Free Web NovelChapter 423: Chapter 423: Yanxi 31
Xu Yanxi nodded. "Yeah, I’ll be back in a few days. We can talk in person then."
Sheng Zhou listened to the conversation between the father and daughter and vaguely understood what was going on, but he didn’t ask anything. It was someone else’s private matter. Why pry right in front of them?
After hanging up with Xu Jinwu, Xu Yanxi made no move to explain. "The ingredients are about ready. I’ll start the broth. Can you eat spicy food? I have a few different soup bases here: mushroom, tomato, and tallow."
Jin Xiuyu said, "I’m not picky, Teacher. A little spice will warm us up."
Xu Yanxi understood. She looked at Sheng Zhou, who nodded. "I’ll have the tomato one, then. I like sweet and sour flavors."
Xu Yanxi did as he asked and grabbed two hot pot base packets. But as she was preparing the broth, she commented, "I don’t think your name sounds very South Korean."
Sheng Zhou smiled. "You’re right. I took my mother’s surname. My mom is from Hua Country."
Xu Yanxi raised an eyebrow slightly, then a smile touched her eyes. "That’s nice. Did your family have any objections?"
Sheng Zhou shrugged. "No objections. I have two older brothers, so there are enough sons to carry on my dad’s family line."
The way he phrased it was a little awkward, but Xu Yanxi clearly understood. She had a bit of a talent for languages and usually spoke mostly Chinese with Tan You; she just couldn’t recognize all the characters yet.
Seeing Xu Yanxi’s smile, Sheng Zhou was a little surprised. "You understood that?"
"Mhm, I did," Xu Yanxi nodded. "I’m very interested in Chinese."
’Besides, even if I don’t understand something, there’s always Tan You,’ Xu Yanxi thought. ’Give me a year or two, and I’ll definitely be able to speak Chinese fluently.’
A smile appeared on Sheng Zhou’s face as well. It was a great feeling to have someone he could communicate with so effortlessly.
Not wanting to be left out, Jin Xiuyu chimed in, "My uncle didn’t used to spend much time in the country. He lived abroad for a long time."
Xu Yanxi raised her eyebrows. "Oh? What a coincidence. I’m surprised we ran into each other."
"It’s because Shuangshuang has a good nose," Sheng Zhou said, lowering his gaze and chuckling. He seemed to have remembered something. "I bought some salmon this morning. I’ll go get it now and give Shuangshuang and Huahua an extra treat."
Xu Yanxi didn’t mind. "Alright. By the time you get back up, we should be ready to eat. Shuangshuang and Huahua are in for a treat today."
After eating hot pot with Sheng Zhou and Jin Xiuyu, the two insisted on helping her clean up the kitchen. Xu Yanxi let them be and started tapping away on her laptop.
Her computer skills weren’t as good as Tan You’s, but they were sufficient for finding information on someone. For instance, right now, Xu Yanxi was digging up all the information she could find on the family Song Mei had married into.
Seeing that she could handle it herself, Tan You didn’t interfere. In any case, she privately felt it was best for Xu Yanxi not to get involved with Song Mei or the Zhao family she had married into. That place wasn’t nearly as calm and peaceful as it seemed on the surface.
"Teacher..." Jin Xiuyu began to speak as he came out of the kitchen, but Sheng Zhou stopped him. Glancing at Xu Yanxi sitting intently in front of her computer, Sheng Zhou pointed toward the door. The two of them closed it behind them and got into the elevator.
Jin Xiuyu asked, "Uncle, this isn’t like you. Don’t you usually make a move once you’ve set your sights on a target?"
"She has things on her mind right now. Why get on her bad side at a time like this? Tell me more about your Teacher Xu." Sheng Zhou had one hand in his pocket, his overcoat casually draped over his arm.
"Actually, we don’t know much about Teacher Xu’s family. I only know that she used to have a boyfriend she’d been with for almost ten years. I think they had planned to get married in their tenth year, but then he cheated on her."
Jin Xiuyu racked his brain for more details. "But that was a long time ago. Ever since Teacher Xu broke up with him, no one’s heard any gossip about her."
"Is that so," Sheng Zhou said, combining the information he’d heard with his own bit of speculation. "Is Teacher Xu very popular usually?"
"Of course," Jin Xiuyu said without hesitation. "I even wanted Teacher Xu to be my stepmom, but my dad’s useless. He couldn’t win her over."
"You little rascal, you sure worry about a lot," Sheng Zhou said with a laugh, ruffling Jin Xiuyu’s hair. "Just sleep at my place tonight. Your dad won’t be back for a while, and he’ll be more at ease with you here with me."
"Uncle Sheng, I’m not going to thank you," Jin Xiuyu said, looking up at him. "I think you’re just using me to get closer to Teacher Xu."
"Pretty sharp, aren’t you," Sheng Zhou shook his head. "I don’t need your thanks. Just get a good night’s rest. I have some work to take care of in a bit."
When it comes to men babysitting, as long as the kid stays alive, it’s a success—especially when it’s not even your own kid. After bringing Jin Xiuyu home, Sheng Zhou paid him no more mind and went to his study to handle work.
He had come for Jin Xiuyu’s parent-teacher conference today, so he really did have a lot of work piled up. By the time he finished and walked out of the study, it was already one in the morning.
The living room light was still on. Sheng Zhou couldn’t help but frown. "Why aren’t you asleep yet? It’s so late."
Jin Xiuyu was on his phone, playing a game. "I’ll go to sleep after this round, Uncle. Don’t worry about me. I’m just letting loose for one day. I won’t stay up this late again."
Sheng Zhou put on a stern face. "Fine. Get some rest soon."
Living in the city, Xu Yanxi really did feel a sense of peace, especially after Jin Xiuyu went home. Xu Yanxi felt even more like the entire space was her own. She didn’t have to think about class matters, worry about teaching content, or fret over her students. The pace of life slowed down instantly.
This lasted until one day, when she went out for afternoon tea, pulling Xu Yanxi out of her own little world and back into reality.
"Teacher Xu, hello. I’m Zhao Yuchen." The man blocking Xu Yanxi’s path was impeccably dressed, even wearing gold-rimmed glasses, which gave him a particularly gentle appearance.
His tone was also gentle and his attitude exceptionally polite. Xu Yanxi found she really couldn’t bring herself to be rude to him.
She clutched the strap of her bag. "Hello, Secretary Zhao. I didn’t expect to see you here."
He had called her ’Teacher’ right off the bat and was waiting for her at a coffee shop near her apartment complex. Xu Yanxi felt she couldn’t show any weakness, so her words inevitably carried a subtle bite.
Zhao Yuchen smiled. "Teacher Xu, would you mind sitting down for a chat? I do have something I need to discuss with you."
The man had already tracked her down. Of course, Xu Yanxi couldn’t say no. She glanced at the various pastries behind the counter. "I’ll have a slice of strawberry cake, and I’ll get a black forest cake to go."
"What did you want to see me about?"
After placing her order and sitting down in a booth, Xu Yanxi cut right to the chase. Her gentleness was superficial; in reality, she had a very direct personality.
Zhao Yuchen hadn’t expected Xu Yanxi to have this kind of personality. After a moment of surprise, he chuckled. "Teacher Xu, you really are direct."
Xu Yanxi replied, "I don’t like to waste anyone’s time. If you have something to say, just say it. If this is about Song Mei’s proposal, you don’t have to worry. I have no intention of doing that."
