Although he knew he had been foolish and didn't need Zhan Zhongxiao's help, since he was already here, he couldn't let the hot pot ingredients go to waste and had to eat them all before leaving.
Besides, Gu Gu was quite happy because Zhan Dundun had turned on the computer and made a simple little game for Gu Gu, who was immediately engrossed.
"Not bad, you've got a way with kids?"
While Gu Gu was playing games in the room, the two of them got busy in the kitchen, mainly handling some hot pot ingredients.
There was no need to mention the meatballs. The main task was washing and cutting vegetables. Additionally, Liu Nanfeng had bought some fresh beef and lamb, which he had to slice himself.
"That's because I'm smart," Zhan Dundun giggled.
"You're not letting this go, are you?" Liu Nanfeng said speechlessly.
"Haha."
Zhan Dundun laughed heartily, relishing the rare opportunity to tease Liu Nanfeng. He vowed that even when he got old and senile, he wouldn't forget this incident.
"Look how happy you are. By the way, has Wenhui contacted you recently?" Liu Nanfeng changed the subject.
Liu Nanfeng knew from her social media that Shen Wenhui had returned to Jiangcheng some time ago, but he hadn't contacted her much.
One reason was that he was already married. Although nothing had happened between them, he still needed to avoid suspicion.
Another reason was that since Zhan Dundun liked her, Liu Nanfeng tried to keep himself out of the picture and not contact her alone.
"Yes, we even had dinner together a few days ago," Zhan Dundun said with a smile.
"That's great." Liu Nanfeng was also happy for Zhan Dundun upon hearing this.
However, Zhan Dundun showed a bitter smile.
"I think she just sees me as a friend."
"Take it slow, nothing happens overnight."
"That's the logic, but I just feel like there's no hope for us," Zhan Dundun said unconfidently.
"You feel, you feel. Are you a fortune teller? You 'feel' everything. Who knows what the future holds? Why don't you contact her and ask her to come over for hot pot at noon?"
"Would that be okay? She's probably still at work," Zhan Dundun hesitated, though he was tempted.
"That's another thing you 'feel'. How will you know if you don't ask?" Liu Nanfeng said helplessly.
Upon hearing Liu Nanfeng, Zhan Dundun thought for a moment, put down what he was doing, and called Shen Wenhui.
The call was connected quickly, and Shen Wenhui's voice came through.
"Dundun, why are you calling at this time? Is something wrong?"
Shen Wenhui found it strange because Zhan Dundun knew she worked during the day and only contacted her in the evenings or on rest days.
"Nanfeng is here at my place. He bought a lot of hot pot ingredients, and we're having hot pot for lunch. He asked me to see if you'd like to join us for hot pot at noon."
However, before Shen Wenhui could answer, Zhan Dundun preemptively replied for her, "You're at work, right? You'll definitely be busy at noon. Nanfeng insisted I call and ask. We can arrange another time when you're free."
Liu Nanfeng: ...
He didn't know what to say. It served him right to be single.
"How do you know I'm not free? You guys wait for me," Shen Wenhui said with a laugh on the phone.
Zhan Dundun was stunned for a moment, then his face lit up with surprise. "Okay, we'll wait for you."
"Do you have tripe?"
"Yes, yes."
"Then I definitely have to go. That's my favorite."
"Alright, there's plenty of tripe. I'll let you eat your fill at noon."
"Okay. By the way, is there anything you need me to bring?"
"No, just come yourself," Zhan Dundun quickly replied.
Liu Nanfeng looked at him with the expression of someone watching a simpering admirer. This guy was so bold when talking to him, but so subservient in front of Shen Wenhui.
"See you at noon then," Shen Wenhui said and hung up.
Zhan Dundun put away his phone and let out a long sigh, his face beaming with joy.
But when he turned around, he saw Liu Nanfeng looking at him with that kind of expression.
"Wenhui said she's free at noon," Zhan Dundun said, pretending to be nonchalant.
"You're too subservient. Is it worth it?" Liu Nanfeng lamented his lack of ambition.
"No, I'm just being myself," Zhan Dundun retorted stubbornly.
"Let me tell you, when you're with a woman, never appear too subservient. Not only will you not win her love, but you won't even be taken seriously," Liu Nanfeng said earnestly.
"Got it," Zhan Dundun replied, seemingly unconcerned.
Liu Nanfeng shook his head and said no more, continuing with his own tasks.
But after only a few minutes, he heard Zhan Dundun ask, "Is it really like you say?"
"Of course. A simp who simps until the end will have nothing. Humans are strange creatures. What they can easily obtain, they don't cherish. What they can't obtain, they yearn for, seeing it as perfect."
What Liu Nanfeng said wasn't just about people, but also about things, like a car or a bag. When you don't have something, you think it's wonderful and beautiful. But when it's easily within your reach, you feel it's just so-so and don't cherish it at all.
"But I... but I'm a panda, not a person," Zhan Dundun said with a straight face.
"I'm not talking about you. I'm talking about Wenhui. Understand your position. You're the simp, not Wenhui."
"Alright, I don't want to be, but maybe I care about her too much. So when I'm with her, or when I'm talking, I subconsciously become cautious, afraid of making her unhappy."
Liu Nanfeng actually understood Zhan Dundun's feelings very well. He had experienced something similar when he was dating Su Jinxiu.
Su Jinxiu was too excellent, so Liu Nanfeng was naturally filled with anxiety and fear, worried that a single word or action might displease her. Therefore, he was very cautious when he was with her.
Fortunately, Su Jinxiu truly loved him, and it was a mutual effort, so they easily overcame this phase.
"Women are like sand on the beach. You can't hold on too tightly. If you grip too tightly, they'll slip through your fingers."
"What do you mean?"
"You won't understand if I say too much. Just make sure you maintain your position in front of Shen Wenhui and interact with her as a friend. Put aside your intentions for now, and you might gain more."
Zhan Dundun seemed lost in thought.
He actually understood many of these principles, but he couldn't put them into practice.
"By the way, I came today for another reason."
"What is it?" Zhan Dundun looked up from his contemplation.
"This world is likely to undergo great changes soon. You should be mentally prepared, and also store more food," Liu Nanfeng said with a sigh, putting down what he was doing.
He actually didn't want his peaceful life to be disrupted.
"Great changes? What great changes?" Zhan Dundun asked, a little confused.
"You know about the Heavenly Palace, right?"
Zhan Dundun nodded. This was also one of the reasons he came to Jiangcheng.
"I can only tell you that the Heavenly Palace is not what we imagine it to be. It's not a utopia or a paradise on earth at all," Liu Nanfeng said sternly.
"Therefore, once the Heavenly Palace appears, the world will descend into chaos."
Upon hearing this, Zhan Dundun thought for a moment and asked, "How do you know this? And do you have any leads on the Heavenly Palace?"
"Don't ask me how I know. Just trust what I say. As for clues about the Heavenly Palace, I don't know either, but I have a feeling it's coming soon."
As Liu Nanfeng's understanding of this world deepened, his sensitivity to the impending changes in the world grew.
Just as Zhan Dundun was about to say more, Liu Nanfeng's phone rang. It was Su Jinxiu calling.
"The Old Dragon King wants to see you," Su Jinxiu said on the phone.
It seemed that lunch today was not going to happen.