After a moment, he looked away.
“You weren’t home this afternoon. Li Shuhe came by and said she’d come early tomorrow morning to pick up the pastries, the same amount as yesterday, for gifting.”
Chen Ji told her exactly what had happened, his hands moving without stopping, and quickly set out the bowls and chopsticks.
Xu Ruantang nodded. "Okay, I understand."
If it's for a gift, an oil paper package is too simple. She remembers that there's a type of pastry in Beijing that comes in a special paper box.
It seems that developing gift box packaging is also a viable option.
But these days, packaging isn't so easy to buy, so I gave up on the idea.
The two sat down to eat together, seemingly for the first time, as it was just the two of them at home.
There's usually a little dumpling next to me, even though they can't understand what the adults are saying, or they're often asleep.
But whether she's there or not makes a big difference.
At least that's what Xu Ruantang thinks.
Xu Ruantang wasn't hungry, so Chen Ji served her a large bowl of rice, but she didn't eat it. Instead, she took another empty bowl and filled it with a little rice to put at the bottom.
She was counting grains of rice when Chen Ji's gaze swept over her. "What are your requirements?"
Xu Ruantang paused, "Huh?"
Chen Ji knew in his heart that this woman was far smarter than she appeared most of the time. But occasionally, she would react extremely slowly, a typical case of being shrewd in important matters but muddle-headed in trivial ones.
He used to think that her being oblivious to small things was just an act, but over time he realized it wasn't.
“You just said you could come home with me, but there’s one condition,” Chen Ji explained patiently.
"right."
If Chen Ji hadn't mentioned it, she would have almost forgotten, since this person had been doing laundry and changing the subject.
She's probably been too tired lately; she seems to be forgetting things a lot.
Xu Ruantang propped her head up with one hand, thought for a moment, and said, "My request is very simple: you must be honest with me during my stay at your house."
Honesty means that if he has any doubts about her, he can ask her directly.
"Whether it's your family background, who's in your family, or what you think of me, or how you need me to cooperate with you, you have to tell me directly."
I dislike beating around the bush; I believe in being open and honest in my dealings with others, so mutual trust is essential between us.
Xu Ruantang racked her brains to think of the right words. She believed that Chen Ji was so smart that he wouldn't not understand what she was saying.
She knew he was suspicious, but she hadn't done anything wrong, so why should she live in constant fear?
She's not afraid of being investigated, she's just afraid of being misunderstood. After all, this era is too sensitive, and there are some things that she can't explain with just her words!
But living here in constant fear is not her style, nor does she want to continue living like that.
Chen Ji's eyes flickered slightly, and his fingers tightened around the chopsticks. "Okay, you eat first, and I'll tell you everything after you finish eating."
"Okay, you go ahead and eat. I'm not very hungry; I'm almost full."
Xu Ruantang has been deliberately eating more lately, but her stomach is only so big. Eating too much makes her feel bloated and uncomfortable.
The two chatted casually. "They said you graduated from Tsinghua University?"
"Yes, recommended by the military."
"You're really amazing."
Chen Ji's expression was indifferent. "It doesn't matter if I didn't take the exam myself."
Xu Ruantang shook her head in disapproval, "This courtyard is so big, and you were the only one recommended. How can you not count?"
After she finished speaking, she laughed first.
Chen Ji's eyes shone with a gentle light, and he did not refute.
"What kind of wine is this?"
Xu Ruantang's gaze fell on the wine bottle on the table. She picked it up and placed it next to Chen Ji. "I drank the wine in your study yesterday. This is to return it to you."
Chen Ji's eyes darkened. "You've been drinking?"
Xu Ruantang held up two fingers and pinched them together, "Just a little bit."
The two sat facing each other. She leaned forward and looked at Chen Ji's handsome and sculpted face. Her voice was soft and pleasant: "Chen Ji, I've noticed that I don't sleepwalk after drinking. Even when you're not here, I don't go to sleep in your bed."
Those bright eyes were fixed on Chen Ji's face, unyielding, with a faint smile on their lips.
"Don't drink anymore. Sleepwalking is nothing, but alcohol is bad for your health." Chen Ji leaned back calmly, his gaze slightly shifted, and picked up the water next to him to take a sip.
"All right."
Xu Ruantang sat back down, her mind filled with doubt.
Is she really overthinking things?
After dinner, she went to wash the dishes, and Chen Ji went into the bathroom. When he came out, he was holding a hot towel.
"come over."
Chen Ji pulled her to sit down on the sofa, then looked down and lifted her left hand. "It's a little hot, try it."
He tested the temperature in the bathroom, but still asked a question. After all, he felt his skin was tough, and Xu Ruantang's wrists looked so thin, with fair and delicate skin; he might not be able to withstand it.
"Tsk, thank you."
Xu Ruantang grimaced, but she didn't refuse the other person's good intentions. Why didn't she think of applying heat to her wrist?
It's quite comfortable.
"From now on, you'll sleep in the bed, and I'll sleep on the floor."
As Chen Ji was saying this, he was about to stand up when Xu Ruantang said calmly, "We'll talk about it later. My godmother and Xiaobao aren't here tonight, so I'll sleep in their room."
Upon hearing this, Chen Ji sat back down on the sofa.
Xu Ruantang asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"
"Let's chat." Chen Ji sat up straight, looking like he was having a formal meeting. "My grandfather is Chen Qinian. He has two sons. The eldest is my father, Chen Lin, and the second is my second uncle, Chen Gang."
You met my eldest brother and sister-in-law yesterday. My second uncle doesn't live in Beijing, but my second aunt is staying at our house. You've also met my grandmother.
Xu Ruantang: "......"
She was about to ask Chen Ji why he was telling her all this when she suddenly remembered that she had asked him to tell her who her family was.
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