Zhou Yunchen is such a clever person; he immediately knew that Chen’s mother was eyeing his sister again.

Though he realized it, he kept a straight face and said, "Oh, she has something going on today, and she might be busy lately."

Just as he spoke, the phone rang. He picked it up and laughed, "What a coincidence, it’s my Duoduo. She probably heard from Congwen that I’m here."

He answered the call, and Chen’s mother’s old eyes sparkled as she watched him.

Chen Ming listened for a while, responded with a few "um" sounds, and hung up the phone.

Chen’s mother immediately asked, "Is she coming to pick up Mr. Zhou? If so, let her come up. Young girls are busy with their careers; it’s not easy. It’s late; she must be hungry. I’ll go buy some food so we can all eat together."

Chen’s mother was quite socially adept and scanned the room, "Chen Ming is really lucky to have friends like you."

She wiped away a tear, "His father passed away early, and this child is exceptionally sensible, yet painfully honest. However, honest people do tend to meet benefactors."

The trio exchanged glances, unsure how to react.

There’s no denying that Chen’s mother was quite the opportunist and skilled at garnering sympathy. Her words left everyone unable to refuse, especially Zhou Yunchen, who was touched and called his sister to join for midnight snacks.

Chen’s mother promptly went off to arrange everything.

After she left, Gu Anxi whispered her thoughts, "Shouldn’t she check on Chen Ming first? Why is she busy with midnight snacks?"

Wang Jingchuan and Zhou Yunchen laughed, and at that moment, Chen Ming was wheeled out. He looked good and was in high spirits, but his face was a bit sallow. Well, iron tough guys can’t withstand constant turmoil.

It was quite a coincidence; as he was wheeled out, Song Jia happened to come up. Not having seen Chen Ming, she addressed Zhou Yunchen, "Brother, it’s so late; why are we having midnight snacks? I’m trying to lose weight."

Just after speaking, she saw Chen Ming. She pursed her lips, and after a moment awkwardly said, "What have you done now? How did you end up like this again?"

Chen Ming smiled embarrassedly, leaning on the chair, "It was a careless mistake."

Song Jia couldn’t say much more, especially since she had no relationship with him. Anything more and it would be inappropriate. It was Bo Xichen who spoke up, "Let him rest, and don’t get too rowdy with your midnight snacks."

Gu Anxi swallowed, "I’m really hungry."

Bo Xichen glanced at her, his gaze somewhat intense, "Come to my office when you’re done."

He looked like he was going to flay her; the little troublemaker was scared and moved closer to Zhou Yunchen and Wang Jingchuan. But where would Zhou and Wang dare to protect her? They also had some responsibility for tonight’s events, and there was no way to escape, so how could they gang up with her?

So, Zhou and Wang discreetly moved aside, not allowing her to lean in, leaving the little troublemaker fuming, inwardly cursing them for being so unprincipled!

Gu Anxi, helpless, could only stand and quietly say, "Then I’ll finish my midnight snack first."

She flatteringly asked, "Little Uncle, aren’t you eating?"

Bo Xichen tugged her hair, "I’m not hungry."

She replied with an "oh" and secretly hoped he’d leave quickly, not ruin their atmosphere!

In front of outsiders, Bo Xichen would generally give her some face and didn’t make things difficult, leaving soon after.

Once Little Uncle left, Gu Anxi breathed a sigh of relief.

Only then did she relax, and Song Jia teased, "Oh, I thought someone was really fierce, turns out you’re just a paper tiger, scared to death of your husband."

Gu Anxi made a face at her, "I’m just scared, so what?"

"I’m just saying you always put on a show all day," Song Jia retorted.

...

They went back and forth, bickering like elementary school kids.

Zhou and Wang quietly slipped into Chen Ming’s ward...

When Chen’s mother returned, they were still arguing. She was all smiles, "Anxi and Duoduo, go have some midnight snacks, you must be hungry arguing like this."

Gu Anxi immediately grabbed her midnight snack and fled, while Song Jia remained awkward.

In this world, the person she’s most afraid of now is probably Chen’s mother.

Later, in the ward, the group crowded around the small table eating. Song Jia picked at her food, but Gu Anxi ate a lot, which displeased Song Jia. How could Gu Anxi eat like a pig yet be thinner than her?

She watched Gu Anxi as Chen’s mother lovingly watched her.

Chen Ming wasn’t foolish; seeing his mother behaving like this embarrassed him a bit. He thought that he’d have to find an opportunity to talk to her properly later, so she wouldn’t keep thinking about Zhou’s sister becoming his wife. That was a precious person, not someone like him, a rough man, to manage.

Chen’s mother didn’t care; she thought this young girl was beautiful. If Chen Ming was lucky enough to marry her, there’d be no worry about the genes of their offspring...

Thus, the whole scene was quite bizarre.

Only Chen’s mother was unfazed.

Eventually, everyone tactfully left, leaving Chen Ming and Song Jia alone, unexpectedly quiet.

Chen Ming softly spoke, "Why did you come?"

Song Jia sat on the couch, playing with her phone, looking somewhat distracted, "To pick up my brother."

Chen Ming chuckled, "Why does Mr. Zhou always need you to pick him up, a grown man?"

Song Jia remained silent.

Chen Ming scratched his head with his uninjured hand and candidly said, "You didn’t happen to come specially to see me, did you? I’m fine."

Song Jia couldn’t sit still, rolled her eyes at him, "Stop being so self-absorbed." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Chen Ming curiously asked, "If you didn’t come specifically for me, why are you sitting here for so long?"

This time, Song Jia stood and approached, smacking him with her bag.

Chen Ming howled, coincidentally seen by the returning Chen’s mother, who was a bit confused about what was going on between these two kids.

Song Jia scoffed lightly, "Auntie, I’m leaving first."

Chen’s mother sounded an "eh" and said, "Mr. Zhou asked me to tell you he’s waiting downstairs."

Song Jia replied like a whirlwind, leaving.

Once she left, Chen’s mother scowled at Chen Ming, "Chen Ming, why don’t you understand a girl’s heart? She came over and you provoked her until she got mad. I think your attention is all on work, you’re too careless with girls."

Chen Ming sighed without saying a word.

He had once devoted everything to her, but she rejected it; he didn’t dare to assume anything anymore...

*

Meanwhile, Gu Anxi was quite full, sneaking into Little Uncle’s office.

Inside, only one light was on, and it was rather gloomy; Little Uncle wasn’t there, but she could hear the sound of water from the shower.

She dived onto the sofa, lying flat, thinking of a thousand ways Little Uncle might reprimand her...