"Alright, the dishes are ready."
"Mmm, this aroma, it’s making my mouth water just by smelling it."
Having lived for decades, it wasn't that she hadn't eaten delicacies. On the contrary, the family ate them often.
But this home-style cooking, done so well, was something she saw for the first time.
When it was first served, Chu Sheng had noticed that the presentation of the dishes was quite good.
Then, with the aroma wafting over, it was very rich, making one eager to try.
"Okay, let's eat!"
Seeing everyone with their chopsticks, Du Bin didn't say much more, picked up his chopsticks, and urged everyone to start eating.
"No wonder! You old fox were thinking of taking on an apprentice!"
As soon as the food entered his mouth, Nan Shan's eyes narrowed.
It was truly delicious!
"I say, you stubborn donkey, don't you dare accuse me! My little apprentice is right here!"
This old fellow, can't even keep his mouth shut when there's food!
"Hehehe~"
"Fine! I won't say it. Come have a couple of drinks with me!"
"Dad! You should drink less, the doctor said no excessive drinking!"
Chu Sheng, who was happily eating, quickly swallowed the food in her mouth when she heard the old man.
"I know, I know."
Qiu Xi watched as Grandpa Nan casually waved his hand, then pulled her master to pour wine.
"Grandma Li, is Master okay?"
As soon as the little girl spoke, Li Minglan understood what she meant.
So, she explained.
"A little drink is fine, it's medicinal wine. Let the two of them have a cup, and I'll put it away later."
"Mm!"
Hearing Grandma Li say this, Qiu Xi nodded with relief and continued eating.
Soon, the two who were happily drinking had their wine glasses taken away.
"..."
Du Bin didn't say anything, but Nan Shan smacked his lips, feeling a bit unsatisfied.
"Can I drink a little more?"
"No!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Pfft~"
Seeing Grandpa Nan’s slightly pitiful expression, which was immediately rejected by Aunt Chu and Nan Hua, Qiu Xi couldn't help but laugh.
Then, seeing the small accusing glance, Qiu Xi quickly put some food on his plate, "Grandpa Nan, come, let's drink less wine, there will be other times. Eat more dishes."
"Alright..."
"Cough cough..."
"Here, Master, you eat too."
"..."
Truly like two old children!
Seeing them like this, everyone else at the table wanted to laugh but dared not.
In the end, they could only hold it in and finish the meal.
Finally, with full stomachs and satisfied with the drinks.
Considering they only had two more days, Du Bin and Li Minglan didn't let the young girl fuss and instead had someone accompany Nan Hua's family back.
...
Two days later.
After working for so long, the two were finally about to start school.
"Xiao Xi, when you get to school, come back with Nan Hua when you have time, and accompany Auntie for some shopping!"
Although it had only been a few days, Chu Sheng genuinely liked this beautiful and knowledgeable young girl.
Looking at her own son, if he didn't look decent enough and his grades were only passable, plus the family's support, she felt this guy wasn't worthy of the young girl.
Fortunately, Nan Hua didn't know his mother's thoughts.
Otherwise, he'd have to ask for advice. He was a genuinely handsome and top student, so why was he only considered passable in his mother's eyes!
"Aunt Chu, I will, please don't worry."
"What about me! Come back and play chess with Grandpa when you have time."
"Okay~"
Seeing the old man adding a word to everything, Qiu Xi also smiled happily.
In just a few days of interaction, she had already felt the affection this family had for her.
Although Uncle Nan was a man of very few words, he never forgot to bring her food every time he came back, and Qiu Xi could feel that care, let alone Grandpa Nan and Aunt Chu.
"Alright, Nan Hua, take the girl to school. Don't bully her." Seeing them dawdling, Nan Shan finally spoke, urging the two to leave.
"Okay, Grandpa."
How could he dare to bully this girl!
Just look at the treatment she's receiving now, it's almost on par with his own.
This trip to school, they had prepared so much for her living, eating, and clothing. Unlike his past self, who traveled alone with just one suitcase, packed with either clothes or books.
"Then let's go."
"Mm."
Watching them leave, Nan Hua drove towards the school.
Because there were quite a lot of things, Nan Hua drove the car directly to the girls' dormitory building.
Finally, after getting permission from the dorm mother, he helped carry the pile of things to dorm 310.
"Xi Xi, you tidy up first. I'll go back to my dorm. We'll have dinner together after you're done."
Seeing that there was nothing he could help with, Nan Hua decided to go back and tidy up his own things first.
"Okay~ I'll tell you when I'm done."
"Mm."
After Nan Hua left, Qiu Xi started to unpack.
Qiu Xi usually didn't arrive this early. This year, she was fortunate to be staying at the Nan family's.
Glancing around the dormitory, Qiu Xi began to clean.
Everyone was arranging their own beds, so Qiu Xi first gave the dormitory floor a general sweep, and then spent some time tidying up the balcony.
Finally, when she started unpacking, she found that Grandpa Nan and Aunt Chu had stuffed her with a lot of snacks.
Since she couldn't possibly eat them all, after filling the snack rack, Qiu Xi decided to pack the leftovers for Nan Hua.
Letting her boyfriend enjoy the affection from her family.
As soon as she finished unpacking and sat down, someone arrived at the dormitory.
"Xiao Xi! It's different living at your boyfriend's place..."
"You're here already!"
Shen Yan, who came up out of breath, put her hands on her hips, and before she could catch her breath, she started talking.
"Yan Yan, what are you rushing for? Come, have some water first."
Seeing someone who seemed to break one sentence into three, Qiu Xi worried for her.
"Gulp~ Gulp~ Gulp~"
Shen Yan drank a whole cup of water in one go, and only then did she feel a bit more alive.
"Hoo!"
"Refreshing!"
"Yan Yan, why do you always go back with a small suitcase and come back with a big one?"
"You're lucky that fruits and such spoil easily, otherwise my mom could have stuffed even more..."
Her mother always told her to share the uneaten food with her roommates... Honestly, if she didn't know she was her biological mother, she'd suspect that the girls in the dormitory were her mother's biological daughters.
"No way? Xiao Xi, how are you even more exaggerated than me?"
Shen Yan, who was about to unpack and put away the food, turned around and stared, dumbfounded, at the full snack rack...
Qiu Xi gave an awkward smile, "Hehe..."
"I didn't want to, but I stayed at Nan Hua's place a few days ago, and this is what happened..."
"There's more here too, I'm planning to give it to Nan Hua later..."
Shen Yan's eyes widened, speechless...
"Okay, then I'll squeeze some space..."
"Mm."
In the end, what couldn't be stuffed in was all packed up by Shen Yan in boxes and placed to the side.