Chapter 7: Qin Sheng wants to add you as a friend

“Auntie, let me explain—”

“Explain what?” Jiang Xi’s phoenix-shaped eyes sparkled with sudden clarity.

Could this really be one of those fools have their blessings situations?

Calling him a fool was just a joke, of course. But she knew her nephew well—he’d never been the bright, lively type that girls naturally took a liking to.

Then again, that probably had a lot to do with how he was raised.

Back when the siblings first arrived, they were so cautious—terrified that Jiang Xi might not want them.

So young, already learning how to live under someone else’s roof… They’d grown close bit by bit, over time.

And now here was this girl—excellent in every way you looked at it. It was obvious her nephew had lucked out.

“You’ve really outdone yourself, huh? Brought her home and confessed your love already?” Jiang Xi ignored her nephew’s pleading little eyes.

With a mock-smile that didn’t reach her eyes, she reached out to pinch his ear.

Shen Xiyan twisted his body to dodge. “It’s not what you think at all…”

“Bring that head over here.”

“Only an idiot would.”

Jiang Xi flew into mock rage, lunging at him like a whirlwind. “Aunt suspects you’re playing two-faced! I might have to pull out the family discipline!”

“It’s really not like that!”

“Still making excuses? It’s not like I’m against you dating early!” she grumbled, tugging his ear with a sour edge in her voice.

“I’m nearly thirty and I’ve never even been in a relationship. And here my nephew goes—beating me to it!”

Then something seemed to dawn on her. Her delicate brow arched, a tinge of displeasure rising to her fair, round cheeks.

“Crap! What about Lin Ci? Weren’t you childhood sweethearts? Why so sudden?”

“Why are you bringing up Lin Ci again?”

Shen Xiyan was already used to his aunt’s dramatic mood shifts. “And can you not sneak bites while you’re talking?”

Ever since she walked through the door, she’d had her eyes locked on the freshly stir-fried pork—picking at it, one bite after another.

“When did your cooking get this good?”

The tender pork ignited her taste buds; she closed her eyes in bliss.

This… was just stir-fried pork?

This flavor, this texture—it was phenomenal.

“If you’ve been cooking like this for ten years—wait!” She paused mid-thought. “Has it really been ten years?”

“What ten years?”

“Nothing. Just talent, I guess. Good thing you didn’t take after me.”

She gave a light snort. “Big mouth.”

She reached for more pork, but Shen Xiyan smacked her hand away. “Wash your hands first!”

“You’re lecturing me now?”

“I learned from the best—you.”

Jiang Xi let out an “Oh,” turned lazily to walk away, then suddenly snatched another piece of pork lightning-fast and popped it into her mouth.

She dashed off in her slippers, pitter-pattering into the living room and poked her head back out just to make a face at him.

Shen Xiyan made a show of lunging at her, and she quickly ducked back.

The scene was a little absurd—but oddly familiar.

Jiang Xi had never really been a “qualified” guardian.

The only time she’d ever truly lost her temper was when she’d been lying in a hospital bed, furious that Shen Xiyan had sold their house behind her back just to pay for her treatment.

“It’s already terminal! What’s the point of treating it? Where are you two supposed to live now?”

“I’ll make money and take care of Wenwen…”

That had probably been the only time they’d ever parted on bad terms.

***

“Auntie, dinner’s ready.”

Qin Sheng, fresh out of the bathroom, had slipped naturally into the role of a family member. Smiling, she brought out the last of the hot dishes from the kitchen.

For a split second, Jiang Xi felt like she was welcoming a daughter-in-law into the home.

“Qin Sheng, sit down! You’re a guest—you shouldn’t be serving food.”

“It’s really okay, Auntie. I just wanted to help Xiyan…”

Qin Sheng gently pressed Jiang Xi down into her seat before returning to serve the rest of the dishes.

The dining area was small, with the table usually pressed against the wall. Now that they had a guest, they had to fetch an extra red plastic stool from the balcony.

“Qin Sheng-jie, you can take the chair.”

“No need! I’ll just squeeze in on the bench with Xiyan.”

Smiling again, Qin Sheng nudged Shen Wen into one of the chairs before heading back to the kitchen to find Shen Xiyan.

He was finishing up the last dish. She stood beside him, fanning him gently with her hand, chatting softly.

But from Jiang Xi’s point of view, Shen Xiyan didn’t look very pleased—his face was cold, his responses minimal.

“Wenwen, who is this Qin Sheng girl? Do you know?”

Shen Wen thought for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said firmly, “My brother must’ve broken the law.”

“Huh?”

“She must have something on him. That’s the only explanation!”

“What nonsense! Can’t you say something nice about your brother?”

“He’s dating too early!”

“So what if a boy dates early? You wanna try it yourself?”

Shen Wen pouted quietly.

A moment later, Qin Sheng brought out the utensils and started dishing out the rice.

“Auntie, I don’t have much of an appetite, just a little bit—”

Before Jiang Xi could finish, she looked down and saw Qin Sheng had only scooped a small portion into her bowl. The rest of her words caught in her throat.

She looked a little surprised.

Qin Sheng handed a bowl to Shen Wen next, but paused slightly when she noticed Jiang Xi’s gaze. Then she smiled and said, “Just by looking at your figure, I could tell you don’t eat much. Is it not enough?”

“It’s enough, it’s enough.”

Shen Xiyan finally emerged from the kitchen, taking in the cheerful scene at the dinner table.

He opened his mouth as if to speak, then shut it again. Then opened it once more—

“What are you doing just standing there?”

“Nothing, just… nothing.”

Qin Sheng really was something else—in both this life and the last.

Only this time, she’d appeared nearly a month earlier.

At the table, Shen Wen ate as if racing against time, cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk.

“Wenwen, don’t eat like that. It’s not polite.”

She stuck out her tongue at him and kept eating just the same.

Jiang Xi had just taken a few bites herself before she noticed that Qin Sheng hadn’t touched her chopsticks.

“Qin Sheng, go ahead and eat. Don’t you like the food?”

“It’s not that…”

Qin Sheng inhaled deeply.

She could faintly catch his scent through the cool air conditioning—probably stronger now because he’d sweated a little. Oddly, it didn’t smell unpleasant.

She actually leaned in slightly, trying to take in more of it.

Then, she finally picked up a bite and tasted it.

“Well? Xiyan really outdid himself today. I had no idea he could cook this well…”

A single tear slid down her cheek.

Jiang Xi’s voice cut off abruptly.

Qin Sheng dabbed at her eyes. “Sorry, it’s a little spicy. Caught me off guard.”

“…?”

Jiang Xi glanced at the plate of stir-fried greens, lost in thought.

Qin Sheng didn’t let it show. She quietly picked up her bowl and resumed eating, then excused herself to the bathroom.

When she returned, her eyes were clearly red.

Not long after, every dish on the table had been scraped clean.

Shen Wen leaned back in her chair, rubbing her now-round belly.

“Bro… today’s food was so much better than usual! Have you been holding back on me?!”

“Am I some kind of actor to you? Why would I put on a show?”

Shen Xiyan handed his aunt a napkin, gesturing for her to wipe the oil at the corner of her mouth. Then he asked, “Auntie, is that all you’re eating?”

“Yeah… it’s summer. My appetite’s not great.”

He frowned. “Is your stomach acting up again?”

“Mm. It’s not like this is new.”

“Shouldn’t you at least go to the hospital?”

“No need. I’ll be fine with some rest…”

“You’ve been ‘resting’ for ages. Has it gotten better? Don’t let it turn into something serious.”

“You’re being dramatic. Stomach issues are like sinus problems—hard to treat. Seeing a doctor’s just throwing money away…”

Shen Xiyan thought to himself: We’re definitely going to the hospital.

But he couldn’t say it too directly. With Auntie’s personality, even if he told her about his past life, she’d just laugh it off like a joke.

Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

Notification: Qin Sheng has requested to add you as a friend.