Jiang Nuan thought for a moment, then added, "Get a few of the peony paintings too. The women all like that sort of thing."
Mu Jiuchen didn't object. He didn't dispute others' aesthetic standards.
"Right, Nuannuan, isn't there a specialized kitchenware market here? Why did you come to a department store to buy them?"
Jiang Nuan glanced at him. "You wouldn't understand this. I only make health soups and drinks. If I meet someone special, I'll make desserts."
Mu Jiuchen raised an eyebrow and tilted his head to look at her. "What kind of special person?"
Jiang Nuan replied, "That's a secret!"
Mu Jiuchen pouted. "I don't want to know!"
Jiang Nuan looked at him with amusement. "Uncle, but I see you really wanting to know."
Mu Jiuchen's expression soured. "Which eye saw me wanting to know? Hurry up and pick. We'll go eat dinner after you're done."
Jiang Nuan looked at him, puzzled. Did he come to find her just to have dinner with her?
"You want me to accompany you for dinner again tonight?"
"Mm! Don't forget, I'm the one who got you out of the precinct." Mu Jiuchen said with a touch of arrogance, tapping Jiang Nuan's nose.
Jiang Nuan pursed her lips and shot him a look. She remembered his favor. She continued picking.
The two of them spent another two hours selecting items, and Jiang Nuan finally bought everything she needed.
She had spent hundreds of thousands, but Jiang Nuan didn't feel any pain. Why? Because it was Meng Yuan's money.
The department store offered delivery. After Jiang Nuan filled in the address, she had the delivery service send the items.
They exited the department store. Mu Jiuchen looked at the distant setting sun and realized that his restless heart had long since been soothed.
He smiled at the figure in front of him. Indeed, Nuannuan was his medicine.
"Nuannuan, let's go eat?" Mu Jiuchen glanced around, in a very good mood. There was a good restaurant nearby.
What could Jiang Nuan say?
Could she refuse?
She owed him a favor and could only watch as he held sway over her, speechless.
"Where do you want to eat?"
Mu Jiuchen looked at her. "What do you want to eat?"
Jiang Nuan looked at his amenable demeanor and smiled. "Let's have hot pot."
Mu Jiuchen glanced at the sweat beading on her forehead and, without thinking, refused.
"Forget the hot pot. I'll take you to try some specialty dishes. I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
Jiang Nuan wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Okay, it's really too hot for hot pot."
Mu Jiuchen nodded with satisfaction. The little girl was easy to please and didn't fuss.
Just as Mu Jiuchen finished speaking, a girl's angry shout came from beside him: "I said I want to eat hot pot! Why do you always want to take me to eat fish? Isn't hot pot delicious?"
The man patiently persuaded, "Xiaoxiao, it's too hot today. Let's have some stir-fried dishes. Hot pot is too 'heaty.' You have otitis media, and it hurts when you get heated. You always forget the pain once it's healed."
"I don't want to! Who says you can't eat hot pot in hot weather? If you don't go with me, I'll find someone else!" the girl said, leaving in a huff.
Mu Jiuchen: "..." Thankfully, Nuannuan isn't like that.
"Nuannuan, let's go."
Jiang Nuan wasn't particularly affected by what had just happened. Instead, she noticed that her favorite singer was coming to Jinshi for a concert.
She usually listened to music on her phone, but she had never seen a live concert.
"Uncle, look quickly, Meng Yuntao is coming to Jinshi for a concert!" Jiang Nuan put her phone in front of him for him to see.
Mu Jiuchen glanced at her indifferently and asked unhappily, "You're a fan too?"
Jiang Nuan nodded with a smile. "Of course! Uncle, what little girl isn't a fan? Meng Yuntao is just too handsome."
"Little girl? Handsome?" Mu Jiuchen was even more displeased. Was she still a little girl?
Although her every move was as cute as a little girl's, she was already a mother.
But a fan, and of Meng Yuntao?!
Hmph!
"Nuannuan, he's an artist under my company. Do you want to meet him in person?" Mu Jiuchen waited for the young girl to take the bait.
Jiang Nuan quickly shook her head. "No, it's better to maintain some mystery. Yuan Yuan said there's a big difference between stage presence and off-stage personality."
Mu Jiuchen nodded with satisfaction again.
Did the little girl have self-awareness?
No, this kind of fandom wasn't excessive.
"If you want to meet him someday, tell me, and I'll take you."
"Really?" Jiang Nuan looked at him with eager anticipation.
Mu Jiuchen immediately realized his slip of the tongue.
"Hehe... Uncle, get me one ticket, no, five tickets for the concert, please. I want to bring my friends."
Mu Jiuchen: "..." He had truly shot himself in the foot.
"Why do you need so many tickets?"
Jiang Nuan explained, "Because I want to bring my friends! My friends are also big fans of Meng Yuntao."
Mu Jiuchen nodded. "That's easy. I'll have someone reserve them specifically for you."
Little girl, just you wait. I'm going to make you my prey.
Hehehe...
"Uncle, what's with that expression?" Jiang Nuan examined him. She felt like he had a smug look of schadenfreude.
Mu Jiuchen: "..." People really shouldn't get too complacent, or their tails will show too quickly.
"It's nothing. I'm just happy that you're accompanying me for dinner. Let's go."
"Oh!" Jiang Nuan slowly followed behind him.
Meng Yuan had just finished her work and was about to head to He Mingrun's company when she received a call from him.
Seeing his name, she was quite happy.
"Young Master He," she said cheerfully, which made He Mingrun very happy.
"Yuan Yuan, are you coming over now?"
Meng Yuan was on her way to the parking lot. "I'm on my way. I'll be there in twenty minutes."
He Mingrun replied, "Okay, I'll wait for you at the bottom of the company building."
After hanging up the phone, He Mingrun looked at the gift box on his desk and smiled slyly.
Yuan Yuan, I'll wait to marry you.
He began watching the time, waiting. One minute, two minutes, three minutes. Oh my, why was time passing so slowly?
He Mingrun unconsciously recalled a saying: Once love becomes a habit, it's impossible to break free for a lifetime.
People are indeed like this.
Meeting late is just right.
He Mingrun felt his heart fill with happiness as he thought about seeing Meng Yuan later.
Sigh...
He sighed softly. When would he be able to hold Yuan Yuan's hand and stroll through the streets legitimately? When would they become friends who talked about everything?
When could he feel jealous?
When could he experience the heartache of being in love?
He Mingrun smiled foolishly, got up, and went downstairs to wait for Meng Yuan.
Time ticked by, and He Mingrun felt it passing with immense slowness.
Just as he was anxiously waiting, Meng Yuan came into his sight, running.
"Yuan Yuan," He Mingrun said excitedly, walking towards her. He had waited for this moment for a long time.
Meng Yuan looked at him, surprised that he had come down personally to wait for her. "Young Master He, I'm sorry, there was some traffic."
He Mingrun's smile was gentle. "Yuan Yuan, you're not late."