Chapter 188

Everything on Zhuzi’s side is as usual, but he has no familiar friends in the whole school, which makes him particularly nostalgic for the days in Qingfeng Town when he went to school and played during recess with Fantuan and Doubao.

Most of his classmates were one or two years older than Zhuzi, who was only twelve years old. He was the youngest child in the class. The thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girls were at the age when they began to experience the stirrings of young love. Zhuzi has handsome features a gentle personality, and a smile that always made people feel like a breath of fresh spring air making it hard for many female classmates to resist sneaking glances at him.

However, in this era, there is a great wall between men and women, and girls are generally reserved and shy. At most, they only dare to sneak a glance and dare not take two more glances.

Everyone only knew his name was Zhang Xiuyuan, a poetic name fitting his demeanor. Unlike the other rowdy boys, he was always quiet and not very talkative. When someone asked him a question, he would politely answer with a smile, but he would never say an extra word or ask about others. He always listens to classes silently and does exercises silently. When the teacher asks questions, he can always give the correct answer quickly and accurately. When he wrote on the blackboard, his handwriting was so good that it overshadowed the teachers, causing the teachers to hesitate to call on him again, as it was embarrassing to have a student’s handwriting outshine their own.

He is not out of touch with the group and integrates well with this class, but in fact, he always drifts away from the group and does not truly consider himself a part of this class. 

No one knew what he was thinking.

Perhaps he was like that because he was a transfer student, but to them, he was a very special presence.

The middle school and elementary school were not far apart. Every day after school, Zhuzi would first run to the elementary school to meet Fantuan and Xiao Doubao. Then they would go together to pick up Xiao Roubao, Xiao Tangyuan, and Tiantian and head back to the store for lunch. Only when he was with Fantuan and the other kids did Zhuzi feel truly alive and real, unlike the elegant shell that often seemed to drift off in the seventh-grade classroom?

The little ones had all adapted to their new routines. The older brothers took good care of their younger siblings. The store had a table reserved for them to eat and do their homework. Sometimes, they finish their homework after lunch before taking a nap. The older brothers would then take the younger ones back to kindergarten before returning to their own classes.

Xiao Roubao, who could now eat at home, finally got enough to eat. Uncle Yang, having found a pattern, always prepared meals for him at 1.5 times Fantuan’s portion, which was just enough to fill him up.

Except for taking Tiantian to kindergarten in the morning, Zhao Xinmei didn’t have to worry about the children. Fantuan and Zhuzi took care of picking them up and dropping them off, and they also helped with their studies. What they taught Xiao Tangyuan and Xiao Roubao was also how they taught Tiantian. Zhao Xinmei found that she was even more relaxed after starting work at Su Xiaoxiao’s restaurant, and Tiantian became more cheerful and confident, improving every day. Their meals were also taken care of at the store. Zhao Xinmei often said that she could never repay Su Xiaoxiao’s kindness, no matter how hard she worked in her life.

Su Xiaoxiao has been in school for some time now, and as the children’s lives and studies fell into a routine, she also felt more at ease.

Returning to school after more than a decade felt like a different lifetime to Su Xiaoxiao, and indeed it was.

February in the capital was still bitterly cold, the chill cutting through the air. The old man felt sorry for Zhuzi having to commute back and forth in such cold weather and wake up early the next day. So, from Monday to Friday, Zhuzi stayed at Su Xiaoxiao’s house and only went back to his own home on weekends. Zhuzi initially didn’t want to go back on weekends either, preferring to stay at the store to help, but Su Xiaoxiao didn’t agree, so Zhuzi still returned to spend time with his parents and grandfather on weekends.

The older children were responsible for picking up and dropping off the younger ones. They had three meals a day at the store. If they got tired of the store’s breakfast, they would take the little ones out for something different. When they were in class, Cotton Candy stayed at the store. Speaking of cotton candy, it had grown much bigger, more than doubling in size, with increasingly long and shiny fur. Its gentle nature and knack for being adorable made it very popular with the restaurant’s customers. Xiao Doubao had even drawn a self-portrait of Cotton Candy that hung on the wall. It was now treated like one of the children, serving as the mascot of the store. Customers felt something was missing if they didn’t see it or the children every day.

Su Xiaoxiao and Han Cheng would leave for school together every morning after having breakfast at the store. This routine matched Su Xiaoxiao’s expectations.

Today is really cold. Han Cheng ignored the gaze of others as his arm wrapped around Su Xiaoxiao’s shoulder as they walked to school, almost pulling her into his embrace.

Han Cheng, it’s okay, I’m not feeling cold,” Su Xiaoxiao said, changing to hold Han Cheng’s hand. Since arriving in the capital, she had bought two coats, but her favorite was still the one Han Cheng had brought back from Qingfeng Town when he was on a business trip. She had also bought Han Cheng a coat of the same color and style. Today, she had asked him to wear it. Now, walking down the street, they looked very much like a modern couple in matching outfits.

Since being with Han Cheng, Su Xiaoxiao has always revolved around the children. Later, after giving birth to twins, she had even less personal time with Han Cheng. It could be said that apart from the days leading up to their arranged marriage, she and Han Cheng had hardly been alone together.

Su Xiaoxiao squeezed Han Cheng’s hand gently. “Han Cheng, all these years, our world has been revolving around the children. I never thought we’d only have time for each other when we entered university. Moments like these, just the two of us, are rare.” Previously, wherever they went, they always brought along a few of the children. A time like this was truly rare.

Han Cheng gently pinched the back of Su Xiaoxiao’s hand and said, “You’ve been working hard these years. Now that Xiao Roubao and Xiao Tangyuan have grown up, Fantuan, Xiao Doubao, and Zhuzi can help take care of their younger siblings. We don’t have to worry about their three meals a day. We’ll have a lot of extra time in the future. If you like it, I’ll try to spend more time alone with you in the future.”

Su Xiaoxiao’s eyes curled with a smile. “We’re an old married couple. You don’t have to be so polite.”

Han Cheng took advantage of the lack of people on the street and secretly kissed Su Xiaoxiao’s forehead and said, “Then you can spend more time with me. Your energy has been focused on the children all these years, and now you’re running the store too. It’s going to grow bigger and bigger in the future, leaving you with even less time for me.”

Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but laugh and cry. What’s wrong with this tone of grievance?

Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but laugh and cry at his somewhat aggrieved tone. “Han Cheng, you’re such a grown man, yet you still want to compete with the children for attention?” She tiptoed to pat his head affectionately, and a playful smile appeared on her lips. “Big baby, be obedient.”

Han Cheng grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips, giving it a playfully bitten bite. “Nope.”

It’s rare to see Han Cheng’s childish side, so Su Xiaoxiao was overjoyed and said, “Are you a little puppy?”

Han Cheng lowered his voice. “That belongs to you.” 

Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t stop laughing; her waist bent from the joy. These cheesy endearments were truly something.

Amidst laughter and banter, they soon arrived at the school.

Han Cheng’s laboratory was some distance from Su Xiaoxiao’s teaching building. Every day, Han Cheng would escort her to her classroom first before handing over her backpack and then returning to the laboratory. Along the way, they would often encounter many passing students. Every day, everyone would see this strikingly attractive couple coming to school together—the tall, handsome man and the petite, charming woman. One rarely spoke, while the other smiled even before speaking. Despite their differences, their magnetic field inexplicably harmonized, making it hard for anyone not to turn around and take another look.

Mu Xiaocao ran over, holding a book, and said, “Sister Xiaoxiao, why are you so early today?”

It was truly a coincidence. Mu Xiaocao not only belonged to the same department as Su Xiaoxiao but was also in the same class. Naturally, the two had become good friends.

Mu Xiaocao was a recent graduate, only nineteen years old this year. Despite the nearly ten-year age gap between her and Su Xiaoxiao, it didn’t affect their friendship in the slightest.

Su Xiaoxiao had initially thought that Mu Xiaocao, with her simple dress, was from a poor rural family, striving to change her fate through education. To her surprise, both Mu Xiaocao’s parents were engineers in the oil fields, and her grandparents were also well-respected. In these times, even if she didn’t come from a wealthy background, she was born into a comfortable life where everything was provided for.

“Han Cheng had something urgent to attend to in the lab, so we left early,” Su Xiaoxiao explained.

Mu Xiaocao’s envious gaze shifted away from Han Cheng. “Sister Xiaoxiao, your partner is really good. He is tall and handsome, and he treats you so well. When will I ever meet such a good partner?”

“We’re already an old married couple with four children. There’s nothing to envy about,” Su Xiaoxiao then continued. “We have so many handsome classmates in our school. You’ll meet someone you like eventually.”

Mu Xiaocao shook her head and said, “I won’t be looking here unless he can come back with me to the oil fields.”

Mu Xiaocao had said countless times that the city was small and cramped. All the buildings could be seen at a glance, the air wasn’t good, and you couldn’t even ride horses. After graduating, she planned to apply to return to the oil fields and let the sky be her limit.

Many people longed for the splendor of the big city, especially the capital. Once they came, they didn’t want to leave, including Su Xiaoxiao herself. Not because she liked the capital, but for the children. After all, the best educational resources and job opportunities were in the capital. If it were just for herself, she would prefer to return to the first-tier city she had lived in in her past life. The climate was pleasant, with evergreen trees making it more suitable for living.

Mu Xiaocao is one of the few exceptions. She is not attracted by the glory of the city. No matter how big the city was, it was just a small square in her eyes because she had seen true vastness.

“Why didn’t you study petroleum extraction technology and choose economics instead?” Su Xiaoxiao had asked her before.

Mu Xiaocao replied, “Because my father said that by studying economics well, I could better develop our hometown. That’s also the direction of future development.”

To be honest, Su Xiaoxiao admired people like her who learned skills outside and then returned to contribute to their hometown. She admitted she couldn’t do that herself.

“By the way, Sister Xiaoxiao, several people came to our dormitory yesterday to find you.” 

Su Xiaoxiao: “Why are they looking for me?”

Mu Xiaocao twirled her braid with her fingers. “Well, actually, they were looking for me. They asked if I knew you and if I could get them a meal ticket. They wanted to eat at your restaurant but didn’t have a ticket.”

“What did you say?” Su Xiaoxiao asked.

Mu Xiaocao replied with confidence, “I said I didn’t know you.”

A female voice intervened: “Mu Xiaocao!”

Hmm? “Mu Xiaocao turned around.

Another female classmate with braided hair questioned her, “Why are you lying? Didn’t you say you didn’t know Su Xiaoxiao? Why didn’t you introduce me to her?”

Mu Xiaocao’s clear big eyes blinked twice and said, “You wanted meal tickets, right? So I’m helping you get to know her. She said there aren’t any.”

The female classmate was half doubtful and half uncertain, seeing Mu Xiaocao’s sincere expression. She couldn’t be sure if it was true or not.

Mu Xiaocao continued, “You don’t have to thank me. It’s just a small favor.”

The classmate said, “Did I say I wanted to thank you?”

Mu Xiaocao turned around and said, “Sister Xiaoxiao, let’s go quickly. Class is about to start. No meal ticket means no meal tickets. You don’t have to feel embarrassed; I’m not close with her either.”

Su Xiaoxiao: “…” This girl really always surprises her.

Previously, Su Xiaoxiao had worried that her simple-minded nature might encounter some difficulties in the path of economic development for her hometown. But it seemed she had underestimated her. This ability to lie without blinking really put Su Xiaoxiao to shame.

“If you’re not close, then forget it. If you were, I might have considered leaving one for you.” Su Xiaoxiao suddenly wanted to see how Mu Xiaocao would react.

As a result, Mu Xiaocao didn’t even look at the female classmate and held Su Xiaoxiao’s arm excitedly: “Really, Sister Xiaoxiao? You don’t serve pork, right? Can I go eat there?”

Su Xiaoxiao replied, “No, we serve pork for all fourteen meals a week.”

Mu Xiaocao: “…”