“Uhke, uhke.”
Sitting nearby, Shen Xi suddenly coughed.
Picking up on the noise, Shangguan Yanqiu nervously turned over to Shen Xi red in the face, violently gasping for air. With Shen Xi coughing to tears, Shangguan Yanqiu immediately handed her a glass of water and patted her back.
Yun Jinping ran over and together with Shangguan Yanqiu, began their rescue of Shen Xi choking on her food.
Shen Xi chugged down the water and hacked for a long time before she was able to settle down. She cleared her throat and said, “I’m okay. The chili got me.”
Yun Jinping and Shangguan Yanqiu sighed with relief before exchanging glances and smiles.
While the two of them were frantically taking care of Shen Xi, the rest of the group were on the edge of their seats as they observed what was happening. Yu Yuanxi was the exception as he looked at Fu Qingxuan. There was something bugging him.
Xixi was the one who was choking, so why was Fu Qingxuan coughing as well? Was there a catch in his throat since he went red in the face too?
Fu Qingxuan was baffled by what was going on. It might be because he could not handle the spiciness of the chili. He took another bite of food but found it hard to suppress the urge to hack it out. Still, he was better to ride it out as he did not want to invite attention to him like Meanie. Fu Qingxuan drank a glass of water to hold down the discomfort.
Yu Yuanxi observed Fu Qingxuan before turning to Shen Xi. He noticed the change in Shen Xi’s expression when Song Wenye and Madam Fu were talking about Mr. Xixi.
He was sure that Shen Xi was familiar with Mr. Xixi. Surely, Shen Xi was able to fulfill Madam Fu’s request to see Mr. Xixi easily.
However, the complicated look on Shen Xi’s face was rather puzzling.
After the meal, Shangguan Yanqiu excused herself along with Fu Qingxuan.
Yun Jinping called them back. “Madam Fu, if you don’t mind, you and Xuan are welcome at my place to stay when you’re in the capital. We have to give you a proper welcome.”
She remembered that Xixi stayed at the Fu residence in Vienna last year.
“Yes, yes. I’ll get Xixi to show you around. She has time now that it’s the summer holidays.” Shen Zhangqing dragged Shen Xi into this.
Shen Xi, “…”
She did not want to be showing them around!
Nevertheless, Shen Xi bit the bullet and bobbed her head with a smile as her eyes met with Shangguan Yanqiu’s gentle and expectant eyes. “My dad’s right. I have plenty of time. We’d gladly have you at our home.”
“Thank you for taking the trouble to host us.” Shangguan Yanqiu was not used to imposing. Yet right now, she wanted nothing more than to follow the family back to the capital.
“It’s no trouble at all.” Yun Jinping continued. “I’m grateful to Qingxuan and Qingye for taking care of Xixi when she went to Vienna last year.”
Shangguan Yanqiu had no idea about that. She let out a tender grin and nodded her head. “It’s only proper.”
Was Xixi in Vienna last year? She also wanted to head to Vienna at the end of last year but was stopped by Ye. Was he afraid that she would run into Xixi there?
After seeing Shangguan Yanqiu and Fu Qingxuan off, Song Wenye pulled Ruan Sisi to leave. “Mr. and Mrs. Shen, I’m going to hang around town with her since I’m new to the place.”
One to take the hint, Ruan Sisi knew that she should give the family some space. She nodded her head and left Song Wenye to drag her away.
Once at the lift, Ruan Sisi pulled away and gazed at Song Wenye. “Are you trying to be my teacher’s in-law?”
Song Wenye spoke her mind, “None of your d*mn business!”
Ruan Sisi retorted, “My teacher’s business is my business. There’s just something by the way you’re looking at my teacher’s brother.”
Flushed in the face, Song Wenye pointed at her and gave a warning. “Show me some respect. I’m your teacher’s bestest, bestest, best friend. You better watch it or I might just get you thrown out.”
Ruan Sisi had no fear as she sized Song Wenye up before forcefully uttering, “I don’t see why you can’t be my teacher’s in-law.”
Song Wenye could flip her top. She peevishly howled, “F*ck! I’m not!”
Did Xixi pick up a dummy on the streets to be her student?
Turning a deaf ear to her words, Ruan Sisi held Song Wenye’s arm and proudly announced, “I should show you around since you’re my teacher’s in-law. I should tell you that I live here so I’m familiar with every inch of this place. Do you have a place to stay? You can’t stay with my teacher’s brother yet. How about you staying at my place?”
Song Wenye rolled her eyes. She could overlook the matter seeing that Ruan Sisi was hospitable and her junior in rank.
Nevertheless, Song Wenye must admit that Ruan Sisi’s personality was agreeable and to her liking. Ruan Sisi was not fake or pretentious and in fact, rather plain-spoken, albeit a bit off in the head.
That night, Shen Xi received a call from Ruan Sisi, saying that she brought Song Wenye to her home. She asked if they wanted to stay at her house since it was huge.
Shen Xi took a glance at her family getting together before shaking her head. “No, you two should have fun.”
With Ruan Sisi and Song Wenye having similar characters, the pair went well together. They would enjoy each other’s company.
Shen Xi’s family booked a two-bedroom family suite at a hotel. Yu Yuanxi and Shen Zhangqing shared one room while Shen Xi, Yun Jinping, and Granny Yu shared the other.
Yun Jinping and Shen Xi slept in one bed, leaving the single bed to Granny Yu. Thus began a light conversation once the lights went out.
Granny Yu told them stories of Yu Yuanxi’s younger days. After several hours on the plane, the weary elder was soon found dozing off to dreamland.
It had been some time since Shen Xi shared a bed with Yun Jinping. She nestled and snuggled up against Yun Jinping, softly mumbling, “Mom, this is nice.”
“Yes.” Yun Jinping patted her back with a smile before dotingly kissing her on the forehead. She tenderly said, “Don’t stay up if you’re tired.”
“Good night.” Holding her tight, Shen Xi closed her eyes.
Yun Jinping gazed at her daughter with a warm and happy smile across her lips. This was wonderful. What was better than having all her children by her side, a loving husband, and peace in life? She had nothing more to ask of life, feeling so blessed.
The next day, Song Wenye left on the first flight to get to her next project while Shen Xi’s family and Granny Yu had lunch with Yu Yuanxi before making a move back to the capital.
Fu Qingxuan and Shangguan Yanqiu went to the capital the following day and paid the family a visit.
Although Shen Xi was not at home, Yun Jinping and Granny Yu were around. They zealously welcomed them.
Fu Qingxuan was bored as he was out of place with the three women chatting away at home. Watching Toffeecito running off to the courtyard, he quickly followed closely. Like the wind, Toffeecito climbed up the wall and meowed at the other side. The soft and young meow could make hearts melt.
He followed the cat up the wall when the neighbor’s door was pushed open and out came Li Yuan wheeling himself without looking at the wall.
“Hey.” Fu Qingxuan looked around. Unable to spot Shen Xi, he called Li Yuan.
Li Yuan finally tilted his head and glanced at him with aloof eyes that reflected danger and disregard. He then pushed his wheelchair toward the living room.
Toffeecito had leaped down and jumped onto Li Yuan’s lap. Rubbing its furry head against his hand, it purred for attention.
“Hey.” Fu Qingxuan called to him once more. He would not bother casting Li Yuan a glance if he was not looking for Meanie and Uncle Jin Yu. “Is Uncle Jin Yu around?”
