Jiang Cheng carried a small bag of sunflower seeds to the neighbors.

She did not bring any Taotou or baked sesame cakes.

The gift would be too much and inappropriate.

The more someone understands etiquette, the more they care about reciprocation.

She wasn’t asking for anything from them, just simply wanted to share some types of small farm machinery from the future, offering some ideas.

Only the elderly couple lived next door, but their little grandson was there too.

The child’s parents were at work, and Aunt Zhu was helping to look after him.

Jiang Cheng made an excuse to come over and chat, and the couple welcomed her warmly.

The three of them, plus the two-year-old Xiao Sun, started talking in the living room.

As they chatted, Jiang Cheng gradually steered the conversation towards small farm machinery, and Master Zhu began to listen more and more intently.

Seeing this, Aunt Zhu took the grandson to the bedroom.

By the time Jiang Cheng left the Zhu family’s home, it was already dark.

If Jiang Cheng hadn’t mentioned that there was food prepared at her home, Master Zhu would have really wanted her to stay longer.

He even suggested that Jiang Cheng could learn machinery from him, which scared her into quickly refusing.

She was only good at talking and sharing experiences from the future, she couldn’t really operate them.

When Shen Que, who had already returned home, heard the noise from next door, he came out to greet Jiang Cheng.

After a few polite exchanges, Jiang Cheng wheeled Shen Que into the yard.

As soon as they entered the house, they saw Gao Zhonghua setting the table.

"Mr. Jiang."

"Mr. Gao, you can cook?"

Jiang Cheng wheeled Shen Que inside, and Gao Zhonghua put down the food, saying sheepishly, "The boss cooked, I only brought it to the table."

Jiang Cheng gave an "oh" and looked at Shen Que.

Shen Que nodded with a smile, "Try it well later, let me know what you like, and I can learn it."

"Okay!"

Jiang Cheng readily agreed, without any embarrassment.

The three of them sat down to eat together.

After taking the first bite, Shen Que placed a chicken wing in Jiang Cheng’s bowl.

Gao Zhonghua bluntly said, "Boss, the chicken legs are at the bottom."

Shen Que, with a hint of pride mixed into his nonchalance, replied, "You don’t understand, my Jiang prefers chicken wings."

Jiang Cheng happily accepted it.

"My Mr. Shen is very observant."

"I am very attentive to you."

They bantered back and forth, leaving Gao Zhonghua feeling rather awkward.

Am I unnecessary here?

Are they ignoring me?

Should I leave?

After a self-assessment, Gao Zhonghua picked some food for himself and got up holding his bowl.

"I’m leaving!"

Without even turning his head, Shen Que said, "Take a bowl and grab some more food, don’t you even know your own appetite!"

Gao Zhonghua grinned broadly with visible white teeth.

"The boss still cares about me!"

Shen Que rolled his eyes and briefly concluded with, "Scram!"

Gao Zhonghua chuckled foolishly, responding loudly, "Sure, right away!"

Jiang Cheng didn’t stop him, nor say anything.

The camaraderie between the comrades didn’t need her, an outsider, to interfere.

After Gao Zhonghua returned to his room, only Jiang Cheng and Shen Que were left.

Jiang Cheng sat next to Shen Que.

Shen Que picked out the dishes Jiang Cheng liked, while she chose those he couldn’t reach.

The two catered to each other, full of affection, basking in the initial sweetness and slight childlike innocence of a budding romance.

Yet, this childishness, covered by the pink bubble of love, made the two usually rational people aware yet choosing to ignore it.

The meal took almost forty minutes to finish.

Afterwards, Jiang Cheng began to clear the table and wash the dishes.

Shen Que wanted to help but was stopped by Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng bent down, half-squatting in front of Shen Que, jokingly said, "Don’t worry, there will be plenty of work for you once your leg heals."

Shen Que gently brushed aside the stray strands of Jiang Cheng’s hair from her forehead, indulgently saying, "Alright, I’ll do it all!"

The gentle demeanor of Shen Que in front of her was intoxicating, softening all his features.

Most importantly, his tenderness was just for her.

Jiang Cheng felt a bit tempted.

She whispered softly, "Don’t move."

All the muscles in Shen Que’s body tensed up at that moment, he seemed to guess what Jiang Cheng intended to do.

His heart was pounding uncontrollably, racing wildly.

Jiang Cheng placed both her hands on the armrests of the wheelchair, quickly glanced backward to confirm no one was around, then turned back and leaned forward. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The fine strands of hair brushed against Shen Que’s face first, and Jiang Cheng’s unique scent gradually approached.

A pair of soft lips landed on Shen Que’s left cheek, as if the most playful feather gently glided over.

"Next time it won’t be here."

Leaving a hint of teasing in her words, Jiang Cheng quickly straightened up.

Shen Que instinctively reached out as if to wrap her waist, but was stopped by the sound of the door opening.

His eyes met Jiang Cheng’s teasing ones.

With a slight itch, Shen Que thought: next time, I mustn’t have anyone else around!

Jiang Cheng read the determination in Shen Que’s gaze, she indifferently raised her eyebrows, as if to say: I’ll be waiting!

Shen Que was amused by Jiang Cheng’s triumphant teasing expression.

His Jiang Cheng was truly unique.

"Mr. Shen, what are you two up to?"

Shen Que’s smile faded as he looked towards Gao Zhonghua and the dishes in his hands.

"Have you finished eating?"

Gao Zhonghua looked at his bowl and then at Shen Que, who seemed eager to "deal with" him.

"No!"

"I haven’t finished eating!"

With a bang, Gao Zhonghua retreated once again.

Watching this, Jiang Cheng chuckled and asked out of curiosity, "What kind of trauma did you leave him with to make him so afraid of you?"

"How could it be, I’m very gentle with them."

Jiang Cheng blinked.

Alright, if you believe it yourself, then that’s fine.

After tidying up the dishes, Jiang Cheng didn’t stay any longer.

Once again, Gao Zhonghua assumed the role of a bodyguard and escorted Jiang Cheng back.

On her way back, Jiang Cheng carried a lot of food, all purchased by Shen Que.

Once at the communal courtyard, Gao Zhonghua didn’t even enter his house but sprinted away into the night.

Jiang Cheng entered the Shen house with the delicious food, sharing some with Shen Xing and Shen Yue.

She accompanied the two little ones with their homework, checking on their progress.

Shen Xing was at the top of every class, having self-studied the fourth-grade syllabus.

As for Shen Yue...

Jiang Cheng could only say, not everyone is cut out for studying.

Luckily, Shen Yue had a positive outlook and proudly showed her recent drawings to Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng lavishly praised each piece from the first to the last, never repeating a compliment.

Watching this, Shen Xing admired, thinking: This is the first time I’ve seen someone express more admiration than what the artist might deserve!

After being praised by Jiang Cheng, Shen Xing had a feeling that the artwork should not be "confined" to their small home.

In admiration, Shen Xing nodded deeply.

This is true skill!

Jiang Cheng was unaware of Shen Xing’s inner thoughts, her encouragement built a solid foundation of confidence for Shen Yue.

After spending more than an hour at the Shen family’s house, Jiang Cheng returned next door.

Once home, Jiang Cheng began to sort through the items she brought back from Sea City.

Planning to give out the gifts tomorrow, urgently reviewing the materials she brought back, continuing to study, writing letters where needed, making calls where necessary, and also preparing for the Yangcheng trade fair.

In short, the future is bright, the road is long!

Comrades, let’s get to work!