The fake heiress loves to act? The max-level boss isn't interested in playing along.

Xie Ci said that she went to buy groceries today and saw that they were selling persimmons. Knowing that she likes to eat them, she bought a few.

I forgot it at home and didn't take it.

Fu Hua said that the research station project has made progress, and she might be busy for a while.

Xie Ci, who doesn't understand scientific research, simply said, "If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know."

Okay, I understand.

The soup in the copper pot got low, so the waiter came in and added some more.

The rain outside the window gradually subsided, leaving only fine drizzle.

After finishing their meal, Xie Ci went to pay the bill.

Fu Hua got dressed and stood at the door waiting.

Xie Ci walked over and took the umbrella from her hand.

"My mom has been talking about you for a long time."

He naturally took her hand and intertwined their fingers. "She made you a cotton-padded jacket and asked me to take you to try it on. Are you free this afternoon? Why don't we go together?"

Fu Hua was stunned for a moment.

It's strange that he didn't mention this earlier.

Xie Ci looked at her with soft eyes.

"Shall we go?"

Fu Hua nodded.

"go."

After getting in the car and fastening her seatbelt, she reminded him, "Let's go to the flower market first; I want to give Auntie some flowers."

"No need, we have plenty at home."

"That won't do. We can't just go empty-handed."

Xie Ci parked the car at the entrance of the flower market. The rain had subsided considerably, with only a fine drizzle remaining.

Fu Hua opened the umbrella, and the two walked inside side by side.

The flower market was bustling with activity, the wet ground covered with all sorts of flowers and plants.

The red, yellow, and purple hues shone brightly in the rain.

The flower sellers were shouting at the top of their lungs.

The people buying flowers bent over, picking and choosing.

Fu Hua stopped in front of a stall.

She pointed to two of the pots, one of which was an Oncidium orchid, blooming with tiny yellow flowers that looked like strings of little bells.

A pot of red camellias, the flower buds plump and full.

Several flowers have already bloomed, their red color intense yet elegant.

"Boss, I'll take these two pots."

Xie Ci bent down, picked up the flowers, and paid for them.

The two returned to the car and placed the two potted plants on the back seat.

A faint fragrance quickly filled the carriage.

The Oncidium orchid has a sweet fragrance, while the camellia has almost no scent. When mixed together, they smell wonderful.

Fu Hua leaned back in her chair, inhaling the fragrance, and a smile curved her lips.

The car drove into the military family compound, slowly passing through rows of similar gray buildings.

Fu Hua looked out the window, her gaze sweeping over the balconies where military uniforms were hanging to dry and the windows that were all neatly arranged.

In the blink of an eye, a year has passed since she left.

Time flies.

"The deputy commander is currently away on a business trip."

Xie Ci said, "I heard that Aunt Su resigned from the theater troupe and no longer lives here. Only your older brother and Aunt Liu come back every day."

Fu Hua turned to look at him.

"You're practically a mind reader."

Xie Ci smiled, gripped the steering wheel, and looked ahead.

"I'm willing to be anything you are."

He chuckled, "The premise is that it's useful to you, and it can't cause you the slightest harm."

Fu Hua paused for a moment, then smiled.

"You're becoming more and more unserious."

Xie Ci glanced at her sideways, a smile in his eyes.

"I learned it from you."

Fu Hua pouted.

"I won't do that."

Amidst laughter and conversation, the car stopped in front of a two-story building.

After thanking them, he extinguished the fire and went downstairs to move the flowers.

Fu Hua came down with her umbrella and stood at the door waiting for him.

Xie Ci carried two potted plants upstairs, and the door opened as soon as he rang the doorbell.

Xie's mother, Zhou Yun, stood at the door, wearing an apron and holding a spatula.

Upon seeing Fu Hua, his face lit up with a smile.

"Oh my, Huahua's here! Come in, come in!"

She reached out and pulled Fu Hua inside, greeting her while looking her up and down.

"Did you get wet? It rained all night, weren't you cold? You must be freezing!"

"It's not cold; the car has heating."

"That's good."

Zhou Yun turned around and shouted to his son to say goodbye.

"Xiao Ci, what are you standing there for? Go make Hua Hua some ginger tea, osmanthus ginger tea, I just brewed it, it's on the stove, it'll warm her up!"

Xie Ci put down the flowers, responded, and quickly walked towards the kitchen.

Water dripped from his hair, staining his uniform and leaving a small dark patch, but he was completely unaware of it.

Fu Hua pointed to the flowers on the ground.

"Auntie, this is for you."

When Xie's mother looked down, her eyes lit up.

"Oncidium orchids! Camellias!"

She crouched down and touched the leaves.

"Huahua, you have such good taste! I like both of these. The oncidium orchids smell wonderful, and the camellias are in full bloom for the New Year, so vibrant and festive. Okay, okay, let me see where they're placed."

She stood up and carefully placed the two pots of flowers.

Then he pulled Fu Hua to sit on the sofa.

"Come in and sit down, don't stand at the door."

The house was warm and cozy, and the aroma of meat wafted from the kitchen.

The aroma of scallions and ginger wafted straight into my nose.

Xie Ci brought over a teacup and handed it to Fu Hua.

His hair was still wet, and he had a smile on his face.

"Mom, what delicious food have you made? It smells so good."

Xie's mother rolled her eyes at him.

"I fried ribbonfish and made pork rib soup. It'll be ready in a bit. I made it especially for you guys. Huahua, eat more."

Fu Hua touched her belly.

She had just eaten hot pot.

If they keep eating like this, they'll be ready for market very soon.

Xie Ci smiled and winked at Fu Hua's embarrassed expression.

"Huahua is still the best. I've been wanting to drink pork rib soup for days, but Mom is too lazy to make it for me."

Xie's mother raised her hand as if to hit him.

"You come home every day and get ready-made meals, why are you being picky?"

Xie Ci smiled and stepped aside, standing next to Fu Hua.

Zhou Yun pulled Fu Hua to sit down on the sofa, her hands still clenched tightly.

"Huahua, you've read a lot, and there's something I want to ask you."

She leaned closer, lowered her voice, as if to tell a secret.

I've recently been reading "One Hundred Years of Solitude".

Yeah, all those names in the book are giving me a headache.

What José Arcadio, Aureliano, Arcadio 2.0, Aureliano 2.0...

"It's all going in circles, my brain is practically mush."

Xie Ci picked up a persimmon from the coffee table and handed it to Fu Hua, muttering a complaint under his breath.

"Mom has been acting like she's possessed lately. She doesn't even bother to take care of the flowers and spends all her time holding that book."

"Anyone who didn't know better would think you were going to take the college entrance exam."

Zhou Yun slapped his arm.

"You brat, there's no end to learning! How have I been teaching you all this time?"

Xie Ci rubbed his arm and moved aside.

Zhou Yun glared at him, then turned to Fu Hua and spoke earnestly.

"Huahua usually associates with cultured people, professors, researchers, all of whom are well-educated."

And you? All you do is study your few dishes, you have absolutely no sense of crisis!

Xie Ci's smile faltered for a moment.

A cultured person.

Professor.

The face from the hot pot restaurant suddenly flashed through his mind.

Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, speaking politely,

The way he looked at Fu Hua, however, carried something different.

As a fellow man, he had a gut feeling that the man was not innocent or guileless.

He immediately put down the persimmon in his hand and sat up straight.

"study."

He said it very seriously, "I'll learn."

Zhou Yun was taken aback by his sudden change and didn't react in time.

Fu Hua glanced at Xie Ci, a slight smile playing on her lips, but didn't expose him.

She took the persimmon, took a bite, and the sweet juice flowed into her mouth.

"Auntie, there are a lot of characters in this book, but once you figure them out, it will be easier."

She put down the persimmon and looked at Zhou Yun.

Do you have a pen? I can draw you a diagram.

Zhou Yun quickly pulled out paper and pen from under the coffee table and handed them over.