Qin Tian left a phone number. The bicycle shop girl would have someone deliver it to Jiang Da. If he hadn't returned to school by then, his roommates could help receive the package.
After leaving the shop, the two went to a nearby large supermarket.
Pushing a shopping cart, they selected ingredients for dinner together.
Xia Nuannuan was full of energy, running around busily.
They bought all sorts of fresh vegetables, beef and pork belly, as well as some prawns and some very nice-looking hairy crabs.
"Brother, what are they selling over there? So many people are queuing!"
Xia Nuannuan's attention fell on the deli section not far away, where many people were forming a long line.
"It looks like roast duck, it's on sale!"
Qin Tian saw the promotional signs and said with a smile.
"Roast duck? Old Xia quite likes it, let's buy one too!"
"Okay!"
So, the two headed straight over.
He asked Xia Nuannuan to look after the shopping cart while he went to queue.
It was already past three in the afternoon, and most of the people shopping at this supermarket were housewives from nearby residential areas.
In a short while, two middle-aged women in their thirties joined the queue behind Qin Tian.
The two women knew each other and looked at Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan with interested gazes.
Women, regardless of age, love gossip, and housewives of their age are the most so.
In their eyes, Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan were both stunningly attractive, and they seemed to be a loving couple shopping for groceries together.
Moreover, they looked only about seventeen or eighteen years old, which was enough for them to imagine many things.
"Nuannuan, it looks like there will be a wait here for a while, why don't you go browse other things? Buy some fruit or drinks."
Qin Tian suggested.
Xia Nuannuan smiled sweetly and shook her head, saying, "We're not in a hurry, let's go together after we buy this roast duck!"
"Alright!"
Qin Tian nodded with a light smile and added, "Then think if there's anything we've missed, or message Auntie to see if she needs any seasonings or anything."
"Okay, okay!"
Xia Nuannuan pecked her little head, took out her phone, and started messaging.
The two housewives behind them exchanged surprised glances.
What was going on? Was this a situation where they were going to have dinner with the girlfriend's family?
And the calm and natural tone, how did the address "Auntie" feel like it should be "Mom"?
Were young people this efficient nowadays?
"Mom said it's not necessary, she's already bought all of that, and we just need to buy some vegetables."
Xia Nuannuan replied, looking up.
"Alright, then should we buy some wine? I can have a couple of drinks with Uncle."
Qin Tian asked again.
"No need, we have to drive back to school after eating, so let's not drink."
"It's okay, if Uncle wants to drink a little, I can handle it. We can leave the car there and take a taxi back to school."
"Then there's no need to buy it, Dad definitely has good wine."
"That's true. Okay, then we'll buy some fruit later."
"Mhmm!"
Listening to their conversation, the two housewives were even more bewildered.
Could it be... this young couple only looked young? Were they actually of marriageable age?
But then how to explain the remark about driving back to school?
"Are you university students?"
The woman behind Qin Tian, unable to contain her curiosity, suddenly asked.
The two looked at her with confused eyes.
"Yes, we're freshmen at Jiang Da."
Xia Nuannuan replied with a smile.
"Jiang Da, that's a good school!"
The woman looked surprised and asked, "So, are you going back to have dinner together because it's a holiday?"
"Yes!"
"You've already met the parents? Then you probably didn't start dating in university, did you?"
"We were classmates in high school."
Xia Nuannuan replied a little shyly.
"Wow, you both got into Jiang Da together? That's truly rare."
The woman's expression became even more surprised.
After that, Xia Nuannuan chatted intermittently with the two women.
It wasn't until Qin Tian bought the roast duck and put it in the shopping cart that Xia Nuannuan said goodbye to the two women.
Watching their retreating figures pushing the shopping cart, the two housewives sighed with envy.
"How youthful!"
"Yeah, they look so well-matched. Why doesn't my silly son have any female classmates who like him? Look at the efficiency of these two."
"Hey, your son just started high school, aren't you worried about dating affecting his studies?"
"Well, it's not necessarily a bad influence. Look at this couple, didn't they both get into Jiang Da together!"
"Heh, that's because you have a son, but my daughter is different. I don't want her to be in a relationship this young."
"You're just too old-fashioned. What era is this? We parents should be more open-minded. Look how outstanding and handsome that young man is!"
"That's someone else's child. How many boys this age are as outstanding and mature as him?"
"My son isn't bad either. We're so familiar with each other, why don't we let the two kids..."
"Let him work hard and get into Jiang Da first!"
"That might be a bit difficult!"
...
...
When they arrived at the community where Old Xia rented his apartment, it was already past four o'clock.
Carrying several full shopping bags, they reached the door. Xia Nuannuan rang the doorbell.
"Who is it?"
Old Xia's voice came from inside.
"Dad, it's us."
Xia Nuannuan responded loudly.
"Coming."
Old Xia answered.
For some reason, Qin Tian felt his tone seemed a bit reluctant.
Soon, Old Xia opened the door.
"Uncle Xia!"
Qin Tian greeted with a smile.
Xia Zhengping glanced at him indifferently, nodded, and said, "You're here, come in!"
Qin Tian looked at the several unbuttoned buttons on Old Xia's shirt and pondered.
"Dad, where's Mom?"
Xia Nuannuan asked doubtfully.
"In the living room!"
Old Xia replied.
Xia Nuannuan felt something was not quite right and called out towards the living room.
"Mom! We're here."
Her mother had never been away from her for so long; shouldn't she be missing her dearly?
Now that they were both here, her mother should have come to greet them immediately.
"I know, you're here."
Su Xia finally appeared in sight.
"What are you doing!"
Xia Nuannuan looked at her mother with a slightly resentful gaze.
"Nothing, just watching TV!"
Su Xia said seriously.
"What TV show is so good!"
Xia Nuannuan pouted.
She hadn't noticed anything amiss, but Qin Tian, having experienced the professional world, had good observational skills.
Su Xia's eyes flickered, and a faint blush that hadn't completely faded lingered on her face.
It was no wonder Old Xia seemed so unusually indifferent to their arrival.
This was understandable. The couple lived separately, and Old Xia wasn't the type to fool around. After seeing his wife, it was normal for him to want to do something behind closed doors.
The timing of their arrival was a bit inconvenient!