After leaving the teahouse, Ye Qiuling spotted Shen Wanru and Ye Dazhi in the distance, walking hand in hand. Smiling, she waved and called out, “Father, Mother!”
Hearing her voice, Shen Wanru and Ye Dazhi both flushed red and quickly let go of each other, responding with an awkward “Ah,” as they walked toward her.
They looked her over from head to toe, and only after confirming she was unharmed did Shen Wanru finally relax with a sigh of relief.
Seeing her reaction, Ye Qiuling could not help but laugh.
She lifted her head and looked at the sky. Clouds drifted into the distance, replaced by a glowing red sunset. It was already quite late, just about time to pick up the children from school.
Casually, she asked, “Father, Mother, how did the flyers go?”
“They were gone in no time. Qiuling, your drawings are wonderful. I really think my daughter is the best,” Shen Wanru said with a smile, her eyes full of pride.
Ye Qiuling blinked playfully and praised them in return, “Father and Mother are amazing too,” even giving them a thumbs-up.
Hearing her praise, Shen Wanru and Ye Dazhi felt as though they had eaten something sweet, their hearts filled with warmth.
Seeing that time was running short, and knowing the roads would soon be blocked by carriages, Ye Qiuling quickened her pace and said hurriedly, “Father, Mother, let’s go pick up Xiao Feng and Xiao Qi from school.”
Chen Xuanmo had already inquired and learned that Xiao Feng and Xiao Qi studied at Qizhi Hall, so he deliberately came to this road, hoping to run into Ye Qiuling.
When he saw her approaching with her parents, laughing and chatting, he greeted them with a gentle smile. “Qiuling, Uncle, Aunt, what a coincidence.”
“Ah, what a coincidence,” Ye Qiuling replied brightly.
Chen Xuanmo asked casually, though his gaze remained fixed on her. “I saw your flyers. Is your hotpot restaurant opening tomorrow?”
“Yes, you saw them. Do you have time? Come to our house tonight for a hotpot,” Ye Qiuling invited.
Chen Xuanmo hesitated, then said, “Wouldn’t that be too much trouble? Perhaps I shouldn’t go.” His eyes shifted toward Ye Dazhi and Shen Wanru.
Noticing his concern, Ye Qiuling turned to her parents. “Father, Mother, can Chen Xuanmo come with us?”
Seeing his polite and hopeful expression, Shen Wanru could not bear to refuse. “Of course.”
“Then I’ll trouble Uncle and Aunt,” Chen Xuanmo said politely.
The more Shen Wanru looked at him, the more satisfied she felt, even thinking he would make a good son-in-law. “Not at all, the more people, the livelier it is.”
Seeing them continue to exchange polite refusals, Ye Qiuling knew they might delay things and miss the children’s dismissal time, so she decisively grabbed Chen Xuanmo’s arm and called back, “Let’s go, Father, Mother.”
Outside Qizhi Hall, all kinds of carriages were parked along the roadside. Children chattered noisily, while adults laughed at their antics, forming a warm and lively scene.
Ye Feng held Ye Qi’s hand as they waited at the entrance. When he saw his older sister walking over while holding Chen Xuanmo’s arm, chatting and laughing, he felt certain that calling him “brother-in-law” before had not been wrong.
Having seen plenty of short videos, Ye Qi could also tell that Chen Xuanmo liked Ye Qiuling. Only his host seemed unaware, as oblivious as a block of wood.
Ye Qiuling let go of Chen Xuanmo and walked up to them, taking one child in each hand as they headed home. “How was school today? Are you getting used to it, Xiao Qi, Xiao Feng?”
Ye Feng eagerly shared, “We had a small test today. Xiao Qi was amazing, he actually got a top grade. Even the teacher praised him as a genius.”
Ye Qiuling turned to Ye Qi. “Oh, a genius, huh? That’s impressive. What about you, Xiao Feng?”
Hearing the teasing tone, Ye Qi’s ears turned slightly red, but he did not argue. After all, as a system, such knowledge was easy for him.
Ye Feng lowered his head, his voice muffled. “I only got a C.” He thought his sister might scold him like another parent he had seen earlier, so he nervously twisted his clothes, but that did not happen.
Instead, Ye Qiuling crouched down, holding his arms, her voice trembling with a smile. “Wow, Xiao Feng is amazing.”
“It’s your first time and you already got a C. I believe that soon you’ll be able to get top grades like Xiao Qi. Keep it up. To celebrate your good results, we’ll have a hotpot tonight.”
Ye Feng had not expected praise as well. Letting go of his tightly clenched clothes, he smiled brightly. “Okay!”
Chen Xuanmo’s gaze never left Ye Qiuling. Watching her smile, his lips curved unconsciously.
A gust of wind blew past, shaking the large tree at home. Leaves drifted down like yellow butterflies, one landing softly on Ye Qiuling’s face, bringing a cool touch.
This season was perfect for hotpot. The cold wind howled outside, while indoors the steaming pot bubbled. Dipping vegetables and meat into the broth, the spicy flavor surged upward, making one swallow in anticipation.
As soon as they got home, Ye Qiuling rushed into the kitchen like a gust of wind, bringing all the ingredients for hotpot from the larger kitchen into her smaller one and placing them on the table.
Chen Xuanmo followed, with the two children behind him. Seeing Ye Qiuling washing vegetables at the sink, Ye Feng asked, “Sister, we’re here. Do you need help picking vegetables?”
Ye Qiuling put down what she was holding, turned, and smiled. “Yes, you can help pick vegetables. They’re on the table.”
The three of them looked over. The table was filled with all kinds of meat and vegetables, some of which they had never seen before. Ye Feng picked up a leafy green and asked, “Sister, what is this? It looks like grass. Are we eating grass again?”
Amused, Ye Qiuling laughed and explained, “This is called tonghao. It’s very delicious in a hotpot.”
She picked up a stalk and broke open a small bud at the center. “This part needs to be removed. If you leave it, it will taste bitter, so it won’t be as good. Xiao Feng and Xiao Qi, your task is to remove these buds.”
“Okay!” the two children replied in unison.
Seeing that both children had tasks, Chen Xuanmo pointed at himself. “Then Qiuling, what should I do?”
Ye Qiuling sighed inwardly at his continued role-playing. She pointed at the meat on the table. “You can slice the meat.”
Then she added, “There’s a slicing machine over there. Go bring it here.”
Following her direction, Chen Xuanmo spotted the metal machine and carried it over obediently.
Ye Qiuling cut open the vacuum-sealed meat and placed the large roll into the slicer, securing it before demonstrating how to slice thin pieces.
Looking up, she asked, “Got it? Just slice it into thin pieces like this.”
Chen Xuanmo did not answer immediately. Instead, he took the tool and tried it himself. When he produced a thin slice, he lifted his head with a slight smile. “I understand.”
For some reason, seeing his smile made Ye Qiuling’s heart beat faster. She hastily said, “As long as you understand,” and quickly turned back to the sink to wash vegetables.
Noticing the faint redness at her ears, Chen Xuanmo smiled with satisfaction and continued slicing.
Before long, Xiao Qi and Xiao Feng finished preparing the tonghao. Ye Qiuling told them to go play outside.
Xiao Feng protested, “Sister, I don’t want to go, I want to help.”
Smiling helplessly, Ye Qiuling said, “There’s nothing left to pick. I just need to wash them.”
Seeing that he truly was not needed, Xiao Feng nodded. “Alright, then we’ll go play.”
Ye Qiuling nodded. “Go ahead.”
Ye Qi pulled the reluctant Ye Feng out of the kitchen, leaving only the two of them inside.
After finishing the meat, Chen Xuanmo looked at her back and said, “Qiuling, the meat is done. Is there anything else I should do?”
“No, you can go sit in the living room,” she replied casually.
Receiving no response, she assumed he had left and continued washing the vegetables.
After placing everything into a large basket, she turned around suddenly and stepped back in shock, patting her chest. “You scared me! I thought you had left.”
Seeing that he had startled her, Chen Xuanmo lowered his head and said, “Sorry, I didn’t leave. I wanted to stay here with you.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything?” Ye Qiuling snapped, still shaken.
Unbothered by her tone, he said softly, “I was wrong, Qiuling,” looking at her like a dejected puppy.
Realizing she had overreacted, Ye Qiuling relented. “Alright, take these out for me.”
Seizing the opportunity, Chen Xuanmo quickly picked up the large basket and the meat, carrying them out.
They entered a private room, where he saw a large table with a built-in pot at the center, divided by a metal partition.
Ye Qiuling took the ingredients from the basket and arranged them neatly on the table. Looking at the array of meat and vegetables, she wished she could take a picture to record the moment, but with Chen Xuanmo present, she could not.
Walking to the staircase, she called downstairs, “Xiao Feng, Xiao Qi, Father, Mother, come upstairs for a hotpot!”
“We’re coming, Sister!” Ye Feng shouted, and soon the sound of hurried footsteps echoed as he and Ye Qi ran up.
Seeing them panting, Ye Qiuling could not help but say, “Why are you in such a rush? The food isn’t going anywhere.”
The two boys exchanged a glance, their foreheads damp with sweat, and burst into laughter at their own state.
Ye Qiuling prepared a divided hotpot. On one side, she poured in a spicy red broth, filled with floating chili peppers, clearly very hot. On the other side, she prepared a light winter melon and chicken soup, perfect for Shen Wanru and Ye Dazhi.
She turned up the heat, and just as Shen Wanru and Ye Dazhi arrived and took their seats, the broth began to boil.