Chapter 136: I Like It Very Much

Chapter 136: Chapter 136: I Like It Very Much

Fu Chao finally finished interacting with his fans and let out a long sigh of relief.

He hurried out of the fruit shop, looking with mixed feelings at Nan Zhi and Qing Qing, who were standing together in a way that was surprisingly harmonious.

"You two are really something else..."

Nan Zhi earnestly picked up where he left off. "You’re popular. That’s a good thing."

Qing Qing chimed in, "Mm."

Fu Chao was certain Nan Zhi hadn’t heard what those aunties were saying.

’Oh, well. He was magnanimous enough to let it slide.’

"You two have met, then."

Nan Zhi hummed in agreement.

"I came to buy some fruit and happened to run into Auntie."

Fu Chao nodded, then looked toward his mother.

"I thought you’d left, until I saw your car..."

Qing Qing folded her arms and explained,

"I came all this way to see you. How could I leave when we’ve barely said two words to each other?"

Fu Chao was clearly pleased.

"But aren’t you busy with work? I don’t want to hold you up."

Surprisingly, Qing Qing didn’t deny it. Instead, she said,

"It is. That’s why I spent the last two hours handling business in the car."

It had been about two hours from the time Qing Qing left after dinner until the restaurant closed for the night.

In other words, Qing Qing hadn’t taken a single minute’s rest.

Fu Chao was clearly used to his mother’s ways, showing no surprise whatsoever.

Nan Zhi, on the other hand, was a little surprised.

’It just wasn’t her place to say anything.’

"So, Mom, you came to the fruit shop to..."

"Kids usually like fruit."

’Fu Chao suspected that the only "kid" Qing Qing was referring to was Nan Yi.’

’After all, he knew for a fact that his mother tended to keep children this age at a deliberate distance.’

’The connections between people really are a curious thing.’

"So, are you still going to buy some?"

Nan Zhi chimed in at the perfect moment.

"I’ve already bought plenty, Auntie. You don’t have to."

Fu Chao expected Qing Qing to refuse.

But instead, Qing Qing just nodded.

"Alright."

Fu Chao: ???

’You guys got this friendly in such a short time?’

’He felt something was off, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.’

He only started moving when Nan Zhi suggested they head back to the restaurant, following her subconsciously.

It was just a short walk from the fruit shop to Nan Family’s Small Restaurant.

With business hours and the livestream over, everyone was busy with the daily cleanup.

At this time of day, Xu Lin and the others would always join in to make things more efficient.

By the time Nan Zhi’s group returned, everyone was already hard at work, having cleaned every nook and cranny until the place was spotless!

Nan Zhi was taken aback.

Just then, everyone rushed over to greet her enthusiastically, showering her with congratulations.

’So Xu Lin had told them about the documentary!’

The little ones on the side listened in, only half-understanding what was going on.

Qing Xi let out an exaggerated "Wow!"

"Does that mean we’re going to be on TV for everyone to see?"

Qi Zhang said disdainfully,

"You dunce! We’re on TV right now!"

Xie An’an’s big eyes went heart-shaped.

She didn’t understand what was happening, but that didn’t stop her from idolizing Nan Zhi.

"Auntie Zhizhi is awesome!"

Nan Yi looked so proud he could burst. He huffed,

"My mom is the best, of course!"

Everyone was so caught up in the happy moment that they almost missed Qing Qing standing behind Fu Chao.

It wasn’t until Xu Lin noticed her and asked curiously,

"And this is...?"

Everyone vaguely recognized Qing Qing. They remembered her as a customer from earlier that evening, one to whom Fu Chao had been particularly attentive.

They had already been speculating among themselves that she might be an acquaintance of Fu Chao’s.

And then...

"Grandaunt?"

Qing Xi called out faintly.

He looked nothing like his usual energetic self; he was like a mouse that had just seen a cat.

It couldn’t be helped. Whether at home or out, Qing Qing was like the final boss to the children—a figure they naturally feared and respected.

A child like Nan Yi, who could interact with Qing Qing so easily, was the exception.

Everyone chorused, "Grandaunt??"

Fu Chao said, "Yep, that’s my mom."

Everyone was incredulous. Their first reaction was that Fu Chao’s mom looked so young!

Only then did it belatedly dawn on them that her status and background were likely anything but simple.

Just standing before her, you could feel a commanding presence that inspired awe without a word.

Everyone suddenly became cautious and reserved.

The atmosphere suddenly turned a bit stiff.

But Qing Qing didn’t seem to notice.

Or perhaps, she was simply used to it.

Just then, Nan Yi’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"So you’re Uncle Fu Chao’s mom!"

A faint, teasing smile appeared in Qing Qing’s eyes.

"So I was right to have you call me Grandma, wasn’t I?"

Nan Yi frowned. He just couldn’t bring himself to say the word "Grandma."

In the end, all he could do was shoot his mother a pleading look.

Nan Zhi smiled and pulled him closer.

"Alright, alright. Do you want an apple?"

As she spoke, she took out the fruit she had just bought and offered it to everyone.

Xu Lin and the others tactfully made their excuses and left. They couldn’t bring themselves to eat fruit that the cast had bought with their hard-earned money.

That left only the cast members and the kids.

As expected, the children loved the fruit.

Xie Yu said he’d peel them, and at his call, the three other kids scurried over to him.

Nan Yi didn’t go.

He just sat next to Nan Zhi, hugging a large apple, being very clingy.

It was the first time Qing Qing had seen Nan Yi being so affectionate with his mother.

Seeing how articulate and clever he was while working as a little waiter in the restaurant, it was hard to imagine him being such a soft, sweet little boy in front of his mother—

"Mama, have an apple!"

"I don’t want any. Yiyi, you can have it."

"Then I’ll eat half, and you eat half, okay?"

"Alright."

Nan Yi then made a move to peel it himself, wanting his mother to have a perfectly clean apple.

It was only when Nan Zhi, worried it was dangerous, took the fruit knife from him that he puffed out his cheeks in disappointment.

"Oh, right! Uncle Fu Chao’s mom gave me a fountain pen earlier!"

Nan Yi still hadn’t called her Grandma.

Even though Uncle Fu Chao had told him to accept it, Nan Yi still wanted to get his mother’s opinion.

As he spoke, he took out the black and gold fountain pen that he had carefully tucked away in his pocket.

Nan Zhi was a little surprised to hear that.

Besides, she wasn’t a child like Nan Yi; she could tell at a glance that this was no ordinary fountain pen.

It was heavy in her hand, its design understated yet elegant. It looked as if it had been designed specifically for Qing Qing—most likely a priceless, custom-made piece.

"This must have been a gift from someone very close to you, Auntie. You can tell a lot of thought went into it," Nan Zhi said in a serious tone.

Qing Qing mentally applauded Nan Zhi’s sharp eye.

"It was."

Nan Zhi mulled it over.

"It’s a shame to give something so valuable to a child."

"I don’t see it that way. He’s very bright. He has the makings of a great scholar."

Qing Qing had her own logic and reasons.

’So, does this Auntie Qing Qing have a habit of appreciating talent?’ Nan Zhi thought.

If Fu Chao knew what she was thinking, he would have shaken his head without a doubt!

After a moment of thought, Nan Zhi no longer tried to refuse.

"In that case... A gift from an elder should not be refused. Yiyi, you hold onto this pen. Use it well in the future, and make sure you don’t break it."

Nan Yi agreed with a cheerful "Okay!"

As Qing Qing watched the mother and son interact, a flash of admiration crossed her eyes.

She really liked Nan Zhi’s poised and straightforward nature.