hotmtlnovel Chapter 86: A Family
Chapter 86: A Family
Chapter 86: A Family
“It’s almost the end of the year. When the New Year comes, I’ll bring her over to celebrate here together.”
After sitting on the couch for a while, Xu Qing got up and went to the kitchen to check how the food was coming along. He also wanted to give Zhou Suzhi a heads-up, lowering his voice and gesturing towards Jiang He, who was sitting on the living room couch.
“Together for New Year’s?” Zhou Suzhi was a bit surprised. “She’s not going home?”
“Didn’t I tell you last time? She’s all alone. Where does she have a home to go to?”
“What?”
Zhou Suzhi paused with the spatula in her hand, frowned, and asked, “You weren’t joking last time?”@@@@
“Of course not.”
“......”
“She’s my girlfriend. Isn’t it good to bring her here for New Year’s? Otherwise, she’d just be alone at my place, eating instant noodles. While we’re here eating dumplings and watching the Spring Festival Gala, she’d be boiling hot water all by herself... So pitiful.”
“Alright, alright. It’s just New Year’s, no big deal. Just bring her over.” Zhou Suzhi was impatient. “That’s settled then.”
After a brief pause, she called out to Xu Qing, who was about to leave the kitchen: “You two... what’s your situation now?”
“Boyfriend and girlfriend. I’ve brought her here to meet you. What else could it be?”
“You live together every day?”
“Pretty much.”
Zhou Suzhi was silent for a moment. She wanted to say something but didn’t know how to put it, so she just asked, “Do you have enough money to support a girlfriend?”
“Yeah, if I have a girlfriend, I’ll figure out a way to earn more. Don’t worry.”
Xu Qing even bought another computer for this reason. If Jiang He wanted to play games, one computer between them just wouldn’t be enough unless one used it during the day and the other played all night.
“You two just live your little life happily. If I really can’t make ends meet one day, I’ll let Dad find me a job. I’m still young, so I want to try doing something I like. No need to worry so much.” Xu Qing added, “You can also help convince Dad when you have time.”
“So, you do know to let him help you find a job?” Zhou Suzhi shot him a sideways glance.
“We’re family. It’s just that... he doesn’t understand me.” Xu Qing shook his head. “Sure, getting a job arranged for me is fine, but I’m still young. I want to try doing what I like. If it doesn’t work out, that’s okay.
Even if it turns out he was right, and I fail at everything, at least I’ll know and accept it. Otherwise, if I just settle down now, do you think I’d be content? In a few years, when I’m older, I won’t have the freedom to do what I want. By then, it’d be too late for regrets.”
“As long as you know what you’re doing.” Zhou Suzhi glanced at Jiang He, who was sitting obediently on the couch, and felt reassured.
“Don’t mess around. Whatever you do, do it properly. Your dad just doesn’t want you to end up like your cousin Xiaowen at your aunt’s house... Hand me that plate. Anyway, having a girlfriend to keep you in check—she does keep you in line, right?”
“She does, she does.”
“Good, then take this out.”
The fragrant stir-fried pork with garlic scapes was brought to the table by Xu Qing. Zhou Suzhi continued working in the kitchen. Not wanting to be in the way, Xu Qing returned to the couch to watch TV with Jiang He.
“What’s this?” At some point, Jiang He had changed the channel.
D*mn, he even understood some things better than his old man.
“Dad, you two get some rest. We’re heading back.”
After washing the dishes, Xu Qing didn’t linger. He grabbed their coats, ready to leave.
“Not staying a bit longer?” Xu Wenbin asked.
“No, it’s getting late.”
He helped Jiang He put on her coat, adjusted her scarf and hat, and made sure she was wrapped up against the cold.
“What’s this?” Zhou Suzhi noticed a round object that had fallen to the ground and rolled a little. She picked it up curiously—a potato.
A potato in her coat pocket?
For a second, she thought Xu Qing had swiped it from the kitchen.
“She’s missing ‘Earth’ in her Five Elements. Carrying this is like a protective charm.” Xu Qing took it and tucked it back into Jiang He’s pocket.
“Missing ‘Earth’ and carrying a potato?” Zhou Suzhi was baffled by this logic.
That’s literally down-to-earth.
“Yep. It works well—her luck’s been great.”
Xu Qing was making stuff up. He couldn’t exactly say it was to keep her from suddenly zipping back a thousand years.
Though history so far suggested Jiang He wasn’t going back... If she liked carrying it, so be it.
Zhou Suzhi shook her head. She couldn’t understand these young people’s quirky ideas.
“Next time, I’ll fry some potatoes for you. Maybe eating them works better.”
“Great, she loves potatoes.” Xu Qing grinned.
“Thank you, Auntie.”
Jiang He awkwardly tried to bow, copying what she’d seen on TV. Her hat flopped down over her face, making Zhou Suzhi laugh in surprise.
This girl was so nervous, just like when she had met Xu Qing’s grandma back then.
“Alright, alright. It’s dark out, be careful on the way.”
“Okay, we’re off.”
Xu Qing called out and led Jiang He out the door.
Zhou Suzhi stopped at the doorway, watching them head downstairs. She sighed.
They really did look good together. She just hoped they wouldn’t run into any big conflicts.
This was good enough.