Chapter 1394: Don’t Regret Later (2)

When it came to Chinese chess, she just knew how to play; you couldn’t really call it any kind of skill.

Mr. Xiao, on the other hand, actually had some attainments in this area. Crushing her took only minutes, but father and daughter treated chess as a way to kill time, so they didn’t get too serious about it.

In two hours, they only played three games.

Just after four o’clock, the doorbell rang. She hurried over to open it. Three people were standing outside; she knew two of them, and although the third was unfamiliar, she could already guess who He was.

She greeted them obediently and politely: "Uncle Li, Aunt Li."

"Rourou, you’re getting prettier and prettier."

The visitor was none other than the Uncle Li that Mrs. Xiao had mentioned to her the other day.

The Li Family and the Xiao Family didn’t count as any kind of prestigious clans, but this Uncle Li and her father had been friends for over twenty years.

When she was little, the two families lived in the same compound and saw each other often. Later, as their jobs got reassigned, they moved apart. Now they didn’t see each other all that often, but Uncle Li and Mr. Xiao were still very close.

The two old friends warmed right up the moment they met.

"Rourou, this is Ah Chen. You two haven’t seen each other in years, have you?"

Aunt Li gently pushed the man she’d just thought looked unfamiliar over to stand in front of her.

Li Chen was Uncle Li’s son. It was true she hadn’t seen Him for many years. The two of them had gone to the same elementary school, but after graduating, Li Chen went to Canada. His aunt lived over there, so He had just been staying abroad ever since.

She actually no longer had much of an impression of Him, but Li Chen seemed to remember her very clearly.

"Xiao Xiao."

Li Chen smiled and greeted her. That way of addressing her instantly cut through the sense of unfamiliarity between them.

After all, they were childhood friends who had grown up together, and they’d gotten along really well back then. Li Chen had never called her "Rourou" or used her full name; He had always called her Xiao Xiao.

She also smiled a little. "Li Chen, long time no see."

"Long time no see."

The parents of the two families knew each other well. As soon as Uncle Li saw the chessboard, He immediately rolled up His sleeves, ready to battle it out with Mr. Xiao for three hundred rounds.

Aunt Li went into the kitchen to help Mrs. Xiao with the cooking.

The grown?ups’ intentions were already obvious. That bit of long?lost familiarity she’d just managed to feel was instantly replaced by awkwardness.

Especially right then, when Mrs. Xiao came out of the kitchen: "Rourou, we’re out of white vinegar at home. Go buy a bottle."

"Oh."

She had just nodded when Aunt Li poked her head out as well: "How can we let Rourou go by herself? Ah Chen, go with Rourou."

She was a little speechless. It was just a bottle of vinegar. Was that really necessary?

But clearly, that wasn’t what the parents were concerned about.

She glanced at Li Chen. She really was a bit embarrassed. A setup like this was just way too awkward, okay?

But Li Chen looked quite calm. After replying, He very gentlemanly opened the door for her and made a "ladies first" gesture.

She could only bite the bullet and step out. Li Chen, still very polite, called back inside, "Aunt, we’ll be back soon."

Mrs. Xiao and Aunt Li watched the two kids go out and exchanged a knowing smile.

"Look how perfect they are together."

"Yes, yes."

Outside the door, she and Li Chen went downstairs together and headed toward the gate of the complex. She was very quiet; Li Chen didn’t speak either, and the awkwardness instantly deepened.

They walked all the way to the convenience store outside. She picked up a bottle of white vinegar; Li Chen naturally paid and then reached out to take it from her.