Huo Rou hadn't expected Qin Ningyi to see her in this state. She felt an inexplicable embarrassment and replied in a low voice, "Cooking."
An An helpfully explained to Qin Ningyi from the side, "I gave away all the instant noodles at home. Eating those isn't healthy. I completely forgot Mom was going back alone this time..."
As if sensing Huo Rou's discomfort in the camera's gaze, he leaned closer to Qin Ningyi and whispered, "Mom can't cook. She must have set the kitchen on fire."
Qin Ningyi hadn't expected this to be the reason. He looked at Huo Rou's current appearance and asked stiffly, "Where's Old Zhang?"
He had sent Old Zhang to help. How had Huo Rou ended up looking like a little kitten?
"He's still cooking," Huo Rou said, walking to the faucet with her phone and haphazardly washing her face with her hands.
Even a beauty washing her face possessed a certain aesthetic, though this beauty's movements were bold, even a bit rough. Yet, the water droplets trickled down her cheeks and onto her clothes.
Qin Ningyi's mind suddenly conjured the image of Huo Rou emerging from the water and colliding with him.
Exquisitely charming, tender and alluring.
He suddenly felt restless. Fortunately, Old Zhang's voice reached them from the other end, "Miss Huo, dinner is ready!"
"You should go eat quickly," Qin Ningyi instructed Huo Rou, then scooped up An An. "We're going to eat too."
"Then Mom, I'll call you again later!" An An waved goodbye to Huo Rou and hung up the phone.
Old Zhang's cooking wasn't great, just as he had said, but Huo Rou ate without frowning.
Old Zhang cautiously observed Huo Rou's expression. He couldn't detect any hint of displeasure. However, he did notice that Huo Rou reached for the plate of boiled vegetables more often than the stir-fried dishes.
The young master seems to know how to cook, doesn't he? Hmm, a perfect match, Old Zhang mused internally.
After dinner and cleaning up, Huo Rou took Shen Feng out for a stroll.
It was early autumn, and it wasn't getting dark too soon. The sun was about to sink behind the mountains.
Shen Feng frolicked and ran ahead, while Old Zhang followed Huo Rou, admiring the scenery.
The countryside was different from the city, with its green waters, lush mountains, and birds returning to their nests.
The sky at sunset glowed with purple and orange hues, and silhouettes of birds streaked across the sky.
This had been her home for the past five years. She loved the quiet life here. Tending to flowers, walking the dog, a life without waves or ripples, occasionally helping someone with a small task.
But she had overlooked that An An's growth didn't require such tranquility. He was still so young and hadn't seen the vast world. How could she let him remain hidden here with her?
Shen Feng returned, panting, and walked slowly beside Huo Rou, leaning against her leg.
"Shen Feng," Huo Rou called out gently.
"Woof!" Shen Feng responded loudly, then sat ramrod straight beside her.
Huo Rou commanded, "Stand."
Shen Feng immediately stood up, obeying without question.
"Bark," Huo Rou commanded again.
"Woof!" Shen Feng responded swiftly, and one could vaguely sense his excitement.
"Miss Huo, you've trained this dog exceptionally well," Old Zhang exclaimed, seeing such obedience for the first time. "I've never seen a guard dog trained to this extent."
Huo Rou squatted down and affectionately stroked Shen Feng's head, her voice filled with nostalgia. "He's no ordinary dog."
Her Shen Feng, after all, was the most capable police dog.
But because of her, Shen Feng could only be a guard dog in this small mountain village now, living an ordinary life.
"Shen Feng, you'll have to move with me." As the sun sank low and smoke curled from countless chimneys, a hint of fragility flickered in Huo Rou's eyes. Her voice was soft and faint, "I'm sorry."
"Whimper," Shen Feng whined, lifting a paw to pat Huo Rou's shoulder, looking at her eagerly.
Huo Rou smiled and nuzzled its face.
In the last vestiges of light, Old Zhang raised his phone and captured a photograph of Huo Rou's hazy smile and Shen Feng's focused gaze.
Huo Rou stood up and led Shen Feng back. Old Zhang followed behind and sent the recently taken photo to Qin Ningyi.
It was rare for the young master to have taken a liking to a girl, so he had to lend a hand.
In the bedroom, Qin Ningyi, fresh from his shower and wrapped in a towel, received the photo from Old Zhang. He sensed a hint of loneliness in Huo Rou's smile.
He saved the picture and said to An An, who was already in bed, "Your mother is out walking the dog."
An An, who had been worried after failing to reach her several times, immediately shifted to look at Qin Ningyi's phone upon hearing his words.
In the photo, Huo Rou and Shen Feng were together. An An leaned closer to examine Huo Rou's expression.
"Mom looks sad again," An An, sensitive to Huo Rou's emotions, mumbled and retreated under the covers.
Qin Ningyi wanted to ask what the "again" referred to, but An An's phone rang.
"Dad, you answer it," An An handed the phone to Qin Ningyi and quickly burrowed into the blankets.
Qin Ningyi glanced at his bare upper body on the screen and smirked meaningfully before answering the call.
Huo Rou had just returned home and picked up her phone when she saw the missed call. She immediately called An An back.
However, An An's face didn't appear on the screen. Instead, Qin Ningyi's dripping hair and water-beaded Adam's apple came into view.
His voice, slightly hoarse after his bath, said, "Huo Rou."
As he spoke, his Adam's apple bobbed, and a drop of water from his hair fell onto the lens, and into Huo Rou's heart.
Her face flushed crimson. Under the cover of the blurred screen, she abruptly ended the call.
Qin Ningyi's hand, wiping the lens, had not yet touched the phone. He had only managed to see Huo Rou's rapidly reddening ears.
Shy?
Qin Ningyi guessed with a flash of insight. He looked down at himself and realized...
He picked up his phone and made a video call to Huo Rou.
Meanwhile, Huo Rou, covering her burning face, desperately tried to suppress the memories from years ago.
Before she could succeed, Qin Ningyi's call came through again.
It seemed she truly couldn't hide her emotions from him. When she didn't want to engage, she couldn't put on a pleasant face. Her mind was filled with the image of his sweat-soaked hair that year, and the way his Adam's apple and sweat beads had moved when he spoke in that low voice.
Her face grew hotter, and she hung up the phone, rushing to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face.
In the mirror, her face was flushed, and her eyes held an undisguised mixture of embarrassment and annoyance.
Qin Ningyi called again via video. Huo Rou hung up directly. She had a hunch he wouldn't be fully dressed if she answered this call, and if she did, all her feelings would be laid bare.
"Beep."
A text message sounded.
【Little kitten, feeling shy?】