Ms. Fang Yi has never been used to this. For twelve years, she lived almost entirely around her daughter and made huge sacrifices. Although she is now successful in her career and has a peaceful family, some of her subconscious reactions have not been corrected yet. Perhaps... it will take a long time.
“Auntie seems to have figured it out,” Xu Xingyan said.
“But she didn’t say,” Luo Jing shrugged.
The two sisters looked at each other and smiled at the same time.
...
"I'm back with pan-fried tofu!"
Hearing the noise, Lin Shengmiao came out with the cleaned Dahuang. "You're back just in time. My aunt just stewed the ribs, and we can start eating after stir-frying a dish."
"Awoooooo..."
Xu Xingyan quickly held the bag above her head: "Dahuang! Stay away from me. I waited half an hour to buy this. You dare to lick it and see what happens."
Lin Shengmiao smiled and took the bag of pan-fried tofu from her hand, then went to the kitchen to plate it.
At the dinner table, the aunt was happily chewing on tofu when she inadvertently dropped a bombshell: "Yan Yan, why don't you take Da Huang to get him spayed sometime?"
Xu Xingyan and Lin Shengmiao exchanged glances, then cautiously asked, "Are you sure?"
A few years ago, Xu Xingyan had mentioned wanting to sterilize Da Huang, but her aunt was stubborn but soft-hearted. After Da Huang made a few whimpers, she felt sorry for it and protected it, not letting it be touched.
The old lady explained, "I ran into Xiaohui's mom today, and she told me that once a dog is neutered, it becomes incredibly well-behaved. Her dog is an example; after it was neutered, it stopped running around outside every day and stopped howling... I heard that it can also reduce illness, prolong life, and stop pooping and peeing everywhere..."
The old lady spoke with an envious tone, as if to say, "This tutoring class is really effective; I must enroll my good-for-nothing child in one too."
Lin Shengmiao glanced at the big yellow dog lying motionless by the door, leisurely basking in the sun, completely unaware of what was going on. She clicked her tongue inwardly. The dog probably never imagined how much a spontaneous trip would change its life.
Xu Xingyan reacted very quickly, rubbing her hands together and saying, "We can do it today! Let's go to the pet hospital in town after we eat. Neutering a male dog isn't as complicated as neutering a female dog, it'll be done quickly."
The old lady hesitated for a moment: "But aren't you going back to the shop this afternoon?"
"It's alright," Xu Xingyan said enthusiastically, waving her hand to indicate, "Xiao Tang is here."
After helping to put the dishes into the dishwasher, Lin Shengmiao walked out of the kitchen and saw Xu Xingyan squatting on the ground, skillfully rubbing Da Huang's belly. She immediately laughed.
With a flick of his eye, he walked over, scratched the dog's ear, then tilted his head and touched the girl's lips with a mischievous grin, exploring them gradually.
"Miss Lin, I've noticed you really love kissing."
"So... does Miss Xu like it?"
Miss Xu didn't say anything, but her actions showed just how much she liked it.
Big Yellow, who was obediently enjoying being petted: ? ? ?
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Author's Note:
Big Yellow: You guys are the real dogs!
Chapter 31 All people love lovers
On the day of Lesser Cold, a torrential downpour occurred. The sky was overcast, with thunder and lightning. Cold air seeped into the room through the cracks in the door, much like Miss Tang's current mood.
"Has this developer lost their mind?! What kind of garbage is this?! So all I paid for was a fully furnished apartment just to be torn down and renovated?!"
Xiao Tang squatted in front of a pot of mimosa, holding his head in his hands, looking utterly bewildered.
Last year, her parents scraped together 400,000 yuan for a down payment on a 60-square-meter apartment. However, when they went to take possession of the apartment yesterday, they were shocked to find that the tiles were hollow, the floor and windowsills were uneven, the bathroom was prone to water accumulation, and there was no electrical outlet next to the air conditioner vent…
It's absolutely mind-blowing.
Lin Shengmiao, who was also saving money to buy a house, felt very empathetic to her situation. He hugged Paopao, who had come to visit for a free meal, and gently comforted her from the side.
As Xu Xingyan picked up the withered flower branches and threw them into the trash bag, she advised:
"There's no use crying now that things have come to this. Try to negotiate with the renovation company first. If they keep making excuses, then go to the Consumer Council for mediation. Hmm... but I suggest you prepare a series of appraisal documents first. In this situation, your opponents are definitely seasoned veterans."
In just a few words, Ms. Xu outlined the path Ms. Tang would face in her fight for her rights over the next few months.
"Ahhh..." Xiao Tang cried out in anguish, "Why am I so unlucky?"
"Sigh," Xu Xingyan shook her head. In the pouring rain outside, she saw a familiar figure and quickly opened the door, waving and calling out, "Aunt Liu!"
A sanitation worker with gray hair and a petite figure pushed open the door and came in. She took off her dripping rain gear and left it at the door, and said with a smile, "Little Xu, it's been a long time."
"It's been so long since I've seen you. I thought you weren't working in this area anymore," Xu Xingyan said, quickly bringing over a clean towel and pouring a cup of hot water for her to warm her hands.
Aunt Liu looked a little flustered, holding the paper cup in both hands. She sighed and said in her not-so-standard Mandarin, "My grandson was sick a few days ago, so I took leave to take care of him at home. I found someone else to cover for me. Well... he got better after a few days of IV drips, so I came back."
She glanced timidly at Xu Xingyan, her back hunched, looking as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.
Before she could speak, Xu Xingyan smiled and said, "I've been saving up the cardboard boxes for you these past few days. It's not easy to carry them today. Why don't you wait until tomorrow when the rain stops, then you can ride your tricycle over and haul them all away together?"
Aunt Liu smiled and nodded her thanks repeatedly.
“It was just a small favor, nothing to thank me for,” Xu Xingyan glanced at the clock hanging behind the counter and said, “Oh, you haven’t eaten yet, have you? It’s raining so hard outside, it’s probably inconvenient for you to go get a boxed lunch. Why don’t you stay and have a bowl of dumplings with us…”
"No, no, I'm leaving now. The tricycle is still parked under the eaves over there," Aunt Liu waved her hand hurriedly, unwilling to stay for a meal.
Several people took turns trying to persuade her, but to no avail, so they had to give up. They watched as Aunt Liu finished drinking the hot water, put her raincoat back on, and jogged through the rain, carrying the trash bag that Xu Xingyan had left at the door.
Later, Lin Shengmiao learned that Aunt Liu's son had jumped off a building due to failed investments, leaving Aunt Liu with only a seven-year-old grandson and a mountain of debt. Although she was not well-educated, she relied on her resilience, sweeping the streets during the day and setting up a night stall at night, paying off her debts while taking care of her grandson. The old woman slowly made it through.
When Xu Xingyan and Fan Ying found out, they all lent a hand, and they would keep the cardboard boxes they usually used to store flowers and books for her to sell for money.
“Now I understand why you’ve kept this flower shop open,” Lin Shengmiao said with a smile as he walked up to her, holding a cuddly kitten.
Xu Xingyan turned around and smiled at her, then gently pinched Bubble's little paw pads.
The owner of this flower shop worked sporadically and didn't seem to make much money. But it was here that Ms. Xu, who was detached from worldly affairs, gradually came to understand the suffering of all beings and the profoundness of life.
Outside, the wind howled, but inside the flower shop, the air was warm and fragrant. A pot of plump, white dumplings was simmering on an induction cooker, the rising steam dispelling all gloom.
"Is it delicious?" Xu Xingyan asked.
Lin Shengmiao took a bite and nodded, "Not bad, doesn't seem frozen."
Xu Xingyan lowered her head and swirled the vinegar in the bowl twice with her chopsticks, saying casually, "Yes, my mom made it."
A cough, as if someone had choked, rang out. The two looked at the young woman, Tang, whose face was flushed: ???
Xiao Tang immediately waved his hand and said: You guys continue, don't worry about me, I'm just an unimportant NPC!
Xu Xingyan smiled and said, "My mom asked me to ask you if it would be convenient for us to have a meal together during the Chinese New Year?"
Two coughs were then heard.
Lin Shengmiao took a big gulp of dumpling soup to calm down, and said firmly, "I'll definitely be free!" If the boss dares not give me a day off, I'll fire him!
Miss Xu smiled and chewed on a piece of pickled cucumber.
As for why it has to wait until the New Year, it's actually quite simple: Ms. Fang Yi is still a little awkward and needs some time to adjust.
...
The flower shop's second-floor lounge area.
Since I started dating, oh no... since I reunited with Lin Shengmiao.
Ms. Xu, who has always preferred comfortable and natural cotton clothing, has suddenly become particularly attentive to color matching. The days when she wore seven different MUJI white shirts in a week are long gone.
Because the indoor air conditioning was very warm, she wore a white square-neck knitted top and a blue-dyed green gradient skirt embroidered with plum blossoms, exuding a gentle and elegant lady-like charm.
After finishing a work call, Lin Shengmiao walked in and naturally lay down on the bed, shoulder to shoulder with Xu Xingyan, who was leaning against the bed scrolling through her phone, preparing to take a short nap.
"Did you send Bubble back next door?"
"Hmm," Lin Shengmiao touched her slightly cool calves under the covers, pressed them close to warm her up, and said lazily, "Sister Ying came to pick me up herself."
“You’re going back to report for leave next week,” Xu Xingyan said, leaning half her body against her and poking her cheek with her finger, half-coquettishly and half-complainingly, “We’re still in the honeymoon phase, and we’re about to start a long-distance relationship.”
Lin Shengmiao cupped her face and explained clearly, "In a few years, I'll find an opportunity to come to Nancheng. I haven't been back in China for long, and I need to build up a lot of connections from scratch. Being on secondment at the company will make it easier to get some high-quality projects. It's like building seniority in other companies; it always takes time..."
At twenty-eight, regardless of the industry, it's a time for diligent learning and proactive progress.
“I understand…” Xu Xingyan sighed and smiled. Even though she was reluctant to part with her boyfriend, seeing her girlfriend patiently talking about the future filled her with sweetness.
"Brother-in-law Leo is turning thirty-two the day after tomorrow. Sister Si Ning said she wanted to have a meal with some friends to celebrate, but she didn't want to go to a crowded place, so she chose her house as the location. It's the same people as last time. She specifically told me to bring you along."
Lu Sining and the others know Xu Xingyan very well. Miss Xu is usually gentle and unassuming. Even if something offends her, she usually just laughs it off. Her temperament and manners are top-notch.
However, she was also raised as the apple of her eye from a young age, and her personality was extremely stubborn. People she liked, her family and friends had to like her too, and they had to treat her with respect.
"Okay, then... what kind of gift should I buy?" Lin Shengmiao asked with some surprise.
Xu Xingyan kissed her bright eyes and chuckled softly, "I've already prepared everything. You just need to make an appearance and have fun."
Just as Lin Shengmiao was about to say something, she heard Xiao Tang calling out to guests from downstairs.
Xu Xingyan raised an eyebrow, glanced at the torrential rain outside the window that made people hesitate to go out, and wondered who was so foolish as to go out to buy flowers in this kind of weather.
Driven by curiosity, she put on a down jacket that reached her ankles and went downstairs.
He was a tall man wearing a black overcoat. His features were not particularly handsome, but they were very regular. He had an air of righteousness and was very polite.
Xiao Tang said, "Boss, this customer wants a bouquet of thirty-three red roses." Then she turned to the man and asked, "Is it for your girlfriend? Is it a confession or a proposal?"
The man's gaze softened slightly, and he said shyly, "I'm proposing. Today is her thirty-third birthday."
"Congratulations in advance," Xu Xingyan said with a smile, and instructed Xiao Tang, "Go to the cabinet on the left and get a roll of bright yellow ribbon."
Lin Shengmiao stood at the top of the stairs with his arms crossed, looking tenderly at Xu Xingyan who was skillfully wrapping the bouquet. Thirty-three red roses might not sound like much, but when held in his arms, they were a large, vibrant red, quite eye-catching.
"Do you need to write a card?" Xu Xingyan asked as she took out a large bunch of various cards and spread them out on the table.
The man thanked her, picked out a light pink card, and began writing. Xu Xingyan glanced at it casually and saw the name on it: Han Xiaohan.
She paused for a moment, then immediately remembered that today was the Minor Cold solar term in the lunar calendar, and couldn't help but lower her head and smile.
The greatest joy of opening a flower shop is that you always meet some very interesting people, and you can vaguely glimpse the sincere and beautiful feelings between them without having to chat much.
People love lovers, and beautiful feelings always bring joy.
After seeing the man off, I watched him hold the bouquet of roses in his arms, take off his coat to shield them, and hold an umbrella for himself, his figure gradually disappearing into the wind and rain.
Xu Xingyan sincerely wished him success in proposing, that the lovers would be united in marriage, and that they would live happily ever after.
Then, holding a rose, she walked towards her lover, tucked the flower into her coat pocket, and said gently, "Let's go back for a nap."