Su Huamei, having nothing to do at home, was "dragged" by Su Jinxiu to help at the shop.
Su Huamei reluctantly grumbled that she still wanted to deliver takeout with her brother-in-law.
"You'll just cause trouble, and you want to deliver takeout?" Su Jinxiu was amused and exasperated.
"How could I cause trouble?" Su Huamei was quite displeased.
"Him delivering takeout is considered legitimate work. What would it be like if you went along? Are you a child? Or are you showing off your affection?"
"Hehe, that's the main point, isn't it? You're jealous, right?"
"Rarely bothering with you."
"I hit the nail on the head, and you can't refute it, can you?"
"What's there to refute? I'm worried that while delivering takeout, you two wouldn't even know where you're going," Su Jinxiu glared at her.
"Brother-in-law isn't that kind of person," Su Huamei said.
"He isn't, but you are. Don't think I don't know what schemes you're up to."
"Tch, you still won't admit you're jealous, and you won't give me and brother-in-law a chance to be alone."
Ever since Su Huamei was tricked by Su Jinxiu that morning, she had become like a bristling hedgehog, extremely aggressive and always looking for a chance to get back at her.
Su Jinxiu knew her too well and didn't give her any opportunity.
For this reason, she didn't even let Liu Nanfeng drive them.
The two sisters arrived at the coffee shop in a "noisy, bickering" manner.
Last night, Su Huamei had said that Luo Hongxiu would contact him, but would definitely ask about Su Jinxiu.
As expected, just past noon, Liu Nanfeng received a WeChat message from Luo Hongxiu.
The first message stated that she had ordered another cup of coffee that morning, but unfortunately, it wasn't him who took the order, along with a regretful emoji.
The second message said she had a great chat with Sister Su last night and asked if she was free today, wanting to invite her out shopping.
Upon seeing this, Liu Nanfeng deliberately acted like a clueless straight man.
"I'll give you her WeChat. You can contact her directly."
Luo Hongxiu on the other end saw this and thought, "This won't do at all." She had already had ulterior motives.
So she quickly said, "No need. I'm worried about disturbing her work."
"She opened her own coffee shop, so she's not busy with work. You can contact her anytime," Liu Nanfeng replied directly.
They hadn't discussed Liu Nanfeng and Su Jinxiu's work last night, but Liu Nanfeng guessed that Luo Hongxiu probably knew.
After all, if she was intentionally approaching Liu Nanfeng, she wouldn't fail to gather his information.
"Wow, your wife opened a coffee shop herself? Then why aren't you helping her at her shop, and still delivering takeout? Delivering takeout must be very tiring?"
This statement seemed harmless, but upon closer reflection, it was subtly manipulative.
Liu Nanfeng didn't want to engage further and directly passed Su Jinxiu's WeChat to her.
"I'm busy now, you can contact my wife directly."
He then called Su Jinxiu to inform her. As soon as he put down his phone, it rang.
He thought Luo Hongxiu was being intrusive, but when he picked it up, he saw it was Zhan Zhongxiao calling.
"Brother, what made you think of calling me?" Liu Nanfeng asked curiously.
"Didn't Auntie give me a lot of vegetables last time? I thought about it, and Auntie was right. I bought new pots and pans these past few days and plan to start cooking at home. Do you want to come over for lunch?"
"Lunch?"
"If you don't have time, it's fine." Zhan Zhongxiao immediately said before Liu Nanfeng could finish.
"What do you mean no time? What am I delivering takeout for? You know it's just to pass the time. Alright, I'll head over now. Is there enough food for lunch? Should I bring something?"
Liu Nanfeng was not being polite with Zhan Zhongxiao at all.
He wanted to befriend Zhan Zhongxiao. After all, having understood the nature of this world, he found it quite dangerous, with all sorts of demons and monsters.
Although Zhan Zhongxiao's cultivation wasn't high, his true form was a panda. With the character 'bear' in his name, his combat power shouldn't be bad. If something truly happened, having an extra helper would be good.
"No need, I bought a lot, and I made them myself. I don't know if they'll suit your taste."
"I'm not picky. I'll bring some braised dishes instead. I know a good braised meat shop near your place."
"Alright, buy less then. Too much will spoil if you can't finish it."
"Okay, I got it."
Liu Nanfeng agreed verbally, thinking to himself that there was no way they wouldn't finish it. As long as his ability was present, there would be no such thing as not finishing.
So, Liu Nanfeng closed the delivery app, turned his car, and headed towards Xingfuyuan小区 where Zhan Zhongxiao lived.
He first went to the braised food store mentioned on the phone and bought some.
It was just past noon, and the braised dishes had just come out of the oven, steaming hot and emitting an aroma.
Liu Nanfeng bought a roast duck, as well as some beef, tripe, pig ears, and so on, a whole big bag.
Upon reaching the entrance of Xingfuyuan小区, he bought a large watermelon.
It was the same fruit stand where he had bought watermelon for Zhan Zhongxiao the first time he met him.
As he emerged from the fruit store, he saw Zhan Zhongxiao standing at the community entrance, wearing large shorts and a t-shirt, looking around.
"Dundun," Liu Nanfeng called out with a smile.
He had very few friends, but every friend was someone he gave his sincere heart to.
"Willow branch, why are you still buying watermelon? Wait, that bag of yours isn't all braised food, is it? You bought so much? How can you finish it?"
Zhan Zhongxiao walked over, taking the watermelon from Liu Nanfeng's hand.
"Don't worry, we'll definitely finish it. And can you stop calling me Willow Branch? Look at me now, do I still look like a Willow Branch?"
Liu Nanfeng was now tall and sturdy, handsome, and stylish – the most dashing guy among the delivery riders.
There were even a few times when female customers almost forcefully dragged him into their homes, and that wasn't a joke.
"Then don't call me Dundun either," Zhan Zhongxiao said discontentedly, patting his belly.
"I don't want to, but you have to give me a chance."
Liu Nanfeng poked his belly, which felt elastic.
"Get away, get away..."
Zhan Zhongxiao skillfully slapped his hand away, just like when they were kids. Liu Nanfeng loved to poke his chubby belly, and over time, he became very annoyed by it.
"Haha..." Both of them burst into laughter.
Carrying the bags, they entered the community and went upstairs.
Upon entering the house, Liu Nanfeng noticed it was much brighter and cleaner than his last visit.
As if sensing Liu Nanfeng's confusion, Zhan Zhongxiao explained, "I hired someone to clean it, and I also threw out the old curtains. So the light in the house is much better now."
It turned out that Zhan Zhongxiao had been confined to his small room before. The living room and other bedrooms had never been opened, and it didn't look like a place where a person lived.
Liu Nanfeng carried the items into the kitchen and found, just as Zhan Zhongxiao had said, that it was filled with newly bought kitchenware.
In addition to that, there were some already cooked dishes.
"Did you make all these?" Liu Nanfeng asked in surprise.
"Yeah. Anyway, in this weather, it's fine even if they get cold. I'll just stir-fry a couple more dishes at noon and it'll be okay."
"I didn't expect you to have such skills," Liu Nanfeng said, somewhat surprised. Although he didn't know how they tasted, the presentation alone was pleasing to the eye.
"Because I like to eat, and I even got a chef's certificate before."
"Then why didn't you cook yourself and eat takeout every day?"
"Because I was lazy."
Liu Nanfeng was speechless. That reason was too logical and valid.
"You're so fat, I thought you were dull-witted. I didn't expect you to be so cunning. I should have made you cook when I went to my place a few days ago."
"Haha..." Zhan Zhongxiao laughed proudly.
This was perhaps what friends were like – speaking casually and joking freely.
"Come on, it's still early, let's play games," Zhan Zhongxiao directly pulled him inside.
"I specifically prepared a controller for you since I knew you were coming."
Liu Nanfeng walked into the room and found that the interior decoration had changed somewhat.
A projector and a two-seater sofa had been added.
Liu Nanfeng instinctively glanced at the corner that had previously been covered by a black cloth.
The "action figure" that was as tall as a person was gone.
Sold?
What a heartless and unrighteous man.
ps: More to come