Once the hot pot base is served and the fire is lit, the fragrant and spicy steam wafts out.

The meat and vegetable dishes were cooked, and the three of them, each with chopsticks, scooped them out, dipped them in the oil sauce, and ate with great relish. But the happiest person at the table was undoubtedly the mother.

She gave the impression of a long-unsold product that had finally found a buyer, and this buyer was quite sincere, offering a high price.

Xia Xiaobing was much calmer. As for Lu Zhe, he carefully forced a smile, trying his best to appear natural. Judging from the current situation, his performance seemed to be quite good.

"Xiao Zhe is a really good kid! Xiao Bing, you need to control your temper, don't drive people away again! And don't hit people either."

After his aunt said that, Lu Zhe was taken aback.

He blurted out: "Hit someone?"

Aunt: "That happened in junior high, during PE class. A boy pulled her hair, and she fought back, and sure enough, a fight broke out! Her dad and I were working in another city, and her grandma was at home looking after her. Because of this incident, I had to run back halfway through my work to get scolded by the teacher..."

Xia Xiaobing finally couldn't hold back anymore: "Mom, can't even hot pot shut you up? Stop talking!"

Although the aunt didn't continue to dredge up her past, she pursed her lips and gave Lu Zhe a look. The meaning in that look was clearly, 'Look how fierce her temper is.'

Lu Zhe didn't know what to say about the interaction between the mother and daughter, so he could only smile and remain silent.

The aunt suddenly stood up: "You guys continue eating, I'm going to the restroom."

Xia Xiaobing: "Can you find the way?"

"Is your mother stupid? You guys eat your food, don't worry about me."

The aunt turned around and left.

Lu Zhe turned his head, wanting to complain, but he held it in.

Xia Xiaobing, however, said without any hesitation, "Listen to what she just said, doesn't it sound like she's insulting herself?"

"Pfft..." Lu Zhe couldn't help but laugh and nodded.

Xia Xiaobing: "She's straightforward and often speaks without thinking. Her desires in life are also very simple, so she does seem a bit naive. Well, to put it bluntly, she does seem a bit stupid."

Lu Zhe: "It's mainly because you're too smart and don't have enough patience for ordinary people."

Xia Xiaobing sighed, "If it were anyone else, I could just ignore it. The problem is, she's my mother, and that's a bit of a hassle..."

Lu Zhe smiled and said, "But I think you two have a pretty good relationship. To be honest, I've seen other children and parents, and estrangement and conflicts are common. The way you and your mother tease each other is more like sisters."

Xia Xiaobing: "You have to say this to her face. If you say she's like my sister, she'll be so happy she'll snot bubble from her nose."

Lu Zhe: "It can't be that bad..."

Xia Xiaobing: "It's true, she's very susceptible to flattery and can't resist being praised. But my dad isn't the type to like flattery, and neither am I."

Lu Zhe pointed to himself: "Do you think I'm the kind of person who would flatter someone?"

Xia Xiaobing smiled slightly: "You're not usually like that, but you can be sometimes. Others may not know, but I know very well that your personality is quite malleable."

Lu Zhe: "This doesn't sound like good news..."

Just as the two were talking in hushed tones, the aunt suddenly returned. Her hands were still dripping wet from washing, so she casually wiped them on the side of her skirt as she walked.

After returning to her seat, the aunt picked up her chopsticks and asked, "Xiao Zhe, is this enough for you? Would you like to order more?"

Lu Zhe quickly shook his head: "I think it's about right. It would be good if we could finish all of this."

Auntie: "Please don't be shy. You're a grown man, working and taking care of her at the same time. It must be so hard for you. You must eat more!"

Lu Zhe: "It's alright, it's alright, not hard at all..."

The aunt stared at him, sighing with some heartache, "It's hard work, but there's nothing you can't say. In the future, if this brat bullies you, just tell me, and I'll stand up for you!"

Lu Zhe: "?"

Xia Xiaobing was both amused and exasperated: "Mom, are you my biological mother or his biological mother?"

The aunt pursed her lips: "It's because you have such a strong personality. I was just afraid you would bully others!"

Xia Xiaobing: "Alright, let's eat."

The three continued eating hot pot.

Xia Xiaobing gently pinched the arm beside her and whispered, "Taking care of people on top of your work must be quite tiring. Why don't you quit your part-time job?"

Lu Zhe: "..."

Xia Xiaobing: "Never mind, I won't make things difficult for you for now."

Lu Zhe was indeed in a dilemma, and more importantly, he realized that it wouldn't be good to say that he was in a dilemma, as it would seem like he was reluctant to part with Miss Tang.

Although he was truly reluctant to part with it.

Just then, the aunt suddenly said, "What are you two talking about, so intimately?"

Xia Xiaobing waved her hand: "It's work-related."

The aunt looked at me with the disdain of someone who'd been there all along: "Do you really need to whisper about work matters to me? Your mother's had her share of relationships, don't you understand?"

Xia Xiaobing: "Fine, fine, you know everything, okay?"

The aunt chuckled, then suddenly seemed to remember something and lowered her voice to ask, "Then tell Mom, when are you planning to get married?"

Lu Zhe: "?!"

Xia Xiaobing retorted angrily, "What are you doing, Mom? Do you know how long we've only been talking?"

Auntie: "You can't date for too long. After a few months, you can get married..."

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