After a tense standoff of about ten seconds, Li Hongmei spoke.
"Your game really makes money?"
"Yes, it does."
"You're a senior in high school and still playing games? I have to get you a new phone!" Li Hongmei took off her apron, glaring at him angrily. "You're not allowed to play anymore. Keep the money for yourself and don't waste it."
"Ah, okay, okay." Jiang Nian didn't care; he didn't need a phone to complete the system tasks anyway.
After saying that, her tone softened. "The food is quite plentiful. My son is sensible."
Hearing this, Jiang Nian breathed a sigh of relief and grinned again.
"When does Lao Jiang get off work?"
"Soon, you rascal, still so vain. Go call Qianqian over for dinner." Li Hongmei's face was stern. Her son had always been unruly, easily pleased.
"Where's Uncle Xu?" he asked.
Li Hongmei took a watermelon from the refrigerator. "He went on a business trip, went this morning."
Knock knock knock.
A knock sounded at the door. Xu Qianqian opened the security door halfway, revealing a rosy face.
"What are you doing?"
"Calling you for dinner. Hey, why is your face red?" Jiang Nian spotted a blind spot and shamelessly tried to squeeze in. "What were you doing at home this afternoon?"
"Get out!" Xu Qianqian stood guard at the door.
Jiang Nian slapped her arm, making Xu Qianqian stiffen instantly. Then, she cried out loudly towards the Jiang family across the street,
"Auntie, Jiang Nian touched me!"
"Hmm, no, you...?"
Li Hongmei's scolding voice came from the kitchen, "Jiang Nian, are you asking for it?! Don't bully Qianqian!"
"I didn't, don't talk nonsense." He was suddenly startled and, in a panic, squeezed in. Seeing that Xu Qianqian was about to shout, he quickly covered her mouth.
"Waaah!!"
The two were so close that he could even see the fine downy hairs on the girl's face. A pair of bright, watery eyes stared at him, filled with panic.
The summer evening breeze was hot, and he could smell the fragrance emanating from Xu Qianqian's neck, making him feel inexplicably awkward.
"Don't shout."
"Waaah."
"If you don't shout, I'll let you go. Nod if you agree."
Xu Qianqian whimpered and then nodded. As
soon as Jiang Nian let go, he was bitten, leaving a clear tooth mark on his arm. He gasped in pain but dared not cry out.
"Xu Qianqian, are you a dog?"
"Hmph, you deserve it." Xu Qianqian turned her head away.
A faint blush seemed to linger on her face from the earlier scuffle. Jiang Nian then noticed that Xu Qianqian's attire seemed a little different. He looked her up and down and was slightly taken aback.
"A JK skirt? Newly bought?"
No wonder she didn't open the door earlier; she was trying on clothes. But it wasn't like she was changing clothes. This JK outfit wasn't revealing, and the skirt wasn't short. What was there to hide?
Xu Qianqian didn't think so and felt a little embarrassed.
"What's it to you!"
"Nothing, it's quite pretty." Jiang Nian rubbed his arms as he walked out. "Come over for dinner later, there's your favorite lotus leaf steamed chicken."
Thump, the door closed.
Xu Qianqian stood in her living room, took a deep breath to calm herself, and then turned to go back to her room to change.
7:30.
Jiang Weizheng returned home and was taken aback by the table full of dishes, placing his briefcase aside.
"What day is it today?"
"No special day, your son made all of this." Li Hongmei rolled her eyes at him, urged him to wash his hands and eat, and called over the two children who were watching TV on the sofa.
"Eat, stop watching."
Soon, the four of them sat down at the table, and Li Hongmei repeated what Jiang Nian had said earlier. Old Jiang and Xu Qianqian were stunned and looked at Jiang Nian.
"You can make money from this?" Jiang's father asked.
"Of course, Comrade Jiang." Jiang Nian said without batting an eye.
"Really?" Xu Qianqian looked at him several times. She had never lacked money since she was a child, and her food, clothing, and daily necessities were a level higher than Jiang Nian's. "You're still playing games in your senior year of high school, be careful you don't fail your exams!"
When they were young, they were close, and she often gave Jiang Nian small bread rolls. Later, their relationship soured, and then they both grew up and stopped liking snacks.
Hearing this, Li Hongmei also scolded him several times with a stern face, and mentioned getting a new phone again.
Old Jiang picked up a piece of steamed chicken wrapped in lotus leaves, took a bite, and his expression was complicated.
"Xiao Nian, did your grandpa teach you this?"
"Yeah, isn't it delicious?"
"Sigh, not as good as your grandpa's." Jiang Weizheng sighed, put down his chopsticks, and said, "When I was little, your grandpa's cooking was absolutely amazing."
After saying that, Jiang Weizheng hesitated, "Never mind, it's all in the past, let's eat."
Jiang Nian didn't care, and he didn't have much of an appetite for the food he made. But seeing that Xu Qianqian seemed to like it quite a bit, she ate two bowls of rice, which was unusual for her.
Ding! The settlement panel appeared.
[Task: Cook a sumptuous dinner for your parents. Reward: 800 RMB (Completed).]
Almost at the same time, his phone vibrated.
Even though Jiang Nian knew about the bank card transfer information, he still couldn't help but take out his phone to take a look. He spent almost 400 RMB on groceries, plus the 800 RMB reward.
His current balance was 1350.64 RMB.
"By the way, Hongmei, did you pay the water and electricity bills?" Old Jiang suddenly looked up and asked.
"No, what's wrong?"
"Our water and electricity bills seem to be..." He paused, then seemed to remember something, turning to look at Jiang Nian. "Did you pay the water and electricity bills?"
"Yeah, what's wrong?"
Old Jiang hesitated for several seconds. "Nothing, keep your money for yourself. You'll need it when you grow up."
As he said this, his gaze subtly glanced at Xu Qianqian. He couldn't help but sigh. His son was like a stubborn mule.
The two families were clearly well-matched, and they knew each other well. It was a pity the two children didn't get along. Forcing things wouldn't work. He wondered who would end up with Old Xu's little cabbage.
After dinner, Xu Qianqian and Li Hongmei washed the dishes, while Jiang Nian tidied the table. Twenty minutes later, a bowl of chilled watermelon was brought to the table.
After eating the watermelon and chatting for a while, Xu Qianqian went home.
The family of three closed the door and prepared to rest.
Old Jiang sighed, "Xiao Nian, which class is Qianqian in again?"
"The class next door, haha!"
Hearing Jiang Nian laugh, Old Jiang immediately became furious, "What are you laughing at? If you were even half as sensible as Qianqian, you'd be thanking your ancestors."
Jiang Nian wasn't laughing at Xu Qianqian; the mission had refreshed again.
[At thirty-eight, your body is already exhausted. Health is the foundation of everything. Rebuilding a healthy body and enhancing personal charm are the basis for a comeback.]
[Side Mission: Complete a 2km run in one go (no rest), Reward: 300 RMB.
Complete a 3km run in one go (no rest), Reward: 700 RMB.
Complete a 5km run in one go (no rest), Reward: 1000 RMB.]