The air froze for a full five seconds.
Qiao Rui was the first to react. He couldn’t bear to look directly and covered his eyes, "I...I didn't see anything."
Yu Na: "..."
She reacted as if shocked, bouncing off Xiao Chen's body, "Uncle, auntie..." She explained dryly and weakly: "...I was just blowing his hair just now."
Xiao Chen leaned back very calmly, ashen faced, and spat out four words: "Ruining my good deed."
Xiao’s Mother obviously didn’t believe Yu Na’s words. She responded to Xiao Chen: “We were wrong. This was because Qiao Rui happened to come back and didn’t knock on the door. We’ll be more careful next time.”
Xiao Chen resentfully said: “There won’t be a next time. She’ll never kiss me on the couch again.”
"..."
Yu Na’s face looked like it was ironed with an iron. She glared fiercely at Xiao Chen.
Xiao’s Father was holding two large plastic supermarket bags in his hand. He stiffly changed the subject: "Well, we just picked up Qiao Rui and then went to the supermarket to buy some groceries. Let's eat at home at noon."
Xiao’s Mother took over the bags, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm cooking a few hometown dishes today for you to try."
Xiao Chen said that the Northeastern Chinese cuisine made by his mother was the most authentic and delicious. But because he didn't see his parents often, he couldn't eat it often.
Thinking of this, Yu Na shook off Xiao Chen behind her and hurriedly went up to meet them, "Then auntie, let me help you."
"No need, no need, you go and rest."
Yu Na moved to Xiao’s Mother's ear and whispered, "Auntie, I want to learn."
Only then did Xiao’s Mother not say anything more, just smiling, "Then come in and help auntie."
Yu Na smiled and said, "Okay."
Xiao’s Mother and Yu Na went into the kitchen, and Xiao’s Father also walked in to join in the fun.
...
Xiao Chen was about to go back to his room to change his clothes. When he passed Qiao Rui's room, he just happened to run into the boy leaning against the door jamb watching the show with his arms crossed.
Xiao Chen: ?
Qiao Rui stared at his mouth, trying hard not to laugh.
Xiao Chen: "What's wrong with you?"
Qiao Rui had no intention of telling him. He pretended to be nonchalant, "Bro—"
At this point, Xiao Chen still didn't realize he had lipstick prints on his mouth.
So he also didn't know what he was laughing at, and asked back: "No, why did you come back today?"
"I start school tomorrow, thanks."
"...Oh."
Qiao Rui kindly and considerately suggested: "Why don't we do this: I'll move to Huating One, and you let Teacher Yu move in here to live with you. Then I won't disturb you guys, and you can live together every day."
Xiao Chen snorted disdainfully, “Keep your schemes to yourself.” He pointed at Qiao Rui, “I'll give you Huating One for one day, and the second day it'll be dirty enough to be Huating Two.”
Qiao Rui: "Hey, what do you mean?"
Xiao Chen: “One doesn’t recognize you, demoted to Two.”
"..."
Xiao Chen: “Or you can apply to live on campus, and still make room for us.”
At this time, there was another figure outside the door.
Qiao Rui complained: "Old Xiao, your son is bullying me again."
Xiao Chen: ?
"How did he bully you again?" After Xiao’s Father came in, he saw the lipstick mark on Xiao Chen's face at a glance. He wanted to remind him, but didn't feel appropriate in front of the child.
So he just meaningfully touched his own mouth, gesturing to give him a hint.
Who knew that the idiot didn't react at all, still grinning away.
Qiao Rui: “He said he was going to apply for me to live on campus, saying that I was affecting him and his girlfriend.”
Xiao Chen's pupils shuddered, and he looked at Qiao Rui with a fake smile.
To his surprise, Xiao’s Father seriously considered this proposal, “Hmm, it's worth considering. If you live on campus, you don't have to worry about not getting up. The dorm supervisor auntie will wake you up.”
Xiao Chen smiled smugly and casually reminded him: “Qiao Rui, this is my dad, got it? My dad."
Qiao Rui rolled his eyes in displeasure.
Xiao’s Father pulled up a chair to give him a lesson, “Your brother is almost thirty, and it’s hard for him to finally get a girlfriend, so let him be.”
Qiao Rui simply changed the subject, stabbing the sore spot, “You were kicked out by my aunt again, right?”
Xiao’s Father: "..."
...
After Xiao’s Mother kicked her husband out, the kitchen suddenly became quiet.
Yu Na cleverly smiled and said, "Auntie, Xiao Chen said your cooking is the best he's ever had."
"Of course. When Xiao Chen was little, oh my, he cried so easily. He was so delicate, but every time, as long as I said, mom will make you sweet and sour pork ribs, the kid would immediately stop crying."
"Really?!" Yu Na couldn't help laughing out loud, "He has this side too? Your sweet and sour pork ribs must be really delicious."
"This is auntie's specialty," Xiao’s Mother shook her head helplessly: "But it's quite troublesome to make this. That kid just loves to eat it. He really wore me out."
Yu Na eagerly said, "Auntie, teach me how to make it."
"You want to learn this?"
"Yeah," she was a little shy, whispering, "If there's time, I want to make it for Xiao Chen to eat."
Xiao’s Mother's heart warmed at this. She liked Yu Na more and more as she looked at her.
She patiently explained while making the dish.
Xiao’s Mother said, "This needs to be fried. If you're afraid of getting burnt, let Xiao Chen do the frying."
"..."
If Xiao Chen heard this...
She pursed her lips and smiled secretly.
Xiao’s Mother explained as she cooked.
Yu Na watched attentively to learn. She even took notes on the key steps and seasoning proportions on her phone memo.
The sweet and sour pork ribs came out of the wok. Yu Na leaned in to sniff it, then wrinkled her nose the next second.
Xiao’s Mother asked with a smile: "Is it pungent?"
"...A little," she quickly explained politely again: "But it smells quite nice."
"Silly girl, it's a little pungent, but it tastes very good when you eat it," she handed Yu Na a pair of chopsticks, "Come on, try a piece to see how it tastes."
Yu Na obediently picked up a piece and put it in her mouth.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
The pork was fried crispy and crunchy, sweet and sour. With one bite, the aftertaste lingered.
Covering her mouth, she said, "Mmm, so delicious. No wonder Xiao Chen likes it!"
Xiao’s Mother was flattered by her praise, "If it tastes good then eat more."
At this moment, Xiao Chen walked into the kitchen still with the lipstick mark.
Seeing the food, his eyes lit up. He shamelessly shouted, "Mom, you're my god!"
Xiao Chen was about to pick up a piece with Yu Na's chopsticks when Xiao’s Mother mercilessly slapped his hand away, complaining, "Go away, go away. You only know how to eat. This is for lunch."
Xiao Chen looked at Yu Na next to him who was relishing the sweet and sour pork ribs. She looked innocent, but kept staring at his mouth, winking at him repeatedly.
Xiao Chen: "What's wrong, do your eyes hurt? I have eye drops."
"..."
Xiao’s Mother awkwardly reminded him, "Wipe your mouth..."
Who knew, Xiao Chen's brain short-circuited and he said nonchalantly: "I didn't get a bite in, what's there to wipe?"
