The tomato fish hotpot was exceptionally delicious—the fish meat tender and smooth, and the little gluten knots, once cooked through, soaked up all the tangy broth, making them savory and delightful.
Xu Zhizhi wasn’t afraid of the heat, taking two bites at once.
“Eating like this isn’t good for your health,” Fu Chengyan said.
Xu Zhizhi paused, then replied with absolute certainty, “I’m perfectly fine.”
Though not particularly robust, she had never fallen ill.
“You shouldn’t eat scalding food—it can make you sick.”
“It’s too fragrant; I can’t help it,” she said. “Besides, I’ve always eaten this way.”
Xu Zhizhi spoke earnestly, “There’s no problem at all.”
To have a fragrant meal placed before her and be told not to touch it was like placing a steamed bun before a beggar or a gold bar before a pauper—who could resist?
“Then what should I do? Take away your bowl and chopsticks?” Fu Chengyan teased. “I’m afraid you’d burst into tears right away.”
Xu Zhizhi stayed silent, thinking that if her bowl and chopsticks were really taken away, she would glare at him fiercely.
′~Super fierce!
Fu Chengyan changed the subject, making casual conversation. “How do you plan to spend New Year’s Day?”
“I don’t know.”
In the past, she had always spent it with Lin Xitang and Sheng Sijia. Later, after Sheng Sijia was no longer around, it was just her, Lin Xitang, and Zhou Che keeping her company.
This year, Lin Xitang was going to Hong Kong to study under an elderly gentleman, and Zhou Che would accompany her.
“I’ll spend it alone,” she said.
Fu Chengyan paused. “How will you spend it alone?”
“Alone, just like that.”
Xu Zhizhi didn’t place much importance on any holidays, including her own birthday. Without reminders from Lin Xitang and the others, Xu Zhizhi would hardly remember.
She was very good at comforting herself—that’s how Lin Xitang described her.
By not dwelling on unhappy things, she avoided so many gynecological issues.
At the time, Xu Zhizhi had looked bewildered. She simply felt it was better to forget unimportant matters. Her mind was packed full of storylines, with no extra space left for insignificant people.
“Zhongshan Square has a New Year’s Eve event with a fireworks show. You can see it clearly from a private room at Sheng Yun Zhai. Would you like to watch?” Fu Chengyan asked her.
Xu Zhizhi lifted her head from her bowl, curiosity piqued. “Can they set off fireworks in Shengjing?”
Fu Chengyan smiled, and Xu Zhizhi instinctively felt that this person seemed to handle everything with ease and foresight—including this matter.
Perhaps it really was possible?
“Of course not. It’s an LED fireworks show—the electronic version,” Fu Chengyan said, his tone unhurried.
“…” The fish hotpot was fragrant, the gluten knots delicious. Xu Zhizhi took advantage of his inattention to eat the gluten knots one by one.
“Sheng Yun Zhai has a dish called Honey Pepper Crispy Fried Eel Balls that’s quite good. Kids love it.”
“I’m not going out,” Xu Zhizhi said. “The outside world is terrifying.”
Now Fu Chengyan was curious. “What’s so terrifying about it?”
“There are a lot of annoying people outside. I don’t like them, and I don’t want to go out.”
Fu Chengyan began to understand. As a seasoned homebody, it was normal for Xu Zhizhi to lack curiosity about the outside world and even feel fearful of it.
But her mention of “a lot of annoying people” suggested that something unpleasant had happened to her before—perhaps a conflict with others or…
Fu Chengyan couldn’t quite figure it out for now.
“Alright,” he said. “I’ll bring you two balloons then to liven up the atmosphere.”
Don’t all kids love that—balloons with all sorts of pictures on them, tied to their wrists with a string. His little niece adored them; even when she was just babbling, she’d point and say “ah-ah” to get one.
“I want one shaped like a little fish,” Xu Zhizhi thought for a moment and said.
“Alright, and we’ll get a little flower too, one on each hand, so you can entertain yourself.”
He imagined the scene and suddenly felt like laughing.
This is like coaxing a child.
“Are you laughing at me?” Xu Zhizhi’s tone carried a hint of seriousness. “You can’t laugh at me. I didn’t say I wanted two.”
“And I definitely didn’t say I wanted to tie them to my wrists.”
Fu Chengyan raised an eyebrow. “Then where do you want to tie them?”
“I don’t want to tie them. I want them to float up to the ceiling.”
“Why?”
“No reason, just because,” she took a bite of fish. “I like it that way.”
Fu Chengyan nodded. “Wouldn’t just one be lonely?”
“Too many would be too noisy. I don’t like that.”
This was contradictory. Was it that she didn’t like noise, or was she speaking for the balloons, saying “they don’t like it”?
Thinking about it this way, Fu Chengyan realized the girl’s home was exceptionally quiet.
Staying alone in a quiet room for a long time would only make someone more reluctant to go outside.
“Our company just released a new multifunctional robotic dog. Do you like dogs?”
Xu Zhizhi was curious. “What can a multifunctional robotic dog do?”
“Serve tea, help take out the trash, answer your questions, and even take you for a couple of laps around the living room.”
Xu Zhizhi asked cautiously, “Like how you used to supervise my walking?”
Fu Chengyan thought for two seconds. “If needed, I can have the tech department hold an overnight meeting.”
Making one in a short time wouldn’t be a problem.
Xu Zhizhi looked horrified. That sounded pretty scary. If it weren’t for not wanting to waste the fish hotpot, she’d wish she were a hundred thousand miles away from Fu Chengyan.
“How about a cleaning robot? Who usually cleans your place?” Fu Chengyan came over every day, sometimes later, sometimes earlier, but he had never seen a housekeeper at her home.
Still, the floors were spotless, shiny enough to see your reflection, and the tables were wiped clean every day.
Xu Zhizhi suddenly put down her chopsticks and waved her two fair, delicate little hands in front of Fu Chengyan, proudly saying, “My hands cleaned it.”
Looking at her fair, unblemished hands without a single callus, Fu Chengyan praised her. “Then you’re amazing.”
Xu Zhizhi smiled, casually stuffing another bite of fish into her mouth.
Who doesn’t like being praised?
She was no exception.
“With such a big home, is it tiring to clean?” Fu Chengyan asked. After all, cleaning this place would indeed be a hassle for a young girl.
“It is tiring.”
“Next time, I’ll help you clean. I can mop the floors and dust for you.”
After a brief two-second thought, Xu Zhizhi refused. “No.”
“Why?”
“Just no.”
Fu Chengyan felt a bit disappointed. “Alright then. If you ever get too busy, remember to call me.”
Xu Zhizhi thought she would never be too busy. She could split the cleaning over three days.
She was clever, after all. >o<
“Our company has cleaning robots. If you want one, I can give you a discount.”
Xu Zhizhi asked, “Are they noisy?”
“Completely silent.”
Xu Zhizhi was tempted. Being able to clean without lifting a finger sounded great. “Then I want one. No, two.”
She held up two fingers in a “V” sign, as if playfully pleading.
One cleans the living room and kitchen, the other cleans the bedroom.
Working together, they won’t tire themselves out.
Fu Chengyan agreed, “You should have a robot housekeeper assigned to you.”
“Is there such a thing?”
“Not yet, but I’ll work hard to make one.”
“Alright.” Xu Zhizhi offered a faint encouragement. “That’s impressive. Keep it up.”
“Thank you, I’ll do my best.”