Does Yan Wei have any misconceptions about this society?
Zhou Qiaoqiao felt a strong sense of responsibility to help him dispel this misconception. So, Zhou Qiaoqiao explained, “Everyone in the shop is busy in the morning, they won’t give us a seat, they need to keep it available for customers. Besides, even when it’s not busy, they still won’t give us a seat.”
Yan Wei smiled at her and said, “It’s okay, I understand.”
Zhou Qiaoqiao blinked her eyes and seeing that Yan Wei didn’t say anything more, she stopped talking as well. After all, she really wanted to eat the buns from this place, and it would be fine to buy them and eat them on the side of the road!
Zhou Qiaoqiao waited at the entrance while Yan Wei went inside with two bags. One bag contained two cups of soy milk, and the other bag had the buns and pastries.
Zhou Qiaoqiao followed him eagerly, saying, “Yan Wei, I’ve been thinking, let’s go home and eat instead!”
Yan Wei paused for a moment, but considering the back and forth time, he decided to take her to a nearby chain restaurant—a Hong Kong-style tea restaurant. This place had higher prices, so no one would come here early in the morning. Yan Wei took Zhou Qiaoqiao inside, and since there were no customers in the morning, there was no dedicated reception at the entrance.
But there was a girl sitting at the cash register. The air conditioning was on, making it cool and pleasant. Yan Wei led Zhou Qiaoqiao to a table by the window and then went to the counter to talk to the girl, probably about the seating arrangement.
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Hbsw Ckysikys oyvnble bkp qktwal yde qsa psxl alypsd, pbl qlzv vbyv vbkp xyvvla oswze elqkdkvlzu cl alpszhle.
Ebld Zyd Elk alvwadle, bl pxkzle yv Hbsw Ckysikys yde pyke, “Nlv’p lyv! Fbl pyke ol nyd pkv blal.”
Zyd Elk pyv esod, yde dsv zsdt yqvla, y oykvla nyxl swv nyaaukdt vos tzypplp sq zlxsd oyvla. Ekvb y rszkvl pxkzl sd bkp qynl, bl pyke vs vbl vos sq vblx, “Mblpl yal nsxrzkxldvp qasx swa alpvywaydv. Odfsu.”
Hbsw Ckysikys oyvnble vbl oykvla zlyhl yde lmnzykxle, “Ebyv y jkde rlapsd!”
Zyd Elk oyp vyjld ycynj, vbld nbwnjzle psqvzu. Pke pbl xlyd vbl oykvla obs caswtbv vblx psu xkzj?
G jkde rlapsd? Eblal yal vblal ps xydu jkde rlsrzl, nskdnkeldvyzzu awddkdt kdvs vblx? Hbsw Ckysikys oyp ynvwyzzu aktbv. Gv vbkp vkxl qsa calyjqypv, xspv sq vbl alpvywaydv plyvp yal yzalyeu snnwrkle. Eblal oswze vblu qkde plyvp qsa kezl rlsrzl? Ohld kd y alpvywaydv zkjl vbkp, obknb oypd’v cwpu, vblu oswzed’v fwpv zlv vblx pkv okvbswv ydu alypsd.
Zyd Elk wdelapvsse vbkp alypsdkdt. Tl dlhla kdvldele vs byhl Hbsw Ckysikys pkv okvbswv ydu ralryayvksdp. Mblal oyp yzoyup y nsaalprsdekdt nspv qsa vbkdtp.
Wsa lmyxrzl, obld bl oldv wr vs vyzj vs vbl tkaz, bl ryke vs alplahl y plyv.
The girl agreed and even wanted to send some food over.
You see, it’s actually not that difficult as long as you know how to do it.
Yan Wei helped Zhou Qiaoqiao insert the straw and handed it to her. Zhou Qiaoqiao reached out and took it. She took a sip first and then exclaimed, “Yan Wei, it’s delicious.”
Yan Wei nodded, opened the bag of steamed buns, and placed it in front of her. Zhou Qiaoqiao gave Yan Wei a bun, and Yan Wei took it. Then Zhou Qiaoqiao took a bun for herself and took a bite.
The meat juice immediately filled every corner of her mouth. Zhou Qiaoqiao said with delight, “So much soup.”
Yan Wei, who glanced at the introduction when buying the buns, explained, “They added some pork jelly inside.”
Zhou Qiaoqiao took another sip and said, “Expensive things do have their reasons. The filling they added tastes especially delicious.”
Seeing her enjoy the food, Yan Wei smiled and took a bite of the bun in his hand. The soup wasn’t excessive, but there was more compared to other steamed buns. The filling was also savory and tasty, leaving a lingering aftertaste with just one bite.
The soy milk was freshly ground and had a pure and rich flavor with some added white sugar.
After the two finished eating, they cleaned up the trash and threw it into the nearby trash can. When they were leaving, Zhou Qiaoqiao also said goodbye to the cashier, who had a very pleasant temperament. Even though they were just sitting in and not ordering much, they still received warm hospitality. As they left, the cashier had a smile on her face and said, “Come again next time.”
Zhou Qiaoqiao thought that she would definitely come back to repay their kindness next time.
After the two left, the cashier quickly messaged in the work group, saying, “They’re gone, hurry up and clean up.”
Soon, two waiters came out from the back, one wiping the tables and the other emptying the trash.
One of them envied, “They’re definitely rich! We don’t understand the world of wealthy people.”
The other one commented, “They reserved a table early in the morning, didn’t eat or drink much, and just gave 500 yuan for nothing. Tsk tsk…”
The cashier opened the cash drawer, counting the spare change, and said, “The world of wealthy people has all sorts of lifestyles. We should just live our own simple lives.”
The two waiters smiled and said, “That’s true.”
Of course, this was just an interesting conversation in the restaurant.
So, time passed through August, and Zhou Qiaoqiao and Yan Wei’s relationship grew closer. They lived leisurely in this hazy and sweet love, cherishing each day.
This was the kind of life Zhou Qiaoqiao had longed for, not dwelling on the past sorrows or worrying about the future, just living an ordinary life, appreciating the little things in life.
Of course, this was also the kind of life Yan Wei had hoped for, being able to eat, sleep, and have a confidant by his side.
Neither of them had big aspirations; they simply wanted a stable life. So, in this repetitive and ordinary life, they both found great satisfaction.
On Teacher’s Day, Zhou Qiaoqiao’s father, Zhou Yingjie, who had been absent for a long time, finally reappeared.
He first called Zhou Qiaoqiao, but she didn’t answer, so he sent her a voice message.
Zhou Qiaoqiao was cooking in the kitchen while Yan Wei was setting the table when Zhou Ying
jie’s message came in. Yan Wei glanced at the phone and saw the words “Dog Dad” written on it.
Yan Wei: “…”
Zhou Qiaoqiao came out and saw Yan Wei looking at the phone speechlessly. She asked, “What’s wrong?”
Yan Wei said, “It’s your dad’s call.”
Zhou Qiaoqiao made a sound and took the phone to play the voice message. She heard Zhou Yingjie’s elderly voice coming from inside, saying, “Qiaoqiao, it’s Mid-Autumn Festival. Come back this year to have a meal.”
Without any inquiries, it was just an ordinary instruction.
Zhou Qiaoqiao listened and replied, “I’m busy, oh!”
On the other side, Zhou Yingjie seemed to be waiting for a response and quickly sent another message saying, “It’s a statutory holiday, where do you have no time? Come back quickly. Your matters were mentioned on TV, and I haven’t settled the score with you yet!”
“In that case, I’m even busier, oh!” Zhou Qiaoqiao replied, pouting.
Yan Wei saw that Zhou Qiaoqiao was not happy and asked her, “Why don’t you go back?”
Zhou Qiaoqiao sighed and said, “I don’t fit in there. That family belongs to my dad, his wife, and their family. But it doesn’t matter, I don’t like it there anyway!”
Yan Wei lowered his gaze, his beautiful and distinct fingers held a bowl, and the white rice grains were shining and exuded an enticing aroma. Yan Wei held chopsticks in his other hand, and his graceful movements exuded a refined elegance that others lacked.
Yan Wei asked her, “Did you not go back last year either?”
Zhou Qiaoqiao nodded and said, “Yeah, I don’t really live in that house.”
Zhou Qiaoqiao had long ceased to feel sad or upset about these matters, nor did she have high hopes for sympathy. She was already 24 years old, and she knew what her future life would be like since she was 12.
If she could find someone to accompany her for a lifetime, there would inevitably be ups and downs and quarrels throughout their lives.
If she couldn’t find such a person, she didn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps. The harm her father had caused her made her prefer to live her life alone. So, this kind of life would probably be like a rocking chair, a cup of floral tea, a folding fan, a sense of loneliness, and that’s how her lifetime would pass.
Yan Wei didn’t specifically mention proposing to Zhou Qiaoqiao today. Of course, he also thought about grand gestures with flowers, love vows, getting down on one knee, diamond rings, and blessings from family and friends. He had everything prepared perfectly, just like those videos online where rich people could play all kinds of tricks.
But Yan Wei didn’t attach much importance to these formalities. He just felt that what others had, his Qiaoqiao should also have. However, sometimes, you feel like the time and opportunity are right, and you should just say it.
Yan Wei was an investor, and many times he couldn’t obtain more information, relying solely on his intuition and a feeling.
For example, now, although Zhou Qiaoqiao’s words were simple, Yan Wei knew the meaning behind them. He wanted to give her a home, a home that belonged to the two of them.
They had nothing, no flowers, no rings, no relatives, no blessings. Just a dining table, a dinner, and in their hands were chopsticks. But Yan Wei felt that he was ready. He could support a family and shoulder this responsibility.
The surging emotions and love in his heart made him blurt out, “Qiaoqiao, I’m serious. We’ve known each other for 4 and a half months.”
Zhou Qiaoqiao looked at him with her large and bright eyes, and Yan Wei’s heart melted under her gaze. He didn’t have any other thoughts. He just wanted her to belong to him completely. He said, “I want to spend 9 yuan with you.”
Zhou Qiaoqiao: “???”
Yan Wei saw her innocent and bewildered expression and smiled, saying, “I’m proposing, Qiaoqiao.”
Zhou Qiaoqiao: “!!!”
Zhou Qiaoqiao was startled for a moment, then realized that it referred to the 9 yuan for marriage registration. Her unique thought process took another turn, and she said, “Yan Wei, getting registered doesn’t cost money now.”
Yan Wei: “…”
Zhou Qiaoqiao said, “Jiamin said the government is promoting free marriage registrations.”
Yan Wei: “…”
Zhou Qiaoqiao continued, “I think it’s because there are fewer newborns now.”
Yan Wei was finally led astray and said, “So, do you think people would go register just for those 9 yuan?”
Zhou Qiaoqiao thought for a moment and laughed, saying, “That’s impossible, hahaha…”
“It’s free because the country has money now. Also, Qiaoqiao, do you know what I’m doing? You’re avoiding me.” Whenever Yan Wei brought up this topic, Zhou Qiaoqiao would easily lead him in another direction.
Yan Wei always went along with her. If she didn’t want to talk about it, he wouldn’t push. But today, Yan Wei didn’t want to waste any more time. He wanted to propose seriously, and her answer wouldn’t change his determination to be with her. If she refused, he would wait.
His life had been 30 years, as if these 30 years were spent waiting for Zhou Qiaoqiao to appear and complete the missing pieces in his life. He didn’t mind waiting another 30 years.
“Sure!”
Zhou Qiaoqiao’s voice was sweet and tender, bringing a sense of joy to anyone who heard it. This “sure” not only carried her unique charm but also conveyed a straightforward decisiveness.
Yan Wei was initially taken aback. He had prepared some other topic to divert the conversation if Zhou Qiaoqiao didn’t agree.
However, this answer came too suddenly, and he didn’t even have time to be happy.
Zhou Qiaoqiao’s voice came again, “Today happens to be Teacher’s Day, so it’ll be easy to remember our engagement anniversary.”
Yan Wei: “…” Well, the excitement couldn’t be contained.
Seeing Yan Wei’s silence, Zhou Qiaoqiao frowned and asked, “Why aren’t you saying anything? You’re not joking, are you?”
Yan Wei looked at her, suddenly smiled, and reached out to ruffle her hair. Zhou Qiaoqiao’s hair had grown to her neck, so Yan Wei gave her a bob cut. Her new fluffy hair felt comfortable as he ran his fingers through it.
“I’m serious, I just didn’t expect you to agree.” Although the reason sounded silly, Yan Wei felt that way.
With her hair tousled by him, Zhou Qiaoqiao’s heart was also in disarray. She pouted and said, “I’m serious too! I didn’t agree on a whim.”
Yan Wei stood up and walked to her side. He half-knelt in front of her, looking up at her and said, “Qiaoqiao, you’re serious, and I’m glad. But I apologize for such a rash proposal.”
Zhou Qiaoqiao shook her head. She didn’t want the ceremony; she wanted sincerity. Of course, some people might say that only someone sincere would go through such trouble for you. How could someone who didn’t care show true feelings?
But Zhou Qiaoqiao also knew that Yan Wei was sincere, and he did care.
“I don’t need all that. Yan Wei, what I want is days like we have together—simple and ordinary, with the essentials of life. My mom and dad were like that before, but then my dad became wealthy, and he wanted more.” Zhou Qiaoqiao reached out and caressed Yan Wei’s face, saying, “I’m bad for feeling this way, but I’m actually glad you were kicked out, so you can only be with me.”
This was the first time Yan Wei heard Zhou Qiaoqiao express her feelings so openly. There was an overwhelming impulse in his heart.
He wrapped his arms around Zhou Qiaoqiao’s waist, leaning against her chest, and promised, “Qiaoqiao, I will give you an unforgettable wedding.”
“It’s okay, I don’t need you to make elaborate preparations. My mom said, ‘When a man has money, he changes.’ At that time, I didn’t believe it. I thought my dad was the best dad in the world, so I didn’t believe what she said. Until my dad brought back Zhou Xiongxiong. So, Yan Wei, I don’t care about how much money you can give me, or rather, I’m afraid of you having money. Actually, I’m afraid now too. I’m afraid that one day you’ll go back to the Yan family and realize how incompatible we are!”
At this point, Zhou Qiaoqiao let out a deep sigh and said, “I’ve always been afraid to tell you this because, fundamentally, I’m still far behind you. I can’t catch up to your footsteps. You were ahead of me from the moment you were born. How could we be suitable for each other? So, if you have money, maybe we won’t be compatible anymore.”
Zhou Qiaoqiao spoke earnestly, not noticing the stiffness in Yan Wei’s body. She continued, “Actually, after my dad got together with my stepmother, Lin Meisu, he still looked for other people. I like money, but I don’t like rich people. They have money, so they can do whatever they want. A precious relationship for me may just be a fleeting affair in their eyes. But you’re different. You give me a serious feeling, and I believe in you! So, I agree to marry you.”
Yan Wei felt the pressure in his heart increase even more. Zhou Qiaoqiao continued, oblivious to his reaction, “And you treat me well. You never go to those bars and such. Hehe… I think that even if you’re not a wealthy person, it’s rare to find a man nowadays who is content with the present. I like this peaceful feeling, being with you. It’s not tiring or exhausting at all. I feel happy, and you’re different from my dad.”
Yan Wei forced a smile and nodded, saying, “Yeah, I also like our life, Qiaoqiao. Should we go register tomorrow?” Let’s make things official!
Zhou Qiaoqiao frowned disapprovingly and looked at him, saying, “Yan Wei, although marriage is a matter between the two of us, we can’t deny that both our families will be involved. So, we should meet each other’s parents first.”
Yan Wei glanced at her with a hesitant look and asked, “What about my card…”
Zhou Qiaoqiao innocently looked at him, and Yan Wei quickly changed the subject, saying, “You should hide it well.”
Zhou Qiaoqiao nodded and said, “I’ve already hidden it! Since we’re preparing to get married, let’s go back to my place for the Mid-Autumn Festival this time! Although he’s not a good father, he’s still my father. I want to introduce you to him. I’m getting married, so I should let him know.”
Zhou Qiaoqiao meant to inform him, not seek his opinion. Yan Wei nodded.
This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September 13th, and the supermarket granted her leave, conveniently making it a three-day weekend. Zhou Qiaoqiao took Yan Wei to take the bus. Yan Wei, who had just proposed two days ago, didn’t have any joy left and didn’t dare to use any special privileges.
He obediently took a few coins from the shoe cabinet when going out. The day before yesterday, he even insisted that Mao Liang not come to pick him up and only worked for half a day before sneaking back home at noon. Zhou Qiaoqiao caught him doing that yesterday and asked him about it. He looked pitiful and explained that he was scolded by his boss.
Zhou Qiaoqiao comforted him and then hurried back to the company.
Today, Yan Wei followed behind Zhou Qiaoqiao on the bus, feeling that even the one-yuan coins in his hand had significant weight.
What should I do with my money? Although I’ve been kicked out of the family, what should I do about the connections I still have?
Yan Wei worried about his assets every day…
Zhou Qiaoqiao’s father, Zhou Yingjie, bought an apartment in a small community on Jiangcheng Road in Yiwu City. The community has a nice name called Jinlefuyuan. Zhou Yingjie and Zhou Qiaoqiao’s mother, Bai Shulan, got married during the unstable times and after Zhou Qiaoqiao was born, Bai Shulan’s health declined.
Neither of them had a stable career, and with rural household registration, it wouldn’t be a problem to have another son. However, Bai Shulan’s health remained poor, so she couldn’t conceive again. Zhou Yingjie took advantage of the trend of starting businesses at that time and had some success. However, in the year when Zhou Qiaoqiao was born, he encountered the first financial crisis and became a dead wave lying on the beach.
Bai Shulan and Zhou Yingjie, although coming from different backgrounds, one from an educated family with scholarly vibes, and the other a farmer, a tanned little boy. However, their marriage was harmonious, and Bai Shulan was a girl with dreams and fantasies, wholeheartedly in love with Zhou Yingjie. When she found out that Zhou Yingjie had a younger brother three years younger than Zhou Qiaoqiao, she was completely devastated.
But Bai Shulan’s death was not caused by this matter; it was indeed an accident. After Zhou Yingjie’s business failed, he sold his house and land to repay his debts. In the end, the two of them could only move into a crowded rental house. The house was old, with more than ten families on the ground floor, and their room was only 20 square meters, where the three of them squeezed in.
After a quarrel with Bai Shulan, Zhou Yingjie fortunately went to live with Lin Meisu. Bai Shulan, being so proud, felt truly heartbroken even during those desperate times. However, her scholarly pride prevented her from fighting with Lin Meisu for a man.
Actually, if Bai Shulan had not met an unfortunate fate, her parents would still be alive. Although Bai Shuren, Bai Shulan’s brother, was gentle, he had absolute authority in the family. If Bai Shulan had really divorced, taking Zhou Qiaoqiao with her, they could still manage to survive.
Unfortunately, the old house was ultimately eliminated as time passed.
One night, when Bai Shulan went out, she stumbled and fell because she couldn’t see clearly in the dark. The railing beside her broke when she accidentally hit it, and without the railing, Bai Shulan fell directly from the 6th floor.
Bai Shulan quietly disappeared like that. The case was simple and not difficult to investigate. In those chaotic times, Zhou Qiaoqiao was well aware that her mother didn’t choose to end her life willingly. Although she was only 4 or 5 years old, she remembered that her mother had packed their belongings that night, intending to take her back to their hometown.
After Bai Shulan’s death, Zhou Yingjie naturally became Zhou Qiaoqiao’s primary guardian. When Zhou Qiaoqiao’s grandmother from the Zhou family arrived, she was so frightened that she fell to the ground. She deeply felt that Bai Shulan used her death to threaten them, making that year unbearable.
With the Bai family also coming and demanding that Zhou Yingjie pay with his life, the two families argued, and the contact between them was severed.
The Bai grandparents took their daughter’s body back to their hometown, where they fell ill and soon passed away.
Zhou Qiaoqiao was brought to Zhou Yingjie’s side. By then, Zhou Yingjie had already been separated from Bai Shulan for a year. Bai Shulan had never allowed the father and daughter to meet, so it was the first time Zhou Qiaoqiao saw her long-lost father after Zhou Yingjie left.
When Zhou Qiaoqiao was first brought over, Zhou Yingjie was still very affectionate towards her. After all, Zhou Qiaoqiao regarded her father as the best father in the world when she was a child, probably because her father had once been like a father should be.
Later, her younger sister was born, and many things happened in between. Zhou Qiaoqiao couldn’t deny her own responsibility, and perhaps her mother’s death brought some resentment into her heart.
So, she never managed to mend the relationship between her and her father from the start, giving Lin Meisu an opportunity. She was even sent back to her mother’s hometown to study during her elementary school years. Since then, they have been apart until now, and even if there was some affection, it has gradually faded away.
As Zhou Qiaoqiao looked at the scenery outside the car window, receding continuously, she said to Yan Wei, “My father is lucky. Although his business is not particularly large or successful, he has achieved something. He has a small factory and manages to save some money every year.”
Yan Wei nodded, understanding the relationship between Zhou Qiaoqiao and her future father-in-law. He also knew what he should do.
“Jinlefuyuan is a new residential area, with a price of 72,000 yuan per square meter. It seems that my father has earned quite a bit in these years.” Zhou Qiaoqiao said with envy, “I also want to buy a house, I also want to buy a house, I also want to buy a house…”
Zhou Qiaoqiao and Yan Wei had to transfer twice by bus to reach Jiangcheng Road from their place. They arrived here at 9:30. Upon getting off the bus, they saw the words “Jinlefuyuan” engraved in golden metal on the 6-meter-high gate of the residential area.
Since it was Mid-Autumn Festival and breakfast time, many people were coming in and out of the entrance, returning from their grocery shopping. The security guard of the residential area was standing at the exit of the security office, talking to a middle-aged woman who had just bought groceries.
Zhou Qiaoqiao looked around and indeed saw a fruit stall next to the entrance of the residential area. Zhou Qiaoqiao pointed and said, “Shall we buy some fruits to take upstairs?”
Yan Wei naturally followed Zhou Qiaoqiao, and the two of them walked over. The fruit stall was not big, with fruits displayed all the way from inside to the entrance. There were also two cardboard boxes at the entrance, containing many apples that had not yet been placed on the stall.
The boss lady sitting next to the stall playing with her phone had her hair tied up, wearing a green shirt and a scarf around her neck. When she saw Zhou Qiaoqiao and Yan Wei approaching, she smiled and said, “Take a look and see which fruits you like.”
Zhou Qiaoqiao pointed at the Fuji apples and asked, “How much are the apples?”
“12 yuan,” the vendor replied promptly.
Zhou Qiaoqiao was shocked and asked, “So expensive?”
“Fruits are expensive this year, young lady. Look at this apple, it’s small. It used to be sold for 3 or 4 yuan, but this year it’s 14 yuan per kilogram!” The vendor was straightforward, mainly because she didn’t want to cheat people. After all, fruits have become more expensive this year.
Zhou Qiaoqiao looked at the apple she pointed to and then turned to ask about oranges.
“These ones are 14 yuan, and these ones are 10 yuan,” the vendor replied.
Zhou Qiaoqiao looked at the wrinkled orange and said, “This type of orange is also 10 yuan?”
“Oranges are expensive this year, and this one isn’t sweet, it’s sour,” the vendor replied.
Zhou Qiaoqiao couldn’t help but laugh. The vendor was too direct! But there was nothing she could do. She knew that fruits were expensive this year, and recently, Yan Wei was the one buying fruits and bringing them home. She had stopped buying fruits herself because they were too costly.
However, she didn’t expect the prices to have risen to this extent. Zhou Qiaoqiao glanced at Yan Wei, who immediately put on an innocent face, reminding himself in his mind: “I don’t have money, I don’t have money, I don’t have money…”
In the end, Zhou Qiaoqiao bought 8 apples, 10 oranges, and two bunches of grapes, spending nearly 200 yuan. It pained her greatly.
As Zhou Qiaoqiao and Yan Wei walked, she muttered, “Why are fruits so expensive now?”
Yan Wei quickly followed suit, expressing his dissatisfaction, “Yeah! They’re so expensive! How did they become so expensive?”
Zhou Qiaoqiao looked at Yan Wei in surprise. It was the first time he expressed dissatisfaction with the price of something, and he was from a wealthy family! If even Yan Wei found it expensive, it showed that fruits had indeed become expensive.
Zhou Qiaoqiao had been here a few times before, so she led Yan Wei upstairs with confidence. Zhou Yingjie had bought a three-bedroom apartment on the 17th floor. People said it was a good floor, the golden floor, but Zhou Qiaoqiao didn’t understand and felt embarrassed to ask.
Once they got out of the elevator, they entered a rectangular corridor with two doors, one on the left and one on the right.
Zhou Qiaoqiao went to the right and knocked on the door. A cheerful female voice came from inside, “Qiaoqiao, you’re here?”
As the door opened, they saw a woman with a burgundy wavy hairstyle. Time had left wrinkles on her face, but she had applied a very fair foundation and her red lips carried a smile, making her look energetic.
Seeing the man behind Zhou Qiaoqiao, she was momentarily surprised but not entirely unexpected. She looked at Yan Wei and said, “You must be the boyfriend that Xiongxiong mentioned, right?”
Yan Wei nodded, and Zhou Qiaoqiao pulled him inside. Lin Meisu closed the door and shouted inside, “Old Zhou, come out quickly. Qiaoqiao is back.”
Zhou Yingjie, with his beer belly, came out of the study. When he saw Yan Wei, his legs trembled for a moment, and he said, “Why are you here too?”
Zhou Qiaoqiao glanced at her father and said, “What do you mean ‘too’? Of course, I brought him here!”
Zhou Yingjie was angry. He said, “Do I need you to tell me that? Why haven’t you two broken up yet?”
After Yan Wei scared him away that day, he did send Zhou Qiaoqiao a message asking them to break up. But obviously, Zhou Qiaoqiao completely ignored his message.
Zhou Qiaoqiao ignored him and handed the fruits to Lin Meisu. Lin Meisu smiled and took them without minding that Zhou Qiaoqiao didn’t call her. They had been enemies for over ten years. Although Zhou Qiaoqiao used to live here, she had never even called Lin Meisu “Auntie.”
This was also one of the reasons for the poor relationship between Zhou Qiaoqiao and Zhou Xiongxiong. After all, as they grew up, they knew how arrogant and rude Zhou Qiaoqiao’s behavior could be.
Zhou Qiaoqiao couldn’t bring herself to call Lin Meisu “Auntie.” Lin Meisu was the mistress who had destroyed her family, not someone her father had found after her mother’s death. If it were someone her father found after getting married, Zhou Qiaoqiao would have called her “Auntie” for the sake of her father. But Lin Meisu was different.
So, Zhou Qiaoqiao and Lin Meisu didn’t get along. They had a normal relationship with the two children and barely spoke to her father. Fortunately, Lin Meisu was also lazy to see her and handed her over to the teachers when she was young.
Lin Meisu placed the fruits on the table in the living room and turned to knock on the other two doors, calling out, “Xiongxiong, come out quickly. Your sister is back. Xingxing, don’t sleep anymore. It’s already 10 o’clock. Get up quickly, your sister is here.”
There was a sound of something hitting the door in Zhou Xingxing’s room, followed by her angry shout, “She’s not my sister. Why sister? Don’t disturb my sleep.”
Lin Meisu smiled awkwardly and said, “This child is grumpy in the morning.”
Zhou Qiaoqiao pulled Yan Wei to sit on the sofa and handed him a piece of chocolate, whispering, “The chocolates from my dad’s place are delicious. 89 yuan per kilogram.” Because Zhou Xiongxiong liked chocolates, the living room of the Zhou family always had these high-end chocolates on display.
Yan Wei didn’t use his hand to take it; he leaned over and grabbed it with his mouth, then smiled and said, “Indeed, they’re delicious.”
Zhou Qiaoqiao chuckled and took one for herself.
The layout of the Jinlefou house was good, without meaningless corridors and wasted space. The living room was connected to the kitchen, with only a glass door separating them to prevent the fumes from spreading. The three bedrooms were distributed separately, and there was a balcony next to the living room, but it wasn’t large, about 1.2 meters wide and 3 meters long.
The balcony had a security fence, with a few clothes hanging on it, along with a bunch of hangers.
The house was decorated in a European style, looking very luxurious. The TV wall was made of a whole piece of marble, and Zhou Qiaoqiao heard Zhou Xingxing say that the marble alone cost 10,000 yuan. This infuriated Zhou Qiaoqiao because that was the day she received a message from Zhou Yingjie, asking her to earn her own tuition fees in her sophomore year.
Zhou Qiaoqiao almost rushed back home to take that marble away…
Soon, chubby Zhou Xiongxiong also came out of his room. He glanced at Zhou Qiaoqiao and called out, “Sister.”
Zhou Qiaoqiao turned her head and gave him a cold look. Zhou Xiongxiong being so obedient? There must be something wrong. Zhou Xingxing didn’t care about her disdainful look and turned around to brush her teeth and wash her face.
After Zhou Xiongxiong finished brushing his teeth and washing his face, he went straight to the dining table to eat.
Zhou Xiongxiong didn’t perform well in the college entrance examination and went to a vocational college. He had already graduated this year. Zhou Xingxing, on the other hand, was quite outstanding. She scored over 600 points in the college entrance examination this year and reportedly applied to a good university.
Lin Meisu was busy in the kitchen, and Zhou Yingjie saw Zhou Qiaoqiao sitting there, chatting with Yan Wei. He called out to her, “If you have time, go inside and help your mom!”
Zhou Qiaoqiao reached out and picked up a piece of chocolate, saying straightforwardly, “I don’t have time.”
Zhou Yingjie: “…” He sighed and ignored her.
Lunch was simple, just a bowl of plain noodles. Since they needed to prepare dinner for the evening, Lin Meisu took a short rest and then went back to the kitchen to tinker around.
Yan Wei sat on the sofa on the balcony all day, scrolling through his phone. Yan Wei’s work wasn’t very busy, and he had plenty of personal time. However, there were times when he had to handle impromptu situations like this. Usually, he would use his phone to communicate and resolve them.
After lunch, there was finally some sound coming from Zhou Xingxing’s room. In a moment, the door to Zhou Xingxing’s room opened, and Yan Wei looked over and was momentarily stunned.
Zhou Xingxing actually bore a resemblance to Zhou Qiaoqiao, except for their eyes. Their eyes were completely different, which became their biggest distinguishing feature.
In terms of facial structure, they shared some similarities in their face shape, nose, and mouth. The only difference was their eyes. Zhou Qiaoqiao had round almond-shaped eyes, while Zhou Xingxing inherited her mother’s phoenix eyes, giving her a sharper look compared to Zhou Qiaoqiao.
Moreover, Zhou Xingxing’s appearance was more adaptable to different make-up styles, making her slightly more attractive than Zhou Qiaoqiao. Perhaps it was because she had graduated from high school. Zhou Xingxing had dyed her black hair blonde, and her heavy makeup and trendy clothes made her quite alluring.
Zhou Xingxing was also taken aback to see someone other than Zhou Qiaoqiao. She looked at Yan Wei sitting by the balcony door, holding his phone, with a few strands of hair falling on his forehead. When he turned his gaze towards her, his eyes were filled with indifference. He merely glanced at her before looking back down at his phone.
This man was different from the one Zhou Xingxing usually saw. He appeared more mature and elegant, but sitting there, he seemed distant, exuding an air of coldness and restraint. This was something the young boys around Zhou Xingxing couldn’t compare to, of course. Young boys had their own charm.
They were more energetic and knew how to be romantic.
But Yan Wei had clearly surpassed the age of exuberance. Sitting there, the sunlight shining on him added a touch of radiance to his current elegance.
“Yan Wei, have an orange,” Zhou Qiaoqiao’s silly voice interrupted Zhou Xingxing’s thoughts.
The man, who was initially cold, curved his eyes slightly. When he looked at Zhou Qiaoqiao, his eyes sparkled. He slightly opened his mouth, and Zhou Qiaoqiao naturally placed a slice of orange in it. After the man ate the orange, Zhou Qiaoqiao would give him another slice.
By the time they reached the fifth slice, Yan Wei finally looked at Zhou Qiaoqiao helplessly and asked, “Do you think they’re too sour?”
“Hehe…” Zhou Qiaoqiao chuckled and continued peeling an orange segment for him, saying, “Anyway, we’re not buying it for ourselves. It doesn’t matter if we buy some sour ones for them.”
Yan Wei helplessly took the remaining orange from her hand and said, “If you don’t like it, don’t eat it. Go eat something else!”
“I don’t want to.” Zhou Qiaoqiao touched her stomach and looked expectantly with her round eyes. “I want to save my appetite for dinner.”
Yan Wei was taken aback, lightly tapping her forehead and said, “If you’re hungry, go eat!”
Naturally, Yan Wei held Zhou Qiaoqiao’s hand, using his thumb to touch the ring on her finger, then he looked up at her and smiled.
Zhou Qiaoqiao looked down at him, saw him smile, blushed, and quickly pulled her hand back and ran back to the living room.
“Xingxing, are you awake?” When Lin Meisu came out with fried fish, she saw Zhou Xingxing standing at the door in a daze, so she called out to her.
Zhou Xingxing nodded, blushing, and hurried into the kitchen to help.
After Zhou Xingxing left, Zhou Qiaoqiao quickly approached Yan Wei and said, “She was looking at you just now. I think she fell in love with you at first sight.”
Yan Wei put away his phone, looked at her, and pulled her to sit next to him, saying, “You’re overthinking it, but she does look a lot like you.”
Zhou Qiaoqiao touched her face and asked, “Really? That’s the first time I’ve heard that. So, who’s prettier?”
Yan Wei smiled, leaning closer to her, and tugged at her hair, saying, “Silly girl, what do you think?”
Zhou Qiaoqiao raised her head proudly and said, “Jiamin said I’m much prettier than her, ten times prettier.”
Yan Wei touched her hair as if petting a kitten. He didn’t respond to Zhou Qiaoqiao’s words because it was meaningless. In his heart, Zhou Qiaoqiao was the only one and naturally looked ten or a hundred times more beautiful than anyone else. He was more concerned about what Zhou Qiaoqiao said on the bus, “Qiaoqiao, where is the household register?”
Zhou Qiaoqiao’s eyes turned, and she whispered, “Definitely in my dad’s drawer. You keep watch, and I’ll go steal it.”
Yan Wei gave her a very friendly smile and said, “Go ahead! Qiaoqiao, return triumphantly!”
With that, Zhou Qiaoqiao saw her father and Zhou Xiongxiong both bowing their heads and playing with their phones, her stepmother and her sister in the kitchen, so she pretended to go to the bathroom and secretly sneaked into the master bedroom.
Yan Wei lost interest in his phone as well. In fact, his original intention was to do it openly, but Zhou Qiaoqiao’s idea was to do it openly only after getting hold of the household register. Whoever had the household register had the right to speak!
The household register was in her father’s hands, and her father would definitely not agree to it. So, she had to steal it first and then figure it out!
Alright! Yan Wei thought that Zhou Qiaoqiao should know more about Zhou Yingjie than he did, so he went along with her suggestion.
Just as he was thinking that, Zhou Xiongxiong suddenly stood up on the opposite side, stretched lazily, and said, “Dad, is my graduation certificate in your room? The company wants me to take a photo to show them.”
Wearing reading glasses, Zhou Yingjie refreshed the news while saying, “It’s in the box on the bookshelf. Your mom said you guys always throw things around, and if you don’t put them away, you won’t be able to find them later.”
Zhou Xiongxiong waved impatiently, not wanting to hear these nonsense, and then he got up to leave.
Yan Wei watched him stand up and coldly said, “Stop.”
Zhou Xiongxiong’s movement suddenly froze, not daring to move at all. He turned his head to look at Yan Wei, only to see Yan Wei’s stern gaze and hear him say, “Sit down.”
Zhou Xiongxiong obediently sat down…
Zhou Yingjie: “…”
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🤣 He must have been so scared of YW. Good job, Weiwei!