"What's wrong?"
Qi Weiran, who had turned back, asked Yi Qingju.
She put her phone back into her bag with some worry and said, "I don't know what's going on recently, but I keep getting calls from salespeople."
Logically, the dedicated phone provided by the Qi family shouldn't have this issue.
Qi Weiran made a note of it, intending to have Wan Sui handle this matter.
"Sir, why did you come back? Did you forget something?"
Yi Qingju curiously asked.
[How strange, Qi Weiran forgetting something?]
Qi Weiran nodded and headed inside.
When he came out, the originally curious Yi Qingju's expression changed drastically.
Because the calm and composed man's slender fingers were now holding a bowl of—that dreadful Chinese herbal medicine.
"Sir, I really won't overeat and pass out again, so I don't need to drink this, right?"
Just thinking about the bowl that Qi Weiran forced her to drink last night made Yi Qingju's stomach churn.
"Last night, you ate twelve chicken feet, two pig trotters, one braised pork knuckle, and stuffed yourself with two bowls of rice."
If it weren't for the last braised pork knuckle, where he gave Auntie Zhang a look to snatch it from her mouth, she might have passed out again from overeating.
Yi Qingju was greatly surprised.
[My God, how did you know all this?]
[Was Qi Weiran watching me eat the whole time?]
Qi Weiran: Yes, indeed.
[He must have thought I was stealing his food, alas.]
"I won't eat that much next time," Yi Qingju said embarrassedly.
Come to think of it, it was strange that her appetite had been so huge lately, like a starving ghost reincarnated, eating an excessive amount.
Xiao Jiji commented silently: [Maybe you're pregnant.]
Yi Qingju gently replied: [Shut up.]
"Drink it," Qi Weiran said, unmoved by Yi Qingju's protests, still holding the bowl of thick, dark, and foul-smelling Chinese herbal medicine.
Yi Qingju's face scrunched up.
"If the child faints, it will be hard to recover..."
Qi Xinian's voice sounded behind her, and when she turned around, the little munchkin was standing there with his arms crossed, looking eager to see the show.
Qi Weiran silently watched her, his gaze seeming to say—
'This is a battle of dignity; if you drink it, you win.'
Yi Qingju pursed her lips. If she didn't drink this bowl of medicine today, Qi Xinian would mock her for the rest of her life.
Even when Yi Qingju was about to die of old age and dragged him back to reminisce, this little bear would still bring up the time when she was young and couldn't even drink a bowl of herbal medicine.
"Auntie Zhang took the trouble to brew it, so of course I'll drink it," Yi Qingju said calmly as she took the bowl of herbal medicine, her eyes full of resignation.
Seeing her like this, Qi Weiran's eyes flashed with amusement.
Just like a child, afraid of bitterness.
At the moment she drank it all, Yi Qingju almost saw the light of heaven.
[I can't die yet.]
[At least let me post on my friends' circle first before I kick the bucket.]
[Now selling tickets for my funeral, those who pay more can sit on my coffin board, first prize winner gets to be buried with me.]
Qi Weiran: "......"
"You actually drank it, you brave soul," Qi Xinian said in awe.
Yi Qingju tossed her hair and looked at him with amusement, "What's the big deal? It's just a bowl of herbal medicine. I'm an adult."
[I'm so awesome, I'm so awesome, Yi Qingju, you're too awesome, woo-hoo, you did it, you drank that foul—]
Qi Weiran shook his head helplessly and walked toward Yi Qingju, slipping something into her hand discreetly. Then he continued forward.
The ginkgo trees lining the path were swept by the wind, dropping a large pile of golden leaves that brushed against her skirt and fell to the ground.
Yi Qingju stood still and looked down at her palm.
A peach-flavored soft candy lay quietly in her hand.
"Yi Qingju."
The little munchkin thought she was too slow and ran over, tugging at her skirt.
Yi Qingju closed her hand and looked down at him, "What is it?"
Qi Xinian hesitated for a moment, then looked up at her seriously and said, "You said it wrong earlier."
"The medicine wasn't brewed by Auntie Zhang, but by my uncle."
She was taken aback.
Unexpectedly recalling the bitter scent that had clung to his clothes when he leaned close to her that day.
...
"Good evening, Mr. Qi and Mrs. Qi."
The old butler stood upright and smiled at the two of them.
Yi Qingju returned the smile.
As Qi Weiran instructed someone to bring the gifts inside, a little head peeked out from beside Yi Qingju's legs.
The sharp-eyed old butler noticed and his smile grew wider, "This must be the young master, then."
Seeing that he had noticed him, Qi Xinian came out, his little face expressionless but polite, "Hello, I'm Qi Xinian."
Such a young boy imitating the mannerisms of an adult looked adorable, melting the hearts of everyone around him.
Just as the group entered the hall, before Yi Qingju could react, a figure suddenly rushed towards Qi Weiran and hugged him.
"Oh my, little Ran has grown so tall! Let auntie take a good look at you."
The woman stood on her tiptoes, hugging Qi Weiran while her other hand patted his arm in surprise, "You were as thin as a bean sprout when you were young, but now you're so sturdy."
Yi Qingju watched in astonishment.
Qi Weiran pursed his lips and called out helplessly, "Auntie Qiu."
Then he looked up at the man walking towards them with a dark expression, and said, "Uncle Yu Qi."
He nodded at the man, who effortlessly pulled the woman away from Qi Weiran, his dark eyes furious, "Qiu Qiu, does it feel good to touch him?"
Bai Nianqiu rolled her eyes, "Stop being so petty at your age."
Then, without hesitation, she pushed Yu Qi's hand away and walked towards Yi Qingju, "So you're Yi Qingju. You're much prettier than on the internet."
Her crescent-shaped arched brows, delicate upturned nose, and kind sparkling round eyes made her a true beauty, and one would never guess that she was already the mother of two children.
"Hello, Mrs. Yu," Yi Qingju greeted politely, recognizing her identity.
Bai Nianqiu smiled warmly, took Yi Qingju's hand, and said, "Just call me Auntie Qiu like Ran does. Oh my, you're so beautiful. That little rascal Qi Weiran is lucky to have you. Auntie will make you some milk tea later."
Yi Qingju glanced at the slightly helpless-looking man beside them and thought amusedly, [Hahaha, indeed, that little rascal Ran is lucky to have me, hahaha.]
Yu Qi looked at Bai Nianqiu, who was chatting cheerfully with Yi Qingju, then shifted his gaze to Qi Weiran in front of him. When he did, he froze for a moment.
This kid... why are his ears red?
Qi Weiran maintained a wooden expression, his mind filled with the way Yi Qingju had called him 'Ran' earlier, and the more he thought about it, the faster his heart raced.
"Alright, mom, we're all just standing here. The food is ready," Yu Mu said smoothly as he stepped forward, pushing his mother aside and taking Yi Qingju's hand with a sweet smile, "Welcome, sister-in-law."
Her small hand felt so smooth. (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)♡
Today, she wore a Gothic-style dress, with long curled hair and an exquisite little hat, looking like a doll in a shop window.
"Oh my, this child is so adorable. Come here and let me hug you," Bai Nianqiu said, squatting down to pat Qi Xinian's head since she had lost her spot.
Before coming, Yi Qingju had told him about the proper way to address family members, so he sweetly called her, "Hello, grandma."
Bai Nianqiu's eyes crinkled into a smile when she heard that, "You should call me grandma, you little sweetheart."
After playing with the child, she stood up and suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, hasn't Yu Du arrived yet?"
Hearing that name, Yi Qingju felt inexplicably guilty.
Yu Mu, holding her hand, found a moment to reply, "He said he'll be here soon."
Qi Weiran walked over impassively and stood beside Yi Qingju, close enough that anyone could see their intimate relationship.
Seeing his piercing gaze as he reached for Yi Qingju's hand, Yu Mu muttered 'stingy' before releasing her hand.
Just as she was about to say something, a male voice came from outside: "Mom, Dad, I'm back."
