"Oh? Eating at your place?" Zhan Zhongxiao asked, surprised over the phone.
"Yes, we originally planned for tonight, but my mom came over today. Jinxiu said you're not strangers and you all know each other, so she invited you to our home."
"I see. I'm fine with it. I'll ask Wenhui," Zhan Zhongxiao replied.
"Okay, then you..." Liu Nanfeng's sentence was cut short as Zhan Zhongxiao hung up the phone.
"Prioritizing romance over friendship," Liu Nanfeng muttered, starting the car to pick up Yu Huilan.
On the way, Zhan Zhongxiao sent him a message saying Shen Wenhui agreed. Liu Nanfeng then sent them the address.
"Huilan, why don't you stay at my place tonight? I'll have Old Shen buy the groceries."
When Liu Nanfeng arrived, a middle-aged woman stood beside Yu Huilan. It was Shen Wenhui's mother, Jiang Liwen.
"Aunt Jiang," Liu Nanfeng said, pulling his car up beside them.
"Nanfeng, long time no see! You've gotten much sturdier and even more handsome. Oh my, is this your car? It looks really nice..." Jiang Liwen immediately began to chatter.
"It has been a while." The last time they met was at Liu Nanfeng's wedding banquet, where she attended.
"Don't take your mother back. Stay at my place tonight and be my guest," Jiang Liwen added at the end.
"Auntie, no need. Jinxiu has dinner ready at home, so there's no need to trouble you. How about Auntie comes back with me? I've also invited Wenhui and Dundun." Liu Nanfeng said.
Jiang Liwen hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "I'd better not. Uncle Shen is home alone, and he won't even cook dinner."
"Then let Uncle Shen come along."
"No, you all go ahead," Jiang Liwen refused with a shake of her head.
Seeing this, Liu Nanfeng didn't insist further. Once Yu Huilan was seated in the car, he drove off.
"That kid from the Liu family has really made something of himself," Jiang Liwen sighed as she watched Liu Nanfeng drive away. Thinking of her own daughter, her mood soured. Her daughter had always been their pride, excelling in her studies. But she had studied too hard, and at twenty-seven, she hadn't even dated. It had been a constant worry for them.
"Hachoo..."
Yu Huilan, sitting in the back seat, sneezed several times in a row. Liu Nanfeng quickly turned off the air conditioning.
He asked nervously, "Mom, do you have a cold? Are you feeling unwell?" He then opened the car window for ventilation.
"I'm not unwell, just sneezed twice. Why are you so anxious?" Yu Huilan gave him a dismissive glance and picked up a tissue to wipe her nose.
"It's good that you're alright. If you feel unwell, you must tell me."
"I know, you're so flustered. Your mother is in good health." Yu Huilan said this, but she was secretly pleased by Liu Nanfeng's concern.
"Auntie!" As soon as Liu Nanfeng opened the door, Su Huamei greeted him, pushing Liu Nanfeng aside.
"Oh, it's Huamei! It's been a long time. How have you been? Nanfeng, why didn't you tell me Huamei was here?" Yu Huilan held Su Huamei's hand and chided Liu Nanfeng.
"Why should I tell you? Am I supposed to buy her a gift or something?"
"You silly child, what are you saying? Huamei, don't take it to heart."
"I won't, Auntie. Please come in and sit down," Su Huamei said, pulling Yu Huilan towards the living room.
At this moment, Su Jinxiu, hearing the commotion from the kitchen, came out wearing an apron.
"Mom."
"Oh, Jinxiu, you don't need to be so busy. I'll just eat something simple," Yu Huilan released Su Huamei's hand and walked towards her.
"Hachoo, hachoo..." Yu Huilan sneezed several more times. Su Jinxiu glanced at Liu Nanfeng. He nodded slightly, and Su Jinxiu understood that Yu Huilan had likely been infected by the "plague" (a metaphorical term for contagion).
"Mom, please sit down and rest for a bit. I'll make you some cold medicine."
"No need, I'm feeling perfectly fine. I don't need medicine," Yu Huilan said dismissively.
"Mom, how old are you? Prevention is key. It's better to take some medicine to boost your immunity and prevent a cold," Liu Nanfeng chimed in.
"Alright then." Hearing Liu Nanfeng say this, Yu Huilan didn't insist further, as she didn't want to get sick.
Just then, Liu Nanfeng's phone rang. It was Zhan Zhongxiao; they had arrived.
"Mom, please sit. Dundun and the others have reached the complex. I'll go down and get them."
"You go ahead. I'll keep Auntie company," Su Huamei said with a giggle.
"You go. I'll chat with Huamei. Huamei, how is your aunt doing?" In Yu Huilan's understanding, the Su sisters' parents had passed away early, and they were raised by their aunt. She had met the aunt at Liu Nanfeng's wedding – an elegant elderly lady.
However, in reality...
"Auntie is doing very well. After retiring, she likes to travel and visit places..."
"That's a good hobby. When you're young, you're busy with family and work, with no time to go out and see the world. Now that you sisters are grown and have free time, you should certainly go out and explore. I envy her quite a bit."
"Mom, if you want to, you can too. You and Dad can go out and travel. I'll help you arrange the itinerary," Su Jinxiu said, bringing out a cup of "Banlangen" (a traditional Chinese herbal remedy).
"No need. It's quite good to stay in the countryside," Yu Huilan said, though she was slightly tempted.
"Mom, drink the medicine first."
Yu Huilan didn't think much of it, took a few sips, and then sighed, saying a bit strangely, "This medicine is really effective. I feel much better after drinking it."
"It's just a placebo effect, but it does boost immunity a bit," Su Huamei added. Yu Huilan nodded. The previously heavy and oppressive feeling in her body, as if she was carrying a burden, was gone, leaving her feeling refreshed and clear.
Meanwhile, Liu Nanfeng had met Zhan Zhongxiao and Shen Wenhui at the complex entrance. Zhan Zhongxiao was carrying two large bags of fruit.
"I wasn't sure what to buy, so I just got some fruit."
"You didn't have to be so formal."
"But I've already bought it."
"Alright, let's go in." Liu Nanfeng reached out to help carry the bags, but Zhan Zhongxiao dodged him.
"I can manage myself." Liu Nanfeng thought about it; this weight was nothing for Zhan Zhongxiao.
"By the way, where did you guys go today?" Liu Nanfeng asked curiously. Upon hearing this, Shen Wenhui started to laugh, while Zhan Zhongxiao looked embarrassed.
"He claimed to be familiar with Jiangcheng, but he knows it less than I do," Shen Wenhui said.
"That's natural, after all, you grew up in Jiangcheng."
"Tch, you didn't say that this morning."
"We didn't go to many places, actually. We went to the pedestrian street, then the park, had a meal, watched a movie, and it was already evening," Zhan Zhongxiao said honestly and a bit sheepishly.
"Are there any good movies playing recently?"
"Speaking of which, I have to mention Dundun. Who takes a girl to watch a war movie?" Shen Wenhui chuckled.
"But that war movie was the only one worth watching. The other movies were nothing special." Zhan Zhongxiao scratched his head, looking genuinely simple. Liu Nanfeng didn't know what to say to him.
At this time, Ao Jiangyue, who was usually stationed along the Yangtze River, had for once left the river and come to Shencheng. This was also where the Haiwang Group headquarters was located.