Chapter 26 - Welp, that was awkward. (3)
Tong Jiaxin looked over at Tong Xuelu and said awkwardly, “Em, let me help you take this out?”
Tong Xuelu said nonchalantly, “Okay.”
Tong Jiaxin smiled from ear to ear when he heard that. He shouted out in a silly voice as he picked up the bowl of braised pork, “Dinner’s ready!”
Tong Xuelu walked behind him with the bowl of stir fried hot and sour potato stir fry behind him.
After she had walked inside, she scooped out some potatoes and braised pork into a separate bowl and was about to bring them over to Aunty Cai next door when she heard the conversation between the two Tong brothers.
“Don’t worry, Second Brother, I promise you I wasn’t switching sides when I helped her carry the food out earlier!
“I was just pretending to be nice to her so she will stay and cook for us. Don’t you think I am being super smart, Second Brother?”
“No.”
“Why not?? Your cooking is so awful, Second Brother. What if she runs off like Tong Zhenzhen if I am not nicer to her?”
“Shut up!”
Tong Xuelu, “……”
If Tong Jiaming was one who’s nice on the outside but evil on the inside, then Tong Jiaxin was a foolish white bear.
And the foolish white bear thought he could out manipulate her?
He sure thought highly of himself.
When it came time for dinner, Tong Jiaxin ate like someone who hadn’t eaten in three days. He pressed his rice down a few times with a spoon, added a lot of the juice from the braised pork, before he started eating big mouthfuls of them.
The rice combined with the thick juice and the softened braised pork was so delicious that one could cry.
Wuwuwuwu, this was too delicious!
He had never had pork this good his entire life!
Tong Jiaxin decided to continue to pretend to be nice to Tong Xuelu just so he could have meals like this in his future.
He had his mind made up!
Tong Jiaming, too, ate faster than he normally would. Even Tong Mianmian’s cheeks were puffed up from the food, making her looks like a cute little squirrel.
***
Tong Jiaxin was made to go do dishes after dinner.
Tong Xuelu sat at the table with Tong Mianmian on her lap. She said concisely, “I’ve gotten the approval for my household register already and I will be heading to the police station tomorrow to move my household register over.”
Tong Jiaming, “Mmm.”
Tong Xuelu asked, “What’s with the position that was loaned to the Xu family? Are they trustworthy people?”
Tong Jiaming’s voice was low and deep. “Big Brother Xu helped us a lot after our parents’ accident.”
Tong Xuelu, “What about you? What’s your plan for the future? Do you want to go back to school or stay home to take care of your siblings and household chores?”
“……”
Tong Jiaming’s lips twitched violently. “I want to go back to school, naturally, but……”
But he worried that they wouldn’t have enough and, worst, he worried more being brought back to the village by the other relatives!
“Okay, if you want to go back to school then there is no ‘buts’. Stop going to work starting tomorrow and don’t forget to send a letter to those back in Beihe. Let’s go. Take me over to the Xu family right now.”
Tong Xuelu ignored Tong Jiaming’s struggle and started walking out while holding Tong Mianmian’s hand.
Tong Jiaming paused a little and quickly stood up and followed.
It was dark outside and some unknown insects were chirping from somewhere.
The one walking in front had her back straight and gave a very reliable feeling.
Tong Mianmian turned around from up front and waved at her softly, “Hurry up, Second Brother!”
“Okay!”
***
Wen Rugui returned to his dorm room from the laboratory and Zhou Yan, next door to him, happened to walk out.
He smiled at Wen Rugui when he saw him and said, “Man, I had been so busy the last couple of days. I heard that your grandfather pretended to be ill to trick you to go back home for an arranged date. Well, how did it go? Was the girl pretty?”
Wen Rugui, standing with the light to his back, stretched his lips a bit and said, “I have no idea.”
“I guess that’s a no then.”
Wen Rugui gave him a “mmm”.
Zhou Yan tsked. “Your face blindness is so odd. Had I not know you better, I’d think you were doing that on purpose to give others a hard time.”
The moonlight shined down from the eaves and Wen Rugui’s tall and slender figured blended into the light.
Suddenly, a delicate and charming face popped into his mind. The tear-shaped mole on her fair skin was unspeakably seductive.
Under the tall, red wall and the sun, he could see that face clearly.
___