A mother worries about her son even when he's a thousand miles away.
Although she said it in passing, Liu Huijuan was still very happy that Shen Yi had come back.
"What are you shouting about? My ears aren't deaf," she muttered, adjusting the burner to a lower flame and stepping out of the kitchen. As soon as she emerged, her eyes widened.
She blinked several times, standing still, her expression shifting from disbelief to astonishment and then to a beaming smile, showcasing a performance worthy of an award-winning actress.
"Xiao... Xiao Yi, is this...?"
Before Shen Yi could introduce her, Fu Nanzhi took the initiative. In her previous life, she had become intimately familiar with Shen Yi's mother.
She smiled sweetly and approached Shen Yi's mother politely.
"Hello, Auntie. My name is Fu Nanzhi. I'm Shen Yi's girlfriend."
Although she had anticipated this, Liu Huijuan was still overjoyed upon hearing the confirmation. Her mind went blank, and she didn't know what to say.
"Girlfri... Xiao Fu... Xiao Nan..."
Fu Nanzhi found Shen Yi's mother's reaction amusing and couldn't help but turn her head aside to hide a giggle.
"Auntie, you can call me Nanzhi."
"Okay, okay, Nanzhi. Good girl, put those things down. Are you tired? Come in and rest."
"Look at you, you didn't have to bring anything."
Liu Huijuan finally recovered and quickly ushered Fu Nanzhi into the house with warm hospitality.
"It's fine, Auntie. I can carry them. They're not heavy."
Without hesitation, Liu Huijuan took the gifts from Fu Nanzhi's hands and then turned to Shen Yi with a stern look.
"Shen Yi! Go and take those things to the inner room."
"Oh..."
Shen Yi shook his head, took the items, and carried them inside in one go.
After inviting Fu Nanzhi into the house, Liu Huijuan warmly welcomed her to sit in the living room, her face beaming like a flower.
Fu Nanzhi's manners were impeccable. She gently touched her stomach and said shyly,
"Auntie, I need to go to the restroom first."
"Oh, oh, the restroom is...," Liu Huijuan instinctively began to guide her, but halfway through, she realized Fu Nanzhi had already headed left.
Seeing this, Shen Yi's mother scratched her head, puzzled about how Fu Nanzhi knew where the bathroom was.
Turning around, she saw Shen Yi coming out after finishing with the things. Without thinking too much, she grabbed his arm, looking suspicious.
"This... can this really be your girlfriend?"
"Tell me honestly, didn't you hire her? It's okay if you can't find a girlfriend; I don't blame you. We won't waste that kind of money."
"I've seen so many on videos. You can't fool me..."
It wasn't that she didn't believe Shen Yi. On the contrary, she knew her son too well. He was as quiet as a gourd. Finding a girlfriend would be hard enough, let alone one as beautiful as this. It would be like smoke rising from their ancestral graves.
Shen Yi was both amused and at a loss for words, unsure of what to say next, so he quickly explained.
"I'm not lying. Who could hire someone like her? Besides, doesn't your son looks handsome?"
"Well, you do clean up nicely."
Liu Huijuan scanned him up and down, still skeptical.
"You can rest assured. It's true!"
Shen Yi almost raised his hand to swear an oath.
"You idiot! Why didn't you say you were bringing someone home? There's hardly any food in the house. It's so embarrassing!"
After believing him, Liu Huijuan playfully slapped Shen Yi's arm in annoyance.
Shen Yi comforted her.
"It's okay. I didn't tell you because I was afraid you'd rush around. Simple home-cooked dishes are fine. Nanzhi won't mind."
"That's not good enough..."
At that moment, Fu Nanzhi came out of the bathroom, seeing the mother and son together. She asked,
"What were you two talking about?"
"No... nothing. Come, dear, sit down. Are you tired from the trip?"
Liu Huijuan quickly invited Fu Nanzhi to sit down.
Shen Yi, who had been driving all morning, plopped down on the sofa like a boneless blob, stretching lazily.
Fu Nanzhi sat next to Shen Yi, and answered with propriety, with a sense of decorum.
"I'm not tired. I slept during the trip, so I'm wide awake now."
"Mom, where's Dad?"
Shen Yi leaned on Fu Nanzhi's side, reluctant to open his eyes, breathing in the fragrance from her body.
With Fu Nanzhi around, Liu Huijuan couldn't help but glare at Shen Yi, nudging his leg and saying with a smile,
"You lazy bum, just lying around as soon as you get home."
Seeing Fu Nanzhi cover her mouth to stifle laughter, Liu Huijuan continued,
"Your dad went to the market early this morning. He should be back around noon."
"Get up and come with me."
Shen Yi didn't move, only asking,
"Where to?"
"Come with me to the vegetable market. Let's see what else we need to buy."
Liu Huijuan wanted to recruit her son as a helper.
Fu Nanzhi quickly waved her hands to stop her, insisting,
"No need, Auntie. It's fine as it is."
"How can we let you go hungry after coming all this way?"
Without waiting for an answer, Liu Huijuan was about to drag Shen Yi along.
Fu Nanzhi stood up, hugged her arm, and volunteered proactively,
"Auntie, I'll go with you. I can help. I know how to do everything."
Liu Huijuan's heart melted at Fu Nanzhi's gentle persuasion, and even her attitude towards Shen Yi softened.
"You... you, look at her!"
Fu Nanzhi was clever, coaxing and persuading Liu Huijuan until she couldn't stop smiling.
Shen Yi chuckled, turning over and enjoying his nap without further concern.
No need to add any more dishes, and no need to go to the market. The two sat on small stools in the kitchen and started chatting.
Liu Huijuan was like someone under a spell, and every gentle word from Fu Nanzhi made her smile.
After a few simple exchanges, Liu Huijuan remembered she still had to tend to the cooking. She stood up and continued preparing the meal.
There was a gas stove alongside a traditional earthen stove built by hand, each with its own benefits.
The gas stove was quick and convenient, while the earthen stove, though more troublesome, made the food taste much better when properly stoked.
"Dear, sit down and let Auntie handle it."
"No way, Auntie. You can watch how I do it~"
Fu Nanzhi wasn't shy and wielded the knife expertly, chopping vegetables with impressive skill.
From her manner, Liu Huijuan could immediately tell that Fu Nanzhi had experience in the kitchen. She couldn't be more satisfied as she observed her.
Fu Nanzhi's fingers were slender and fair, without a single callus, her looks like a fairy that had stepped out of a scroll painting, almost too beautiful to be real.
After finishing the vegetables, she noticed Liu Huijuan lighting the fire by the large stove and offered,
"Auntie, let me do it."
"You know how to do that too?"
Liu Huijuan observed her hands, which clearly belonged to someone who didn't do manual labor. She was already surprised that Fu Nanzhi could cook, let alone handle something as rural as lighting a fire.
"Yes, I do."
Fu Nanzhi tidied her hair and smiled charmingly.
She hadn't known how to do this before. As for her teacher, it was none other than the woman in front of her, Liu Huijuan.
Liu Huijuan stepped aside, and Fu Nanzhi pulled up a small stool to start lighting the fire and adding wood.
Liu Huijuan watched for a while, reassured when she saw Fu Nanzhi handling it proficiently.
As she continued cooking, she occasionally chatted with Fu Nanzhi,
"Dear, how old are you this year?"
Fu Nanzhi broke a twig and added it to the stove.
"I'm 27, two years older than Shen Yi."
Liu Huijuan hadn't realized that. Judging by her appearance, she had thought Fu Nanzhi was younger than her son. Still, she complimented her,
"Being older is better. Older people know how to take care of others."
Fu Nanzhi blushed, not knowing if it was the reflection of the firelight or her own shyness.
In truth, Shen Yi took care of her more.