"Ring, ring, ring~~~"

While the two were eating, Qiu Hua's phone rang.

Chen Cheng looked up and gave a faint smile. "Answer it, or they'll just keep calling."

Qiu Hua gave Chen Cheng an apologetic smile, picked up her phone, and walked out of the private room before pressing the answer button.

"Hello? Mom."

"I'm working overtime."

"Didn't I tell you not to keep calling me for no reason?"

"I haven't received this month's salary yet."

"Once I get it, I'll definitely transfer it to you immediately."

"Stop nagging me."

"Why do you nag me every single month?"

"I don't want to talk about this right now, okay?"

"I'll call you back in a bit."

"..."

Hanging up the phone, Qiu Hua finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She fanned her slightly flushed face with her hand and took a few more breaths to calm herself down before returning to the room.

"Hurry up and eat. If you wait any longer, we'll have to reheat the food," Chen Cheng joked with a smile when he saw her return.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Chen," Qiu Hua smiled sheepishly, sat back in her seat, and picked up her chopsticks to eat.

"Mr. Chen, where are you from?"

"Didn't you see my green bubble profile?"

"..."

Qiu Hua: This man's words can really choke someone to death.

...

The two chatted briefly while they ate.

Qiu Hua was still uncertain and wanted to learn a bit more.

"Ring, ring, ring~~~"

While they were chatting, Qiu Hua's phone rang again.

Qiu Hua's face instantly turned red with embarrassment as she glanced at Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng glanced up at her phone screen; it was her mother again.

Chen Cheng looked at Qiu Hua, thought for a moment, and said calmly:

"Answer it. No need to feel embarrassed or run outside. I can probably guess eighty to ninety percent of your situation."

"There's no real need to hide it from me."

"To be honest, it might hurt your pride, but your family background is also why I chose you."

Gulp. Qiu Hua swallowed nervously and let out a breath. She looked at Chen Cheng awkwardly and asked in a low, tentative voice, "Then... I'll answer it?"

A warm smile appeared on Chen Cheng's face as he nodded. "Mhm. It's fine, go ahead."

Qiu Hua looked at the caller ID on the screen, gave herself two seconds of mental preparation, and then swiped the icon.

"Mom... didn't I say I'd call you back in a bit?"

On the other end of the line, a thin rural woman walked out of her house with her phone.

"Don't hang up."

"Xiao Hua, you... you have to think about our family."

"You can't be so selfish, can you?"

"Even if you don't think about your mom and dad, you have to think about your younger brother and sister."

"This is the County Magistrate!"

"The County Magistrate's son!"

"What more could you want?"

"You said you were going to the capital, and he followed you all the way there."

"Someone like this... you... you couldn't find another even if you searched with a lantern."

"Besides, if our family can connect with them..."

"Will we... will we ever have to worry again?"

Qiu Hua let out a heavy sigh. "Sigh~"

"Mom, can you just let me think about it?"

"I know our family isn't in their league."

"It's an honor that they're even interested in us."

"So can you just let me think?"

"I'll call you back later."

Qiu Hua hung up the phone, holding back her tears, and forced a faint smile onto her face.

"I've made a fool of myself in front of you."

Seeing Qiu Hua's expression of utter misery, Chen Cheng thought for a moment and said:

"Should I order you some wheat juice?"

Qiu Hua remained silent for a long time. She wanted to refuse, but if she didn't have a drink now, she felt like she would truly explode.

Chen Cheng gave a faint smile and reached out to press the service bell.

Once the alcohol was on the table, the floodgates truly opened.

"That guy is a middle school classmate of mine. His dad is our county's magistrate..."

...

By the time they left the restaurant, it was nearly ten o'clock.

"Where do you live?" Chen Cheng turned to look at Qiu Hua, whose face was slightly flushed.

Qiu Hua quickly waved her hand. "Don't worry about me, I can get back on my own."

"I haven't had too much to drink, don't worry."

Chen Cheng wasn't the type of person to drink with someone and then just go home, leaving them behind.

His voice rose a bit. "Where do you live?"

"Wang... Wangjing," Qiu Hua pointed toward the sky with a somewhat limp hand.

"Then get in the car. I'm going to Chaoyang. Once we get there, I'll have the driver drop you off on the way."

Having said that, Chen Cheng got into the car on his own.

Qiu Hua looked at Chen Cheng's back, thought about it, and followed him.

They drove in silence until they reached the entrance of the residential complex near Chaoyang Park.

After giving Ma Yong some instructions, Chen Cheng pushed open the car door and stepped out.

"Goodbye, Mr. Chen~" Qiu Hua struggled to stay alert.

Without looking back, Chen Cheng waved his hand. "Goodbye~"

A smile unconsciously tugged at the corner of Qiu Hua's mouth.

At the door, Chen Cheng didn't knock; he just entered the code and went inside.

Hmm?

"She's still not back at this hour?"

The house was pitch black, clearly looking like no one was home.

"Xiao Ai, turn on all the lights in the living room."

Just as he finished speaking, the little tabby cat adopted by Qiao Xichen came running over with a pitter-patter.

"Oh, it's Goudan~"

Chen Cheng squatted down with a laugh and scooped Goudan up.

He suddenly remembered the Animal Affinity Aura he had obtained from checking in that afternoon and immediately activated it.

Qiao Xichen had given him this name because she believed a humble name would make him easier to raise.

"Meow~" Goudan let out a somewhat babyish cry.

But judging by the tone, he sounded a bit suspicious.

Chen Cheng immediately understood; little Goudan was asking, 'Who are you?'

With a slight curl of his lips, Chen Cheng said with a smile, "I'm your owner's boyfriend."

Goudan's eyes darted around rapidly, and then, as if he had discovered something incredible, he suddenly squirmed violently.

He broke free from Chen Cheng's hands, landed on the floor with a thud, and turned to bolt.

Chen Cheng gave a wry laugh. A two-legged beast that could talk had clearly frightened the little guy.

After a while, Goudan poked his head out from behind the sofa, looking at Chen Cheng with a face full of terror.

"Meow~ two-legged beast, is that you?"

Chen Cheng looked at him with a chuckle. "It's me."

Goudan emerged from behind the sofa, walking over with an elegant feline gait.

He circled Chen Cheng once and then sat down in front of him.

"Meow, so hungry~"

Chen Cheng was taken aback, then laughed. "Let me see... let's see what food is in the house."

Chen Cheng looked around and spotted an automatic feeder in a corner behind the living room.

"Isn't there food right here?"

"Meow~ Canned food~"

Chen Cheng's lips twitched, but he still searched around and found some cat treats.

He opened the packaging and squeezed it into the cat food bowl.

"Awooo~" Little Goudan pounced on it with a howl and began to gobble it up, making munching sounds.

It seemed he really was craving it, and he was quite protective of his food.

Chen Cheng chuckled and left him to it.

...