Lin Jiao and Fu Linyue approached the two hand in hand, Lin Jiao with a perfectly timed smile on her face, looking at Tao Zhizhi with satisfaction.
Hearing the sound, Tao Zhizhi looked at Fu Jue in confusion. Fu Jue was also quite surprised by their appearance, and he didn't let go of her waist, looking helpless.
"Mom, what are you doing here?"
Fu Jue and Lin Jiao were in the largest shopping mall in Qingshui City, where many people shopped and dined. Lin Jiao gave him a disapproving look and scolded him playfully:
"We just came out for a stroll, of course we'll be here!"
They happened to run into each other, and Fu Jue introduced them to them in a very generous manner:
"Tao Zhizhi, my girlfriend."
Then he spoke gently to Tao Zhizhi:
"Zhizhi, they are my parents, don't worry, leave everything to me."
Fu Jue spoke the second half of his sentence very softly, so that only Tao Zhizhi could hear it, and her tense mood calmed down a bit.
Looking at Tao Zhizhi's sweet face and her slightly curved eyes smiling at her, Lin Jiao thought to herself:
[How did Fu Jue manage to snag such a sweet girl?! Her smile is so lovely, she's practically the little daughter I've always dreamed of!]
Then, she let go of Fu Linyue's hand, smiled kindly, and stepped forward, firmly placing the small gift she had just bought into her hand without allowing her to refuse:
"I'm sorry for meeting you so abruptly. This is a gift from your aunt."
Tao Zhizhi was suddenly shoved several bags into her hands, the most conspicuous of which was the bag from the jewelry store she knew well. It was quite heavy, and she quickly tried to push it away.
"Auntie, I can't accept this—"
Fu Jue finally removed his hand from her waist, took the bag without ceremony, and whispered in Tao Zhizhi's ear:
"It's alright, take it, it's just a small token of their appreciation."
Hearing Fu Jue's words and seeing Lin Jiao's expectant gaze, he gladly accepted, saying somewhat shyly:
"Thank you, Uncle and Aunt."
Seeing Lin Jiao beam with joy as she accepted the gift, her eyes filled with affection as she looked at Tao Zhizhi, Tao Zhizhi, remembering her own dilemma, invited her:
"Have you had lunch yet, Uncle and Aunt? Would you like to have lunch together?"
This was exactly what Lin Jiao wanted. When she arrived, she saw the two of them struggling with what to eat. Before she could even speak, Tao Zhizhi beat her to it and agreed without hesitation.
Tao Zhizhi nudged Fu Jue with her small hand behind her back, and Fu Jue understood:
What are you eating?
Lin Jiao waved her hand, her expression gentle, and smiled sweetly:
"We'll eat whatever Zhizhi says."
She gave Fu Linyue a look, and he immediately replied to Tao Zhizhi:
"Yeah, me too."
Unable to make a decision, Tao Zhizhi tugged at Fu Jue's sleeve. Fu Jue then spoke:
"It's getting a bit chilly, I want to eat hot pot."
Tao Zhizhi was up to her old tricks again. She hadn't expected Fu Jue to suggest hot pot. Who goes to hot pot on their first meal together with their aunt and uncle?!
Fu Jue made up his mind, looking at Lin Jiao and the other person expressionlessly, as if asking them: [Want to eat? If not, forget it.]
Lin Jiao's eyes lit up: "Great! Zhizhi, how did you know I've been craving hot pot lately? Xiao Jue must have told you secretly."
Fu Linyue had no objection and said he would go with his wife.
The four of them ended up having a hot pot dinner.
Fu Linyue and Fu Jue were busy cooking vegetables for Tao Zhizhi and Lin Jiao, while Tao Zhizhi chatted casually with Lin Jiao.
Tao Zhizhi looked at the meat Fu Jue had served her; she couldn't possibly finish it all. She leaned closer to him and whispered:
"Fu Jue, I don't want to eat meat anymore, I want to eat vegetables."
Fu Jue took her bowl to his own, replaced it with a clean one, put the blanched vegetables in it, and softly instructed:
"It's too hot now, eat it later."
Lin Jiao smiled and exchanged a knowing smile with Fu Linyue, muttering in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"This is the first time I've seen Xiao Jue take care of a girl; she's quite attentive."
Fu Linyue casually handed her the peeled shrimp, looking at Lin Jiao with smug satisfaction:
"You must have learned that from seeing me take care of you so much."
Lin Jiao blushed slightly and gave him a coquettish glance: "You're being indecent."
After this meal, Lin Jiao and Tao Zhizhi quickly became closer, and they walked out of the store hand in hand, like best friends who had known each other for a long time.
Fu Jue and Fu Linyue followed behind, carrying the bags. Fu Linyue wasn't so gentle with Fu Jue anymore, and asked in a serious tone:
"You've been gone for so long, and you've finally won her over. When are you coming back to work?"
Fu Jue refused without hesitation: "I don't want to go back. You're strong and healthy, you should be able to last another ten years without any problems."
Upon hearing this, Fu Linyue was annoyed with him, feeling somewhat disappointed and frustrated.
"Tianyi isn't some den of tigers and wolves, where one or two people are always thinking about running away."
Tao Zhizhi noticed that Fu Jue hadn't followed, so she smiled and turned around to wave.
Fu Jue was unwilling to continue the topic and quickly walked towards the two people in front of her.
"Let's talk about it later. We've only been together for a short time, and things are going well for us!"
Seeing the two of them so affectionate, as if they didn't want to leave each other for even a moment, Lin Jiao recalled the days when she was young and she was always inseparable from Fu Linyue, and sighed at how time had passed.
"Zhizhi, I have a full-face facial appointment soon, so I won't disturb your date."
Fu Linyue added from the side, "Yes, come visit us at home sometime."
Tao Zhizhi smiled and agreed. Fu Jue also said goodbye to the two of them perfunctorily, took Tao Zhizhi's hand, and turned to leave.
Feeling the person next to him instantly relax, Fu Jue chuckled:
"Is Zhizhi so nervous?"
Tao Zhizhi hugged his arm and acted coquettishly:
"Did I do well today? Uncle always had the same serious expression."
"Don't worry, he's always been a serious person, and he likes you a lot too."
Fu Jue looked pleased and proud: "Besides, my Zhizhi is so outstanding, if he doesn't like her, it means he has poor taste."
What are you doing—
"I'm not as good as you say."
This straightforward praise made Tao Zhizhi a little embarrassed.
The two left the mall and walked aimlessly like any other young couple you'd see.
Suddenly, she saw the wisteria wall that Tao Zhizhi remembered, but the flowering season had long passed, and only lush green leaves remained hanging on the wall.
"Have we come this far?!"
Looking at the gate of Qingshui No. 1 Middle School not far away, Tao Zhizhi couldn't help but feel nostalgic.
Fu Jue followed her gaze and saw students laughing and playing as they left the school gate one after another after school. He leaned down and said:
"Zhizhi, would you like to go inside and take a look?"
"I'd like to, but aren't outsiders not allowed in?"
Tao Zhizhi pursed her lips, looked up and met his gaze, hoping he would give her an answer.
He took out his phone and made a call. The person on the other end was obviously surprised by the call. In less than a minute, Fu Jue had finished talking with him and then led Tao Zhizhi toward the school gate.
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