Zhuang Long wasn’t the only one who felt the same way.

  Ji Yinbing agreed with Zhuang Long. [I agree with Zhuang Long. If you eat this meal…] All the consequences were unspoken.

  Wei Xin: [Ah Sheng hasn’t replied. Did she have diarrhea?] As a family member, Wei Xin was also dragged into this small group chat.

  An: [Hehe… Picture attached.jpg]

  Everyone clicked on the big picture and saw Qiao Jiusheng sitting at the table and eating Fang Yusheng’s dishes quietly.

  Everyone was speechless.

  Yan Nuo: [This is true love.] If she dared to test the poison with her body, what else could it be if not true love?

  When Fang Yusheng saw Yan Nuo’s words, he immediately felt discouraged. He put down his phone and could not help but tell Qiao Jiusheng, “If it really tastes bad, don’t eat it. Don’t eat it and damage your body.” Although Fang Yusheng said that, his tone was aggrieved.

  Tonight was the first time Fang Yusheng made Chinese food. He made the dishes according to the Baidu menu. As he was not familiar with all kinds of dishes, they delayed their meal to 8pm even though they usually finished their meal by 6pm. He worked hard to make a table of dishes. Fang Zikai only took one bite before he used the excuse that he was full and wanted to go to the toilet to slip away.

  Fang Zicheng gave him a little face and sat at the table. He ate quietly for a few minutes and said that he was full. Then, he slipped away.

  Only Qiao Jiusheng tasted his dishes calmly.

  Qiao Jiusheng said, “I’m fine. I think it’s alright. You’ve worked hard too.”


  Upon hearing Qiao Jiusheng’s affirmation, Fang Yusheng’s heart felt warm. He was instantly confident and said, “If you like it, I’ll make it for you every day.”


  Qiao Jiusheng was speechless.

  She smiled and said, “I want to, but if you do this, Aunt Jin will think too much. You stole Aunt Jin’s job. She has nothing to do and should resign.”


  Upon hearing this, Fang Yusheng really believed Qiao Jiusheng’s words. He said, “Then let’s have a meal occasionally.”


  “Yes, sure”


  Qiao Jiusheng looked at Fang Yusheng guiltily. Seeing that he really believed her excuse, she heaved a sigh of relief. It was not easy for Yusheng to have the idea of cooking, so she could not disappoint him. Her plan to stall for time was to stabilize him and make him feel good.

  After the meal, Qiao Jiusheng said that she wanted to bring the children out for a walk.

  Fang Yusheng agreed without thinking.

  This was the first time he cooked, and he could not help but share a cooking post on WeChat Moments.

  Fang Yusheng: [Actually, cooking is quite simple.]

  Qiao Jiusheng brought the children to the entrance of the villa as she scrolled through WeChat. When she saw Fang Yusheng’s message, Qiao Jiusheng could not help but sigh.

  “Mom, why are you sighing?”


  Fang Zikai did not hear Qiao Jiusheng’s answer, so he rubbed his stomach and said, “I’m so hungry.”


  Fang Zicheng nodded silently and said, “I’m a little hungry too.”


  “There will be food later.”


  Yuan Yuan’s breakfast shop only opened in the morning and closed at noon. At night, only the other restaurants were open. The two children did not want to eat rice, so Qiao Jiusheng bought two sandwiches for them. The mother and sons sat on a stone stool in the park. The two boys ate bread while Qiao Jiusheng rubbed her stomach.

  After Fang Zicheng and Fang Zikai finished eating, Qiao Jiusheng said, “Let’s go. Accompany me to the pharmacy.” The two brothers obediently followed Qiao Jiusheng into a pharmacy. Qiao Jiusheng said to the salesperson, “My stomach is a little uncomfortable. I ate something that’s not easy to digest. Can you give me medicine that can help with digestion?”


  The sales assistant picked some medicine for Qiao Jiusheng to strengthen her stomach and digest her food.

  Qiao Jiusheng swallowed a few pills.

  When she took the medicine, the brothers looked up at her with sympathy.

  Qiao Jiusheng screwed the bottle cap back on and realized the brothers’ gazes. She said mysteriously, “This is called another kind of happiness, do you understand? You definitely don’t. You’ll understand when you get married in the future.” You have to eat the food that the person you love cooks for you even if it’s burnt.

  Love and pain. What a sweet sorrow.

  The brothers looked at each other and had a vague thought in their hearts: Don’t get married in the future!

  Qiao Jiusheng ate a meal made by Fang Yusheng and took a long walk outside with the two little fellows. Zhuang Long, who was far away in America, got out of bed and changed into his sportswear. He planned to go for a morning jog on the road outside.

  He set off from the entrance of his house. After running for more than twenty minutes, he realized that there was a figure in front of him.

  The person was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt. He was tall and burly and was also running. Zhuang Long quickly chased after him and said to the person, “Hey, brother! You just moved here?”


  The brother looked at him and shook his head. “No, I came back to see my parents.”


  “No wonder.”


  Zhuang Long ran alongside him. The two of them were quite tall, and their running pace was the same. This was the first time Zhuang Long met a young man of his age during his morning jog, so he could not help but be a little talkative. He asked the man, “Where do your parents live? I might know them.”


  The person reported an address.

  Zhuang Long was stunned for a moment before he slapped his thigh. He said, “So you’re Jimmy and Rachel’s child!”


  “You know them?”


  Zhuang Long smiled and said, “Of course. I live next door to you. My surname is Zhuang.”


  The man seemed a little surprised.

  Zhuang Long could tell and asked him, “You’ve heard of me?”


  “Sure.”


  “Are you surprised? Are you surprised that I’m so young?”


  The person said, “I’ve always heard from my father that there’s a very powerful virologist living next door. He said that you’re a very young person. I didn’t believe him before. Now, I have to believe him.”


  “Hey, my name is Zhuang Long. Brother, what about you?”


  As the man ran, he handed him a hand and said, “Derek.”


  “Nice to meet you.”


  “Me too.”


  They chatted some more, and gradually, they ran for nearly an hour. When they went back, the two of them were walking quickly. Zhuang Long asked Derek what profession he was in, and Derek said, “I’m not as good as you. I’m a police officer.”


  “Cool!”


  “What’s cool?” Derek shook his head and smiled. “I guess I inherited my father’s job.”


  “Mr. Jimmy is a police officer?”


  “You don’t know?”


  Zhuang Long really did not know. He said, “I really can’t tell, but Mr. Jimmy looks very righteous. It’s not surprising that he’s a police officer.”


  “My father and I are proud of our profession.”


  “A very noble profession.”


  As the two of them chatted, they saw their home. Derek said goodbye to Zhuang Long. “It was good talking to you. I’m home. See you tomorrow morning.”


  “See you tomorrow morning.”


  After watching Zhuang Long leave, Derek entered the house.

  Jimmy saw him and asked, “Did you meet him?”


  Derek nodded. He took a sip of salt water and said in surprise, “He looks like a cheerful person. He doesn’t look like a dangerous person to pay attention to.”


  Jimmy narrowed his eyes but said nothing.