As they walked toward the state-run restaurant, Zhao Rencheng suddenly spoke up, “There’s a rat behind you.”

Zhang Yunxi jumped in fright, “Zhao Mo, quick, quick, help me step on it!”

Zhao Mo, who had been wrestling with Er Gouzi, stopped and looked behind them at the empty street. “There’s nothing there.”

Zhang Yunxi turned her head stiffly.

There was nothing behind her.

Her cheeks puffed up in anger as she glared at Zhao Rencheng. “You tricked me!”

“No, look.”

Zhao Rencheng waved the rat-head wooden carving in front of her.

Zhang Yunxi snapped, “Don’t tense your muscles!”

She punched him again.

Seeing that his facial expression didn’t change at all, she turned away in frustration, deciding to temporarily cut ties with him.

Zhao Rencheng lowered his head, a soft chuckle escaping from deep in his throat.

Teasing her was quite fun.

The four of them arrived at the state-run restaurant, and Zhang Yunxi took charge of ordering. “Steamed perch, braised pork, pig trotters stewed with soybeans, garlic chrysanthemum greens, and five servings of rice.”

“Three yuan and twenty cents, plus three one-catty grain coupons,” the server said.

Zhao Rencheng paid.

The server glanced at them again.

Last time, she had said the two were a couple, but they denied it. Now, just look at them—their eyes were practically glued to each other.

“Take this to the chef.”

Zhao Rencheng took the order slip and handed it to the chef through a small window.

Er Gouzi and Zhao Mo looked around, their curiosity piqued by the state-run restaurant.

Er Gouzi even made a point of learning the characters for “state-run restaurant” from Zhao Mo. He would never tire of showing off.

The chef quickly prepared the dishes, and they carried them to their table.

Er Gouzi wanted to sit next to Zhang Yunxi. He hadn’t even considered sitting next to Uncle Zhao—that would be too intimidating.

And the person across from him had to be Zhao Mo.

Zhao Mo was utterly speechless.

Seeing that he was too shy to help himself to the meat, she picked up a few pieces for him. “Go ahead and eat. Auntie ordered enough for us to be full.”

Er Gouzi scratched his cheek shyly.

He was actually quite shameless, but last night, his grandmother and father had repeatedly warned him not to eat too much. Money didn’t grow on trees, and the fact that Zhang Zhiqing was willing to take him to town and even to the state-run restaurant was already very generous. He couldn’t be rude.

Er Gouzi thought his grandmother and father made a good point.

Even though he was craving the food.

He didn’t dare eat too much.

The first piece of meat was given to him by his aunt. Er Gouzi had originally thought he’d just eat one piece—being able to have even one piece of meat was already very lucky.

He hadn’t expected Zhao Mo to serve him more.

They really were the best of friends!

Hehe.

“Brother Zhao.” A clear, feminine voice rang out.

All four of them looked up. The girl had a round face, big eyes, and a ponytail, giving her a pure and cute appearance.

Zhao Rencheng stared at the girl for a while. Seeing her shy and hesitant gaze, he asked uncertainly, “Are you talking to me?”

“Yes.” Tao Lizhen bit her lip lightly. “Um… am I interrupting?”

She had been pushed in by her friend, who knew she was about to go on a blind date with Zhao Rencheng. When her friend saw Zhao Rencheng eating with a pretty girl, she quickly informed Tao Lizhen.

Tao Lizhen came to take a look and felt a bit uncomfortable.

The girl was strikingly beautiful, the kind you couldn’t ignore even in a crowd. Standing in front of Zhao Rencheng now, Tao Lizhen felt almost humiliated.

“Do you need to talk to him?” Zhang Yunxi asked.

Tao Lizhen nodded nervously.

“It’s fine. We’ll move to another table with the kids.” Zhang Yunxi served food for all three of them and carried the dishes to another table.

Luckily, Tao Lizhen had arrived halfway through the meal, so there was still space to move the dishes.

Zhao Rencheng’s frown deepened. “Comrade, I don’t know you.”

Tao Lizhen sat across from him, her face as red as a monkey’s bottom, and stammered, “I… I’m your blind date.”

Zhao Rencheng raised an eyebrow.

Zhang Yunxi’s eyes lit up.

Ohoho.

A blind date~

No wonder the girl was so shy.

Er Gouzi scratched his head, completely confused. Seeing his aunt’s excitement, he whispered in Zhao Mo’s ear, “I thought Auntie and Uncle Zhao were going to get together.”

Zhao Mo, seeing her aunt’s sparkling eyes and her eagerness to watch the drama, was also puzzled.

How to explain?

In a child’s eyes, any man and woman who interacted a few times were practically dating.

Like how Zhao Rencheng and Zhang Yunxi bickered and played around—it seemed like they were about to start dating.

But Auntie didn’t seem interested.

So it must not be happening!

Zhao Mo softly but firmly warned, “Don’t talk nonsense!”

Er Gouzi: “…”

He was speechless.

She had been thinking the same thing.

“Fine, then it’s not happening.”

Zhao Rencheng also noticed Zhang Yunxi’s gaze and felt inexplicably frustrated. “Sorry, my family hasn’t told me about any blind date. I didn’t know.”

“Huh?”

Tao Lizhen’s lips parted slightly, and she quickly lowered her head, her face and neck turning as red as a ripe parrot.

Oh heavens.

She had just walked up to a man and said, “I’m your blind date.”

Wuwu…

What was wrong with her?!

“If… if they didn’t tell you, then forget it.”

“Mm.” Zhao Rencheng nodded, his expression serious.

His dark, unruly eyes bore into her, making the other person feel immense pressure.

Tao Lizhen hung her head, biting her lower lip in frustration.

It seemed he didn’t like her.

“I… I’ll go now. I won’t disturb you anymore.” Tao Lizhen gave Zhang Yunxi an apologetic smile.

She could also tell.

This girl didn’t like Zhao Rencheng!

Zhang Yunxi reached out regretfully. “Why don’t you stay and chat a bit more?”

“No, my fellow villagers are waiting for me over there. I won’t disturb your meal.” Tao Lizhen quickly fled.

Zhang Yunxi sighed.

She carried the dishes back to the table and sat across from Zhao Rencheng. “That girl gathered up her courage to come talk to you. Couldn’t you have been a little nicer? You looked like she owed you eight million yuan.”

“I wasn’t being harsh!”

Zhao Rencheng rubbed his temples. “I’m not really in a position to be looking for a relationship right now.”

“Why not?”

Zhang Yunxi was genuinely curious.

In the original story, he had ended up alone.

Now he was saying he didn’t want to find a partner.

It seemed.

There was a secret.

Zhao Rencheng said irritably, “Don’t you know?”

Zhang Yunxi was shocked. “Do I?”

Zhao Rencheng: “You do!”

Zhang Yunxi was dumbfounded.

When did she know? How did she not know?