ushernet Chapter 122: Still Learning
Chapter 122: Still Learning
Chapter 122: Still Learning
The weekend sunlight was warm and pleasant.
Xu Wenbin and his wife drove over to have a meal at Xu Qing’s place. Ever since finding out that the two were living together, Xu Wenbin rarely visited. It was mostly Xu Qing who went home to check in at regular intervals—sometimes bringing Jiang He along, sometimes going alone to mooch a meal.
Zhou Suzhi, on the other hand, had always wanted to visit but was repeatedly stopped by Xu Wenbin’s words.
According to him: “They’re still dating. What role do you think you’re playing by showing up there? Causing trouble, that’s what... blah, blah, blah.”
It wasn’t that Xu Wenbin was overthinking it; the two times he had gone over before were genuinely awkward. It felt wrong to sit, uncomfortable to stay, and he didn’t even know what to talk about.
But meals were different now. More precisely, this was a “family gathering”—though adding “pseudo” in front would also work, making it a pseudo-family gathering.
The occasion had a formal feel.
Zhou Suzhi wore her newly purchased trench coat, carefully dressed up, feeling quite excited about this visit. After being a mother for over twenty years, this was a first for her.
“Does my hair look messy?” she asked while checking her reflection in the car mirror.
“Why does it feel like you’re meeting in-laws or something?” Xu Wenbin teased, thinking she was making too much of a fuss. He shut the car door, glanced around, and added, “It’s not like you haven’t seen them before. We spent New Year’s together. Now it’s just a meal.”
“That’s different.”
“What’s different about it?” Xu Wenbin countered, reopening the car door to grab the bag she had brought. “Don’t forget this skincare stuff.”
Zhou Suzhi thought carefully but couldn’t pinpoint the difference. She adjusted her hairstyle, stood up straight, and headed toward the staircase, muttering, “It’s just different.”
“I think it’s Qingzi who’s changed. Did you notice the last time he came home? His energy was so much better. That vigor...”
Xu Wenbin smacked his lips, trying to describe it.
Xu Qing had never been frail, but he used to stay home all the time, giving off a stagnant air. Now, if he had to compare, it was like Xu Qing used to be Wang Zijun and had turned into Qin Hao—minus the buzz cut, but with the same youthful vitality.
“Alright, alright, stop talking. We’re here.”
As they entered the stairwell, Zhou Suzhi stopped his rambling. She adjusted her sleeves, double-checked the hand cream in her bag, and, satisfied she hadn’t forgotten anything, knocked on the door.
Xu Qing responded quickly, opening the door with a piece of cucumber still in his mouth. Behind him came the rhythmic chopping sounds from the kitchen. Smiling broadly, he welcomed them in.
“Dad, Mom, come in and have a seat. Why so early... oh, you didn’t need to bring anything! Jiang He! Jiang He!”
From the kitchen, Jiang He responded. Holding the edge of her apron, she peeked out halfway. “What is it?”
“This is from my mom for you...”
After exchanging greetings with Jiang He, Zhou Suzhi and Xu Wenbin ignored Xu Qing’s eager-to-please antics and sat down on the couch, looking around with amused expressions.
Xu Wenbin, having been here before, wasn’t as surprised. Zhou Suzhi, on the other hand, rarely visited. She still had an outdated image of the old apartment, so seeing the place now, tidy and clean under Jiang He’s care, she rubbed her hands on her thighs and commented, “Pretty diligent, huh...”
After the meal, Xu Wenbin and Zhou Suzhi were quite full. Zhou Suzhi, who typically had a small appetite, ended up eating an extra bowl of rice without realizing it.
“I’ll help with the cleanup,” she offered, standing to clear the table.
Xu Qing stopped her, bustling off to the kitchen with Jiang He to wash the dishes. Rolling up his sleeves, he prepared to scrub with a steel wool pad.
“Aren’t you going to spend time with your parents?” Jiang He asked, standing nearby.
“Washing doesn’t take long,” Xu Qing replied, refusing to step aside.
Jiang He didn’t insist, standing by his side for a moment before glancing toward the living room. Lowering her voice, she said, “I dreamed about this...”
“What?”
“This dinner just now,” Jiang He gestured with her hands. “I dreamed about it.”
“When?” Xu Qing paused, curious.
“A few days ago. Maybe last month?”
“Oh...”
Xu Qing let out a relieved sigh. For a moment, he thought it was some past-life connection. If she had dreamed about it before coming to the modern era, that would’ve been eerie.
Smiling at the thought of fated love, he shook his head. “It’s just your mind playing tricks. You said before that you liked the idea of the four of us together. That’s probably why you dreamed about it.”
Destiny was just about finding the right person. Modern, rational young people didn’t believe in superstitions or paranormal tales. As for time travel? Maybe quantum mechanics could explain that someday.
...
In the living room:
“What do you think?” Zhou Suzhi asked, scooting closer to Xu Wenbin on the couch and speaking in a low voice.
“Think about what?”
“I think those two will make it. Look at this... Mimi, come here.”
Noticing Winter Melon passing by, she called the cat over and scooped it into her arms.
“Isn’t it dirty?” Xu Wenbin recoiled slightly.
“I think it’s cleaner than you. A house cat can’t be that dirty.”
Zhou Suzhi scratched Winter Melon’s chin, leaned back on the couch, and surveyed the living room again. Not bad, she thought.
“If they end up together, you should give them this apartment,” she said.
“Let’s wait until he finds a proper job,” Xu Wenbin replied.