Chapter 27: Having Breakfast

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Shen Qingyao sucked in a breath as though she had seen a ghost.

Jiang Yan’s heart gave a jolt. “I think I scared you.”

“No, no. Is this your mother?”

Shen Qingyao looked at Xie Meiyi, then at Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan did not deny it, which left no doubt.

For a moment, Shen Qingyao felt that the mother and son resembled each other somehow, yet she could not say exactly how.

“Then the person stamping things that day…?”

This time, Jiang Yan answered readily. “That was my father.”

“Wait a moment. Let me take this in…”

“Sister-in-law, can you still help me with my homework today? Today’s assignments are so hard.”

Mianmian tugged at Shen Qingyao’s sleeve.

Shen Qingyao had no thoughts left for homework.

What occupied her mind now was how she had ended up here—and somehow met Jiang Yan’s parents.

No, that was wrong. It had all been inexplicable from the very beginning.

“You. Come inside.”

Shen Qingyao dragged Jiang Yan back into the room.

Xie Meiyi called after him, “Don’t lay a hand on Yao Yao. Be gentle with her.”

At those words, Shen Qingyao felt utterly humiliated. So that was the sort of person Xie Meiyi thought she was?

Once the door was closed, Shen Qingyao glared angrily at Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan looked down at her, though his attention was focused anywhere but where it ought to have been.

The dark circles beneath her eyes had faded considerably. It seemed she really had slept well the night before.

Under his scrutiny, Shen Qingyao grew nervous, wondering whether there was something on her face.

She turned away, rubbing at her cheeks, but could not wipe anything off.

“What are you doing?”

Now it was Jiang Yan’s turn to be confused.

“You keep staring at me. Isn’t it because there’s something on my face?”

Jiang Yan considered the matter carefully. “Yes, there is.”

“Where? Where’s your mirror? Why isn’t there one in the room?”

Embarrassed, Shen Qingyao turned her back to avoid his gaze.

“It’s just that you’re rather pretty. And a little cute, too. Do you still need a mirror?”

Jiang Yan delivered the line with such solemn sincerity that Shen Qingyao was at a loss for how to respond.

She had heard that joke back in 2024. She had not expected anyone to still use it at a time like this.

And yet… why did it actually feel a little romantic?

Shen Qingyao waved a hand. “That isn’t the point…”

“I’m asking you—why didn’t you tell me last time? At the time, I thought it was…”

Her voice grew weaker and weaker.

Shen Qingyao remembered what she had said then.

She had told Jiang Yan that the people here had remarkably good service.

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“About that—I didn’t mean it that way last time. What I meant was…”

Shen Qingyao tried to think of an explanation, but felt that no explanation could possibly help now.

Besides, she even worked at Xie Meiyi’s shop.

The sign read “Stone Meets Fine Wear,” and Shen Qingyao understood everything at once.

“Don’t be nervous. My parents both like you very much. They’d give me up in exchange for you.”

Jiang Yan tried to reassure her.

In reality, Shen Qingyao’s heart remained anything but calm.

This was not something one reassurance could fix. She needed several more.

“Don’t make it sound so exaggerated.”

Shen Qingyao turned away again.

Unconsciously, she began biting her finger as she wondered how she was supposed to survive the day.

If only there were a time machine.

Though she knew it was impossible, Shen Qingyao still allowed herself a little longing.

“So now, may I kiss you?”

“What?”

Jiang Yan’s magnetic voice slipped into her ear. A breath of warm air made the tips of Shen Qingyao’s ears flush red.

“I mean, I want to kiss you.”

Jiang Yan was completely straightforward, leaving Shen Qingyao thoroughly embarrassed.

And a little nervous, too.

She did not want to refuse. In this relationship, Shen Qingyao had never felt that she would be the one to lose out.

But when Jiang Yan actually asked, she suddenly felt as though she were the conservative one.

No wonder people said that the older generation had conservative thoughts but open-minded behavior.

“Then I’ll take that as a yes?”

Jiang Yan lifted Shen Qingyao’s chin and pressed a kiss to her lips.

Unlike the last time, when he had kissed her forehead, this time Shen Qingyao could feel the warmth of his body.

When Jiang Yan pulled away, she caught hold of his clothes.

Looking down at her, Jiang Yan watched as Shen Qingyao stepped onto his foot, rose on tiptoe, and kissed him.

“One each. That’s only fair.”

Shen Qingyao licked her lips, finding a perfectly reasonable excuse for what she had done.

A smile touched Jiang Yan’s eyes and brows as he tightened his grip on her hand.

“I kissed you last time too. Have you forgotten that you still owed me one?”

Shen Qingyao’s neck had nearly turned red. “Enough, enough…”

“Jiang Yan, you really…”

You really know how to flirt.

She swallowed the rest of her words and merely watched him smile.

The Shen Qingyao who had been so furious moments ago somehow found herself instantly soothed.

When the door opened, a blush still lingered on Shen Qingyao’s face.

Jiang Yan, on the other hand, looked as though nothing had happened.

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Fortunately, apart from Xie Meiyi, there was no one else outside.

“Yao Yao, you must be hungry. Would you like some breakfast?”

Shen Qingyao answered sweetly, “Thank you, Auntie.”

“Oh, no need to thank me. You like sweet things, don’t you? I’ll add extra sugar for you.”

Xie Meiyi smiled until her eyes narrowed, took Shen Qingyao by the hand, and led her toward the dining table.

After seeing Jiang Yan’s home, Shen Qingyao realized that not everyone in the world had fallen into poverty together.

At the very least, Jiang Yan’s family seemed to have a modest amount of wealth.

Though rural families were not usually so particular, Xie Meiyi and Jiang Feng had kept their home in excellent order.

There was a proper courtyard, and a proper living room.

A vase sat on the dining table, filled with nothing more than wildflowers.

It was obvious that Xie Meiyi loved life.

It was just as obvious that the couple loved Jiang Yan dearly.

Only after sitting down did Shen Qingyao feel that her bottom had finally found something soft to rest on.

She ran her hands over the furniture and suddenly found herself reluctant to leave.

Jiang Yan opened a packet of white sugar and added a large spoonful to Shen Qingyao’s bowl.

He stirred it thoroughly into the porridge before handing the bowl to her.

Seeing how attentive and considerate her son was, Xie Meiyi was delighted and immensely proud.

She brought out a plate of side dishes and even boiled a separate egg for Shen Qingyao.

Jiang Feng was returning from outside. When he saw Shen Qingyao eating, he became somewhat self-conscious as well.

Some people were simply born with an imposing presence.

The moment Jiang Feng appeared, Shen Qingyao felt a chill run down her back.

She turned around and met the nervous expression in his eyes.

For some reason, she grew nervous too.

She nodded. “Uncle.”

“Sit, sit. We don’t stand on ceremony in this family.”

Jiang Feng was not a rude man by nature, but neither was he particularly refined.

Most people drank their porridge one spoonful at a time. Jiang Feng usually lifted the bowl and drank straight from it.

That was how he normally behaved.

But with Shen Qingyao present, Jiang Feng put on airs as well.

When he noticed there was no spoon in his bowl, he silently went to get one.

The family ate the meal in silence.

It was just like any other day, yet somehow unlike any other day.

After breakfast, Shen Qingyao thought of a problem.

It was her first time visiting her fiancé’s family, and both his parents were there. Should she wash the dishes?