Logically speaking, Han Wei’s large build made it hard to associate him with the term “silly, sweet, and naive.”
But Shen Yingying felt he fit the description perfectly.
Xie Fangzhu’s mouth twitched.
Unable to hold back, he reached out and pressed down on Han Wei’s big head. “Shut up!”
Only then did Han Wei realize he had spoken out of turn.
His sister-in-law was his brother’s woman. His brother naturally knew what kind of person his own woman was—why would he need a little brother like him to remind him?
Men cared about their pride. By openly saying in front of his sister-in-law that his brother liked her, wasn’t he making his brother lose face?
Thinking this, he hunched his broad shoulders and looked pitifully at Xie Fangzhu.
“Brother, sorry, my mouth slipped…”
“What a sight!” Xie Fangzhu glared at him coldly, then glanced toward the back of the cafeteria.
His gaze settled on a certain spot, and his expression softened considerably. He said to Shen Yingying, “Take your time eating. I’m going to find someone.”
Shen Yingying looked in the direction he had just glanced.
There were too many people, and she couldn’t see who he was looking for.
She nodded. “Alright.”
After Xie Fangzhu left, Han Wei rubbed his hands, which felt awkwardly out of place, and gave Shen Yingying an embarrassed look.
Without his brother around, Han Wei felt particularly awkward sitting alone with his sister-in-law.
The stool felt like it was burning his butt—no matter how he sat, it didn’t feel right.
Seeing his restless demeanor, which contrasted sharply with his large build, Shen Yingying couldn’t help but take the initiative to ease the awkwardness. “You and your brother have a great relationship. Usually, I see him with you the most.”
She not only knew his name but also took the initiative to talk to him, and her voice was so gentle—completely different from the sister-in-law he had imagined.
“Oh, actually, Brother gets along well with everyone…” he said sheepishly, his thunderous voice softening. “It’s just that I’m always following him around. He always finds me annoying. See, he’s so nice to others, but he’s really harsh with me…”
Shen Yingying wanted to say it was because Xie Fangzhu was putting on an act with everyone else. Only in front of him could one catch a glimpse of his well-hidden true nature.
She didn’t expose Xie Fangzhu’s secret and instead smiled at Han Wei. “It’s because you’re his friend. Only with friends can you be so straightforward.”
Hearing this, Han Wei couldn’t help but widen his eyes.
He had always seen himself as Xie Fangzhu’s little brother—how could he dare to claim the status of a friend?
But he never expected Shen Yingying to call him Xie Fangzhu’s friend. It truly flattered and surprised him.
He felt that his sister-in-law was not only beautiful but also incredibly kind-hearted.
In an instant, his fondness for Shen Yingying soared by several dozen points.
“Sister-in-law, don’t say that…” he chuckled foolishly, about to continue when Xie Fangzhu returned, carrying a five- or six-year-old boy in his arms.
He quickly shut his mouth and asked Xie Fangzhu, “Brother, why did you bring the little rascal?”
As he spoke, he caught sight of a woman following behind and quickly asked, “Oh, Sister Yin, you’re here too.”
The woman appeared to be around twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, with a gentle appearance and soft, smiling eyes that gave off a very pleasant vibe.
She smiled and answered Han Wei’s question. “Xiao Zhu said Yingying is riding a bike back today, so she can give Jiaozi a ride.”After speaking, she looked at Shen Yingying and said to her, “Yingying, these past few days, Jiaozi happened to sprain his foot, and walking home is really tough. As a mother, I feel both heartbroken and helpless. Today, you happen to be riding your bike, so I really have to thank you. I truly appreciate the trouble.”
Shen Yingying searched through the original host’s memories. The original host didn’t know this woman and had only seen her a few times at the mine.
From the woman’s words, it seemed she wanted Shen Yingying to give the little boy a ride home on her way back.
And since this little boy was brought over by Xie Fangzhu, it meant Xie Fangzhu was aware of this matter.
Thinking of this, she nodded and, like Han Wei, addressed her, “Sister Yin, this is just a small favor on the way. You don’t need to be so polite.”
Seeing her reaction, Yin Rou’s eyes flashed with surprise.
Immediately, she said with deep gratitude, “Yingying, then I’ll trouble you.”
With that, she reminded her child to listen to Shen Yingying, then hurried off with the food she had packed from the cafeteria.
Only after Yin Rou left did Xie Fangzhu explain to Shen Yingying:
“Sister Yin works in the Lamp Room, and her husband works at the meat processing plant. The meat processing plant only has two shifts, and he starts early in the morning. Sister Yin still has to bring him food, so she doesn’t have time to take Jiaozi home. I saw the kid was tired from walking, and since you were riding your bike today, and his home isn’t far from Uncle Chen’s, I thought it’d be convenient to give him a ride.”
From the sound of it, he was the one who had volunteered to arrange this.
Shen Yingying was a bit surprised. When had he become so kind-hearted?
But looking at the little boy’s big, dark eyes, she found him utterly adorable and didn’t dwell on it too much, saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he gets home safely.”
As she spoke, she pinched the boy’s thin cheek. “It’s over two li from here to the residential area. For such a little kid like Jiaozi to walk back, that’s really impressive!”
Xie Fangzhu nodded and set the little boy down. “Then Han Wei and I will go to the meeting now.”
Xie Fangzhu had to lead the workers in a pre-shift meeting every day before going down the mine. Since they had left a bit late today, Shen Yingying was afraid of delaying his time and quickly nodded, “Alright, go ahead.”
Before leaving, Xie Fangzhu also pinched Jiaozi’s cheek. “Jiaozi, be obedient, alright?”
Jiaozi’s clever eyes looked at Xie Fangzhu, then at Shen Yingying, and he said seriously, “Uncle Xie, I remember what you said. I’ll be good and listen to Sister Yingying.”
Xie Fangzhu’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Earlier, when he had spoken to Jiaozi about Shen Yingying, he had referred to her as Aunt Shen, but when it came out of Jiaozi’s mouth, it turned into “sister.”
He was an uncle, and Shen Yingying was a sister—the generational titles didn’t quite match.
He was only seven years older than Shen Yingying, so how had they ended up in different generations?
But then he thought, no matter how mismatched the titles sounded, Shen Yingying was still his wife, and his heart eased.
…
Shen Yingying placed the bicycle lock in the front basket, pushed the bike back a few steps.
Seeing Jiaozi standing obediently beside her without moving, she thought to herself how well-behaved this child was.
She swung her leg over the bike and called for Jiaozi to get on.
Her gaze fell on Jiaozi’s big, dark eyes, and she was slightly taken aback. Wasn’t this kid’s gaze a bit too focused on her? The intensity of his stare made it seem as if he was afraid she would run away.
Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind.
After Jiaozi settled in, she casually asked him, “Jiaozi, what did Uncle Xie say to you today?”The child behind her fell silent for a moment, then said, “He told me to listen to Sister Yingying.”
“Was there anything else?”
The child answered firmly, “No!”
“Ah?” Shen Yingying exaggeratedly raised her voice, then lowered it mysteriously, saying, “But my sharp ears heard Uncle Xie say something else to you. Little one, the noses of children who lie grow long, you know.”