Chapter 132: A Mysterious Sense of Closeness

Chapter 132: Chapter 132: A Mysterious Sense of Closeness

Could it be because of her son, Fu Chao?

It seemed Fu Chao was quite close to that girl. They were most likely friends.

’I suppose it’s a case of loving his friends for his sake.’

Qing Qing found a reasonable explanation for herself, ignoring the strange feeling in her heart, and then took her seat.

Fu Chao couldn’t wait to introduce Qing Qing to the restaurant’s signature dishes.

From the pork and bamboo shoot soup to the Texas Roasted Chicken, he spoke eloquently, praising every dish to the high heavens, making each sound utterly exquisite.

He was just like a little kid, excitedly showing off his treasures to his mother!

"...Nan Zhi makes all of these herself! She’s an amazing cook! You know the food critic Zhu Jin? He praised her personally! He even invited our restaurant to participate in the Gourmet Record competition!"

’Zhu Jin?’

Qing Qing did indeed know him.

After all, when you reached a certain level of wealth, many social circles became interconnected.

But Qing Qing’s focus wasn’t on that. She subconsciously repeated:

"Nan... ’Zhi’?"

"It’s the *zhi* for ’branch,’" Fu Chao explained, his voice suddenly dropping.

Not the *zhi* from Qing Zhi.

His tone had gone flat in an instant.

Even the viewers watching the live stream noticed something was off:

[This customer who came alone is so beautiful and elegant!]

[Right! She’s the literal embodiment of the beautiful, elegant CEO from a TV drama!]

[Do you guys feel like Fu Chao’s attitude is a little different? He’s being especially enthusiastic!]

[Could she be an acquaintance?]

[Can you guys not just guess wildly? Our Brother Fu is enthusiastic with everyone!]

...

Qing Qing said, "I see."

A flicker of disappointment showed on her face, but she quickly masked it.

"Do you have a menu?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Fu Chao snapped back to reality in a second.

He was about to turn and get one, but he saw Nan Yi had already brought the menu over.

Besides the menu, Nan Yi was also carrying a teapot.

The glass pot was warm, not hot, but seeing it held in such a small child’s arms was still nerve-wracking.

Fu Chao quickly bent down to take it from him:

"Careful!"

Nan Yi deftly dodged him, stood on his tiptoes, and placed the pot steadily on the table without even sloshing the water inside.

Then he shot Fu Chao a glance, as if to say:

’See! I told you I could do it!’

Fu Chao said, "I was just worried you might trip."

Nan Yi mumbled, "I wouldn’t."

’He wasn’t an idiot!’

Fu Chao sighed and put a hand to his forehead, completely unable to win an argument against Nan Yi.

Qing Qing’s gaze shifted between the big one and the little one.

"Does your restaurant use child labor?"

Fu Chao opened his mouth to explain.

But Nan Yi beat him to it, explaining with a practiced and very serious air:

"We’re unofficial staff members of the restaurant. We’re just helping out and don’t get paid, so it’s not child labor!"

The viewers were all amused:

[Unofficial staff... PFFFT-HAHAHA!]

[Look at our Yibao’s practiced explanation. He’s had to repeat this so many times!]

[No matter how many times I hear it, it’s still hilarious! Yiyi is too cute! I wanna squish him and hug him!]

[Maybe those trolls online who latch onto the "child labor" thing to smear them should come see the kid’s explanation! Always looking for trouble! If you’re that bored, go find a factory and screw some bolts!]

[The poor kid! Boss Nan, why don’t you give Yiyi a salary!]

[I suggest using lollipops as a salary. The kids would be very happy!]

...

It wasn’t just the viewers who were laughing.

Even Qing Qing, after a moment of surprise, let out a soft laugh.

The usually stern lines of her eyes and brows softened with the smile, and even the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes seemed to smooth out.

Qing Qing was very pleased.

Fu Chao, however, was stunned.

It had been a long time since he’d seen his mother smile so... freely.

Although Qing Qing did smile occasionally, it was always restrained and reserved, as if her smiles were weighed down by something heavy.

Not like now. This was like the warm, golden sunlight landing on the sea after a storm. The easy joy in her smile was so moving that Fu Chao’s heart was stirred beyond words.

"Hello! The check, please!"

A customer’s voice came from behind them.

Right now, only Nan Yi and Fu Chao were in the front of the house.

Nan Yi nodded and, like a miniature adult, expertly gave an order:

"I’ll go. Uncle Fu Chao, you can stay here and continue taking the order."

Then he went pattering over.

Qing Qing’s gaze followed him.

"He knows how to handle the bill at his age?"

Fu Chao said, glowing with vicarious pride:

"Of course! Our Yiyi is incredibly smart! He remembers the prices of every item on the menu better than I do!"

Qing Qing shot her son a faint glance.

"That is very impressive."

’And you’re not ashamed to admit it.’

Fu Chao caught his mother’s underlying meaning and rubbed his face sheepishly.

"Right, miss, what would you like to eat?"

He quickly changed the subject.

After looking through the menu carefully, Qing Qing said:

"I’ll have the few things you just recommended."

She hadn’t asked for the menu because she was interested in the food, but simply because she wanted to understand her son’s "workplace."

"All of them? Your stomach..."

The words slipped out before Fu Chao remembered the situation, and his tone shifted abruptly.

"What I mean is, one person might not be able to eat that much."

Qing Qing didn’t seem to mind.

"Then just bring whatever you think is best."

She wasn’t particularly passionate about Food.

Fu Chao thought for a moment. He knew his mother preferred lighter flavors.

"Then how about a bowl of the pork and bamboo shoot soup and some greens?"

Qing Qing hummed in agreement.

Then her gaze shifted again, landing on Nan Yi, who was bustling around the dining area.

Nan Yi was definitely the most useful of the four Cubs.

Taking orders, settling bills, pouring tea... he was practically omnipotent and full of endless energy!

If not for his small size and limited strength, he probably would have taken over the job of serving dishes as well, making the two adults, Fu Chao and Qi Pei’er, feel a sense of crisis.

In the eyes of the restaurant’s customers, a little Cub like Nan Yi was naturally clever and adorable.

Everyone grew fond of him and didn’t hold back their goodwill, occasionally striking up a short conversation with him or offering him snacks.

The former, Nan Yi could already handle with ease.

As for the latter, Nan Yi was completely unshakable:

"I’m sorry, my mommy told me not to take food from people."

’So well-behaved.’

Hearing this explanation, Qing Qing’s heart, for some reason, softened impossibly.

In truth, she didn’t usually like small children, especially those around three or four years old.

They always reminded her of her missing Zizhi.

Nan Yi was also that age, and from a certain angle, he even looked a little like her Zizhi.

But for some reason, Qing Qing didn’t feel any aversion at all. Instead, a sense of closeness bloomed within her, and she found she didn’t want to look away from him.

Her ignored biological son, Fu Chao: ???

"Alright, your food will be out shortly."

Fu Chao deliberately turned away slowly, wanting to stay with Qing Qing a little longer.

After all, he wouldn’t have a reason to linger after this.

And his mother was a busy woman; she would most likely leave as soon as she finished eating.

So...

’Mom! At least look at me!’

Qing Qing was still watching Nan Yi.

Her hand was propped under her chin, her eyes slightly unfocused.

A faint smile she herself hadn’t even noticed softened her features.

Fu Chao walked away, feeling melancholy.

Nan Yi bustled about for a while longer, then pattered back to Qing Qing’s table and said to her:

"May I take the teapot now? Other customers need it."

He asked politely.