Chapter 92: Self-Righteous

When Bi Qiao’an came out of the kitchen, she found that only Shen Yanming was left in the living room.

“Where’s Zhang Heping? Did he leave?”

“Mm,” Shen Yanming replied with a nod.

Bi Qiao’an placed two plates of fried steamed buns on the dining table, and Shen Yanming got up to ladle out two bowls of seaweed and egg drop soup from the kitchen.

“I made quite a bit today. I thought Zhang Heping would stay for dinner.”

Shen Yanming set one of the steaming bowls of soup before Bi Qiao’an. “He can’t always come to our house to freeload meals. Heping would feel embarrassed too.”

“I suppose you’re right. We’re going to cook anyway, so it’s just a matter of adjusting the portions. By the way, does Zhang Heping know how to cook?” Bi Qiao’an knew that his few friends were not the type to enter the kitchen.

Shen Yanming chuckled. “His pantry is mostly filled with instant noodles.”

“Alright, he’s quite a character!”

After the couple finished their meal, Shen Yanming proceeded to the kitchen to wash the dishes while Bi Qiao’an reached for her phone to send messages to Song Wennuan and Jiang Shanshan.

Bi Qiao’an: “I’m sending you a link. Take a look first, and we’ll chat after you’ve read it!”

Bi Qiao’an sent the introduction of Qingli Mountain to their sisters’ group chat. Ten minutes later, she followed up with another message.

Bi Qiao’an: “Have you finished reading? What do you think?”

Song Wennuan: “Are you planning to go there?”

Bi Qiao’an: “Yeah, during the National Day holiday. Are you interested in going together?”

Jiang Shanshan: “I want to go, but the price is unaffordable for ordinary people!”

Bi Qiao’an didn’t know what to say for a moment. After some thought, she replied: “The price is a bit high, but it should be worth it. If you don’t consider the price, do you want to go?”

Song Wennuan: “I want to go, but going would cost me three months’ salary. It’s a bit painful.”

Jiang Shanshan: “It’s even worse for me. My family hasn’t worked for a long time, and I just transferred 5,000 yuan to them.”

Bi Qiao’an: “Shanshan, didn’t your family members sign up to be laborers?”

Jiang Shanshan: “They did. They’ve been working themselves half to death recently, but at least it’s a job. However, it hasn’t been a month yet, and they haven’t received their salary.”

Bi Qiao’an: “So… you’re not going? Yanming’s few friends are also going, and some young people from our unit are going too. If you go, maybe you’ll hit it off with someone.”

Song Wennuan: “Xiao An, I know you mean well, but your husband’s classmates are too well-off. They definitely won’t be interested in girls from ordinary families like us.”

Bi Qiao’an: “Sis Wennuan, what are you saying! You’re such a good person. Whoever marries you will be lucky. Yanming’s friends are not the type to look down on the poor and love the rich. I’ve mentioned you to them privately, and they all have a very good impression of you.”

Jiang Shanshan: “You’ve become quite bold, little girl. You’ve been doing so many things on the sly.”

Bi Qiao’an: “I’m just worried about you, darling! Haven’t you thought about how abnormal this year has been and whether it will become more severe in the future?”

Song Wennuan: “What does this have to do with us finding a partner?”

Bi Qiao’an: “I was thinking that having a trustworthy person by your side might give you more courage when facing difficulties. Also, having an emotional pillar can provide more motivation to live when facing adversity.”

Song Wennuan: “But my family is my support. They will give me courage and motivation, and I will work hard for them.”

Jiang Shanshan: “Yeah, Qiao’an, finding a partner really depends on fate. Like you said, Shen Yanming’s friends have a good impression of us, but that’s just a good impression. If they really liked someone, how could they not leave a contact number and privately ask us out for a meal or a movie?”

Looking at Song Wennuan and Jiang Shanshan’s messages, Bi Qiao’an realized that she had fallen into a misunderstanding.

She and Shen Yanming were people without family. They were each other’s closest and most trusted companions. Being with him made her feel warm, sweet, dependent, and relaxed.

Therefore, Bi Qiao’an had never paid attention to the power of family. She only knew that in the apocalypse, one needed someone to accompany them.

So she wanted her good sisters to also have an understanding and supportive partner. That’s why she wanted to play matchmaker because Shen Yanming’s friends were trustworthy in her eyes.

But who can say for sure when it comes to fate? Just as Shanshan said, if someone was really interested in another person, how could they not even ask for a contact number? Why would they need her to create opportunities?

When Shen Yanming finished tidying up the kitchen, he saw Bi Qiao’an sitting on the sofa listlessly.

“What’s wrong?” Shen Yanming sat down beside her and asked.

After handing her phone to Shen Yanming, Bi Qiao’an turned sideways, hugging his waist tightly with both hands. With her face pressed against his solid back, she said in a muffled voice, “What I thought was good intentions turned out to be just self-righteousness.”

Shen Yanming quickly finished reading the chat history. “Your intentions were good, and your actions didn’t harm anyone’s interests. When you discovered the problem, you also had the courage to admit your mistake. So, I think my Qiao’an is a wonderful girl.”

With that, Shen Yanming hugged Bi Qiao’an in front of him and looked into her eyes seriously. “The best thing about my Qiao’an is that she never forces others to accept her values. She has her own ideas but can also listen to other people’s opinions.”

Bi Qiao’an felt a little embarrassed by the praise and shyly said to him, “But I really wanted to travel with them. Even if they and Zhang Heping and the others don’t hit it off, it doesn’t mean they won’t be attracted to someone else.”

After saying that, Bi Qiao’an realized that she had made the same mistake again. “Oh no, I did it again. I… I just hope they’ll be happy.”

“I know, but when it comes to matters of the heart, it’s like drinking water—only the drinker knows whether it’s cold or warm. We just need to be observers.”

“Alright then!”

Bi Qiao’an nestled in Shen Yanming’s arms and picked up her phone to send a message to the sisters’ group chat.

Bi Qiao’an: “Sisters, are you really not considering going to Qingli Mountain? Your Xiao An will be there to accompany you!”

The result was as expected. Song Wennuan and Jiang Shanshan declined. They planned to wash clothes and sleep in during the holiday, then watch a movie and have a big meal together, which could be considered celebrating the festival.

Bi Qiao’an sighed: “Alright, then I wish you a happy time. Yanming and I will bring you gifts.”

Seeing her put down her phone, Shen Yanming took out a bowl of papaya and milk from the space. “Okay, don’t be upset. Have some fruit.”

Bi Qiao’an looked at the large bowl in her hand, and the color was quite beautiful. “Why did you add yogurt to the fruit?”

Shen Yanming placed his right hand against his lips and chuckled. “While supplementing vitamins, it also provides calcium. Haven’t you noticed that you’ve been developing particularly well recently?”

“I… I’m in my twenties. What development are you talking about?!” Bi Qiao’an said with a huff.  

“Who was it that had to change a whole set of underwear because they were too small?” 

“Humph, I want to smash the bowl.”

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