Zhou Jinshan entered the Feng family home, took the hot tea handed to him by Wang Ma with both hands, thanked her, put it on the tea table, and then sat up straight with his hands on his knees.
"Will you be my brother-in-law?" Xiaomingxue leaned closer and looked him up and down curiously.
Before Zhou Jinshan could answer, Xiao Mingyu snorted, "He's not, my sister said he isn't."
Facing the hostile little boy, Zhou Jinshan forced a smile and nodded, saying, "Not yet."
"Not anymore, hmph!" Xiao Mingyu proudly raised his chin.
Zhou Jinshan didn't take the little boy's provocation to heart, nor did he try to coax the boy into accepting him; all his attention was focused on the end of the corridor ahead.
At the end is the study.
Inside the study.
Looking at her daughter sitting opposite her but turning her face away, Yu Jingqiu poured a cup of hot water and pushed it towards her: "Zhuzhu, drink a cup of water to warm up before you get angry."
"Mom," Feng Mingshu couldn't hold back any longer and turned to face her, "You know I'm angry, so why did you still tell everyone he's my boyfriend?"
Yu Jingqiu smiled gently and said, "Because he helped you, and Mom also thinks he's a good person, I think you two can try to get to know each other."
"Mom, you only see his good side, you don't know how awful he is."
“At yesterday’s social gathering, I didn’t want to talk to him at all, but he insisted on taking me home, and in the evening he even took my water bottle.”
"And tonight, he clearly had more ways to help me, but he chose to announce to the public that he was my boyfriend. He was forcing me, he was being a scoundrel!" Feng Mingshu was still angry. Only in front of her mother could she freely vent her dissatisfaction and grievances.
Yu Jingqiu listened quietly, her eyes gentle and understanding: "Zhuzhu, the kettle last night was prepared for him by you. It was certainly impolite for him to take it, but it also proved his keen observation skills. As for tonight, he certainly had many ways to resolve the situation, but it would inevitably leave behind some trouble. And by declaring himself your boyfriend, he not only washes away the mud that outsiders have thrown at you, but also protects you. His military officer status can shield you from all those gossips."
After listening to her mother's analysis, Feng Mingshu was stunned.
"Zhuzhu, you are not a child who acts on impulse. Have you thought carefully about the reasons for your unusual behavior these past two days?" Yu Jingqiu gently reminded her.
"What's wrong with me?" Feng Mingshu was inexplicably nervous. She was afraid that her mother would find out that she had once had the idea of dragging someone down with her, although she had later given up on it.
Yu Jingqiu squeezed her hand and comforted her, "Zhuzhu, don't think so much. I'm just asking you, do you really hate that Comrade Zhou? If you really can't stand it, I'll go out and kick him out right now."
Seeing her mother get up to chase him away, Feng Mingshu couldn't sit still any longer and grabbed her: "Mom, he helped me, it's not right to just chase him away, is it?" She would feel guilty.
Yu Jingqiu immediately smiled: "Okay, I won't kick him out. You can go out and talk to him. If you get along well, then you can get along; if not, Mom will send some gifts to thank him for his chivalrous help tonight."
Why can't we just give a gift directly?
Feng Mingshu wanted to ask, but when she met her mother's gentle gaze, she gave up again.
Oh well, let's just consider it another formality.
"Big brother, my sister is out."
As soon as the study door opened, Xiao Mingxue, who had been waiting in the hallway, immediately ran happily to the living room to report the news.
Zhou Jinshan nodded his thanks to the little girl, then quickly stood up, standing as straight as a pine tree, like a soldier waiting for his commander's inspection.
Feng Mingshu: "..."
Yu Jingqiu smiled warmly and gestured with her hand: "Xiao Zhou, don't be nervous, sit down."
Zhou Jinshan respectfully greeted her as "Auntie," but did not sit down. He turned his gaze to Feng Mingshu, as if waiting for her instructions.
Feng Mingshu said irritably, "Just sit down, I'll sit down."
A smile appeared in Zhou Jinshan's eyes, and he gestured, "Please sit down first."
Feng Mingshu: "..."
Is this person planning to turn the tables and take control?
"Why don't you sit down, sister?" Xiaomingxue asked innocently. "Big brother is waiting."
"Feng Mingxue, which side are you on?" Xiao Mingyu shouted in dissatisfaction.
"I'm from the older brothers' and sisters' side," Xiaomingxue said with a grin.
"You two stop being naughty and come upstairs with Mom." Yu Jingqiu called the twins upstairs and then instructed Feng Mingshu, "Zhuzhu, stay here and greet the guests."
Feng Mingshu had no choice but to agree.
She took a deep breath and went to the table. She saw that Zhou Jinshan's teacup was full, but the water had gone cold. She reached out to take it and said, "I'll get you a new cup."
"No need, this is fine with me."
Zhou Jinshan moved swiftly, touching the teacup at the same time as Feng Mingshu, their fingertips brushing together.
Feng Mingshu quickly withdrew his hand, causing the cup to wobble slightly, but the man's large hand swiftly caught it. Water spilled onto his hand, but he didn't care, tilting his head back and gulping it down. His sharp Adam's apple bobbed up and down, displaying his strength.
Realizing that her gaze was fixed on the wrong spot, Feng Mingshu quickly looked away, took out a handkerchief, and handed it to her: "Wipe your hands."
After Zhou Jinshan finished his tea and put down his teacup, a plain handkerchief was handed to him. However, the girl didn't even look at him, so Zhou Jinshan shook his hand away and said, "I don't need handkerchiefs, you can take them back."
Feng Mingshu saw a few water droplets fly out and turned her gaze back in surprise. She saw the man quickly wipe his right hand on his sleeve, leaving a wet stain.
Zhou Jinshan suddenly realized something and asked somewhat awkwardly, "Do you think I'm not very particular?"
"No." Feng Mingshu looked away and put the handkerchief into her pocket.
In her previous life, she spent fifteen years on a farm, where she couldn't be particular about her lifestyle even if she wanted to. Now that she's back to eighteen, she has the means to be particular about her own lifestyle, but she won't criticize other people's habits.
"I will try my best to change in the future," Zhou Jinshan said.
Feng Mingshu was taken aback when she heard this. She looked up and saw that he was serious, so she realized that he was not lying. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
"I forgot to take the water bottle you gave me yesterday when I went out. I only have a bag of chocolate in my pocket. If you don't mind, you can try some."
As Zhou Jinshan spoke, he took out the package of gifts from his pocket, which was "paid for by the political commissar and delivered by Zhai Qingping," and handed it over.
Feng Mingshu paused for a moment. When she was a child, she learned a foreign language from a foreign teacher, who told her that chocolate represents love in Western countries.
She couldn't help but ask, "Why did you give me this?"
Zhou Jinshan was taken aback by the question, then honestly replied, "This candy is rare. I thought you might like it, so I brought it to you."
He added, "If you don't like this, just tell me what you like, and I'll bring it to you next time."
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