Chapter 18: These Two People, Their Relationship Is Unusual

Rongcheng’s old-style hot pot restaurant was packed to capacity, steam rising, the rich aroma of cooking filling the entire establishment.

Song Yao wore a black T-shirt, standing slender and poised, with a faint chill in her aura, standing absentmindedly beside a middle-aged couple. Her parents said senior year required a balance of work and rest, so they’d specifically come out for hot pot tonight to relax.

So, the library was out of the question.

Saturday, again dinnertime, people bustled around, lively and noisy.

The woman scolded the middle-aged man: “I told you to call and reserve a table earlier. Now look—there are still five tables ahead.”

“A case came up suddenly this afternoon, and I got swamped and forgot.” Song Shisong spread his hands, looking innocent.

Zhang Junli knew her husband was always busy—once a case came in, he’d work nonstop, sometimes even forgetting to eat. She’d just said those words as idle complaints.

Song Yao scanned the groups sitting outside the restaurant entrance and suggested, “Dad, Mom, shall we try somewhere else?”

Xu Qingzhou wiped his mouth and replied: “I plan to major in mathematics. My first choice should be Jingda.”

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To Song Shisong, this became an immediate virtue—he formed a very favorable first impression of Xu Qingzhou. He greatly admired calm, composed young men.

“Small world?” Zhang Junli was surprised, studying the young man across from her: over 1.8 meters tall, with refined features, speaking steadily, lacking the usual restlessness of youth, radiating quiet confidence.

If he hadn’t ranked first, there’d have been no celebration, no meeting Song Yao’s family.

“Jingda? My little Yao’s goal is Jingda too. When you’re both there, you can look out for each other.” Zhang Junli was slightly surprised.

Wang Xiaping’s expression was equally startled. She glanced at Song Yao, then turned to Zhang Junli, warmly inviting: “We just got a table. Why don’t our two families eat together? More people, more fun.”

As someone who’d spent years on the front lines, she had sharp eyes—just now, for instance, her daughter’s gaze had changed the moment she saw the young man across from them.

Zhang Junli turned to look at her husband and daughter. Song Shisong was chatting merrily with Xu Shouyun. Song Yao wore an expression of “you decide.”

She wouldn’t have gone to the library, never met Song Yao.

Zhang Junli worked in the district government; Wang Xiaping worked in the neighborhood. They’d lived in the same area for decades, both within the system, had occasional contact—not close, but they knew each other.

Watching the two pairs of parents laugh and walk into the restaurant, Xu Qingzhou smiled helplessly and said, “Let’s go.”

The parents chatted enthusiastically. Xu Shouyun and his wife sat beside Song Shisong and Zhang Junli. Xu Qingzhou and Song Yao each sat on a bench.

Song Yao nodded slightly in reply.

“I didn’t expect they were classmates.”

Hearing her daughter say that, Zhang Junli nodded in agreement: “Alright. I heard a new hot pot place opened on the next street. Let’s try it.”

Think again, and it seemed perfectly normal.

Xu Qingzhou and Song Yao nodded slightly in greeting.

Xu Qingzhou was bewildered—in just a few minutes, how had it turned into two families eating together? Was this how adults made friends? In his past life, he and Song Yao had had little to do with each other.

“Yeah, Song Yao and I are in the same class,” Xu Qingzhou explained.

“Yeah, everywhere’s under construction—feels like a war zone in Syria.”

If he hadn’t been reborn, he wouldn’t have forgotten to recharge his meal card. Even if he truly forgot, without Guo Zi’s help, facing the aunt’s questions, he’d have slunk away in shame.

“Don’t just stand there. Let’s go inside,” Wang Xiaping smiled, beckoning.

“Is it convenient?” Zhang Junli hesitated.

“Junli, it’s been ages! What have you been up to?” Wang Xiaping had already struck up a conversation with Zhang Junli.

“Convenient? Of course it is,” Wang Xiaping smiled and nodded.

Xu Shouyun was handing a cigarette to Song Shisong. The two older men lit up and began chatting comfortably. Just as the three were about to move, they saw a family approaching from afar.

Of course…

Jingda? Song Yao’s bright eyes darkened slightly.

Xu Shouyun and Song Shisong ordered a bottle of baijiu. After just two glasses, their faces flushed, and they began discussing Rongcheng’s development and critiquing social issues.

Song Shisong paused mid-sip, growing more convinced something was off about these two young people—they’d both set their sights on the same school!

“It’s better this way. I checked out the neighboring street—it’s been renovated, and the roads even seem wider.”

Inside the private room.

“Ours is almost ready too.”

She smiled and nodded: “Alright.” Today was Saturday after all—any restaurant would be crowded. Besides, the two young people were classmates; eating together was no problem.

Butterfly effect.

Song Yao nodded and walked in.

“Rongcheng’s development these past few years has been insane—almost a different city every year.”

“Alright.”

Wang Xiaping remained enthusiastic: “So little Yao’s aiming for Jingda too? That’s wonderful. In a strange place like that, having a companion makes all the difference.”

When she learned the Xu family’s son was Xu Qingzhou, Zhang Junli was quietly startled—he was the top scorer in the last mock exam! Her impression of Xu Qingzhou rose instantly.

“Old Xu, want to have a drink later?” Song Shisong grinned.

This girl is truly beautiful. Wang Xiaping studied Song Yao across from her, marveling. She immediately noticed the subtle gestures between the two youths and glanced suspiciously at Xu Qingzhou: “Son, do you two know each other?”

!.

Beside them, Song Shisong was talking to Xu Shouyun, but his eyes kept drifting toward Xu Qingzhou, studying him intently.

Song Shisong nodded, glanced at the hot pot restaurant, and sighed: “Yeah, it’s vacation, so we came out for a nice meal—but forgot to reserve a table. Now we’re waiting in line.”

Zhang Junli looked at Xu Qingzhou and asked: “Qingzhou, which school are you planning to apply to?”

“Hahaha, definitely have a drink. I remember the last time we drank was at that Organization Department training half a year ago, right?”

“Old Xu?” Song Shisong greeted.

Xu Shouyun also noticed the family at the entrance and smiled: “Old Song, you guys came for hot pot too?”

With parents present, Xu Qingzhou didn’t need to say much—he simply followed his father quietly.

“Out on an inspection. Just got back a few days ago.”

Song Yao stared at the young man lingering at the edge of the three across from her. Her gaze darkened slightly, then quickly returned to normal.

The meal was lively and cheerful.

During Xu Shouyun’s bathroom break, he casually settled the bill.

As they rose to leave, Xu Qingzhou noticed Song Yao staring off into the distance. He followed her gaze—it was just other families eating out like theirs. “What are you looking at?”

“Nothing,” Song Yao murmured, lips pressed together, shaking her head.

(End of chapter)