Chapter 43

Under the warm yellow light, Xia Xia Xia Mujun and Fujiwara Aoi were sitting side by side.

The rising steam blurred the boy's handsome profile, but could not hide the starlight swirling in the girl's eyes as they talked and laughed.

Witnessing this, Kondo Miyuki couldn't help but stop, pausing in place, silent for quite a while.

In front of the Oden stall, the rising steam curled upward under the dim yellow light.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun was focused on enjoying the food in his bowl.

He used his chopsticks to carefully pick up a piece of fried tofu that had absorbed the broth, the golden tofu trembling slightly at the tip of his chopsticks.

He blew on it gently, and the white, mist-like heat drifted away.

Just as he took a bite, the piping hot broth hidden in the honeycomb structure of the tofu burst out on his tongue, and the delicious flavor immediately filled his entire mouth.

"Xia Xia Xia Mujun, you have some broth on your face..."

Fujiwara Aoi noticed a small drop of dark broth on his cheek and immediately pulled a pack of disposable tissues with a puppy pattern from her pocket.

She carefully pulled one out and handed it to him.

"Thanks." Xia Xia Xia Mujun took the tissue and wiped his face.

"Not there..." Fujiwara Aoi extended her index finger and gestured to the corresponding spot on her own cheek, "It's over here."

"Is it clean now?"

"You haven't wiped it yet."

"Here?"

"Let me do it..."

A faint blush appeared on Fujiwara Aoi's face, like the evening glow reflecting on wheat-colored skin.

She gently wiped the mark off his face with the tissue, her fingertips inadvertently touching his skin, making her heart beat slightly faster.

"It's gone now..." she explained in a low voice, her tone so soft it was almost drowned out by the noise of the street.

After wiping it, she quickly withdrew her hand, as if the tissue had suddenly become hot, and hurriedly lowered her head, pretending to continue dealing with the food in her bowl as if nothing had happened.

"Thanks." Xia Xia Xia Mujun didn't think much of it, and after thanking her, he continued to savor the steaming deliciousness in his bowl.

However, this intimate scene was seen entirely by the publishing editor at the next table, Matsuo Yuka.

She opened her mouth slightly in astonishment, and a meatball she had just picked up dropped back into her bowl with a "plop," the splashing broth landing squarely on her newly bought, expensive work uniform.

Matsuo Yuka looked down at the oil stain spreading rapidly on her chest, then looked up at the youthful high school students nearby, thinking about how one of them could help the other wipe off broth, while she could only eat Oden all by herself—

A nameless fire flared up!

Damn it!!!

I worked overtime until late at night, and finally, when I'm free and want to quietly eat a hot bowl of Oden, I have to be force-fed dog food?

Watching you two young lovers being all youthful and sweet here?

I just wanted to enjoy a late-night snack after work, who did I offend?!

She quickly polished off the remaining food in her bowl, pulled some change from her wallet, and slapped it on the table.

"Check! Keep the change!"

After saying this, she angrily grabbed her bag, muttering complaints under her breath, and strode away without looking back.

The old man at the Oden stall looked at the money on the table, then at the angry retreating figure, and shook his head helplessly: Keep the change? There wasn't any change to keep!

This mobile Oden stall had a completely open design, with almost no cover.

The only shelter was perhaps the retractable simple awning on the pushcart.

However, the night was cool and it wasn't raining, so the awning was naturally retracted tightly.

And because of this, Kondo Miyuki's gaze could capture Xia Xia Xia Mujun and Fujiwara Aoi sitting at the stall at a glance without any obstruction.

She watched their intimate appearance sitting together, and the act of helping to wipe his face just now, and couldn't help but fall silent for a long time again.

Kondo Miyuki was finding Xia Xia Xia Mujun more and more pleasing to the eye.

If possible, she really hoped that Xia Xia Xia Mujun could have a good relationship with her daughter.

Now, seeing his intimate interaction with another girl, it was inevitable to have the feeling that a treasure she had carefully collected was being snatched away bit by bit, making her feel a little uncomfortable inside...

She couldn't help but walk forward.

"Xia Xia Xia Mujun?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Xia Xia Xia Mujun turned his head.

When he discovered it was Kondo Miyuki, he was clearly stunned for a moment.

"Auntie Miyuki, it's so late, why are you here?"

A gentle smile appeared on Kondo Miyuki's face, and she shook the shopping bag with the boutique logo in her hand:

"I just came back from shopping with a friend."

"What about you, why are you still out so late?"

Her gaze flickered toward Fujiwara Aoi, carrying a benevolent curiosity.

"And this girl... could she be your girlfriend?"

Hearing the word "girlfriend," Fujiwara Aoi's face instantly turned as red as a ripe apple.

But she secretly hoped for it and didn't deny it immediately, just shyly looking at Xia Xia Xia Mujun, waiting for his response.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun shook his head slightly and explained in a calm tone:

"This is my colleague from the coffee shop."

"We just got off work at the coffee shop, and while walking, we felt hungry, so we just stopped by here to eat something."

"Since you're here, Auntie Miyuki, are you hungry? If you are, let me treat you to something."

Xia Xia Xia Mujun had always been the type of person who treated others well if they treated him well.

Since Kondo Miyuki had treated him to a meal last time, he should return the favor.

After being denied, Fujiwara Aoi couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.

However, she quickly cheered up, the corners of her mouth lifting, still maintaining that energetic expression.

Even if she isn't Xia Xia Xia Mujun's girlfriend now, it doesn't matter; it will become reality in the future!

"Hello, I'm Xia Xia Xia Mujun's colleague from the coffee shop."

Fujiwara Aoi had met Kondo Miyuki last time, and since they hadn't been formally introduced, she stood up and introduced herself with great energy.

Hearing that she was just a colleague and not a girlfriend, Kondo Miyuki beamed:

"So that's how it is."

"Thinking about it, I did indeed see this cute girl at the coffee shop last time."

Being praised as cute to her face, Fujiwara Aoi was still quite happy and shy.

Kondo Miyuki turned to look at Xia Xia Xia Mujun and smiled:

"But as for eating, forget it. I already ate while I was out, I just came over to say hello."

"Thank you for your kindness~"

Saying this.

She took out her wallet, pulled out a 10,000-yen note, and handed it to the owner:

"Boss, let me pay for these two."

Xia Xia Xia Mujun was stunned and hurriedly stood up to hold Kondo Miyuki's hand, stopping her:

"Auntie Miyuki, we've actually already paid."

As he said this, he winked his left eye at the Oden old man, hinting at something.

Kondo Miyuki's body trembled slightly; looking at Xia Xia Xia Mujun's action of holding her wrist, there was an imperceptible blush on her face, clearly not expecting him to do this suddenly.

Fujiwara Aoi also reacted at this moment, hurriedly standing up to look at the Oden old man, her eyes wide as she signaled:

"Mm-hmm, Boss, we already paid, right?"