Mrs. Fu, please be mindful of the appropriate boundaries.

Fu Sichen felt too embarrassed to eat for free, so she went inside to help. This time, Ding Jing didn't chase her away. "Then help me wash these vegetables."

"OK."

Fu Sichen readily agreed. She put the vegetables that Ding Jing had picked into a basin and took it outside to fetch water.

While washing the vegetables, she kept showering them with compliments, "Auntie, I feel like the vegetables you grow are better than others'. They look better and the leaves are especially green."

Ding Jing smiled slightly as she listened, "You're just trying to coax me."

"How am I just trying to coax you? I'm serious." After washing, Fu Sichen dried the water and brought the bowl inside.

The young girl isn't as quick and efficient as the older girls, but she doesn't resist doing these chores and can handle them.

I used to help her sweep her yard when I came, and she would smile and say that it was easier to sweep than her own yard.

The Fu family must have someone managing things, but the children in the family don't have to wait for others to do everything for them. A family's upbringing can always be seen from the little things, and this family has raised their children very well.

Such children are unlikely to do anything particularly outrageous.

Lost in her thoughts, Ding Jing didn't notice the blade cutting her hand, and she hissed.

Fu Sichen quickly put down what he was holding. "Auntie, are you alright?"

"It's nothing." Ding Jing glanced at it, scratched it, and saw that it was bleeding. "I'm getting old, and I can't do my work as well as I used to."

"Brother Nan, Auntie cut her hand!" Fu Sichen shouted outside. "Where are the hydrogen peroxide and bandages?"

The little girl was so anxious that she ran out to ask, and Yu Shinan came over to take a look and said that she was alright.

He felt relieved and turned to go inside to get his things, and Fu Sichen followed him in.

The two came out again a short while later. Fu Sichen was carrying a first-aid kit. She came over to disinfect Ding Jing and put on a band-aid.

Yu Shinan went into the kitchen.

"Does it hurt?" Fu Sichen put on the band-aid, blinked at Ding Jing, and teased her with a smile, "Shall I blow on it for you?"

Ding Jing burst out laughing and patted her head, "Do you think your auntie is a child? I'm thick-skinned and not that fussy."

"Then you should avoid getting your hands wet too."

Ding Jing agreed and asked her, "When are you bringing your husband and children over so I can meet them too? Otherwise, I might run into someone I don't recognize."

The word "husband".

I didn't think much of it before, but now when people bring it up, my heart starts pounding.

Her gaze involuntarily drifted towards the kitchen, then she quickly looked away, her face flushed. "Okay."

The girl's shyness was undeniable, and Ding Jing was momentarily stunned. It seemed that the two had a pretty good relationship.

If there are no problems in a couple's relationship, they would never have any other thoughts. Even if they did have other thoughts, they wouldn't be so open about it.

Ding Jing couldn't help but sigh inwardly, wondering if she had simply misread the words due to her failing eyesight.

Fu Sichen wasn't intentionally trying to hide it; she was completely unaware that she was married. Right now, all she could think about was her Nan-ge, secretly delighted by his affection, and planning when to make things clear to him.

And Yan Zheng, he'll like him, right?

I think so.

He said he liked it.

But she couldn't help feeling uneasy. The time was too short, and she wanted to spend more time with him to confirm his feelings and avoid scaring him away.

The sound of the range hood and the aroma of stir-fried dishes wafted from the kitchen; taking a deep breath, even the food smelled delicious.

The heavy rain two days ago washed the sky a deep blue, the plants were full of water and stretched out gracefully, the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and vegetables, the sun was shining just right, neither too hot nor too cold, the weather was slow and meaningful.

Fu Sichen closed her eyes and gently raised her head. A gentle breeze blew by, making her feel exceptionally comfortable. She chuckled softly, "Auntie, I feel that your courtyard has a particularly unique atmosphere."

"What's different about it? It's just an old, run-down courtyard." Compared to those luxurious villas, it could only be described as dilapidated.

"I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's just different, I really like it." She smiled, her eyes crinkling, and sniffed the aroma in the air. "Wow, it smells so good. What is Brother Nan making? I'll go see."

She skipped and hopped into the kitchen.

Ding Jing remained seated, a band-aid carefully applied to her finger by Fu Sichen, a thoughtful gesture.

"What's this delicious food? It smells so good." Fu Sichen peeked out from his side with his hands behind his back, looking at the dishes he was cooking in the pot.

"Tofu with minced meat." She smiled with squinted eyes and looked at him, "I like to eat it."

She was close, one shoulder resting against him, and her arm swung back as if about to bump into her. The man instinctively swerved to the side. "Soon, go outside and wait."

Fu Sichen straightened up and saw that there was a faint sweat on his forehead. She looked around but there were no tissues, so she simply stood on tiptoe and used her palm to wipe away the sweat from his forehead.

The woman's palms were warm and soft. Yu Shinan paused in his cooking, turning his head to look into her smiling eyes.

The man's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, his chest overflowing with love he could barely contain, yet he still hoarsely urged her out, "Get out, it's choking."

Fu Sichen didn't want to go out, so she stayed by his side, watching him wash the pot, add oil, and cook. After he finished a dish, she would carry it out and put it on the table.

Ding Jing called to her, "Stop, come over and have some tea. Let your brother Nan do it."

"No, I want to learn. Once I learn, I won't need you to cook for me here. I can cook for myself." Fu Sichen smiled and ran back.

Ding Jing tilted her head and looked over, only to see Fu Sichen standing next to Shi Nan, peeking in and chattering away.

The roar of the range hood drowned out their conversation, but from that perspective alone, it seemed perfectly normal and nothing out of the ordinary.

After all, Si Chen used to be like that too. When she was cooking, Si Chen would follow her around and ask questions like, "Auntie, do I need to blanch this first? Should I just stir-fry this? How much salt should I add?"

Yu Shinan had just finished cooking a dish and asked her to take it out.

She agreed.

But as he turned around, she secretly picked up a piece of food from the dish and tasted it. When she turned her head, she met Ding Jing's smiling eyes.

Ding Jing chuckled, took the plate from Fu Sichen, and tapped her forehead, saying, "If you keep eating like this, you won't be able to eat anything when we get to the table."

Fu Sichen stuck out his tongue sheepishly.

Her playful and mischievous appearance was simply adorable.

He turned around and went back.

Ding Jing thought to herself that she was overthinking it; they were all good kids, it was impossible.

Fu Sichen rushed into the kitchen and pressed his head directly against Yu Shinan's back.

The man had just turned off the stove and the range hood when he turned to look at her. "What's wrong?"

"My aunt saw me sneaking a bite," she mumbled.

Yu Shinan smiled and ignored her. He wasn't that thin-skinned; he just loved to act cute.

As he plated the last dish, she hugged him tightly around the waist, then quickly let go, acting as if nothing had happened. Smiling, she picked up her chopsticks and said, "Let me try it first and see if it's good."

She picked up a piece of celery, bit into it, tilted her head, and said, "Hmm, not bad."

Yu Shinan was about to leave when she suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed him, her tongue pressing against a piece of celery as she put it in his mouth, saying, "Try it too."

Quick, one touch and you're gone.

By the time Yu Shinan realized what was happening, she was already standing right in front of him, smiling as if her actions just moments before hadn't happened at all.

Celery doesn't just magically appear in his mouth. Yu Shinan bit down, his teeth went numb, and what he bit down on didn't feel like celery, but rather like a piece of soft, slippery little tongue.

He glanced outside, but Fu Sichen smiled and said, "Auntie can't see; she just went into the room."

Yu Shinan, "..."

Fu Sichen chuckled softly. His tense demeanor just now was truly unsettling.

Yu Shinan barely spoke during the meal; it was mainly Fu Sichen and Ding Jing who talked, and everything was normal without any inappropriate behavior.

Ding Jingzhen realized she was overthinking things.

After the meal, Fu Sichen helped clean up, and Ding Jing told her to leave it and clean it up herself after they left.

Fu Sichen picked a mint leaf from the ground by the door and put it in his mouth. He also gave Yu Shinan a leaf, which he put directly to his mouth and put in his mouth.

He chuckled as he chewed, "That's great, I don't have to look for chewing gum anymore."

Ding Jing took a bag out, saying she was going to pick some fresh vegetables from the garden and asked Fu Sichen to take them with her.

Fu Sichen accepted the old man's kind offer without hesitation.

She wanted to go and help, but someone grabbed her wrist.

Before she could even gasp, her lips and tongue were locked inside her. He pulled her up by her waist and leaned down to kiss her deeply, his tongue lingering on hers, his wild kiss almost stealing her breath away.

Fu Sichen opened his eyes wide, placed his fingers on his arm, and slapped him hard.

The man half-embraced her and led her to one side of the south room, which conveniently blocked all outside observation.

The mint flavor in their mouths was strong and pungent, and his lips were pressed against hers.

Outside, Ding Jing called for Yu Shinan to get another bag. Fu Sichen slapped his arm hard, but the man was not satisfied and his tongue was numb from being sucked.

Suddenly, he abruptly let go.

He pulled a plastic bag off the wall next to him, stuffed it into her hand, and then pushed her out.

I almost bumped into Ding Jing.

"aunt……"

Fu Sichen took a step back, hurriedly calling for help, his heart pounding.

Ding Jing saw the bag in her hand, took it, and said, "I'll pack some more mountain eggs for your little one."

"Okay."

Ding Jing turned to go to the west room to get it. Fu Sichen, his heart pounding wildly, glared at Yu Shinan. Seeing his unchanging expression, he became furious and kicked him hard again.

The man hissed as he was kicked hard.

Ding Jing came out and happened to see it. Fu Sichen rushed over and grabbed Ding Jing's arm. "Auntie, he bullied me."

Ding Jing was taken aback, both surprised and amused. "How did I bully you?"

"Just now, just now... he scared me with bugs." Fu Sichen lied.

Anyway, there are bound to be vegetable bugs in the gardens of the countryside.

"My heart is pounding from fear," Fu Sichen pouted. "Auntie, is there any bug that Brother Nan is particularly afraid of?"

Ding Jing chuckled, smiling with her lips pursed, "Then you probably won't be able to scare him."

Yu Shinan took the mountain eggs and vegetables from Ding Jing and put them in the trunk. He checked the time, turned around and called to Fu Sichen, "Let's go."

As the two left, watching the car disappear into the distance, Ding Jing still found her momentary thought amusing.

That evening, I called his uncle and told him that the teacher had disappeared and that Shi Nan had someone else in his heart.

"Auntie, who is this person? Have you seen them before?" Shi Nan's cousin, Dr. Ding, asked directly.

Then, with particular concern, she reminded Ding Jing that Shi Nan seemed to be having an affair with a married woman.

These words were truly shocking, and Ding Jing was furious. "Don't talk nonsense, this kind of thing..."

"Auntie, I definitely won't say anything carelessly. I can't say anything, I'm just worried. I was the one who rescued them. The night he had the accident, only the two of them were together, and that woman's body... it was too obvious. I even asked Shi Nan, but he told me not to say anything more, to pretend I didn't see anything, afraid it would damage the woman's reputation. What do you think..."

Ding Jing's mind was buzzing.

I told her again not to tell anyone, because she might ask.

"Don't worry, Auntie. I'm just telling you. I think you shouldn't refuse to see that teacher yet. You should let him meet you as soon as possible."