Chapter 4: Shyness - That's what he wanted to give to Wanqing.
Zhao Shuyi brought a glass of water and smelled the aroma of meat as soon as she stepped out of the room.
She couldn't help but sniff, and her stomach growled.
Because of those dreams, the original owner of this body has had a poor appetite lately. She doesn't know if it's the effect of the spiritual spring water or because she was starving before. Just smelling the aroma makes Zhao Shuyi want to eat.
"Mom, what did you make? It smells so good."
"You little rascal, you have a good nose. Braised pork, want to try it?"
Zhao Shuyi's eyes lit up, and she handed the cup to her mother, saying, "You have a glass of water first, and I'll try it."
Zhao's mother had no suspicions and took it as her daughter's concern. She took the water and drank it down in one gulp.
"Yes, the water my daughter pours is always sweet."
Zhao Shuyi smiled proudly and said, "Of course."
Actually, that was diluted spiritual spring water.
Nothing is better than making the other person drink it.
Zhao Shuyi showed no abnormality on her face. She picked up a piece of braised pork with evenly marbled fat and lean meat with her chopsticks. The tender and bouncy meat was coated with caramel coloring and gave off an enticing aroma.
With one bite, the fatty meat melts in your mouth, fragrant but not greasy, while the lean meat is fragrant but not dry.
"Mmm, it's delicious."
Zhao Shuyi praised him sincerely.
Zhao's mother has always been a good cook, and the original owner of this body can also cook. Even though she doesn't like the smell of the kitchen, she can learn to cook any dish after watching it a few times.
That's probably what talent is.
In the book, the original owner of the body, who rarely cooked at her parents' home, almost took charge of all the meals for the Gao family.
Only those who have done it know how difficult it is.
Zhao Shuyi's eyelashes trembled slightly; she was still somewhat indignant.
For the original owner, for the original owner's family, and for himself.
In her previous life, all her parents' love was poured into her younger brother, so even though she lived in her own home, her situation was not much different from that of the original owner of the body in her husband's family.
Coincidentally, she herself is also quite talented at cooking.
But she wasn't sure she could make braised pork that tasted like that.
"As long as it tastes good, go call your dad and the others for dinner."
Zhao's mother and Zhao Shuyi exchanged a glance, understanding each other's meaning without saying a word.
Stay calm.
When Zhao Shuyi arrived outside the study, she didn't go in immediately. Instead, she called out, "Dad, dinner's ready."
Soon, the study door opened, and Gao Zhiyun came out first.
He saw Zhao Shuyi reveal a set of bright white teeth, and with his white shirt, he did look quite presentable. No wonder the original owner of this body was deceived by his appearance.
"Shuyi!" he called out joyfully.
This person is too cunning. He changed his form of address early on and revealed his intentions to Zhao's parents, but never seriously mentioned the marriage between the two of them. He was still hoping for Xu Wanxia's hand.
It was only after Xu Wanxia kept persuading him that he finally relented.
He clearly wasn't that willing, and I don't know how he could act so happy.
"Dinner's ready," Zhao Shuyi said softly, then turned and ran towards the kitchen.
She felt disgusted just looking at her.
When the four sat down at the dining table, Gao Zhiyun feigned apology, saying, "I came in a hurry today and didn't bring anything with me."
"You're here, why be so polite with Master and Mistress?" Zhao's mother interrupted him, smiling and urging everyone to start eating, clearly not wanting to hear any more nonsense from him.
Gao Zhiyun didn't notice, and he took out a pen and handed it to Zhao Shuyi.
"Shuyi, I think this fountain pen suits you very well, I'll give it to you."
Zhao Shuyi glanced at it; this was a high-end product from the supply and marketing cooperative, costing not only several tens of yuan but also requiring several industrial coupons.
She said that Gao Zhiyun must be rich, this would cost him three or four months' salary.
How could he possibly bear to part with her? He must have known she wouldn't dare to accept it.
Zhao Shuyi raised her slender hand and placed it on the pen case...
"cough!"
When Zhao's father coughed, Zhao Shuyi immediately withdrew her hand.
Although Zhao's parents have always doted on their daughter, they are actually very strict with her upbringing and would not allow Zhao Shuyi to accept things from others without a valid reason.
Zhao Shuyi looked up at her father, then turned to look at Gao Zhiyun. She saw that the man's smile remained unchanged behind his glasses, and he even seemed to be hiding his smugness.
She knew it.
I was so generous because I knew she wouldn't accept it.
This person didn't bleed much from the original owner's body; all the good stuff was sent to Xu Wanxia.
Since he wanted to give her something, how could Zhao Shuyi refuse to accept it?
She reached out and pressed down on the pen again.
"Thanks."
The expressions of the three people present all changed.
Mr. and Mrs. Zhao didn't understand why their daughter suddenly wanted the other party's pen. Shuyi wasn't the kind of person who didn't know her place.
Shouldn't they distance themselves from Gao Zhiyun now?
Gao Zhiyun was even more bewildered.
Ever since he started flirting with Zhao Shuyi, Zhao Shuyi has never asked him for anything.
The only thing he spent on Zhao Shuyi was a bottle of soda, which he insisted on paying for.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Shuyi, who was always aloof, changed her usual temperament and accepted the fountain pen he gave her.
That was meant for Wanqing.
His stunned expression was noticed by all three members of the Zhao family, and even though he tried to hide it, he couldn't.
Zhao Shuyi pretended not to notice anything, and just gave Gao Zhiyun her usual shy smile.
An unmarried young woman, unsure how to react, should simply be shy.
Today, however, her shyness was tinged with a hint of determination.
Gao Zhiyun assumed that his recent persuasion had worked, and that Zhao Shuyi, that fool, was willing to marry him.
However, he was still a little intimidated by Zhao's father's dark expression.
But he wasn't worried at all that the other party wouldn't want to marry Zhao Shuyi to him.
Everyone knows they treat that girl like a treasure.
After all, Zhao Shuyi rejected even military officers for my sake, so she must be head over heels in love with me.
If he didn't marry her, she might have threatened to kill herself.
It's a pity that Wanqing was urging him so hard, otherwise he really wanted to see how the other family begged him.
That old geezer, how dare he look down on him! Once we get the stuff, we'll send it to the countryside!
Gao Zhiyun thought fiercely, but dared not reveal a word of it on the surface.
He started praising the dishes as soon as he picked up his chopsticks, extolling them to the extreme throughout the meal.
Seeing Zhao's mother grinning from ear to ear, Zhao Shuyi thought to herself, "My mother must be exhausted from acting with this idiot."
The meal was lively, yet everyone had their own thoughts.
After dinner, it was getting dark.
Gao Zhiyun took his leave.
Zhao's mother asked Zhao Shuyi to see her off, as she usually did. The two would inevitably exchange a few ambiguous words in the alley.
But today, Zhao's father stopped him.
He said to Zhao's mother, "Go and see Zhiyun off. I have something to say to Shuyi."
A fierce glint flashed in Gao Zhiyun's eyes.
"No need, no need, I can go back by myself. I'll come see you another day."
He said this while looking at Zhao Shuyi, and the meaning was self-evident.
Zhao's father's face darkened further. "Come here."
Zhao's mother played the good cop, saying, "Why are you throwing a tantrum? Speak properly." Then she turned to Gao Zhiyun and said gently, "Ignore him, your teacher's wife will take you."
As the two left the Zhao family home, the tense expressions on Zhao's father and Zhao Shuyi's faces finally relaxed.
The father and daughter sat together at the table waiting for Zhao's mother to return, both with mixed feelings and remaining silent.
Not long after, Zhao's mother returned, locked the door, and joined the father and daughter in their quiet sitting.
"Shuyi, give me that pen, I'll give you a better one."
Zhao's father had even traveled abroad, so he was no fool. He had already figured out why Zhao Shuyi wanted that pen at the dinner table.
The material and intellectual wealth they gave Gao Zhiyun could buy countless pens; taking a pen from him wouldn't be enough to compensate for it, so why not take it?
But don't let that person's things get dirty on your daughter's hands.
Strangely enough, even though it was only the first day she spent with Zhao's father, Zhao Shuyi easily understood his meaning.
She couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Okay, here you go. You can exchange it for some money."
Zhao Shuyi would naturally not be stingy with a fountain pen, especially since it was her own father who wanted it.
Zhao's mother gave Zhao's father a reproachful look.
"Alright, you're just being nosy. There's nothing wrong with the item, so why can't we use it?"
Zhao Shuyi nodded in agreement.
My mother is more right.
Seeing her obedient daughter, Zhao's mother's heart softened, and heartache immediately spread to her face.
She lowered her voice and said, "Old Zhao, Secretary Zheng means that we should join the project team tomorrow."
Both father and daughter showed the same surprise.
"So urgent?" Zhao's father asked.
Zhao's mother nodded, "He said the situation outside is already very serious, and those people still seem to be somewhat rational..."
She hadn't finished speaking, but her meaning was already quite clear.
"I was hesitant at first, but he asked me a question."
"Do you think our family has never offended anyone?"
Upon hearing this, the whole family fell silent.
If you ask them this question normally, they can all say that they have always been kind to others and have never even argued with anyone.
But can they control their own good and evil, and also control the malice of others?
In this day and age, people will find a reason to cause trouble even if they have no crime. How can those who have genuinely returned from abroad and have relatives there escape?
After a long while, Zhao's father finally asked in a somewhat hoarse voice, "When will Shuyi be able to go?"
Zhao Shuyi also wanted to know how they had arranged things. Given how much the Zhao couple cherished their daughter, they certainly wouldn't feel comfortable joining the project team without her being settled.
"Secretary Zheng's idea is to let Shuyi stay at their house for two days, and then go on the train with the troops."
Their factory was originally a military factory, and people from the military often came to discuss various matters. Zhao's father did not suspect anything and felt much more at ease, but he still raised questions.
"I remember he has a son, is that convenient?"
Zhao's mother said, "I asked, and his son is always working outside and rarely comes home."
Zhao Shuyi's eyes darted around, sensing that something was amiss.
The male lead went to Secretary Zheng's office today, so why is this relationship being kept secret?
She didn't plan to go to the Zheng family; how could she take care of her own affairs if she went there?
But there's no need to say it out loud and worry the couple.
Zhao's father was clearly still worried, and he wanted to say something more, but Zhao Shuyi quickly reassured him, "Mom and Dad, don't worry, I will definitely take good care of myself. You two must also take good care of yourselves so that I can go back and live a peaceful life."
There's really no time to delay this.
If she didn't have something to prepare for, she would have loved to get on the train that very night.
The enemy is in the open while they are in the shadows; the longer it drags on, the higher the risk.
How could the Zhao couple not understand this principle?
The couple exchanged a glance, gave each other a few more instructions, and then hurriedly packed their things.
Let's do as Secretary Zheng arranges!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com