Chapter 36 The Mischievous Toes
"Mom, what are you thinking about now? It was a complete accident that we became neighbors. He moved in before we even met," Xu Songning said helplessly.
However, if word got out, anyone would think something was fishy. What a coincidence! But Xu Songning thought to himself, "That's right, there really is such a coincidence."
"The captain rented an apartment in Shanghai, probably for someone else," Ms. Xu joked.
What was said in jest was taken seriously by the listener. Xu Songning had to think one step further. His mother was right. Generally, unmarried captains don't have a fixed house in a particular city because flight routes change. They might fly to one city today and another tomorrow. Airlines will arrange hotel accommodations for the crew, so renting a house is completely unnecessary.
Unless, of course, there is someone in Shanghai who would be willing to rent a place to him long-term.
Yes, there is one, an ex-girlfriend.
Did they live together before? Did Xiang Yun move to the apartment across from hers after their breakup? Xu Songning felt quite annoyed by this thought, and her mood sank.
"I don't know who it's for, but anyway, Mom, don't say anything out of line, we're really just colleagues," Xu Songning instructed, sniffing herself to smell like she was still in work class. "I'm going to take a shower first."
"Go on, there are still two dishes to go. Hurry up and wash. Since he's just a colleague, he might feel awkward if I'm the only one here when he arrives." Ms. Xu waved her hand, telling her to go take a shower.
While taking a shower, Xu Songning recalled what had just happened and realized that she was actually jealous.
But I don't seem to have any right to be jealous. Indeed, the jealousy you have no right to feel is the most bitter.
When Xu Songning came out after changing into clean clothes, Xiang Yun had already arrived. He had changed his clothes, taken a shower, and his hair was slightly dry. He had styled his hair into a neat hairstyle and was helping Ms. Xu serve the dishes.
"Sweetie, hurry up and wash your hands, we're getting ready to eat. Your colleague even brought a bottle of red wine," Ms. Xu called out to her with a smile.
Sure enough, there was a bottle of red wine on the table, and judging from the label, it was probably not cheap.
"Xiao Xiang, please sit down, no need for help." Ms. Xu pressed on Xiang Yun's shoulder, gesturing for him to sit next to her.
Xu Songning pulled out the chair opposite Ms. Xu and sat down. Ms. Xu said she was just having a simple meal, but the food on the table was quite lavish, as if she wanted to make up for lost time during the New Year's Eve dinner.
Several plates of delicious-looking fish and meat were laid out, along with large freshwater prawns and two plates of crisp green vegetables.
"Just a few snacks, please help yourself, don't be shy, Xiao Xiang." Ms. Xu took out a corkscrew and pretended to open a bottle of red wine.
"Auntie, you're too kind. Thank you for your hospitality," Xiang Yun said modestly.
Xu Songning stopped Ms. Xu's hand from opening the bottle, saying, "Mom, he has a flight mission tomorrow, and I have to go to work tomorrow too. Can you drink this by yourself? Once opened, it can't be left for too long."
"Xiao Xiang, you have a shift tomorrow? Then I won't open it for now, since none of you are drinking." Ms. Xu went to the kitchen to put away the bottle opener, then peeked out and called to Xu Songning, "I put the orange juice in the refrigerator, go get it."
“Okay.” Xu Songning put her fluffy slippers back on and was about to get up when she saw Xiang Yun walk to the refrigerator first, skillfully open the refrigerator door, and take out orange juice.
The orange juice tastes fresh shortly after being added. In a warm room, drinking a little iced orange juice is very comfortable and won't make you feel cold inside.
Xu Songning leaned forward, blinked her beautiful eyes, and mouthed, "Thank you, Brother Yun~"
Ms. Xu returned to her seat and gave Xu Songning an approving look, "Good boy, this time you don't need Mommy to nag you."
"Ningning, she's always a bit lazy. You have to call her twice to do something. But she's not like that at work; she's very serious about her job. Xiao Xiang, what do you think?" This was what Ms. Xu said to Xiang Yun, who was eating his food.
"Mom—" Xu Songning drawled out the last syllable.
Xiang Yun put down her chopsticks, glanced at Xu Songning, and cleared her throat. "Auntie, I don't know much about her life, but procrastination is quite normal. Many young people these days have it a bit. As for her work, Songning is indeed very serious and has received a lot of praise."
Ms. Xu was pleased with herself, but then deliberately sighed, "I wonder who will be so tolerant of Ningning in the future? If Ningning finds a partner who is just as lazy as her, won't I have to help her out?"
“No, Song Ning has very high standards, and living together requires mutual adjustment and tolerance, which is not easy for either of them,” Xiang Yun said.
"Where did I have high standards?" Xu Songning was surrounded by the conversation and finally managed to squeeze in a sentence.
"If she didn't have high standards, she wouldn't still be single now. She just wants to find someone who is 100% suitable, but who in the world is 100% suitable? However, she is like this because I divorced her father..." Ms. Xu's tone darkened, and Xu Songning knew that she was about to bring up the past.
"Alright!" Xu Songning quickly interrupted Ms. Xu's impending sentimental musings. "Let's eat first, the food's getting cold."
Xiang Yun pondered silently. He hadn't heard Xu Songning mention her father during this time, and judging from Aunt Xu's tone just now, it seemed that she had a strained relationship with Xu's father, which led to their divorce.
Ms. Xu received a warning look from her daughter, fell silent, and urged Xiang Yun to eat, "Eat up, don't be shy."
Xiang Yun sat opposite her, which gave her a better view of Xu Songning. She was much more relaxed eating at home than outside. Her posture was no longer so upright, but rather somewhat lazy. She twirled her chopsticks nimbly in her hand, holding them loosely with a few fingers, occasionally poking at the bowl and changing her chopsticks grip.
The dishes laid out in front of her were probably all her favorites. The giant freshwater prawns coated with minced garlic were her absolute favorite. The prawns were peeled beforehand, making them easy to eat. When she took a satisfying bite, her brow relaxed, and joy seemed to radiate from her eyes.
She doesn't eat much green vegetables. After eating a few bites of meat, she occasionally picks up a piece with her chopsticks to cleanse her mouth.
"Xiao Xiang, come on, have a bite of shrimp. This is Auntie's specialty. I didn't have time to make it when I was busy before, and now that I'm not busy, I'm always running around. Since you're neighbors, if you need anything, just let each other know. Auntie always worries about Ningning when I'm not in the country." Ms. Xu took out a pair of serving chopsticks, picked up a large shrimp, and put it in Xiang Yun's bowl.
"Don't worry, Auntie, friends are meant to be a bother, aren't they?" Xiang Yun replied, taking a bite of the garlicky shrimp.
Suddenly, a foot kicked his shin under the table, half of the foot touching his shin and pressing down with the toes.
Xiang Yun paused, looked up at Xu Songning opposite him, and saw Xu Songning with a fake smile, saying to Mrs. Xu, "Mom, eat more vegetables! What do I have to worry about?"
He spoke with a hint of gritted teeth, pressing his toes against Xiang Yun's calf as he did so.
The heating in the room was on high, and his toes, which were pressed against his calves, were also warm. He could imagine the shape of the mischievous foot.
Xiang Yun picked up the orange juice, calmly took a sip, and suddenly her neck turned red, all the way to her earlobes.
"What's wrong? Is the food too spicy?" Xu Songning withdrew her mischievous foot and asked him with a serious face, completely unaware that she had stepped on the wrong person.
"It's nothing, I just choked." Xiang Yun looked away and took a few big gulps of orange juice to calm down the heat.
After the meal, Xu Songning escorted Xiang Yun back to her apartment across the hall, and the mother and daughter went into the kitchen to clean up the dishes.
Xu Songning was wiping the plates carelessly when Ms. Xu gently pushed her aside, saying, "Why do you always seem so careless about everything you do? Don't break the plates, I'll do it."
"Mom, why did you say so many strange things in front of Xiang Yun today? I stepped on your foot and you didn't even react." Xu Songning took a rag to wipe the stove.
"Did you step on my foot? Did you miss?" Ms. Xu was washing the dishes diligently, but she also had something on her mind.
"..."
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