"Thank you!" Shen Xi took the phone and asked gently, "Are you guys taking pictures? I can help you."
"No need. The children's father hasn't arrived yet." Du Qiuyu smiled awkwardly.
Shen Xi couldn't help but ask, "Oh. He didn't come with you?"
"No. He's on a business trip in Longcheng and will be here soon." Du Qiuyu's voice was casual, then she looked at Qin Si Ye, who was carrying things nearby, and said,
"Your husband is really great. Not only is he handsome and good at talking, but he's also so caring towards his wife and children."
Your husband? Shen Xi was startled to hear someone refer to Qin Si Ye like that for the first time, and felt her face flush.
She smiled sheepishly, "Not at all. He's usually very busy with work; this is the first time he's accompanying us out."
"From his demeanor and conversation, I can tell he must be a successful man in his career,"
Tang Le's mother continued enviously,
"Although he was very busy with work in the past and focused on his career, he has now realized his shortcomings and will definitely change in the future.
Unlike my husband, whose company isn't large, he's always busy and never home. He promised the children he'd attend this event with them, but I still haven't seen him."
After listening to her long speech, Shen Xi felt an inexplicable sense of pride. She glanced sideways and comforted her, "Don't worry too much. Perhaps your husband will arrive soon."
At this moment, Yan Yan ran over and called out, "Mommy, can we go see the tropical rainforest exhibit over there?"
"Of course." Shen Xi affectionately stroked her hair.
Seeing this, Du Qiuyu quickly said, "You guys go ahead. I'll wait for my husband here."
Yan Yan took Shen Xi's hand and soon caught up with Qin Si Ye and her two older brothers.
The family of five arrived at the entrance of the tropical rainforest exhibit, only to find a winding queue already formed.
This was a specially designed exhibition hall by the scenic area, and everyone who visited had to go inside.
To enter, they too had to join the long, meandering queue.
The three children stood at the very front, Shen Xi in the middle, and Qin Si Ye carrying their belongings at the back.
It was May, the sun was bright, and the sky was cloudless. The outdoor temperature was already close to thirty degrees Celsius. Standing in the sun, even without doing anything, one would break out in a sweat within minutes.
Qin Si Ye carefully took out three boxes of juice from the bag, tapped Shen Xi's shoulder, and said, "It's too hot. Let's give the children some fluids."
"Oh." Shen Xi took them and handed them to the three children one by one.
At this moment, Qin Si Ye handed her another bottle of drink, "You drink some too."
"Okay. Thank you!" Shen Xi looked back at him and felt a warm current flow through her, remembering what Tang Le's mother had said.
Unexpectedly, the man didn't let go of the drink he handed her. Instead, with a slightly serious expression, he reminded her, "I told you not to say those two words to me anymore. Just keep it in mind."
Shen Xi's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly replied with a single word, "Mm."
Qin Si Ye then released his hand. Shen Xi took the drink and turned to open the bottle cap.
Whether it was because her hands were too slippery or for some other reason, she twisted it for a long time without success.
Qin Si Ye put down the bag in his hands and said in a low voice, "Let me."
Saying this, he took the drink bottle from her hand, applied a little force, and handed it to her lips.
Shen Xi took it, immediately turned around, and drank several large gulps with a "gugugu" sound.
Suddenly, the man behind her had a whimsical thought and whispered in her ear, "Shen Xi, let's make a deal. When I've collected ten 'thank yous' from you, will you accept my pursuit, okay?"
Hearing this, Shen Xi froze. She slowly turned her head and said with a slightly cold voice, "Feelings and gratitude are different. Don't confuse them."
"Then what are they related to, being touched?" Qin Si Ye's lips curved slightly, and he gazed at her with interest.
Her heart trembled under his gaze, and Shen Xi quickly turned away, ignoring him.
Qin Si Ye, however, wore a smile. Whether she agreed or not, he had set his goal in his heart.
If ten "thank yous" were not enough, then twenty or thirty. He refused to believe that her heart could be as hard as a rock and that he couldn't soften it.
Twenty minutes later, they finally finished queuing and entered the tropical rainforest exhibit.
Misty vapor filled the air, with exotic flowers and plants everywhere. Within the jungle, various dinosaur models were scattered, occasionally emitting strange and mysterious calls.