Chapter 60 - 59: Prepare for the Storm

Chapter 60: Chapter 59: Prepare for the Storm

"Let’s have dumplings for lunch. I bought some when I went out to get seeds this morning."

"Okay, I’ll go cook them. Make sure you get cleaned up before you come out."

He turned and headed for the kitchen.

’I seriously can’t tell if she’s twenty or two. How can she have so much fun playing in the mud?’

Watching Xiao Ran’s back, the girl pouted and looked down at her own legs.

Sure enough, there were little specks of mud on her calves and feet.

She pulled the clear hose over and aimed it at her fair-skinned legs, rinsing them off. Luckily, it was late July and very hot, so the cool water didn’t feel cold at all.

After washing the dirt off her legs, she aimed the hose at her feet. Her two pretty little feet gently tapped against her slides, like a kitten kneading, feeling content and comfortable.

Only after she had washed off all the dirt did the girl finally come inside.

Cooking dumplings wasn’t a technical skill, so it went quickly. By the time the girl came out, Xiao Ran had already cooked the dumplings and placed them on the dining table.

Looking at the steaming hot dumplings, the girl’s face lit up with a satisfied expression.

"These look really good. We should buy from this place again next time."

As soon as she finished speaking, she eagerly picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a dumpling, and took a small bite.

’It’s a meat filling, and it tastes great.’

Seeing the blissful look on the girl’s face, Xiao Ran spoke hesitantly.

"Um, there’s something I need to tell you."

’After all, I have to tell her that Mom is coming over.’

Hearing this, the girl’s bright, moist eyes looked at Xiao Ran curiously, her cheeks puffing as she chewed. "Brother, go ahead and tell me."

Xiao Ran picked up a dumpling. "My mom said she’s coming over tomorrow."

At his words, the girl’s eyelids twitched.

Her eyes were wide with undisguised disbelief. "Huh?"

’Why is she suddenly coming over out of the blue?’

She was probably so surprised that she forgot to swallow the food in her mouth.

’Should I go stay somewhere else for a couple of days? After all, I only got to stay here by being shamelessly persistent. What if Auntie thinks I’m a burden to Brother Xiao Ran...’

The girl’s bright eyes filled with nervousness. "Then... then I’ll give Yingying a heads-up. I’ll just go stay with her starting tomorrow."

To be honest, Yan Xici was very nervous about meeting Xiao Ran’s Mother. This was Xiao Ran’s mother, after all!

Hearing this, Xiao Ran shook his head, his tone serious.

"You don’t have to do that. My mom knows you’re here. She even told me to take good care of you and not to treat you badly because of your sister."

’On this point, Xiao Ran actually thought his mom was handling it great. At least she had a broad perspective.’

’Even though we’re divorced, I can’t just fall out with Yan Li’s whole family over one person. After all, her family has always been very good to me.’

The girl still felt a little anxious. "How about... how about I still go stay with Yingying for a couple of days?"

’This isn’t just anyone; this is Brother Xiao Ran’s mother.’

’Anyone would be nervous about meeting the mother of the person they like, right?’

Especially with the strange relationship between them. The innocent girl’s heart pounded just thinking about it.

’Oh, no.’

’Suddenly, I’m not hungry anymore.’

’What do I do? I’m so flustered.’

Seeing her nervous expression, Xiao Ran couldn’t help but reach out and ruffle her hair.

"Look at you. My mom’s not a tiger. She already knows you’re staying here. If you suddenly move out now, she’ll definitely think I kicked you out. She might even yell at me for it!"

In reality, his mom wouldn’t yell at him. He was only saying that to convince Yan Xici not to move out.

Hearing this, the girl, who had been ready to back out, was conflicted once again.

’To be honest, Brother Xiao Ran is really good to me. If I get him yelled at, I’ll definitely feel terrible.’

’But I’m just not someone who handles pressure well.’

The thought of meeting Brother Xiao Ran’s mother, living under the same roof with her for who knows how many days, made her heart beat uncontrollably faster.

’So nervous and conflicted.’

Seeing that she had gone quiet, Xiao Ran said lightly, "Alright, it’s settled then. Don’t think about moving out. It’s much better here at home."

Seeing Xiao Ran’s determined look, the girl could only remain silent.

Although she had many of her own thoughts, she always went along with it whenever Xiao Ran made up his mind.

As long as he said it, she would listen. Even if she didn’t understand, she would still choose to trust him.

’She didn’t know why that was.’

「...」

The rest of the meal was not exactly comfortable.

After lunch, Xiao Ran took his usual afternoon nap. It was a habit of his.

But the girl, who usually loved to sleep, wasn’t the least bit tired.

Not only was she not tired, she was wide awake.

After cleaning up the dishes, she quietly went out to the small courtyard.

Then, with a look of utter dejection, she curled up in her hanging chair.

This was her own little world.

A little world that Brother Xiao Ran had given her.

Maybe it was her good genes, but it seemed like Yan Xici couldn’t get a tan no matter how much sun she got.

Right now, her fair-skinned feet seemed even more flawless under the sunlight, like shelled eggs.

’I’ve actually met Xiao Ran’s Mother before.’

’In my memory, she was a very classy woman. If I had to describe her in one phrase, it would be "a beauty untouched by time."’

’I still remember when we first met, she held my hand and told me warmly that we would be one family from then on.’

’She knows I’m living here, and not only did she not kick me out, she even told Brother Xiao Ran to take good care of me.’

’Actually, Auntie is a really good person.’

The girl pressed her lips together, her resolve hardening!

’Since I’ve decided not to leave, I should get ready to welcome Auntie!’

The two of them had just moved in and had only bought some simple things.

They hadn’t even set up the other bedroom yet.

’If Auntie is going to stay, we definitely need to get some things. At the very least, she’ll need bedsheets!’

’Not just sheets, but also a blanket, a drinking glass, slippers, a toothbrush cup, and her own towel.’

With that thought, she hurriedly hopped out of the hanging chair, her strawberry slides slapping against the floor as she hurried back into her room.

She changed her clothes, rushed out the door, and headed toward the supermarket.

About half an hour later, she finally reached the large supermarket she had visited before. The girl went inside, grabbed a shopping cart, and began carefully picking out items for Auntie.

It was only two o’clock. Most people went to the supermarket after eating or around four or five.

So the whole store seemed exceptionally empty.

There were hardly any people.

Even the sales associates, who were usually enthusiastic, looked lethargic.

The girl pushed her cart, browsing as she walked.

After carefully selecting a toothbrush cup and a toothbrush, she also bought a soft-looking towel.

Finally, she didn’t forget to pick out a pair of pinkish-purple slippers for Auntie. A color like that wasn’t old-fashioned, yet it was tasteful—a favorite among moms and grandmas.

Once she had bought all those things, she headed for the bedding section.

The same saleslady from last time was working in the bedding section. With no customers around, she was leaning against a table, looking down at her phone. When she saw Yan Xici arrive, she quickly smiled. "What, back to buy more sheets? Did you realize the color wasn’t right?"

The saleslady remembered her vividly, both because the girl was pretty and because she had just been in the day before.

’Yesterday, I thought the girl shouldn’t have bought pink, but rather a unisex color that both men and women could use, like blue or saffron yellow.’

’And sure enough, just one day later, here she was again!’

’What a waste of money!’