Chapter 135: Mother and Daughter Meet But Don’t Recognize Each Other

Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Mother and Daughter Meet But Don’t Recognize Each Other

As a colleague in the same circle, Nan Zhi had heard a few rumors about Fu Chao’s family.

But seeing the elegant, noble, and incredibly graceful Qing Qing before her...

Nan Zhi knew the truth must far exceed anyone’s imagination.

She blinked and said with a smile:

"So you’re Fu Chao’s mother. Hello, ma’am. I’m Nan Zhi, a colleague of Fu Chao’s."

Nan Zhi’s tone was polite enough, but lacked any real intimacy.

Qing Qing instinctively felt unaccustomed to such distance.

So, she took the initiative to ask:

"Are you a professional chef? I just tried some of your cooking, and it was delicious."

—A compliment that was pitifully rare for Fu Chao, yet Qing Qing had already given it out twice today.

Just as Nan Zhi was about to answer, the old ladies behind her chimed in first:

"Of course Boss Nan’s cooking is good! It’s top-notch!"

"That’s right! My old man and I wish we could eat here for every meal!"

"You’ve got great taste!"

"..."

The old ladies were a bit too enthusiastic.

Even someone with Nan Zhi’s unflappable composure was starting to feel a little embarrassed.

She cleared her throat and quickly changed the subject.

Qing Qing watched with a gentle gaze as Nan Zhi bantered back and forth with the old ladies, her mood lifting immensely.

It was as if seeing Nan Zhi so beloved by others made her happy too.

’Is this also because of Fu Chao?’

Nan Zhi used the trashy soap opera playing on the TV to distract the old ladies.

Then, while they were happily chatting, she quietly excused herself, handling the situation with ease.

Seeing this, Qing Qing remarked:

"You’re a natural with people."

"It’s a professional habit, I guess."

Nan Zhi wasn’t born knowing how to deal with people.

During her time in the Otherworld, she had traveled far and wide to hone her culinary skills, running everything from roadside food stalls to high-end restaurants.

At first, due to her naivety, she was tricked, backstabbed, and suffered a great deal.

She could only grit her teeth and swallow the bitterness. Over time, she slowly gained experience.

Nan Zhi didn’t want to dwell on those memories, so she deliberately asked:

"Ma’am, are you here to buy fruit?"

As Nan Zhi glanced at Qing Qing’s empty hands, Qing Qing was also looking at her.

Qing Qing keenly caught the fleeting hint of world-weariness and melancholy in Nan Zhi’s expression.

’Why would such a young woman have eyes that look like they’ve been through a thousand hardships?’

Suddenly, Qing Qing felt a sharp pang in her heart, as if it had been cruelly squeezed.

She couldn’t help but raise a hand to her chest.

Seeing this, Nan Zhi grew anxious:

"Is your heart bothering you?"

She moved to support Qing Qing.

Qing Qing was about to shake her head and say she was fine.

But when she saw Nan Zhi’s outstretched hand, the words caught in her throat.

While she hesitated, Nan Zhi had already steadied her and was discussing with a group of kind-hearted old ladies whether to call an ambulance.

Even the busy fruit shop owner was about to come over and check on the situation.

Slightly dazed, Qing Qing snapped back to her senses.

Looking at the chaotic scene, she wanted to stop it.

In her haste, she commanded out of habit:

"That won’t be necessary!"

Her tone was a bit sharp.

Her powerful aura stopped everyone in their tracks.

Everyone except Nan Zhi.

Nan Zhi seemed rather insensitive to the pressure exerted by people in authority. She naturally tried to persuade her:

"If you’re not feeling well, you should go to the hospital. You can’t just tough it out, ma’am! Or, should I call Fu Chao over?"

"I’m sorry, I was a little hasty... But really, there’s no need. I just had the wind knocked out of me for a second."

Qing Qing softened her tone again.

The shift in attitude was so quick that the fruit shop owner and the old ladies didn’t think much of it, and they started chattering amongst themselves:

"It’s okay if your heart just hurts for a moment, but if it happens often, you really need to be careful!"

"Right, you can’t just hide your sickness for fear of treatment! People our age have to be careful!"

"This young lady looks so young, she must only be in her forties."

"Ah, young people these days. They get so busy with work they forget to rest. So many of them are in a sub-healthy state!"

"..."

Qing Qing, who was usually addressed as "President Qing" or "Ms. Qing," was being affectionately called "young lady" for the first time.

It felt a little strange, but not unpleasant.

She explained in all seriousness:

"I’m not a young person. I’m over fifty this year."

Qing Qing’s words drew a series of gasps.

No one believed she was already over fifty.

Nan Zhi, however, was still focused on Qing Qing’s discomfort:

"Ma’am, are you really okay?"

"I’m really fine, don’t worry."

Qing Qing’s tone was certain.

Nan Zhi had no choice but to give up trying to persuade her, instead reminding Qing Qing to go to the hospital later.

Qing Qing listened to her seriously before nodding.

"I will."

Just then...

"Mom!"

Fu Chao’s figure appeared at the entrance.

He was wearing a baseball cap, dressed very discreetly.

But the fruit shop owner and the old ladies still recognized him.

It had nothing to do with his disguise. Rather, these local regulars had all basically heard that a program team was filming a variety show at Nan Family’s Small Restaurant, and that Fu Chao was one of the guests.

Usually, when they were in the restaurant, everyone left him alone, afraid of disrupting business.

But now, with no other customers around, how could the love for a spectacle, so innate to Hua Country people, not lead to requests for photos?

Fu Chao was immediately swarmed.

The wave of enthusiasm nearly knocked his baseball cap off.

Looking a bit flustered, Fu Chao glanced anxiously in Qing Qing’s direction.

Qing Qing silently took a step back.

Fu Chao: ...

"Aunties, let’s take it easy, shall we?"

Sweating profusely, he quickly spoke up to control the situation.

Fortunately, he was experienced and quickly regained his composure, gradually becoming more poised.

In the middle of it all, Nan Zhi called the fruit shop owner away to weigh her items and pay, after which he happily squeezed back into the crowd.

Nan Zhi clicked her tongue, thinking she might as well just step outside the shop...

"Shall we go outside?"

The suggestion came from Qing Qing.

Nan Zhi was a little surprised, but nodded nonetheless.

The two of them walked out of the fruit shop, one after the other.

At first, Fu Chao didn’t even notice.

As he was gently and politely fulfilling the various requests of his older fans, he suddenly thought of Nan Zhi—

’We’re both in the industry, but I’m the one being surrounded while Nan Zhi is being ignored. She... she must feel bad, right?’

So, Fu Chao took it upon himself to guide the conversation:

"Aunties, how about we ask Boss Nan to join us for a picture? We’re colleagues, you know."

The old lady closest to him, who had the brightest smile, refused without a second thought:

"We can’t do that."

Fu Chao: "Huh?"

Then he heard the old ladies say:

"Boss Nan has been working all day, she must be exhausted! We can’t possibly bother her!"

"Exactly!"

"Boss Nan’s hands are precious! What if one of us bumps into them?!"

"..."

Fu Chao: ...

’So I’m the clown here!’

Fu Chao looked toward Nan Zhi, speechless, only to find that the spot where she and his own dear mother had been standing was now empty.

He turned back to see the two of them waiting for him outside the shop.

Though "waiting" wasn’t quite the right word. They looked more like outsiders watching a play.

’Great! Just great!’

Nan Zhi met Fu Chao’s gaze and hummed.

"He looks like he’s not happy."

"It’s fine."

Qing Qing was perfectly calm.

"I’ll give him two apples later then."

"One will be enough."