Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Time seemed to speed up once autumn arrived in Jingzhou.

October flew by in a whirlwind of activity.

Shishu's popularity reached new heights.

During the seven-day National Day holiday, the restaurant showed a stellar performance with a 100% order completion rate. Following that, a flood of positive online reviews and spontaneous promotion by diners made it incredibly popular.

Shishu also made some new adjustments—

The official reservation app was developed and launched. Praised for its smooth operation and thoughtful, user-friendly details, it became the most talked-about new culinary star in the media this year.

Shishu's core base of regular members remained stable, while the monthly pace of new dish releases accelerated, with hardly a moment to spare.

Mid-November.

The list of Michelin-starred restaurants for the mainland was publicly released.

Shishu was awarded three stars, surpassing all domestic restaurants of the same period and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the mainland's only three Michelin full-star restaurants—an unprecedented achievement. It also effortlessly racked up a string of subsequent top culinary honors.

On an ordinary weekend—

After letting Bian Han know, Fu Yuze took Jiang Jining to spend a few days at his grandparents' house. The two elders, who were conveniently on break at home, were overjoyed. They had the housekeeper take the assorted gift boxes and ushered him inside for a meal together.

He showed off a bit of his cooking,

once again winning over the hearts of the two elders.

Fang Wenjun and Bian Zeming were nothing but satisfied with him.

Fu Yuze then made a separate trip back to his own family home, where he became the center of praise among a bevy of aunts and great-aunts. However, accustomed to such scenes since childhood, he impartially hugged every little kid who came to cling to his leg. "Sure. If you want to bring friends for a meal, just give me a heads-up in advance, as long as the date doesn't conflict with your aunt's plans."

"Good boy, good boy—"

"It's so handy having family."

"A-Chuan and Yingying really raised two fine sons. Look, Xiao Ze looks even more handsome in just a month."

"Oh, sweetheart! Does Xingxing remember his great-aunt?"

Ji Huan, holding her son who had just woken up from his nap, joined the family gathering, attracting a new wave of attention. Everyone, young and old, vied to hold the soft, one-year-old little one.

Xingxing showed a particular fondness for just one person.

Fu Yuze held his nephew, ruffling his now-longer hair again, and kissed his warm cheek. "Did you miss me?"

Xingxing, like a soft, steamed glutinous rice cake that had melted, wriggled contentedly in his uncle's arms, as if wanting to soak up his scent. Fiddling with his own little hands, he asked, "Where's Ningning?"

Fu Yuze smiled and whispered in his ear, "Ningning went home too."

Xingxing nodded thoughtfully, then wrapped his arms around Fu Yuze's neck and murmured a secret: "Grandma said you won't be around later. After you leave... come with me to find... find Ningning to play with."

Is that so?

Fu Yuze had a little secret conversation with him too.

Xingxing's plump, white baby cheeks on both sides wobbled as he nodded, agreeing in a milky voice, "Okay."

This trip home was quite fruitful.

As expected, Fu Yuze heard the topic that inevitably came up at every family gathering, though this time it was clearly more pointed: "Xiao Ze, have you started dating recently? You seem to have a different aura about you."

"Yes."

Fu Yuze answered directly.

The living room instantly buzzed with excitement.

"A local? Whose family?"

"How long has it been? Yingying, you didn't give me a heads-up!"

"Si Chuan, you knew about this too?"

"Has he been to the house already?"

"He hasn't visited yet. It was Jiacheng who introduced them." Zhou Yeying, her hand warmly held by a sister-in-law, promised directly: "I'll send a photo to the group chat for everyone to see later. Asking me for one now is no use."

The Fu family, with Fu Sichuan's branch as its core, was the cornerstone of the group's development. His sons, Fu Huaisheng and Fu Yuze, getting married and starting families were significant family events. In front of everyone, Zhou Yeying naturally couldn't just come out and say she had a male daughter-in-law.

Breaking the news over the phone would give people time to prepare.

As the end of November approached.

Uncle Lu and Aunt Tao had just seen Fu Yuze off to work. Less than half an hour later, they received two distinguished guests, one big and one small.

"Madam?"

Aunt Tao opened the door and immediately saw Zhou Yeying, adorned with emerald earrings, holding a little one bundled in an egg-yellow snowman-shaped hat and a thin goose-down jacket. "Xingxing is here too. Come in, come in, it's quite cold out—"

Jingzhou had its first snow yesterday.

Overnight, Xie Ting was draped in silvery white, the snowscape beautiful.

Jiang Jining had always been particularly sensitive to the cold since childhood. Xie Ting's underfloor heating had been turned on throughout the entire house a month early. He also had a special fondness for modern heating appliances, loving to curl up on the sofa drinking tea. Eating ice cream cake while admiring the snowy view in the courtyard was even more delightful.

Xingxing only felt a bit of cold wind when getting in and out of the Maybach.

Once inside the house, Zhou Yeying took off his down jacket and little hat, letting the little one, wearing shorts, toddle around. Uncle Lu smiled and played with him everywhere.

It was 4 PM.

"Neither of them are here?" Zhou Yeying asked as she sat down.

"The sir just left not long ago." Aunt Tao served sweet fruit tea and snacks before realizing. "Let me get you some fresh tea."

Jiang Jining had developed a strong liking for sweets recently.

Aunt Tao, out of habit from preparing them, had forgotten to change the tea for guests and habitually served it. She then explained, "The temperature has dropped quite sharply lately. Xiao Ning has been going to bed early and sleeping long hours. A while back, after returning from his grandparents' place, he slept the entire afternoon straight. It's the same even when the sir is here."

"Nothing wrong with his health, I hope?"

Zhou Yeying took a sip of the sweet fruit tea, concerned.

It really was too sweet.

"No cold, no fever." Aunt Tao said, sounding quite pleased. "His appetite has been especially good lately, and he's put on a fair bit of weight."

After saying that, she went to make fresh tea. When she returned, she saw Zhou Yeying playing online mahjong, clearly waiting for Jiang Jining to wake up. She thought about going to call him but couldn't bear to disturb the child's sleep.

Fortunately, a sound came from overhead:

"Aunt Tao..."

Jiang Jining's voice was soft with sleep.

Aunt Tao walked past the dining room and saw Xingxing sitting on a small rocking horse, fiddling with a big, black object.

"Just tap this."

Uncle Lu was also squatting down to talk to the child.

Xingxing nodded emphatically, holding the dual-screen phone that was bigger than his face to his ear: "Hello..."

Aunt Tao stood at the foot of the stairs, waiting for Jiang Jining to come down, and told him: "Xiao Ning. Mr. Fu's mother, Ms. Zhou, came specifically to see you."

Jiang Jining paused mid-step.

From his angle, he first caught sight of a soft, white little Xingxing. Seeing him, the child returned the phone to Uncle Lu, looked up with rosy cheeks, stared at him, and said: "Ningning..."

Previously, Fu Yuze had video-called with him and Xingxing a few times.

Xingxing still remembered him.

Jiang Jining smiled knowingly, walked over, bent down to pick him up, holding his bottom. The little one loved snuggling on an adult's shoulder. He imitated Fu Yuze from the video and kissed him: "Ningning, you smell good."

Jiang Jining also sniffed him, the sweet scent of milk, "You too."

A darling baby, all shiny and lovable.

Jiang Jining couldn't bear to let go for a moment.

He carried the little softie to the living room like this.

When he saw Zhou Yeying, he realized he hadn't had time to change out of his pajamas, which was a bit impolite. After putting Xingxing down, he was very apologetic: "Sorry to have kept you waiting."

"I had afternoon tea nearby, so I dropped by to see you."

Zhou Yeying watched her eldest grandson clinging to Jiang Jining's leg, the two looking very chummy. "Do you and Xing Zai meet often?"

"Not really."

Jiang Jining sensed she was easy to get along with.

Fu Yuze's gentle and considerate nature was surely influenced by his mother. He ruffled Xingxing's head and spoke more at ease: "I've video-called with Xingxing a few times. He must remember me."

As he spoke.

A warm little hand touched his belly.

Jiang Jining looked down at the little head almost pressed against his stomach, lifting the hem of his shirt like a little doctor playing a role.

Zhou Yeying also saw it. "Guai Guai, why are you touching Ningning's belly?"

Xingxing remained unfazed.

Tilting his head, he stared seriously at Jiang Jining's belly.

Jiang Jining was amused by his earnest little expression. He squeezed his soft cheeks when he heard the door open. Looking up, he saw Fu Yuze had actually come home at this hour.

"Mom."

Fu Yuze took in the scene in the living room, walked over, picked up the little one and sat him on his lap, sitting beside Jiang Jining, closer to Zhou Yeying. "Why didn't you let me know you were coming?"

Zhou Yeying found his defensive posture amusing. "As if anyone could get anything past you? I just came by casually. Who called you back?"

Xingxing lifted a sock-clad little foot.

Jiang Jining also realized—Xingxing had asked Uncle Lu for the phone to call Fu Yuze. He whispered, "Why did you teach Xingxing to call for backup?"

Fu Yuze put Xingxing back on the floor.

"Just in case."

Using a child as a scapegoat was indeed convenient. Jiang Jining felt a bit helpless. Seeing it was getting late, he took the initiative to invite Zhou Yeying: "Do you have other plans? We could go to Shishu's evening market together."

Zhou Yeying gladly accepted: "Alright."

"Then I'll go change." Jiang Jining felt a little flutter of excitement inside. He gave Xingxing's soft, warm hand a squeeze before letting go.

Fu Yuze stroked his hair and offered to accompany him but was refused.

"You stay with Mom."

Jiang Jining walked away with light steps.

Coming downstairs again, he found Uncle Lu and Fu Yuze setting up a camera.

Seeing him, Zhou Yeying said directly: "Ningning, come here."

Jiang Jining sat beside Zhou Yeying. Xingxing, sitting obediently on his grandma's lap, pulled his hand and said: "We're going to take a picture."

Take a picture?

Soon, Uncle Lu walked behind the coffee table, right in the center. "Okay, here we go."

Fu Yuze automatically sat on his mother's other side. From behind, he took Jiang Jining's hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. Unexpectedly, a milky-soft little hand touched them. The little one wriggled out from under his grandma's arm, pressed his cheek against their joined hands, his big eyes wide and round.

Zhou Yeying turned to look. "Can't you even hold on for this moment?"

Fu Yuze: "..."

Jiang Jining flushed bright red and slowly let go, placing his hand on his own lap and sitting up straight. "I'm fine."

Zhou Yeying was amused and took Jiang Jining's hand.

The new photo was ready in under a minute—

Along with Jiang Jining's WeChat account being added to the "One Big Happy Family" group chat, it caused an uproar.

Fu Yuze even specifically posted an announcement explaining that Jiang Jining wasn't much for socializing and didn't use his phone frequently, so if anyone needed anything, they should just contact him.

Everyone responded in unison.

Everyone tagged Fu Yuze himself, and within less than two minutes, the messages hit 99+.

Zhou Yeying’s side was also lively—from the moment she brought her younger daughter-in-law and grandson back into the car, her phone kept ringing, including calls from her husband, eldest son, and eldest daughter-in-law. The latter two both remarked that this family wouldn’t hold together without Mom.

Jiang Jining watched one scene after another from the back seat. Borrowing Fu Yuze’s phone screen, he saw the group buzzing with discussions about himself. As he kept watching, he grew drowsy again in his boyfriend’s arms, forcing his eyes wide open to stay alert.

He couldn’t fall asleep.

He’d been sleeping like a little piglet these past few days.