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Chapter 46
The world is indeed very small.
Ji Qingyu never expected that Chen Yuwei’s sister-in-law would turn out to be Luo Xuan. The situation’s absurdity lasted only a few seconds before she regained her composure, her expression returning to normal.
In contrast, Luo Xuan was visibly shaken and stared at Ji Qingyu in a daze. If Chen Yuwei hadn’t pulled her to sit down, she might have continued standing there.
“Jia Yuan’s mom, let me introduce you to my sister-in-law.” Seeing this, Chen Yuwei felt a flash of suspicion. She even wondered if these two knew each other and perhaps had some past conflict. But upon seeing Ji Qingyu’s calm demeanor, she dismissed the thought.
Ji Qingyu elegantly nodded at Luo Xuan with her cup as a greeting.
Perhaps because she hadn’t experienced the events of five years ago herself and had only read about them, Ji Qingyu felt very calm facing Luo Xuan, treating her as a stranger. She neither liked nor disliked her. Looking at her was no different from looking at a stranger on the street.
“Xiao Xuan, this is the mother of Yichuan’s classmate,” Chen Yuwei said smoothly, understanding that Ji Qingyu’s simple nod and smile meant she didn’t want to engage in conversation or deepen their acquaintance. She didn’t mention Ji Qingyu’s full name or the surname “Feng.”
Luo Xuan, pale-faced, softly said, “Hello.”
“Are you feeling unwell?” Chen Yuwei asked with concern. “Would you like something to eat?”
The Chen siblings had a very close relationship, and Chen Yuwei extended her care to her brother’s girlfriend.
“No, it’s probably just the heat,” Luo Xuan replied quietly, lowering her eyes. Being part of Jing City’s elite circle, she had been around many people since childhood. She quickly composed herself, feeling the warmth of her future sister-in-law’s hand on hers.
“Indeed, Jing City’s summers are long and hot. We’re planning to go somewhere cooler when we have time,” Chen Yuwei said, not neglecting Ji Qingyu. “Speaking of which, my son refuses to go to school every morning now, constantly asking when summer vacation starts. It’s driving me crazy.”
Ji Qingyu laughed, “Yuan Bao is the same. She asked her dad the other day if she could skip school after graduating from kindergarten. She said she wants to start working soon.”
Luo Xuan listened absentmindedly as they talked about their children. She could sense the genuine warmth and happiness in Ji Qingyu’s words. She pursed her lips, took the cup from the waiter, and sipped the tea. It was warm, but it felt cold in her heart.
“Sister,” she called, “I have something to do. I need to go.”
Chen Yuwei turned to look at her, smiled, and handed her the booklet, gently reminding her, “Take this home and review it with Zhizhou. Manager Wang said the menu can be adjusted.”
Luo Xuan obediently replied, “Okay.”
From an angle Chen Yuwei couldn’t see, her hand trembled slightly as she put the booklet into her bag. Gathering her courage, she looked at Ji Qingyu, “I’ll be leaving now. You two continue chatting.”
Ji Qingyu nodded calmly. Luo Xuan tried to walk steadily, but there was still a hint of panic in her steps. Chen Yuwei watched her for a moment, puzzled, then turned her attention back to Ji Qingyu, who was focused on eating her caramel pudding, looking thoughtful.
Strange.
Why did she feel like Xiao Xuan knew Mrs. Feng?
It was normal for them to know each other. Even though the Luo family had many descendants, and Old Luo might not recognize them all, Luo Xuan was now a Luo family lady with a trust fund and dividends. Ji Qingyu, having married Feng Chengze and become Mrs. Feng, was well-known in Jing City’s social circles. With so many gatherings and banquets, it was inevitable they would meet. But Mrs. Feng acted as if she didn’t know Xiao Xuan at all.
“Yichuan’s mom, try this caramel pudding. It’s delicious, sweet but not too much,” Ji Qingyu said with a smile. “I’ll pack some for Yuan Bao to eat later. She’ll definitely like it.”
Chen Yuwei saw her clear eyes and sincere smile and thought maybe she was overthinking it. Maybe Xiao Xuan was just not feeling well today.
“I’ll try it too.”
Ji Qingyu’s phone vibrated with replies from her friends and husband.
Chu Ning: [Finish everything, and I’ll send you a red envelope.]
Ji Qingyu raised an eyebrow. Did she care about a red envelope now? She was no longer the person who would rush for a red envelope. She typed back: [Yay, I want a red envelope, more more!! Rich lady hugs!!]
Then she saw her husband’s message: [Pick up Yuan Bao and come to Yisheng.]
This was even worse.
Completely ignoring her pain, he gave her a task. What a dog of a man, truly something else.
She pretended not to see it, put away her phone, and continued chatting with Chen Yuwei. At four o’clock, after Chen Yuwei paid the bill, they took the elevator to the underground parking lot. The pink and black cars drove out one after the other, heading towards the kindergarten.
At 4:30, they arrived at the kindergarten gate on time. The parents of the younger class were already lined up, and Ji Qingyu and Chen Yuwei’s arrival drew attention. The parents chatted enthusiastically, mostly about their children.
Since they were standing together, Teacher Zhou called out their names together: “Feng Jiayuan, Xu Yichuan!”
The two little ones rushed out hand in hand like crazy. Not only was Feng Jiayuan happy, but Xu Yichuan was also very excited today. Although his grandfather had told him in the morning that his mother would pick him up, he was still just as excited. After the excitement, the two mothers held their children’s hands and were about to part ways in the parking lot. Xu Yichuan wanted to get into Feng Jiayuan’s car.
Feng Jiayuan sternly stopped him, “You go to your home, and I’ll go to mine.”
She really didn’t want to say it, but boys were too clingy and annoying! That’s why she decided to be a girl!
Xu Yichuan awkwardly asked, “When can you invite me to your house to play?”
Chen Yuwei had a helpless expression.
Feng Jiayuan looked up at Ji Qingyu, deciding to let her “secretary” make the decision for her. She didn’t really want to invite Xu Yichuan over, but he was too persistent.
Ji Qingyu replied, “Xu Yichuan, sorry, but today Feng Jiayuan has to pick up her dad from work.”
Xu Yichuan sighed, “Alright, I won’t go. I’m a bit scared of her dad.”
This was the truth. Few kids in the Rose Class weren’t afraid of Feng Jiayuan’s dad. He looked a bit stern, like someone who might scold children.
Ji Qingyu tried to hold back her laughter, and Chen Yuwei explained apologetically, “He thinks Jiayuan’s dad is too tall.”
“See you tomorrow, Master!” Xu Yichuan quickly retreated to his mother’s side.
Feng Jiayuan waved, “I hope I don’t see you tomorrow.”
Xu Yichuan whispered, “But tomorrow is only Friday, not Saturday.”
…
Ji Qingyu was still laughing after getting into the car with her daughter, “Xu Yichuan is really funny.”
Although Feng Jiayuan thought so too, she wasn’t happy to hear her mom praise another kid. She pouted, her lips forming a perfect pout. Ji Qingyu saw this and pinched her soft lips, “But in Mom’s heart, Yuan Bao is the cutest treasure.”
After some coaxing, the child was happy again.
Ji Qingyu couldn’t help but wonder. She wasn’t this jealous as a child. Who did Yuan Bao take after? Feng Chengze always didn’t seem like the jealous type. But children don’t need to be like their mom or dad, just like themselves.
On the way to Yisheng Group, Ji Qingyu asked the driver to stop at a pharmacy.
Feng Chengze spent too much time using his eyes every day, and she occasionally noticed the red veins in his eyes. Although he was energetic, he wasn’t made of iron and surely felt tired sometimes. She hadn’t seen any eye drops in his office. She had researched this brand of artificial tears online for a couple of days and even asked an ophthalmologist before deciding to buy it. Whether he needed it or not was one thing, but she still wanted to buy it for him.
After buying it, they went straight to Yisheng Group’s underground parking lot. This time, after getting out of the car, Ji Qingyu didn’t look at the parking spot with the ground lock.
Assistant Li took them to Feng Chengze’s office via the special elevator. It was now past five in the afternoon, with more than half an hour left before the end of the workday. Ji Qingyu was much more relaxed this time, sitting on the single sofa with Feng Jiayuan, deliberately avoiding the double one.
“I bought you something.”
After Feng Chengze hung up the phone, she got up and walked to his desk, taking out a box of artificial tears from the bag and handing it to him, “I heard it can relieve eye fatigue. Use it if you want.”
He didn’t take it immediately but looked straight at her.
“Don’t want it?”
“I do.” He leaned over and took it, then instinctively looked at their daughter drawing on the coffee table, unable to resist holding her hand.
Ji Qingyu frowned, signaling with her eyes that someone else was here, and that someone was a child.
Feng Chengze still didn’t let go. They didn’t speak, only communicated with their eyes. With slight movements, a tug here and a pull there, they accidentally knocked over the photo frame on the desk, making a dull sound in the otherwise quiet office, startling the child who was drawing.
Feng Jiayuan looked up, following the sound, and pouted.
Mom was helping Dad organize files again. Dad was typing on the keyboard. She had her own things to do; she wanted to draw.
After she lowered her head, Ji Qingyu patted her chest and glared at Feng Chengze. She didn’t want to organize any files, so she threw them randomly, not caring if a few sheets landed on his face.
Feng Chengze calmly pressed the papers on his face and tidied them up. He also put the artificial tears she bought into the drawer. He wasn’t in the habit of using eye drops, but starting today, it wasn’t impossible to develop one. Every aspect of his life was meticulously arranged, like a precision instrument where every gear turned without error. But occasionally, there were overlooked gaps. Eye drops, the extra half hour after staying up late, and the hurried sips of coffee before rushing out were all such gaps. Ji Qingyu’s presence filled those gaps.
Feng Chengze left work promptly at six. The secretarial and assistant offices knew his habits well. Whenever Mrs. Feng and their daughter came, he would leave early without delay. They all pretended to be busy at their desks, waiting for the happy family of three to enter the elevator before they, too, would quickly leave, like tigers released from their cages.
Since Ji Qingyu had driving practice in the evening, they didn’t plan to eat out. Perhaps due to psychological reasons, after having a child, she, who used to reassure herself that eating at street stalls wouldn’t make her sick, now couldn’t help but want to inspect restaurant kitchens herself. After much thought, eating at home felt safer.
After dinner, Sister Liu and Sister Sun would take Feng Jiayuan to play wildly in the neighborhood. Whether the kindergarten ensured two hours of outdoor time was beyond their control, but as long as Yuan Bao was home, they would always take her out for two hours unless the weather was extremely bad.
This allowed Ji Qingyu and Feng Chengze to stroll after dinner without any guilt. In the underground parking lot, he led her to his Maybach. She clung to the car door, unwilling to get in, and looked at him pitifully, “Coach Feng, that’s not what you said this morning.”
Feng Chengze looked around, relieved that there were no cars or people nearby. Seeing her mischievous smile, he couldn’t help but laugh softly, finding the situation too absurd to hold back.
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