Dating should happen after get off work.

Jiang Sheng had almost forgotten that his mother's clothing factory was located in Taitung District.

So lunch was changed from a two-person portion to a three-person portion.

Jiang's mother (whose full name is Lin Ying) sat down opposite the two little ones with a relaxed expression, a smile on her lips, looking Xia Xiaoman up and down.

Xia Xiaoman blinked her big eyes and looked at Jiang's mother with curiosity, showing no sign of stage fright.

Jiang Sheng was the only one under immense pressure.

"Auntie, you're so beautiful!"

"You're very pretty too," Jiang's mother said with a smile. "Are you Jiang Sheng's girlfriend? What's your name?"

"My name is Xia Xiaoman! I'm Jiang Sheng's friend!"

"Just friends?"

"Just friends!"

Have you ever thought about being his girlfriend?

Jiang's mother glared at Jiang Sheng, who was trying to interrupt, then smiled and waited expectantly for Xia Xiaoman's answer.

"Hmm—" Xia Xiaoman frowned, looking somewhat conflicted, and then slowly said, "It seems like I've never thought about it before."

Jiang Sheng, who was beside him, breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Well done, Xia Xiaoman!

Don't give in! Speak the truth!

Jiang's mother narrowed her eyes, revealing an "interesting" expression. She crossed her legs and crossed her arms, her demeanor natural and elegant.

"Is it because you don't like him?"

Go Xia Xiaoman!

Quickly tell her she doesn't like it! I'll give you an extra chicken leg!

Xia Xiaoman held her chin in her hands, rested her elbows on the table, and glanced at Jiang Sheng first.

Then the confusion on her face slowly faded, replaced by her characteristic bright smile.

"Auntie, I haven't thought about that!" she said. "I just feel that 'liking' him is superfluous between us! I don't know how to describe it to you... It's just that! There are so many things we can do together!"

"So many that 'liking' doesn't even come close!"

After Xia Xiaoman finished speaking...

The silence between the three was so profound that they could hear each other breathing.

Jiang Sheng and his mother both looked surprised, which made Xia Xiaoman think she had said something wrong, and she shrank her neck nervously.

"Jiang Sheng," Jiang's mother suddenly spoke.

"Please speak."

"I really like this child." Jiang's mother smiled with satisfaction, glanced at Jiang Sheng, and said, "You can decide what to do yourself."

Jiang Sheng silently shifted his gaze to the white piano in the center of the restaurant, without saying a word.

"Xiaoman." Jiang's mother took Xia Xiaoman's hand, smiling happily. "Are you free this weekend?"

"some."

"Would you like to come over to our house?"

"Huh?"

Xia Xiaoman was somewhat flattered.

"Mom!" Jiang Sheng immediately slammed his fist on the table in protest.

He knew perfectly well what his mother was up to.

"What, can't I invite your friends over?" Jiang's mother glared at her son.

Xia Xiaoman blinked her big eyes, somewhat unable to understand the intentions of the mother and son.

But then she thought about it, and visiting Jiang Sheng's house... seemed like a lot of fun!

"Auntie, Auntie! Can I bring my friends along?" Xia Xiaoman smiled happily, then added, "Everyone here is Jiang Sheng's friend too, we have an 'after-get off work buddy' team!"

"A group of people going home after get off work?" Jiang's mother frowned slightly, then asked, "Are there any girls?"

Xia Xiaoman thought for a moment, then pointed at Jiang Sheng.

"Besides him, it seems like everyone else is a girl."

"Okay, okay!"

Jiang's mother smiled the most hearty smile she had shown all day, and quickly grasped Xia Xiaoman's hand, saying "good" several times.

"Bring everything! Auntie will cook for you this weekend!"

"Hehe! Thank you!"

Jiang Sheng felt sweat begin to seep from his back.

Seeing the situation spiraling out of his control, he leaned back in his chair, looking like an "incompetent husband."

and many more.

wrong.

Jiang Sheng realized one thing—whether he brought a girl home on the weekend or not, he would have a headache.

But bringing a group of girls home... that's not the kind of thing that should be his problem.

Xia Xiaoman's move was amazing!

The "After-get off work Buddies" team building activity really suits Xia Xiaoman's style.

Only someone with her unconventional thinking could come up with such an idea.

The two chatted for a while longer. Seeing that it was almost time, Jiang's mother glanced at Jiang Sheng, who was all smiles.

"Come out with me for a moment."

The mother and son briefly left, stopping in a small alley outside the shop.

The wind at the alley entrance carried a slight chill.

Jiang's mother leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, her smile gradually fading as she glanced at Jiang Sheng:

"Jiang Sheng, tell your mother what you really think."

Are you sure you want to listen?

"Can you finish in five minutes?" She glanced at the expensive watch on her wrist.

"Look," Jiang Sheng said, spreading his hands, "a mother who even has to count the seconds to listen to her son's innermost thoughts, how could she possibly understand her child's thoughts?"

"Ten minutes, and I'll beat you up if you keep talking nonsense."

"Okay."

Jiang Sheng took a deep breath and put away the playful expression on his face.

As far as I can remember, this is the first time I've had a truly heart-to-heart talk with my mother, even though the location and timing were quite unexpected.

But there are some things he's been holding back for a long time.

"I don't want to get married, nor do I want to go back to work at my family's company. The reason is simple: I'm only in my twenties."

"I was already pregnant with you when I was your age," Jiang's mother said, pursing her lips.

"But that's your life," Jiang Sheng said with a smile. "That's not my life."

In my opinion, a person's youth is divided into two stages.

"The first stage is the student days, which are youthful, passionate, and full of energy."

"The second stage is the twenties after leaving student life, characterized by composure, restraint, and unfulfilled desires."

"Whenever people mention 'youth,' the first thing that comes to mind is the innocent and naive student days. They feel that only that period of time can be called youth."

"But Mom, I'm only in my twenties! I'm in the prime of my youth! I've only just left my first phase of youth, and I'm not ready to face my twenties yet."

"People dedicate their twenties to life, becoming the pillars of their families, husbands, and even fathers, but they fail to become the person they aspired to be as children during their twenties."

"If you ask me what I'm pursuing, I can only answer you 'I don't know,' because I'm only in my twenties."

"But it is precisely because we don't know that we need to find what we truly love at this age, and use the rest of our thirties and forties to realize our life's value."

"I want to see the world properly in my twenties."

Jiang Sheng smacked his lips, sounding quite thirsty from talking.

He looked at his mother's expression, but unfortunately, he couldn't glean anything from it.

After thinking about it, Jiang's mother seemed to have found the logical flaw in the argument.

What you're saying doesn't conflict with whether you're in a relationship or getting married.

Jiang Sheng's face immediately fell.

"Then all that talk I just gave was for nothing!"

Jiang's mother suddenly laughed, leaned closer, and reached out to touch her son's head.

"How could it be a waste of time?"

"Since you have the idea, then give it a try. If it doesn't work out, you can come back and inherit the family business."

"Mom," Jiang Sheng said with a strange look, "I'd definitely get a beating if I said that outside."

......

"Isn't Auntie having lunch with us?"

Seeing Jiang Sheng walk in alone, Xia Xiaoman tilted her body and asked curiously.

"She's in a bit of a rush, let's eat together."

"Okay." Xia Xiaoman nodded, then picked up her knife and fork. "I'm going to dig in!"

She'd been wanting to start eating for a while.

Jiang Sheng cut off a piece of steak, but before he could put it in his mouth, his phone rang again. He picked it up and glanced at it—Zhang Ping.

He sighed.

"I'm taking this call."

"Okay."

Xia Xiaoman watched Jiang Sheng's departing figure, her mouth stuffed full, but her thoughts returned to the question Jiang's mother had asked earlier.

She tilted her head.

Do you like it?

Perhaps, should, probably?

......

Jiang Sheng retreated to the restaurant entrance, answered Zhang Ping's call, and immediately retorted:

"I'm here to eat. What's up?"

I didn't recall Zhang Ping's cheeky voice coming through; instead, a clear and pleasant female voice came through.

"You eat in the toilet? That's amazing," Zhao Wenxuan said with a smile. "I wonder when you'll be back from the toilet after you finish eating, Comrade Jiang Sheng?"

When she said the last few words, you could feel her clenching her teeth.

Almost instantly, Jiang Sheng realized what had happened.

He looked up and let out a long sigh.

Zhang Ping ultimately couldn't withstand the pressure.

"This afternoon," Jiang Sheng replied.

Zhao Wenxuan's words were crisp and concise.

"I'll be waiting for you in conference room 2206 at 3 PM."

"What will happen if I don't come?"

"you guess."

After saying that, she hung up the phone.