Qin Hongwen drove today, so there was no need to take the national highway.
The highway took only about an hour and a half to get home.
It was past seven in the evening, and it was completely dark.
First, they dropped Xia Nuannuan off at the entrance of her residential complex.
"Brother, Uncle Qin, I'm heading off then."
Xia Nuannuan picked up her backpack, which contained some change of clothes and skincare products, and bid farewell to the two with a smile.
"Let Xiao Tian escort you up!"
Qin Hongwen turned his head and said.
"I'll take you,"
Qin Tian also chimed in, reaching out to take her bag.
Xia Nuannuan dodged, politely declining with a smile, "No need to escort me, I can go up by myself. Brother, please say hello to Auntie for me. I'll visit her tomorrow."
"Let me take you, it's just a few minutes. It's a good chance to say hello to Aunt Su,"
Qin Tian insisted.
"I really don't need it. Why don't you come over for dinner tomorrow? You and Uncle Qin can head back first."
Xia Nuannuan still refused, directly opening the car door and getting out. She stood outside and waved goodbye to them.
"Bye-bye, see you tomorrow!"
"Bye-bye!"
Qin Tian waved his hand.
Xia Nuannuan closed the car door, turned, and entered the complex. After a few steps, she looked back, waving for them to leave quickly.
"Get some rest early!"
Qin Tian shouted to her.
"Okay!"
Xia Nuannuan responded loudly, playfully sending him a flying kiss through the air.
Qin Hongwen glanced at his son in the rearview mirror, smiled slightly, and drove away.
As they were about to exit the highway, his mother had already called. She was probably expecting them around this time and was standing at the door, looking out expectantly.
The lights in the main hall were on, and the bright light shone on her. Seeing this scene from the car, both father and son felt the warmth of returning home.
As the car got closer and the license plate became clear, Tang Xiuxia's face instantly bloomed into a radiant smile.
Soon, the car stopped at the entrance.
Qin Tian was the first to open the car door and get out from the back seat.
"Mom, I'm home."
"Aiya!"
Tang Xiuxia responded with a beaming smile and asked, "Where's Nuannuan?"
"I sent her home first."
"Oh, okay, then ask her to come over for dinner tomorrow."
Tang Xiuxia smiled, then looked towards the driver's seat.
Qin Tian's eyes twitched slightly, and his chest felt inexplicably heavy.
Qin Hongwen also opened the car door and got out with a smile.
They didn't say anything, just looked at each other with gentle eyes.
"Why are you standing outside so late? Aren't you cold?"
Qin Tian spoke up, breaking the atmosphere that made him feel a bit uncomfortable.
"Ah? It's okay, it's okay, not cold."
Tang Xiuxia came to her senses, retracted her gaze, and looked at her son in front of her, asking a little flusteredly, "Are you hungry? Should I cook noodles for you?"
"We ate at the cafeteria this afternoon, I'm not hungry,"
Qin Tian replied.
"And you?"
Tang Xiuxia's gaze shifted to Qin Hongwen.
"I'm not hungry either, no need to trouble yourself,"
Qin Hongwen declined with a smile.
"Then let's go inside and sit for a while,"
Tang Xiuxia invited.
Qin Hongwen didn't respond, his gaze fixed on his son.
He had said before that he wouldn't rashly step into this house without his son's permission.
"We'll find a hotel later. We don't have a spare room,"
Qin Tian dropped the sentence and walked directly into the house.
Qin Hongwen and Tang Xiuxia exchanged a look, and happy smiles appeared on their faces.
"Mom, I'm going to take a shower and go to bed."
"Why go to bed so early? Come over, let's sit and chat for a while."
"You two chat!"
"Come here!!"
Tang Xiuxia frowned and intensified her tone.
Qin Tian stopped in his tracks, turned around with a helpless expression, and followed her into the room at the front.
A TV drama from Mango TV's prime evening slot was playing on the television, and there was a pile of uncleaned sunflower seed shells and orange peels on the coffee table.
Qin Tian sat down on the sofa facing inwards and took a Ugly Citrus from the coffee table to peel.
He was a bit thirsty after being cooped up in the car all the way.
"Why are you back today? I thought you were coming back tomorrow!"
Tang Xiuxia asked while pouring two cups of hot tea.
Just as Qin Tian was about to reach out to take a cup, he noticed his mother pick up one cup and hand it to the man on the other side first.
The corners of his mouth twitched fiercely, and he glared at her with sharp eyes.
Qin Hongwen took the cup with both hands, glanced at him, and replied with a light smile, "All the business is finished, so we came back early. It's fast on the highway anyway."
Tang Xiuxia nodded slightly, "That's true. Xiao Tian's driver's license is less than a year old. Before, he always took the national highway with Nuannuan."
Seeing that his mother had no intention of giving him tea, Qin Tian darkly took one himself. He looked at the television, brought his mouth directly to the cup, and was almost scalded.
"Didn't you say you gave a lecture at Xiao Tian's school this afternoon? How was it?"
"It was good. The students at their school were very enthusiastic. The classrooms were full, thousands of people!"
"Really? Your lecture was so popular?"
Tang Xiuxia looked at him with surprise.
Qin Hongwen smiled and was about to explain when he was interrupted by a sarcastic voice.
"Not only popular, but especially popular with the girls!"
Qin Hongwen's eyes widened, and he looked at his son, who had suddenly backstabbed him, in disbelief.
Tang Xiuxia also glanced at her son in surprise, her smile slightly fading. She slowly turned her head to look at Qin Hongwen again.
Qin Hongwen's hand trembled, and the hot tea in the cup almost spilled out and scalded his hand.
"Ahem... Let me explain this to you..."
"No, stop. I'm too lazy to listen."
Tang Xiuxia raised her hand to stop him.
Qin Tian, sitting on the other side, took a sip of tea with satisfaction, laughing gloatingly in his heart.
Just then, he heard his mother say again, "You really are father and son, you're all the same."
Qin Tian froze for a moment, then looked at his mother with a confused expression and said seriously, "Mom, I don't understand what you mean. What did I do?"
"You didn't do anything? Think carefully."
Tang Xiuxia stared at him playfully.
"No, I'm very devoted. My eyes are only on Nuannuan!"
Qin Tian said with certainty.
"Then tell me, what's the deal with the girl who moved upstairs a few days ago?"
Tang Xiuxia questioned him with a stern face.
Qin Tian's expression stiffened, and he was completely dumbfounded.
"Say something, what's going on?"
Tang Xiuxia urged him on.
Black lines dripped down Qin Tian's forehead, and he glared at Qin Hongwen on the other side through gritted teeth.
He was very familiar with Xia Nuannuan, and she wouldn't report him to his mother.
So who the culprit was became obvious.
Qin Hongwen forced himself to remain calm, lowered his head, and pretended that everything had nothing to do with him.
He was also in a difficult position. Didn't they agree to find a suitable opportunity to reprimand him later?
Now, he thought their relationship had improved a little, but it was likely back to square one.