Chapter 43: My Parents Are Not Home

Guo Zi felt a sense of satisfaction—these people had been putting on airs for so long, and now it was his turn: “Zhouzi, he’s got to take his girlfriend to get her driver’s license today, so he can’t make it.”

“Wait, Xu Qingzhou has a girlfriend?”

Many girls’ faces fell with disappointment.

“What’s she like? Any photos?” a classmate asked, curious.

“His girlfriend? Maybe not that good-looking.”

Wang Jiangfei felt a twinge of envy; his words weren’t without merit—usually, girls who did well in studies didn’t care much about their appearance and looked more like misshapen fruits.

“His girlfriend is the campus beauty from Chengnan Middle School,” Guo Zi said softly. “Photo.”

In the past, he would’ve pulled out Xu Qingzhou and Song Yao’s pictures to show off, but in that moment, he suddenly realized it meant nothing—it just turned his friend into everyone’s gossip subject.

Song Yao said: “Tomato and egg. Twice-cooked pork. Braised pork ribs.”

Read! {

Xu Qingzhou started the car—it was one of the larger markets around Wutong Community, but in his memory, there wasn’t much to eat there. “What are we eating there?”

Xu Qingzhou looked at the “garlic greens” in Song Yao’s hand and confirmed one thing.

Xu Qingzhou handed her a bottle of water. “I skipped my class reunion for you. Don’t you owe me something?”

“You’re the one who eats raw. Today, you’ll see my cooking skills.”

“Go ahead and laugh if you want—laugh yourself to death.” Song Yao glared fiercely at Xu Qingzhou, then gave up entirely. After a moment, she added: “I’ve only just started learning to cook recently. To have learned this much already is pretty impressive.”

She’d wanted to shock Xu Qingzhou, prove she wasn’t worse than him at everything—but seeing her gloomy face, Xu Qingzhou smiled and said: “Actually, you’re really good. Many people your age still can’t even take care of themselves.”

So he shook his head. “No photos.”

She felt a bit frustrated—this big guy knew more than she did. Weren’t boys these days supposed to be clueless about food and chores?

“Mm.” Song Yao nodded.

Watching Song Yao peer left and right at the vegetable stall, Xu Qingzhou’s face darkened. “Song Yao, we may not be picky eaters, but we’re not going to bite into raw vegetables like this.”

“My place,” Song Yao said as if it were obvious.

Xu Qingzhou turned the car around. “Thanks for the invite, but I won’t eat. Take your time choosing—I’m leaving.”

Xu Qingzhou was barely holding back laughter. Song Yao looked miserable, certain she’d be mocked for mistaking leeks for garlic greens for the rest of her life.

At that moment, an old woman nearby made a disgusted clicking sound, muttering: “Today’s young people really are...”

Her demeanor made Xu Qingzhou wonder—could she really cook at all?

At four in the afternoon, the sunlight blazed brightly, filtering through the camphor trees in the community, casting dappled shadows on the ground. This community was laid out much like Xu Qingzhou’s—both were old neighborhoods, but this one had an artificial lake that Wutong Community lacked.

Song Yao understood. Her ears turned slightly red as she glared at him. “What are you thinking? I just got tired of eating out every day.”

“It’s not that I’m nervous—it’s my first time visiting. If they’re home, I should bring some gifts,” Xu Qingzhou mused.

“You cook?”

“Good to know.” Though she knew Xu Qingzhou was just comforting her, Song Yao still felt reassured.

“Alright, alright.” Song Yao pouted, thinking: Xu Qingzhou really is something—if any other guy gave me this, he’d be overjoyed. Yet he’s complaining.

Xu Qingzhou laughed it off. “I’m not interested in you. At the very least, you owe me a meal.”

“Let’s go to Sanxing Market. I’ll treat you to a big meal.”

She was definitely an amateur!

!.

“Won’t your parents suddenly come home?” Xu Qingzhou felt uneasy.

Song Yao: “...” She held up an eggplant, utterly confident.

“Pfft. Meet the parents? You’re dreaming.” Song Yao glared, annoyed. “My parents went to the countryside to visit my grandma. They’re not home today.” “Your parents aren’t home?” Xu Qingzhou found this strange.

Song Yao looked down her nose. “What? Even the great top scorer gets nervous?”

“We can buy some garlic greens to stir-fry with meat.”

The two young people walked slowly down the road, carrying their newly bought vegetables.

They stopped at a vegetable stall.

“And then? Miss Campus Beauty.”

The girl across from him had already clenched her fists. Girls being this violent... Xu Qingzhou scanned the market and asked: “What dishes can you cook?”

“Mm.”

Xu Qingzhou fell silent, his expression complicated. “If I’m not mistaken, what you’re holding... is leeks.”

Xu Qingzhou firmly refused: “I’m not ready to meet your parents yet.”

She turned and saw Xu Qingzhou staring at her with a strange expression. “Song Yao, were you planning this all along?”

The reunion was barely half over when Guo Zi felt bored—it was all about which schools people got into and where they planned to travel after the Gaokao.

“Xu Qingzhou, stop right there!”

Xu Qingzhou followed Song Yao around two corners in the community and entered a residential building—her home was on the second floor.

“Follow me.” Song Yao led the way into the market.

“Mm, I understand.” Xu Qingzhou nodded, acting as if he knew everything. He almost teased her further, but quickly sobered and said: “Cough. Let’s go buy vegetables first.”

“Where are we cooking?” Xu Qingzhou still hadn’t caught on.

“You’ll see when we get there.”

The entire reunion revolved around just a few key classmates.

Xu Qingzhou drove to the market and found a parking spot.

Shuowan ， Zhehuoyizhengyanciditaiqishou ，“ Woshizhengjingren 。”

Half an hour later, Song Yao stepped out of the exam hall in her white sneakers, walking briskly—she was in good spirits, knowing someone was waiting outside and not worrying about how to get home.

Song Yao ran over and grabbed Xu Qingzhou’s arm.

Song Yao spoke coldly, keeping her mystery.

“You—” Song Yao hugged herself, watching him warily.

Meanwhile, Xu Qingzhou waited outside the exam hall. The August sun was still scorching; he sat in the car, enjoying the air conditioning.

“Mm? How’s it look?” Song Yao asked for Xu Qingzhou’s opinion.

Song Yao tilted her head, still not getting it.

“What meeting parents? Xu Qingzhou, if you say another word, I’ll hit you.” Song Yao glared and threatened.

Xu Qingzhou made a zip-it gesture. He muttered to himself: Song Yao’s image as a cold, aloof beauty had completely shattered.

Threatening to punch someone over a word.

The layout matched Xu Qingzhou’s expectations: a small dining table near the entrance, a grid-style shelf beside it, then a sofa. Perhaps older generations shared the same taste—their furniture looked surprisingly similar.

(End of chapter)