Chapter 14, Sister Gojo: At my age, I'm full of energy...
After speaking, she pretended to be nonchalant and went back to her room, leaving her father alone in the living room once again.
After his daughter left, Mr. Xu took out the leather shoes to try them on, and they fit him perfectly! He put on the new shoes, looked down at them from left to right, and was overwhelmed with emotion. He took out his phone to take pictures from the front, the side, and the box, and then posted them on WeChat Moments and in the family group chat, eager to tell everyone that Ayu had bought him new shoes.
Ah Yu peeked around the corner at her dad's happy expression as he put on the shoes. She was glad she had bought them; she knew he would like them. But she still felt a pang of regret when paying for them. Looking at the 2,000 yuan payment screen, she paid without hesitation. The happiness of buying a gift for a loved one always outweighs the reluctance.
Dad, I hope that when you wear the shoes that Ayu bought you, you will feel like you are bathed in a gentle breeze, even in the raging kitchen.
.
The following morning.
Dad is off work today, so he made breakfast for Yu Mian and the other person at home this morning and brought it to the store for the three of them to eat together.
He made savory shrimp porridge, saying he got up early in the morning to cook it, and it took him two hours. When it was served, Ah Yu was so tempted! She stirred it with a spoon, and exaggeratedly inhaled the rich aroma.
only……
The three of us ate together, and why does someone seem so well-behaved today?
She buried her head in her porridge, while secretly glancing at the person across the table.
This person was like a completely different person today. She was obediently drinking her porridge and talking back and forth with her father. She didn't seem like someone who owed her money at all.
Mr. Xu: “Classmate, Ayu has told us about your situation. I’ve already told her before that eating is just a matter of adding another pair of chopsticks, so please don’t feel awkward. Since your family is struggling financially, you can come here to eat every day. I’ll just cook according to Ayu’s taste, so please don’t mind if it’s not to your liking. If there’s anything you’d like to eat, you can tell me, and I’ll cook it for you next time I have time.”
Lin Xingmian was slightly taken aback, searching her memory for when he had ever mentioned that his family was in difficulty.
The memory search failed, but he didn't explain. What if he explained it and then Boss Xu wanted to fire him?
Lin Xingmian: "Thank you, Uncle. Your cooking is amazing. I bet there are always long lines at the restaurant where you work."
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhiyu was speechless.
Fish: No...?
She found it hard to believe that such words could come out of his mouth.
Mr. Xu: "Haha, you're so good at talking. Not at all. Looks like you're a good eater."
Lin Xingmian: "Thanks to my sister, uncle and aunt for taking care of me these past two days, I've gained weight when I weighed myself at home."
Mr. Xu: "It's good to be a little chubby. You're too thin, which is not good. You're more prone to illness... By the way, I heard from Ayu that you're in your second year of high school. How are your grades?"
Mian: "My grades are average. I don't know if it's because I ate the food my uncle cooked, but I improved a bit in the monthly exam a couple of days ago."
Ayu pouted and muttered as she interjected, "So-so? I heard those two girls yesterday say you have really good grades. So what scores are you getting now? What's your ranking in school? They said they saw you on the grade's honor roll, so you can't be too bad, right?"
Lin Xingmian said it was so-so, and Xu's father was too embarrassed to ask any more questions, but when he heard A Yu's addition, his eyes lit up and he stared at the boy curiously.
Well... since his sister has asked such a specific question, he couldn't be modest anymore.
Mian: "I used to score around 680 or 690 on previous tests, but since I started eating breakfast and dinner at the supermarket, I scored over 700 on the last monthly test. I've always been first in my grade, but I'm only in the top five in the whole province."
He specifically emphasized that he was able to score 700+ on the test "after eating at the supermarket".
"What??"
Ah Yu and Xu's father spoke in unison. Xu Zhiyu jumped up from her stool in shock, unable to believe her ears. "Say it again, what was your score??"
He didn't repeat it as she wished; instead, he tilted his head back, looked at his astonished sister, and smiled.
Looking at the boy again, Xu Zhiyu suddenly felt that he had become incredibly precious. She gasped, "My goodness, you're so amazing, are you aiming for Tsinghua or Peking University?"
When Xu's father first heard the score, he was shocked because it was the highest score ever achieved by the children of his friends. Ayu had always been quite outstanding. Back then, they had to choose between arts and sciences, and Ayu studied arts. He scored over 580 on the college entrance exam, which would get him into a good university. Many relatives came to congratulate him, saying that Ayu had the highest score among all the recent college entrance celebrations. At that time, his parents were overjoyed.
Hearing the boy's astonishing score, and hearing from Ayu that it was a score that would get him into Tsinghua or Peking University, Xu's father's expression suddenly became serious.
He paused for a moment, then said solemnly, "Since you are such a promising student, you can't let your grades be affected by not being able to keep up with your lifestyle. You should eat at the supermarket with Ayu every morning and evening. Ayu, if you are cooking for yourself, don't be too perfunctory. Make something nutritious."
Then he looked at Lin Xingmian and said, "The restaurant where I work is the Longfeng Chengxiang Restaurant, which is located to the left after you turn west at the end of Huainan Lane. If your school cafeteria doesn't serve good food at noon, or if your sister Ayu is too busy and you can't get a meal, come to the restaurant and give me a call in advance. I'll save some food for you. Child, you must keep up your hard work and good grades. I believe you will definitely have a bright future!"
Xu Zhiyu glanced at her father, then at the boy, and sat heavily back down on the stool, burying her head in her rice without saying a word.
She was a little jealous. Humph, anyone who didn't know better would think this kid was her son.
No one knows a daughter better than her father. Mr. Xu immediately noticed Ayu's little mood and gently patted his daughter's head.
Looking at the heartwarming scene before her, Xingmian had the illusion that she was also a part of it.
He looked at Ah Yu's sullen face, his eyes softened, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile:
"Thank you, Uncle." He paused, "And thank you, Sister."
Ah Yu: "Hmph."
Lin Xingmian thought to herself: Haha, cute.
.
After breakfast, the boy had already developed the habit of cleaning up the dishes on his own. His father tried to persuade him to do it, but ultimately couldn't win. Xu Zhiyu knew his temperament well; seeing the two arguing upstairs, she lazily said from downstairs:
"Dad, don't argue with him. That kid is incredibly stubborn. You probably don't know, but he's the one who trained me to open the shop every morning. Other supermarket owners think I suddenly took over their business, but actually? I come here every morning to make breakfast for him alone." She put her feet on the table, looked up at the sky, and picked her teeth with a toothpick. "Heh, isn't that funny?"
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Mr. Xu smiled and praised Lin Xingmian.
They say he's diligent, which has even motivated Ah Yu, a big lazybones, to be diligent; they say he not only has good grades, but he's also meticulous when washing dishes; they say he's not only good-looking, but he also speaks so pleasantly.
Xu Zhiyu, who was listening downstairs, grew increasingly angry. She rolled her eyes countless times: "Why don't you just let him be your son? You like him that much!"
Although it was a sarcastic joke, the person diligently washing the dishes was secretly delighted, as the words suited his taste perfectly.
After everything was in place, Lin Xingmian went to her tutoring classes as usual in the mornings and on Saturdays and Sundays, attending them in a massive, overwhelming manner.
Xu Zhiyu slumped in her chair and took a nap. Before going to sleep, she found a few tutorial videos for self-service payment machines and sent them to her father so he could learn them.
...
After waking up, she had lunch with her dad, tidied up her desk, and went home.
She found a black Chanel-style shimmering suit at home, put on a sophisticated makeup look, curled her chest-length hair into big, outward-curling waves with a curling iron, and changed into a pair of mid-length black Martin boots; her movements were very practiced, after all, when she was working at the company, her clothes were basically in this kind of formal and luxurious style.
I'm going to a coffee shop today, and since my blind date is a slightly older man, an outfit that's a bit more mature and sophisticated would be more appropriate.
While sitting in the car, the image of that young and beautiful girl kept flashing through her mind. At this moment, Ayu suddenly didn't understand why she had arranged to meet her blind date at a coffee shop in Xicheng last night.
She remembered the boy looking at the girl and saying that it was okay to be a little late, he would wait for her.
This was unlike his usual aloof and distant demeanor.
She's very gentle, isn't she?
What does this feel like?
She touched her chest. Why did it feel so... rough and sore? Was it... uncomfortable?
Strange, why do I feel uncomfortable?
Ayu shook her head, parted her hair in two and let it fall over her chest in front of the car's rearview mirror. Looking at her beautiful self in the mirror, she felt more confident and cheered herself up: Don't overthink it, Ayu. Do your best today, and you'll soon find sweet love!
.
This coffee shop in the west of the city has only been open for about a month, but it caused a sensation in Mushui City as soon as it opened.
Because "Yesterday's Lover" coffee shop is a national chain, it is generally more common in first-tier cities. In smaller cities like Mushui City, many people who worked hard in other places have returned to buy houses here due to the reconstruction of Xicheng. Some wealthy people who like to retire in small cities have also chosen to buy houses here, which has gradually raised the consumption level of Xicheng. As the name suggests, Mushui City has many mountains, rivers and trees, making it a scenic and pleasant place with a suitable climate.
She arrived five minutes earlier than expected. The seats at each table in the coffee shop were a bit high. She raised her chin slightly and scanned the room, her sharp eyes spotting the man in the white shirt at the table in the center of the hall.
Xu Zhiyu glanced at the man's clothes, counted the table number, and easily confirmed that it was her blind date, Li Tingyang.
However, she did not walk straight toward him, but stood still and continued to look out the window.
Her gaze swept across each table from front to back, and finally, at the last table by the window, she saw a familiar figure.
A note from the author:
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It's funny, the three musketeers who were active in the comments section have become four musketeers.
Pressing the scratching maniac - Xiaoxue
Gradually moved by the red envelopes—the bear-shaped biscuits
Every day, they travel from afar and arrive earlier and earlier—obsessed with novels.
A witty and insightful long-form commentary artist – Xi
There are also readers who silently water the plants with nutrient solution and a large number of readers who stay up late into the night.
Everyone here is so lovely and heartwarming. I don't know how long we can stay together, where you all come from, or where you're going, but I'm so glad we've been through this together!
This super funny and sentimental author is very grateful for everyone's company every day!
There's a lot of filler text during the serialization period, but I'll delete some of it when it's finished so it won't affect your reading experience. If you're saving up chapters to read, you can turn off the author's notes!
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