Are you disgusted?"
Quan Jiu chuckled, "It's still here. And even if you get old, in my eyes, you will always be the most handsome and elegant senior brother."
After hearing this, Guan Shi felt much of his inner turmoil dissipate. Perhaps he was just being too hasty; he should take it slow.
"Hurry back, it's getting a bit cold," Guan Shi advised.
Quan Jiu smiled and agreed, pulling Mimi and Tu Tu into the residential area.
Only after the figures of the mother and children disappeared did Guan Shi turn and leave.
...
Around nine in the evening, Chu Rong returned home carrying a bag of takeout.
The three little cats heard the door open and immediately meowed and ran towards the door. As soon as Chu Rong entered, they rubbed against his trouser legs, like hungry children, their meows soft and pitiful.
Chu Rong put down his things and first went into the cat house to feed the cats milk and cat food. He then cleaned up the cat hair on the sofa and other furniture, and finally scooped the cat litter. It took him half an hour to finish everything.
Then he sat down at the dining table and began to savor the dishes he had brought back. After each bite, he would write a few words in a small notebook. After finishing each dish, he would rinse his mouth. By the time he finished all five dishes, it was already ten-thirty.
Afterward, he went straight into the kitchen and was busy until nearly two in the morning. With some satisfaction, he brought out five dishes. Judging by their appearance, they were no different from the ones he had eaten.
He tasted them, and the flavors were also very similar. Chu Rong was finally completely satisfied. After cleaning up the kitchen, he went to wash up and sleep.
He slept until six in the morning.
He got up, washed, and started preparing the dough. Then he shelled walnuts and peanuts. Finally, he soaked the walnuts and peanuts in clean water for twenty minutes to remove their skins, and then blended them with rice, bananas, and milk to make a thick and sweet homemade walnut and peanut milk.
After finishing all this, the dough had also finished fermenting. He simply pressed the dough into flat cakes, cut them into strips, and fried them in oil. Once they puffed up and turned golden brown on the surface, the homemade fried dough sticks were ready.
Quan Jiu was still brushing her teeth when the doorbell rang. She ran out and saw it was the breakfast from the elderly grandfather next door.
Fried dough sticks and walnut-peanut milk both took a long time to make. It wasn't even eight o'clock yet, so the grandfather must have gotten up at five or six.
Quan Jiu sighed slightly and kept comforting herself. She then went to the door and softly said, "Thank you, Grandpa."
Chu Rong, standing inside the door, saw the smile on the person outside through the peephole and couldn't help but smile along.
Quan Jiu returned home, and Mimi and Tu Tu had also woken up.
As soon as Mimi saw Quan Jiu holding a lunchbox bag, Tu Tu excitedly ran over, "What delicious food is there for breakfast today?"
When the bag was opened and they saw the fried dough sticks, Tu Tu jumped with joy, "Wow, that's great! Eating meals from now on will be like opening a blind box. I'm already looking forward to what's for lunch."
Quan Jiu poked her son's cheek and smiled, "You can't take Grandpa's hard work for granted. You must be grateful. When Mom is working, you can go play with Grandpa, so he won't be lonely."
Mimi said softly, "And the cute kittens! I want to play with the kittens too."
Quan Jiu looked at her son and daughter, who were as innocent and cute as ordinary children, and couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion and want to cry.
She had always thought her two children were mature for their age, lacking childish innocence and fun. But these past two days, the children had been like ordinary children, acting spoiled and saying cute things, like true four or five-year-olds, innocent and adorable.
It turned out that the children weren't not innocent, but rather too sensible, not wanting to worry her too much, so they had suppressed that carefree childishness.
Quan Jiu was immensely grateful. At this moment, she truly and completely considered the person across the hall as family, not just out of pity or sympathy, or as two lonely people seeking warmth together.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Mimi sensitively noticed Quan Jiu's emotional change.
Quan Jiu quickly composed herself and smiled, "Mom is happy! We can open blind boxes every day now, and every day will be a surprise."
Mimi giggled, "Me too, me too."
The mother and sons sat down at the dining table. The crispy fried dough sticks paired with walnut-peanut milk were fragrant and delicious.
Quan Jiu was happily eating when a text message arrived. She glanced at it, and her expression slightly changed.
The sender was He Miao.