Jiang Cheng’s heartbeat suddenly sped up.

An untimely thought popped into her head: Did this man go to study how to date?

These words, this magnetically seductive voice is just too much!

She had a tiny uncontrollable urge in her guilty hands!

Somewhere Jiang Cheng couldn’t see, Shen Que’s ears were bright red, but his eyes were full of expectation.

He could tell from Jiang Cheng’s reaction that she liked listening to him.

Shen Que was a bit excited too, but he still remembered that they were in the courtyard.

So, when Jiang Cheng was hesitantly about to reach out, Shen Que stepped back, returning to his original position.

Jiang Cheng glanced regretfully over Shen Que’s abdomen.

A cold wind blew against her face, clearing her mind a bit.

"Wait for me a moment!"

Jiang Cheng ran back into the room and came out holding a few books and a box.

"These are for you."

Shen Que took them.

The books were about mechanics.

The box?

"This is a watch. I saw it at a foreign exchange store and thought it would suit you well."

Shen Que watched as Jiang Cheng opened the watch box and took out the watch.

Leather strap, large dial, designed simply and neatly.

Jiang Cheng held the watch in one hand and raised the other to reveal her wrist.

"It’s a pair!"

Shen Que’s eyes lit up as he held the books in one hand, anxiously stretching out his other wrist.

"Put it on me, okay?"

"Okay!"

Jiang Cheng took the watch off Shen Que’s wrist and personally helped him put on the watch she gave.

At the moment the watch was fastened, Jiang Cheng placed her wrist next to Shen Que’s, one big, one small, one thick, one thin.

"Looks really nice!"

"Yes, perfectly matched."

Shen Que’s words made Jiang Cheng smile and look at him.

"Did you smear honey on your lips? So sweet?"

Shen Que placed one foot on the step, leaning forward, his burning gaze landing near Jiang Cheng’s lips.

Seeming to invite: Care to taste?

Jiang Cheng was indeed a bit tempted, ready to steal a quick kiss.

"Creak———"

The sound of the door opening interrupted them.

Shen Que stepped back two paces, and Jiang Cheng looked up at the sky.

Sun Aiguo, in the midst of putting on his jacket, was caught in motion, unsure whether to advance or retreat as he looked at Shen Que and Jiang Cheng. He wished he could disappear on the spot.

Jiang Cheng chuckled inwardly and said solemnly, "Mr. Shen, good night."

"Mr. Jiang, good night."

Jiang Cheng nodded and closed the door.

Shen Que tucked the watch into his pants pocket while holding the books and glanced at the nighttime trip to the bathroom Sun Aiguo.

Sun Aiguo looked anxious, clutching his stomach, "Brother Shen, I— I— my stomach isn’t cooperating!"

Shen Que, a few years older, had Sun Aiguo always tagging along since childhood.

"You’d better hurry!"

"Oh!"

Given a reprieve, Sun Aiguo yelped and ran out of the compound.

Shen Que shook his head, gazing slightly regretfully at Jiang Cheng’s door.

But the next second, he smiled again.

Jiang Cheng is so adorable.

Feeling content, Shen Que returned to the Shen Family and had a meal Grandma Shen left for him.

After a simple wash, Shen Que carefully placed the watch Jiang Cheng gave him on the innermost edge of the bed, patted it twice with his palm, and went to sleep.

That night, Shen Que slept particularly soundly.

Probably because he knew the person he cared about was just next door.

The next morning, when Jiang Cheng arrived, she saw Shen Xing with eyes full of tears.

"Big Brother, I will not let you down. I’ll study hard!"

Shen Xing was holding a watch in his hand.

As soon as Jiang Cheng saw the watch, she understood what Shen Que was doing.

He was motivating Shen Xing!

"Good! I believe you. This watch has been with me for many years, giving it to you today because you now have the responsibility of a man."

Shen Xing nodded vigorously, tears almost falling from touched emotions.

Jiang Cheng tried hard to stifle her laughter.

Noticing Jiang Cheng, Shen Que blinked guiltily, and Jiang Cheng knowingly nodded.

No problem, keep bluffing!

She’s done this many times.

After receiving the signal, Shen Que bluffed even more enthusiastically.

Grandma Shen, seeing through it all, sighed.

Shen Xing... just hope for the best.

In the morning, the Shen Family’s dining table was set with millet porridge, boiled eggs, mixed flour steamed buns, and the family’s pickled vegetables.

The five sat around the table, only starting to eat after Grandma Shen took the first bite.

"Jiang Cheng, what are you doing today?"

Jiang Cheng, sipping her millet porridge, lifted her head and thought for a moment.

"Nothing planned yet. Grandma Shen, do we have anything to do?"

"No plans are good! If there’s nothing, accompany me to grab some cabbage!"

Grab cabbage?

Jiang Cheng remembered.

At this time each year, people rush to get cabbage for pickling.

"And not just cabbage. Potatoes, radishes, sweet potatoes, we need to get a bit of everything."

Grandma Shen was considering all the things they needed to rush to buy, knowing that without enough, they wouldn’t last through the winter.

"Alright!"

Jiang Cheng agreed, while Shen Que, slightly worried, reminded her, "Be careful."

The ones grabbing vegetables are all the older ladies, and they don’t reason with you.

Jiang Cheng nodded and smiled at Shen Que.

Looking at Jiang Cheng’s sweet smile, Shen Que felt even less assured!

After breakfast, Jiang Cheng hurried those going to school and work to set off so she could clean up the dishes.

Grandma Shen went to queue up.

Though there could be a line, when it’s time to actually sell vegetables, it would still be chaotic.

Shortly, everyone left, and Jiang Cheng boiled hot water to start washing the dishes.

"Oh— using hot water to wash dishes, such a waste of fuel!"

Mr. Ge, grinning widely, came over.

Jiang Cheng admired this person; after being scolded and having water thrown at them yesterday, they forgot all about it overnight.

"You’re Jiang Cheng, right? Don’t hold it against me for speaking poorly, I say—"

"Speaking poorly but still saying it, means there’s something wrong with the brain and a sharp tongue."

Jiang Cheng directly cut off Mr. Ge.

Mr. Ge was once again struck dumb.

She even suspected that this compound was in conflict with her.

Why is it that every time she wants to do something, she gets shot down before starting?

"No— I’m really thinking of your good—"

Mr. Ge tried to continue, but Jiang Cheng suddenly turned around, fixing a cold gaze on her.

"What makes you think you’re important to me? I don’t need you to think for me. Know your place, and stay away from me."

"Being opportunistic is a sickness, and I just happen to know the cure. Want to try it?"

Mr. Ge’s mouth opened and closed several times, but she couldn’t refute anything.

Jiang Cheng snorted and continued,

"Shen Que is a factory director, and I know a lot of factory directors. Do you think I’d let you have a good time if you upset me?"

"If your attempt backfires, losing your principal and the troops, wouldn’t you, Mr. Ge?"

Mr. Ge had never met someone like Jiang Cheng, who didn’t care about face.

But Jiang Cheng’s words indeed made her a bit frightened.

"Hehe— I was just— greeting a neighbor, nothing more!"

Mr. Ge walked away, dejected.

Jiang Cheng scoffed, then turned to see a thin little girl with bright eyes looking at her.

"You wretched girl! Why aren’t your clothes washed yet!"

Mr. Ge, with hands on her hips, came out and started scolding, dragging the bright-eyed girl by the ear back inside.

Soon, the frail girl came out holding a large basin full of clothes, squatting by the well, washing them mechanically despite the icy water.

Pitiful?

Pitiful.

But Jiang Cheng only glanced and then looked away.

She was sure that if she showed any sympathy, Mr. Ge would climb onto her mercy.

Good intentions are fine, but misplaced kindness should be stopped in time.

Jiang Cheng sped up her dish-washing, locked the door, and headed for the supply and marketing cooperative.

The vegetable snatching army was waiting for her!