As for Sheng Yi, after buying breakfast, he was worried that Zhu Qinghao hadn't finished washing up yet, so he took a stroll outside before returning.

Zhu Qinghao, who was in the carriage, was also getting restless. She opened the door to check on Sheng Yi's situation, but as soon as she opened the door, she found a figure outside.

Before she could even react, she had already run headfirst into it.

Sheng Yi was holding something in his right hand and couldn't support her, so he used his injured left hand to steady her a little, but Zhu Qinghao still bumped solidly into his chest.

I had just steadied myself when I heard a soft laugh coming from above.

"Be careful, Hao Hao, where are you headed? Didn't I tell you to wait for me in the carriage?"

Zhu Qinghao examined his left hand and, after confirming that there was nothing seriously wrong, replied:

"I was worried that someone might bump into you on the way since you hadn't come back for so long, so I thought I'd come out to meet you. I just didn't expect it to be such a coincidence that I bumped into you as soon as I opened the door..."

Sheng Yi hadn't meant to blame her, but now that he heard she had come out because she was worried about him, he was even happier.

"I'm fine. Come on, let's go inside and have breakfast. I heard that tea eggs are delicious, so I bought one for you. Try it and see if you like it. If you don't like it, I'll eat it."

Zhu Qinghao nodded and walked ahead, taking the lead to sit on his bunk. After Sheng Yi sat down behind him, the two of them had a harmonious and warm breakfast together.

They didn't encounter Lu Zheng again until they got off the bus in the afternoon.

Presumably because Zhu Qinghao's return date had been agreed upon beforehand, the two of them found Old Man Ma waiting for them outside the station in his oxcart as soon as they got off the train.

Watching that thin figure sitting there, stroking the cow again and again, Zhu Qinghao suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

This old man, I wonder how long he's been waiting here.

What should he do if she doesn't come back as scheduled?

After exchanging a glance with Sheng Yi, the two quickly walked over.

"Grandpa Ma, were you waiting for me?"

As soon as Zhu Qinghao's voice came out, Old Man Ma immediately turned around. When he saw that it was them, he was so excited that he wanted to stand up.

"Slow down, slow down, please don't rush."

These words were spoken by Sheng Yi, and it was only then that Old Man Ma noticed that Sheng Yi had also returned.

"Oh, Dr. Jiang is back too? Oh dear, what happened to your hand? Is it serious?"

Feeling his concern, Sheng Yi raised his hand, moved it in front of him, and smiled:

"It's nothing, Grandpa Ma, it's just a minor injury. It'll heal with some rest. I'm taking another vacation while my hand is injured."

I might be staying for quite a while this time. I remember you saying Grandma Ma is an amazing cook; if I have the chance, I definitely have to try her cooking!

"Alright, alright, you and Xiao Zhu, both of you, come on over!"

As the Zhu family and Grandpa Sheng became closer and visited each other more often, the Ma family elders naturally realized that they had known each other before. Therefore, Grandpa Ma did not find it strange that the two of them appeared together.

However, he still caught the unintentional intimacy between the two, and the loving/meaningful smile on his face gradually deepened.

"Grandpa Ma, how long have you been waiting for us? Have you had lunch yet?"

Old Man Ma drove the ox forward without pausing for a moment.

“I’ve eaten, I’ve eaten. Your Grandma Ma knew I was coming to pick you up, so she made me lunch early this morning. I brought it with me, and I just took it out and ate it at noon. It’s very convenient.”

"Hey, you two just got off the bus, right? Have you eaten yet?"