While watching the movie just now, Li Man had put her phone on silent, so she didn't hear it ring.
"I'll make a phone call," Li Man politely said to Chen Shi.
Chen Shi nodded with a smile, and Li Man dialed the number.
"Where are you?" Huo Jian Sheng's magnetic voice came through as soon as the call connected.
"I'm outside. I was watching a movie with a friend, and I had my phone on silent," Li Man explained.
Hearing that Li Man went to the movies with a friend, Huo Jian Sheng suddenly felt uncomfortable. It seemed like he hadn't watched a movie with Li Man yet.
"What friend?" Huo Jian Sheng asked with a tinge of jealousy.
"A friend I've known since childhood," Li Man didn't hide anything.
There was really nothing to hide. She and Huo Jian Sheng were just friends.
Although Huo Jian Sheng treated her well, and she had feelings for him too, he had never said that he liked her. So she never dared to think in that direction or entertain any improper thoughts.
She also didn't want to take her relationship with Huo Jian Sheng any further. She was content with things the way they were, Li Man thought.
There was a brief pause on the phone, and Huo Jian Sheng didn't ask further questions.
After a moment of silence, Huo Jian Sheng asked, "When are you coming back?"
"I might not come back," Li Man said.
"What about your barbecue stall? Are you giving it up?" Huo Jian Sheng asked with a hint of melancholy.
"Yeah, I'm giving it up. Let Xiao Hui handle it on her own."
"Have you made up your mind... really not coming back?" Huo Jian Sheng said, feeling disappointed.
"Yes, I've made up my mind. My mom is alone at home, and I'm worried. I want to stay here with her."
After another moment of silence, Huo Jian Sheng said despondently, "I understand."
After ending the call, Li Man turned off the silent mode on her phone.
Chen Shi had been standing beside Li Man the whole time, and he roughly heard the conversation. But he didn't ask much. Li Man said she wasn't going back, and he was happy about it.
Putting her phone back in her bag, Li Man asked, "What did you say just now?"
Chen Shi quickly said, "Let's take a stroll? There's nothing to do at home this early."
Li Man looked at the snow falling all around and frowned, "Where should we go?"
Actually, where they went didn't matter. What mattered was who they went with. If she went with someone she liked, even just walking on the street would be enjoyable.
"The Spring Festival is coming. How about we go to the supermarket and buy some things?" Chen Shi suggested.
Speaking of the supermarket, Li Man suddenly remembered that there were many things she hadn't bought yet. Since her father passed away, the house had been shrouded in sadness, and she hadn't had the mood to buy anything. Today, while they were out, she could buy some things to take back.
Li Man agreed, "Sure."
The two of them arrived at the supermarket, and Li Man went to the fresh produce section to buy some beef and pork.
Chen Shi pushed the shopping cart, and Li Man placed the selected items into it.
Watching Li Man carefully choose the items, Chen Shi couldn't help but smile.
His ideal life had always been to marry the person he loved, both of them busy with work, and then shop and cook together at the supermarket after work, and watch movies together on weekends.
Today, after watching a movie with Li Man and shopping at the supermarket, he felt like he was dreaming.
The frustration from earlier at the movie theater had vanished, replaced by a profound sense of happiness.
Just as Chen Shi was immersed in this happiness, a figure suddenly dashed forward and delivered a fierce slap across Li Man's face.
Everything happened so quickly.
Neither Li Man nor Chen Shi had time to react.
Caught off guard like this, Li Man received a slap.
She stood there, stunned, her face filled with confusion as she looked at the angry stranger before her, swiftly searching her memory for any recollection of this woman.
