Xu Manman, who was checked by Xiao Jin every day, was very sure that there was nothing wrong with her body. "I'm fine, cousin, I have something to ask you."
"Well, you ask." Chen Ming agreed, but still took out the ginger from the cabinet by the door.
"Cousin, I said I don't have a fever. There's no need to make ginger soup." Xu Manman saw the ginger in Chen Ming's hand and decided to solve this problem first.
Chen Ming frowned and looked at the old ginger in his hand, feeling a little unwilling, but seeing his cousin's face full of resistance, he chose to compromise and put the ginger back.
"Manman, what did you want to ask just now? Ask it."
The topic suddenly changed, and Xu Manman didn't react for a moment. "I want to ask... Oh, I just want to ask, cousin, why don't you go out and play with your classmates this semester? Or invite your classmates to your house."
Chen Ming didn't expect his cousin to ask this. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "I've already told them... everything I need to say at school. There's no need to get together outside of school, and everyone is pretty busy."
Having said that, "What about Zhou Ming? You can go play with him when you have time."
Hearing Zhou Ming's name, Chen Ming thought Xu Manman wanted to play with Liu Li. "His wife is...not convenient to go out right now, how about I take you to the compound to find her?"
Xu Manman didn't want to go out. "I want to say, cousin, you don't have to watch over me all day. I stay at home because I don't want to go out. If you have friends, go out and play with them as soon as possible. You don't have to watch over me all day long."
Chen Ming subconsciously wanted to refute, "I didn't..." Seeing his cousin staring at him, Chen Ming sighed inwardly.
"It's not entirely because of you that I don't go out. There's really no need to go out right now. My friends in Beijing, besides my classmates, are Zichu and Zhou Ming's family. As for classmates, as I just said, communication at school is enough.
I see Zichu every day, and we talk about anything that happens. As for Zhou Ming, it is indeed not very convenient for them to go out due to their family's current situation.
So, Manman, don't think too much, I know what's going on."
"Okay, but cousin, I still have to tell you that if you have something to do, you can go out and don't worry about me all day. I don't go out because I simply don't like going out. It's fine to stay at home, and you don't have to worry about my safety."
"Okay, okay, I got it."
Having said that, neither of them left the house that day.
However, the straightforward chat that day did have some effect. Two days later, Chen Ming asked her for leave at noon. "There is a class activity at noon today. I have to go back to school after lunch."
"Okay. I'll go back to school by myself when the time comes." Xu Manman agreed readily.
Chen Ming was still a little worried, but Jin Zichu said, "It's okay, Brother Ming, you go back first. I'll take Xu back to school later."
"Okay. Thanks for the trouble, Zichu."
Xu Manman was speechless. It was really unnecessary. It was only a few steps away. She usually came this way. Why didn’t it work today?
However, it was rare for her cousin to act alone, and Xu Manman didn't want him to worry, so she nodded obediently, "Cousin, don't worry and go back. I'll have Comrade Zichu take me there later."
After Chen Ming quickly finished his meal and left, Xu Manman's shoulders slumped. "Xiao Jin, tell me, isn't my cousin overreacting?"
Jin Zichu picked up a piece of pork ribs for Xu Manman and said, "Brother Ming is worried about you. Since you went to the countryside, it's not an exaggeration to say that you two have been dependent on each other. At that time, the countryside was remote, but the range of activities was limited. Brother Ming was worried, but there was only so much he could do.
After taking the college entrance examination, I returned to the city and lived in the school, which was fine. We were all in the same area anyway, so as long as I didn't leave the school, it wasn't a big problem.
But this semester you and Brother Ming have moved out. Although your living comfort has improved, the potential uncontrollable dangers have actually increased. It's no wonder Brother Ming overreacted. He's really like both a father and a mother now."
Xu Manman frowned and poked at the ribs in the bowl. "I know the truth, but I just want him to feel a little relieved. I'm not his cousin's responsibility. There's no need to keep me on his shoulders."
Jin Zichu moved the bowl of rice that the host had poked beyond recognition and replaced it with a new bowl of rice. "Take your time. Give Brother Ming some time to adapt."
"Okay."
"Let's eat first. Today's spare ribs are steamed with fermented black beans. Try it and see if it's tasty." Jin Zichu picked up another piece of spare ribs and put it over.
Xu Manman finally noticed the dish and picked it up and stuffed it into her mouth. "Hmm... delicious." It was soft and tasty, and it fell off the bone with a single sip.
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