About ten seconds of stalemate passed before Li Hongmei spoke up.
"Can you really make money from that game of yours?"
"Yeah, I can."
"You're in your final year of high school and still playing games? You need to get your phone replaced!" Li Hongmei removed her apron and glared at him angrily, "No more playing from now on, save that money and don't waste it."
"Ah, okay... alright." Jiang Nian was indifferent; after all, completing system tasks didn't require a phone.
After speaking, her tone softened, "The meal looks quite lavish; my son has become sensible."
Hearing this, Jiang Nian internally breathed a sigh of relief and suddenly wore a cheeky grin again.
"When's Old Jiang getting off work?"
"Soon enough. Show some manners. Stop being so full of yourself and go call Qianqian for dinner." Li Hongmei maintained a stern face; her son had been unruly since childhood and showed off with just a bit of praise.
"Where's Uncle Xu?" he asked.
Li Hongmei took out a watermelon from the fridge, "He went on a business trip, left this morning."
Knock, knock, knock.
The sound of knocking came, Xu Qianqian opened the security door halfway, revealing a rosy face.
"What's up?"
"Calling you for dinner. Hey, why is your face red?" Jiang Nian caught a detail, shamelessly trying to squeeze in, "What were you doing at home this afternoon?"
"Get out!" Xu Qianqian firmly guarded the door.
Jiang Nian suddenly grabbed her arm, making Xu Qianqian stiffen all over, and then, she yelled towards the Jiang Family's door in a loud voice.
"Auntie, Jiang Nian touched me!"
"Uh, no, you...?"
Li Hongmei's scolding came from the kitchen, "Jiang Nian, are you itching for trouble? Don't bully Qianqian!"
"I didn't! Don't make things up." Startled, he hastily squeezed in, and seeing Xu Qianqian about to shout again, quickly covered her mouth.
"Mmm mmm mmm!!"
The two were very close, he could even see the tiny hairs on the girl's face. Her big, bright eyes stared at him, full of panic.
The hot and dry summer evening breeze brought the fragrance from Xu Qianqian's neck, making him somewhat embarrassed for no reason.
"Don't shout."
"Mmm mmm."
"I'll let go if you promise not to yell, nod if you agree."
Xu Qianqian mumbled and then nodded.
Jiang Nian had just loosened his hand when she bit him, leaving a clear bite mark on his arm. The pain made him take a sharp breath, but he didn't dare to shout.
"Xu Qianqian, are you a dog?"
"Hmph, serves you right." Xu Qianqian turned her head away.
Perhaps from the earlier tussle, her face had a faint blush. Only now did Jiang Nian notice Xu Qianqian seemed dressed differently. He sized her up and was slightly stunned.
"A JK skirt? New purchase?"
No wonder she didn't open the door earlier, turns out she was trying on clothes. But it's not like she was changing, and this JK outfit isn't revealing, the skirt isn't even short. What's there to hide?
Xu Qianqian didn't think so and was slightly embarrassed.
"What does it have to do with you!"
"Nothing, but it looks nice." Jiang Nian rubbed his arm and walked out, "Come over for dinner later, there's your favorite lotus leaf steamed chicken."
Thump, the door closed.
Xu Qianqian stood in her living room, took a deep breath to calm herself, and then turned to her room to change clothes.
Seven thirty.
Jiang Weizheng came home, was surprised to see a table full of dishes, and put his briefcase aside.
"What's the occasion today?"
"No occasion, your son made all these." Li Hongmei rolled her eyes at him and urged everyone to wash hands and eat, calling the two little ones on the couch watching TV as well.
"Time to eat, stop watching."
Soon, the four of them sat at the table. Li Hongmei repeated what Jiang Nian had said earlier, leaving Old Jiang and Xu Qianqian puzzled, all eyes on Jiang Nian.
"Can you really earn money like that?" Jiang's dad asked.
"Of course, Old Jiang comrade." Jiang Nian wasn't blushing or heart-thumping.
"Really?" Xu Qianqian looked at him several times. She never lacked money growing up, her living standards were always higher than Jiang Nian's. "In your final year and you're still playing games, be careful you don't get into college!"
Their relationship was good when they were kids, she often gave Jiang Nian little breads. Later, they grew apart, and then they both grew up, even stopped liking snacks.
Upon hearing this, Li Hongmei also scolded him a few more times, and mentioned changing his phone again.
Old Jiang picked up a piece of the lotus leaf steamed chicken, after taking a bite, his expression was complicated.
"Xiao Nian, did your grandpa teach you this?"
"Mm, is it good?"
"Sigh, not as good as when your grandpa made it." Jiang Weizheng sighed and put down his chopsticks, "When I was a kid, what he made was truly exceptional."
After saying this, Jiang Weizheng paused, "Forget it, it's all in the past, let's eat."
Jiang Nian didn't mind, he didn't have much appetite for his own cooked meal. Only noticed Xu Qianqian seemed to enjoy it, eating two whole bowls of rice unusually.
Ding! The settlement panel appeared.
[Task: Cook a sumptuous dinner for your parents. Reward: 800 RMB (Completed).]
Almost simultaneously, his phone buzzed with a vibration.
Even though Jiang Nian knew the bank transfer details, he couldn't resist pulling out his phone for a look. After spending nearly four hundred on groceries, plus the 800 reward credit.
His balance now was a total of 1350.64 RMB.
"By the way, Hongmei, did you pay for the utilities?" Old Jiang suddenly looked up and asked.
"No, why?"
"I think our utilities might have been..." He stopped halfway, seemingly realizing something, he turned to look at Jiang Nian, "Did you pay the utilities?"
"Yeah, so what?"
Old Jiang froze for a few seconds, "Nothing, just keep your money for yourself, you'll need it when you grow up."
As he said this, he glanced subtly towards Xu Qianqian, sighing internally, his son was as clueless as an ignorant ox.
The families were equally matched and well-rooted. It's a pity the two kids didn't get along, forced pairings never work, and who knows where Uncle Xu's little treasured daughter would end up in the end.
After dinner, Xu Qianqian and Li Hongmei took care of the dishes while Jiang Nian cleaned the table. Twenty minutes later, a chilled watermelon was brought to the table.
After finishing the watermelon and chatting a bit, Xu Qianqian went back home.
With the door closed, the Jiang family of three also prepared to rest.
Old Jiang sighed, "Xiao Nian, which class is Qianqian in again?"
"Next door to us, haha!"
Hearing Jiang Nian laugh, Old Jiang grew immediately angry, "Laugh for what? If you were half as sensible as Qianqian, we'd have to thank our ancestors."
Jiang Nian wasn't laughing at Xu Qianqian; it was because a new task had refreshed.
[Thirty-eight-year-old you, your body has long been overdrawn. Health is the foundation for anything; building a good body and enhancing personal appeal is the basis for a comeback.]
[Side mission: Complete a 2 km run in one go (without resting), Reward: 300 RMB.
Complete a 3 km run in one go (without resting), Reward: 700 RMB.
Complete a 5 km run in one go (without resting), Reward: 1000 RMB.]