Chapter 634: 401 If you like, come to my house anytime (2 more updates)_2
Tang Wan nodded along.
"Your grandparents are just anxious," she added quickly, her eyes bright with concern. "They’re getting on in years, and since Shuci is still young, they can’t always be pushing her. They just vented to me a little. They’re not in an easy position, and I happened to know someone nice, so I thought, why not let them meet as friends?"
...
Later Tang Wan discussed this with Jiang Jinsang.
"Do you feel bad about not telling her?" Jiang Jinsang saw right through her, "but you also feel your grandparents deserve understanding, and Master is making such an effort for her benefit, so it’s hard to refuse."
Tang Wan nodded.
"Since Master said it’s just making friends, not an official match-making, they don’t have to be a pair, don’t overthink it."
"I know."
The fact that Tang Wan was Xi Fangli’s apprentice was causing quite a stir in the Beijing circle, with many people even calling the Jiang family, all hinting at them having found a good daughter-in-law.
"A teacher for a day is like a father for a lifetime," the old lady held Xi Fangli in high regard, and that evening, she specifically called everyone home to the old house for dinner.
Busy with work and late finishing, Jiang Shiyi arrived last, apologizing to everyone as soon as he entered, "Sorry I’m late, caught the rush hour, didn’t mean to keep everyone waiting."
"Little Three, come over and meet Master Xi..."
"Master Xi." Jiang Shiyi was naturally reserved, an epitome of elegance.
Dressed in a fitting suit and slightly obsessive about cleanliness, his clothes were impeccably crease-free. Carrying a briefcase, he looked every inch the elite, hardly like he was from the same mother as Chengsi.
"So you are the third Jiang brother, a doctoral graduate?"
"Um, was doing a postdoc originally, but had to return early because of a family emergency."
"Very impressive. Your grandchildren here, they’re all exceptionally talented."
On hearing this, the old lady’s face lit up with joy, more thrilled than if she had tasted honey.
...
Chengsi, sitting to one side, nudged Jinsang’s elbow, "Why do I feel like Master Xi is looking at my brother with..."
"Eyes full of passion!"
Even Jiang Shiyi felt slightly uneasy under his gaze...
Why was this master looking at him with such intensity? They were supposed to be...
meeting for the first time, right!
Anyway, by the end of the meal, it was clear to everyone that Xi Fangli was very fond of Jiang Shiyi, Jinsang coming in second. His demeanor suggested he only wished he had a daughter or granddaughter of the right age to offer to Jiang Shiyi.
**
Meanwhile, Shen Shuci was with Huo Qinqi, just arriving at a house.
Crouching down, she stared intently at a litter of kittens.
"Mr. Huo, Miss Shen, please have some tea." The man, in his thirties and already a family man, was a business partner of Qi Zeyan. He had never met Huo Qinqi, but the mention of the last name and introduction was enough to make the connection clear.
Huo Qinqi was known for his cool, stoic demeanor; why would he want to adopt a cat? Then he saw, standing behind him, Shen Shuci.
"No worries, Mr. Ma." Although Huo Qinqi was difficult to deal with, he was never rude. When they had arrived, they even brought a gift.
After all, they were planning to take one of his cats, so it was polite to bring something along.
His tone was distant and cold, yet polite.
"Miss Shen, except for that white cat that was pre-booked, feel free to choose any of the others you like."
"It’s not me who’s choosing." Shen Shuci stared at the kittens for a while before snapping back, "Mr. Huo, please take a look..."
It wasn’t her getting a cat, so why get excited? Eventually, it had to be him who liked it.
"Our cats are all bred purely, that orange and white one is quite quiet, the mostly orange one is even calmer..."
Kittens, adorable no matter what, caught Shen Shuci’s eye. She gently played with them a bit, then felt someone crouching beside her. His height was imposing, even in a crouch, still towering over her...
It felt like being near him, you’d always be enveloped by his presence.
"Which one do you like?" His voice was naturally husky and deep, bending over made it even more intensely husky.
Landed on her ears...
Tickled the heart.
Standing by was a Mr. Ma, the cat owner, who was looking down, messaging Qi Zeyan:
"Mr. Qi, why didn’t you tell me beforehand that it was Mr. Huo wanting to adopt a cat? Do you know how nervous I was when he showed up?"
"Mr. Ma, he doesn’t bite, what are you afraid of! Did he go alone?"
"There was also a girl with the last name Shen, who looked to be in her early twenties, very bubbly. I’m gossiping a bit, but could this possibly be..."
"Shh—Knowing too much isn’t good for you!"
Hearing this, Qi Zeyan couldn’t help but laugh. Old Huo, oh Old Huo, you’ve just begun to bloom and you’re already so flirtatious?
He originally thought maybe Huo Qinqi had taken the cat to please Shen Shuci; little did he expect the two of them to go see the cat together. Devilish maneuver.
...
"I think the orange-colored one looks very nice." Shen Shuci pointed at the cat, "What about you? Which one do you like?"
"I can’t choose; if you like it, I like it too."
He spoke very softly. The cat’s nest was only so big, inevitably, their bodies brushed against each other. Shen Shuci had initially been reaching out to pet the cat, but after he said that, her fingers paused slightly; a ripple stirred up from the bottom of her heart, a feeling flooding her that was hard to describe.
Like ripples, spreading out layer by layer.
Her heartbeat inexplicably began to speed up...
The cat owner, standing to the side, twitched his lips fiercely twice:
First time meeting Mr. Huo, and he’s not quite like the rumors say!
After choosing the cat, and since they hadn’t had a pet before, the cat owner explained some basics of cat care, "...if there are any unclear aspects, you can contact me anytime, Mr. Huo has all my contact information."
After thanking him and leaving, the cat owner kept watching their retreating figures for a long time...
Being a normal man, when Shen Shuci was looking at the cat, Mr. Huo’s gaze, from beginning to end, never left her for a moment. The look might be a bit cold...
But the passion was unmistakably there!
Laughing to himself, he went back inside, while by the time the two reached the car, the people from the Huo Family were stunned. Shen Shuci was holding the cat, and Huo Qinqi, resigned to his fate, was actually helping her carry bags, even talking heads looking at something, possibly because the cat made a noise, prompting Shen Shuci to have him check on it.
The Huo family members muttered, "Never thought the day would come when our sir would carry bags for a lady!"
"Feels like they’ve gotten a lot closer."
"Don’t you think that if they have kids in the future, it’ll be just like this! Miss Shen holding the child, and then..."
"That’s thinking a bit too far ahead, isn’t it?"
Both carrying the cat, night had completely fallen, so naturally, they had dinner together.
By the time they parted, it was almost nine in the evening, Shen Shuci who loved cats, held it in her arms and felt somewhat reluctant to let go.
"Like it a lot?"
"Very cute."
Shen Shuci had long wanted to have some small animals, but she hesitated to mention it to the Shen elders. If she had, they definitely would have agreed, but back then she was still in school and ultimately, the care would fall to the elders. Being able to adopt and treated so well, she felt very content and tried not to trouble them.
"If you like, come to my house anytime."
"That would be too much disturbance." Shen Shuci still lowered her head, playing with the kitten in her arms.
Huo Qinqi’s tone was usual, cold, but the following words inevitably made her heart beat faster...
"If it’s you... it wouldn’t be considered a disturbance."
The Huo family members were dumbfounded, while Shen Shuci, back in her rented room, lay on her bed, savoring his words, recalling the way he looked at her, suddenly feeling her face flush with heat...
Meanwhile, Tang Wan sent a message reminding her not to forget to go to the old house tomorrow to have dinner with Xi Fangli.