"Husband, it's almost time for lunch, let's go make lunch!" Chen Xiaoru looked at the sky, turned to Song Zhe and said in a light voice with a hint of playfulness.
"Okay, I'll listen to you, my lady." Song Zhe smiled dotingly, gently scratched the tip of Chen Xiaoru's nose, his eyes so gentle that tears could drip out.
"Husband, you should just call me Xiaoru. I'm used to it." Chen Xiaoru pouted slightly, with a bit of coquettishness in her tone.
"Okay." Song Zhe followed suit, his voice low and magnetic.
The two walked into the kitchen side by side and saw Song's mother busy at the stove. Chen Xiaoru hurried forward and said apologetically, "Mom, you're back. I said I would make lunch!"
"It's okay, it's not a big deal. It's just a small job. Mom can do it in a moment." Song's mother didn't even turn her head. She stir-fried the vegetables in the pot with nimble hands and feet, and there was a hint of ease in her tone as if she was used to it.
"Mom, I'm fine now. I don't feel any discomfort anymore." Song Zhe walked to Song's mother's side, his voice loud and filled with joy that was hard to conceal.
Mother Song turned around abruptly, nearly dropping the spatula in her hand. She widened her eyes and looked Song Zhe up and down, her face filled with shock and disbelief: "Are you telling the truth?"
"Really." Song Zhe nodded vigorously, his mouth corners stretched into a bright smile.
"No, let's find a doctor after dinner to confirm it." Mother Song said with some concern.
"I think it's okay." Chen Xiaoru followed behind and nodded in agreement.
Song Qingqing stood up and ran to Song Zhe, looking up at her little face and asking in a clear voice, "Brother, is this true? That's great!"
Song Zhe touched Song Qingqing's head, and the smile on his face became even gentler: "Really, big brother is all right now."
"Brother, are you really well?" Song Qingshan heard this shocking news just as he stepped into the threshold. He paused, the muscles on his face twitched uncontrollably, his eyes widened like bells, and his voice changed a little.
"Well, it's okay, everything is okay." Song Zhe confirmed again, his voice steady and powerful, every word seemed to hit Song Qingshan's heart.
Song Qingshan couldn't hold it in any longer. He rushed to Song Zhe in two steps, hugged his waist, and buried his head in his chest like a child. His shoulders trembled violently, and a muffled voice with tears came out: "That's good, big brother, that's good..."
Song Zhe's body stiffened slightly, then relaxed. He gently patted Song Qingshan's back with his big hands, his eyes full of tenderness and pity.
"Okay, okay, it's all over."
He comforted softly, his voice low and magnetic, as if he was coaxing a frightened child.
Song Qingshan's emotions gradually calmed down. He raised his head, his eyes red, but he tried hard to force a smile:
"Brother, I'm just... so happy."
"I know, I know."
Song Zhe patted his shoulder with a firm look in his eyes, "From now on, our family will get better and better."
"Yeah!" Song Qingshan nodded vigorously, his eyes full of hope and longing.
The atmosphere at lunch was particularly warm. Mother Song kept picking up food for Song Zhe, her face filled with a happy smile. Song Qingqing also chattered non-stop, like a happy little bird.
Chen Xiaoru looked at Song Zhe tenderly. As for Xiaoyu, she ate quietly, but she was also very happy in her heart and smiled from time to time.
After dinner, Song's mother's face was still etched with lingering worry. Her weathered hands tightly grasped Song Zhe's arm, insisting that he be taken to the village doctor for another checkup. Song Zhe had no choice but to nod his head in agreement, unable to resist his mother's insistence.
Chen Xiaoru was cleaning up the dishes skillfully, but Song Qingqing was standing by, glancing at her with her big black eyes, her nose not a nose and her eyes not eyes.
Chen Xiaoru was puzzled. She didn't provoke her, so why was this girl so hostile to her?
Song Qingqing walked to Chen Xiaoru, suddenly snorted, turned around and left.
"Stop right there!"
Chen Xiaoru's eyebrows shot up, and her voice rose an octave. "What do you mean? I've only been in this family for a few days. You've disliked me since day one. How have I ever offended you?"
"Humph, I just hate you!"
Song Qingqing didn't even turn her head, left a word, and kept walking.
"Hey, this girl!" Chen Xiaoru shrugged indifferently. Then she thought, I'm not worth gold or silver, how can I expect everyone to like me? Never mind, let her be! She shook her head and continued to pack up.
"Sister, I like you." Xiaoyu ran to Chen Xiaoru with his short legs, hugged her thighs tightly, and said in a baby voice, his big watery eyes full of attachment.
Chen Xiaoru's heart softened instantly. She bent down, gently pinched Xiaoyu's chubby little face, and said softly:
"I like you too. Our Xiaoyu is so well-behaved and sensible, who wouldn't like him?" She picked up Xiaoyu and gently rubbed his little head with her forehead, her eyes full of doting.
Xiaoyu laughed like a silver bell, and her chubby little hands tightly hugged Chen Xiaoru's neck, rubbing her head in the crook of her neck like a coquettish little kitten.
"Sister, you are so nice." His voice was soft and had a sweet milky flavor.
Suddenly, the little fish seemed to remember something, twisted its body, struggled to get down, raised its little face, and said anxiously:
"Sister, put me down. I want to play with Brother Qingshan."
Chen Xiaoru gently put him on the ground and rubbed his little head lovingly: "Go, little clever boy!"
Chen Xiaoru quickly cleaned up the kitchen, moved a small stool and sat in the yard, quietly waiting for Song's mother and Song Zhe to come back.
"Host, a plot has been unlocked. Would you like to take a look?" The system asked cautiously, with a hint of flattery in its voice.
Chen Xiaoru was basking in the sun bored out of her mind. Upon hearing this, she lazily opened her eyes and said casually, "What's the plot? Tell me about it. If it's not interesting, I won't listen."
"Congratulations to the host for unlocking the male protagonist's poisoning plot, thereby unlocking the male protagonist Song Zhe's identity plot. It's guaranteed to be exciting!"
The system said quickly, with a hint of excitement in its voice.
"Oh?" Chen Xiaoru perked up. She sat up straight, her eyes narrowed slightly, flashing with gossip.
"The male protagonist, Song Zhe? What other hidden identities does he have? Tell us now, don't keep us in suspense!"
The system cleared its throat and began to narrate: "The protagonist, Song Zhe, was originally the son of Prince Pingyang. He suffered a great disaster at birth and was cruelly replaced by his wet nurse, who used her own son to steal his.
He originally wanted to kill him, but seeing how fragile he was in his cradle, he couldn't bring himself to do it. So he took him to Guiyang County, far from the capital, and left him on a busy street, hoping someone with good intentions would take him away.
"Wait, isn't this plot too melodramatic? A cat substituting for a prince?" Chen Xiaoru couldn't help but interrupt, her tone full of sarcasm.
The system chuckled and said, "Host, this is a classic scene that works every time! Please continue listening."
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