Chapter 68: Encountering an old acquaintance

Shen Jingjing couldn't help but be stunned after hearing her daughter's words. Thinking about it carefully, it really had been a long time since she had simply gone out for a stroll with her daughter.

Since her daughter was in her second year of high school, her studies had become busy, and she herself had almost no days off in order to earn overtime pay. She couldn't remember how many years it had been since she last went shopping with her daughter.

This was the first time she had returned since her daughter got into university, and she happened to be unemployed and had time, so she should cherish these few days and save more time for her daughter.

Thinking of this, Shen Jingjing smiled with relief: "Alright, then Mom will take a shower and change clothes."

The heat in Shengang at the end of September made people irritable, and even the wind carried temperature.

Linshui Pavilion high-end private spa. As soon as you entered the door, the air conditioning wrapped in a pleasant fragrance instantly dispelled the irritability in the body.

"A-Ci, your mom and I are already at our age, why do we need a spa? Isn't it a waste of money?"

The black and gold lobby was low-key and luxurious, and the first impression it gave people was that it was expensive.

"What do you mean 'at our age'? Mom is not even 45 yet, and Auntie, you are only in your early 40s!" Shen Ci said.

Shen Jingjing smiled helplessly: "Isn't that considered 'at our age'? Your aunt and I are both middle-aged women!"

"That's right, our children are already in university."

"Age is just a number. The most important thing for a person is their mindset. A young mindset is the truly young one," Shen Ci said solemnly, holding one in each arm: "I've arranged everything for today. No one is allowed to spoil the fun, just enjoy it properly."

Seeing Shen Ci in such high spirits, the Shen Jingjing sisters couldn't help but look at each other with a bitter smile, but they both nodded and promised in unison: "Alright, you arrange it, we'll enjoy it."

Only then did Shen Ci reveal a satisfied smile.

"Welcome to Linshui Pavilion, ladies, please show your membership card."

The receptionist at the front desk was wearing an all-black professional suit and said to them with a professional smile.

Shen Ci asked softly: "We are here for the first time, what should we do if we don't have a membership card?"

"It's like this, ladies, our Linshui Pavilion is membership-based and does not receive non-members. If you have plans for long-term consumption, you can apply for a membership card today. We very much welcome you to become our members."

The receptionist's attitude was professional and friendly, clearly having undergone formal training. Shen Ci's first impression of the place was also given a high score. Just as she was about to nod to apply for a card, a surprised voice suddenly rang out from the side.

"Jingjing? Yingying?"

This voice was abrupt, startling the Shen Jingjing sisters who were concentrating on looking at the surrounding environment.

When they came to their senses and looked to the side, they were both shocked when they saw the person next to them.

Shen Jingjing subconsciously forced an awkward smile: "Yongqiang? What a coincidence..."

"Lin Yongqiang?" Shen Yingying exclaimed in surprise. Looking at his suit and leather shoes and the girl standing next to him who was at least ten years younger than him, Shen Yingying's pupils shook.

In her impression, Lin Yongqiang didn't look like this. Sure enough, after achieving class leap, he was reborn.

Lin Yongqiang subconsciously sized up Shen Jingjing. Although he had been too busy between children and work all these years, Shen Jingjing's natural foundation still couldn't hide her remaining charm and beautiful face. If it weren't for this, she wouldn't have given birth to two daughters who were as beautiful as fairies.

"It must have been more than ten years, you haven't changed much," Lin Yongqiang said with a sigh.

As soon as these words came out, the girl beside him immediately felt a sense of crisis and looked at Shen Jingjing with vigilance.

Shen Jingjing lowered her eyes and smiled lightly: "How could I not have changed?"

Shen Yingying stared at Lin Yongqiang from the side and found that the look in his eyes when he looked at her sister was still the same as before. She immediately said: "Lin Yongqiang, you are the one who has changed the most. Look at what you are wearing now. If I met you on the street, I wouldn't dare to recognize you."

As she spoke, she looked at the young girl beside him: "And who is this?"

The young girl was wearing a Dior suit, carrying a new Fendi bag, and everything she wore was a first-line big brand.

When she was pointed out, she subconsciously raised her neck, smiled, but said in a somewhat superior tone: "Hello, I am Yongqiang's fiancée, my name is Linda, you can call me Linlin."

Lin Yongqiang nodded and smiled, but his gaze remained on Shen Jingjing's face, as if he wanted to capture some reaction he wanted to see from her expression.

Like disappointment?

Like regret?

But unfortunately, there was none. Shen Jingjing just blinked in surprise.

Shen Yingying blurted out: "Fiancée? Lin Yongqiang, you haven't been married all this time?"

"Yes, because I haven't found the right one." Lin Yongqiang seemed to be answering Shen Yingying, but his gaze remained on Shen Jingjing and never moved away.

Shen Jingjing could naturally feel herself being locked by Lin Yongqiang's gaze. She felt it wasn't good to be like this in front of Linda, so she neatly changed the subject: "Are you here for a spa too?"

"Yes, I'm accompanying Linda."

Linda tightened her grip on Lin Yongqiang's arm, and the whole person almost stuck to Lin Yongqiang, acting spoiled: "Yongqiang accompanies me here twice a week. This is the first time I've met an acquaintance."

Feeling that the atmosphere was a bit strange, and seeing that her mother didn't seem to want to continue talking to the other party, Shen Ci interrupted in real-time: "Mom, let's apply for a card and go up first. The spa takes two hours, and I've booked a restaurant for the evening, so it's not good to be late."

"Jingjing? Is this... A-Ci?"

As soon as Shen Ci spoke, Lin Yongqiang was able to guess her identity and even called out her nickname.

Shen Ci was a bit surprised and looked at her mother in confusion.

Shen Jingjing's greatest pride was that she had raised three excellent children. At this time, when A-Ci was mentioned, she felt much more at ease and nodded with a smile: "Yes, she is A-Ci. You actually still remember her name."

"Of course, she was cute when she was little. I didn't expect her to grow up so big in the blink of an eye. She really looks like you when you were young." Lin Yongqiang looked at Shen Ci with a passionate gaze. In a trance, he seemed to see the young Shen Jingjing and his former self.

It was just that Shen Ci really had no impression of the man in front of her, but it wasn't hard to see that this person had liked her mother before. In her memory, there were actually quite a few suitors around her mother, but she had never nodded and agreed to any of them.

She had asked her mother before why she didn't find a reliable man to form a new family.

Her mother just smiled bitterly and shook her head, then said that having her and her younger siblings was enough. Shen Ci knew that wasn't the real answer.

Shen Ci just politely greeted Lin Yongqiang: "Hello, Uncle."

Not wanting to continue wasting time, Shen Ci turned to the front desk and said: "Please apply for a membership card for me."

Who knew that as soon as she finished speaking, Lin Yongqiang said: "Use my card, I'll pay!"

As he spoke, he had already taken out a black card and handed it over, without asking anyone's opinion at all.

The strength and unconscious arrogance in his words and actions were very much like a "loser" who had been rejected by his crush, had been dormant for many years, and had returned to forcefully regain his dignity in the posture of a successful person.

In fact, he was secretly indicating that he was no longer what he used to be, and rejecting him was her loss. ===== CHAPTER 69 =====