You're my wife, don't doubt it!

Shen Jie chuckled and said, "How dare you use my own money to fawn over me?"

She took the card, flipped it over, and examined it closely: "What is this? It's so childish. There's a monkey on it—doesn't this monkey look like you?"

“This is a China Construction Bank Dragon Card Zodiac Card. My school issued them to all students when I was in elementary school—it’s the Year of the Monkey this year, so we could get a new one every year.” Xiao Yao laughed. “Back then, I especially liked to take money out of the ATM at the door, then go to the counter to deposit it, and repeat the process.”

"The bank teller didn't intend to smash your head in?"

"No," Xiao Yao said. "But it's quite unbelievable when you think about it. Every bank in Shanghai has a queue, but the banks where I live don't have queues."

Shen Jie stuffed the card back into Xiao Yao's school uniform pocket: "Take it. A boy can't be without a penny on him."

Xiao Yao didn't stand on ceremony with her: "Alright then, I'll take it first, you can take it when you need it. I've changed the password, it's your birthday now."

Just as the two were about to go upstairs, the old woman who had been sitting on a small stool at the entrance of the building across the street started yelling in a Shanghai accent that was hard to understand: "Xiao Yao, didn't you get together with the Yu family's young lady? How come you've switched to someone else?"

Xiao Yao, embarrassed, replied: "Hello, hello, it's been a long time."

Shen Jie greeted her mother (grandmother) in a very natural and generous manner.

"Oh my," the old woman clicked her tongue, "What a pretty little girl! So pretty! Where are your parents from?"

Xiao Yao had no interest in arguing with her, so he casually led Shen Jie upstairs.

"Open the door."

"Open the door," Xiao Yao reminded him. "I left the key with you this morning."

"Oh, right, I made a copy for him." Shen Jie took out a key that Xiao Yao had never seen before and handed it to him.

"it is good."

The two went in one after the other. Shen Jie kicked the door shut with her heel, then used the toe of one foot to push off the heel of the other shoe, and walked with her feet bent over through the soap room into Xiao Yao's room, where she stuffed the spittoon under the bed.

Xiao Yao changed his own shoes, then got Shen Jie a pair of slippers and went inside to drop them at the girl's feet.

"Your arches are very high, have you ever trained in ballet?"

“You really did practice,” Shen Jie said, sitting on the edge of Xiao Yao’s bed and gently stroking the soles of her socks. “How many times did you bring Yu Luying home before? You even know the old lady at the door.”

Xiao Yao didn't answer the question directly. Instead, he sat down next to Shen Jie and deliberately sniffed the air: "What's that smell?"

"What's that smell?" Shen Jie sniffed twice as well. "Are you deliberately trying to distract me? I can't help but wonder lately why, when I hit you at the parenting education center, I could control Yu Luying? Just how well do you two understand each other that this kind of effect would occur in the hall?"

It's a good thing that she gets jealous, Xiao Yao thought. However, he wasn't mentally prepared yet to tell Shen Jie this secret about their symbiotic relationship.

"It smells just like the computer lab we used to go to when we had computer classes—is it your smelly feet?" Xiao Yao asked, feigning seriousness.

"How could that be? It's your feet that smell." Shen Jie denied it outright, then picked up one of her feet, brought it to her nose, and sniffed it: "It doesn't smell."

"I don't believe it." Xiao Yao shook his head, thinking to himself that Shen Jie's actions just now were extremely cute.

"Don't believe me? Smell it!" Shen Jie leaned back, reclining on the bed, and playfully dangled her right leg in front of Xiao Yao.

The toes of his feet, encased in black cotton socks, were no more than ten centimeters away from Xiao Yao's nose.

Xiao Yao could smell a faint leather scent, probably because he had been wearing sneakers.

He hesitated for a moment, then gently leaned closer.

A faint, sultry sweat, a subtle milky scent, and an extremely faint odor at the toes.

Overall, it smelled just like what I smelled on the bus that day, only more...real?

Xiao Yao subconsciously reached out and pulled down the hem of his shirt.

Because he leaned in too close, the tip of his nose accidentally touched her slender, jade-like toes, and the slightly damp and rough feel of the sock edge clung to his lips.

"Ugh! You're a pervert! You actually smelled it!"

Before Xiao Yao could react, Shen Jie had already pulled her foot back in a flash, a blush spreading across her face.

This seems to be the second time I've seen her blush?

"It really doesn't smell bad. I misunderstood you," Xiao Yao commented, feigning composure.

Shen Jie didn't speak, but just lowered her head, bent her legs, hugged her knees with her hands, and subconsciously put her feet away from Xiao Yao.

Beneath her long, glossy black hair, her round, doll-like face blinked rapidly.

Because she was looking down, Xiao Yao couldn't see her dark, bright eyes, only her bright red lips.

A natural beauty, a heartthrob for otaku, with a pure yet alluring charm...

Xiao Yao felt the call of those two lines of lips again, and leaned forward slightly, moving closer to her.

"What are you doing...!" Shen Jie subconsciously turned her head away, closed her eyes tightly, and braced her arms against Xiao Yao's chest.

Unlike Yu Luying's skinny arms, Shen Jie's arms may seem unremarkable at first glance, but upon closer inspection, the outline of her biceps can be seen.

Therefore, Xiao Yao was unable to advance even a centimeter further.

The two remained locked in this stalemate for a few seconds.

A middle-aged man's voice suddenly rang out from outside the door: "201, takeout! Is anyone home?"

Xiao Yao was momentarily stunned, then Shen Jie shoved him away forcefully. The girl jumped off the bed, hastily put on her slippers, and ran towards the door with a "clattering" sound: "Hey, hey!"

--split line--

Dinner consisted of delicious dishes, but Xiao Yao found it hard to eat.

This was the first time he had ever eaten takeout at home.

He knew the name of the hotel, but its opulent decor never inspired him to go inside.

The food was delivered in wooden boxes, served in ceramic bowls and plates, and they said someone would come to collect it next time.

Is this what Shen Jie meant when she said on the phone, "I'll prepare dinner"?

Xiao Yao silently picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in his mouth. It was very soft and tender, melting in his mouth.

The family of three ate their meal quietly, with only the sound of chopsticks and bowls clattering in the background.

"You two, are you arguing again?" Shen Tianyun finally couldn't hold back any longer, cautiously looking at one of them and then at the other.

"No, I'm fine." Shen Jie gave Shen Tianyun a kind smile and put another meatball on her plate: "Eat more, so you can grow taller."

"I can use it myself!" Shen Tianyun exclaimed. "I'm quite tall now!"

Shen Jie said "I'm fine," but no one would believe her—she only talked to Tian Yun, not Xiao Yao, her gaze darting around, refusing to meet his eyes directly, and her lips curled into a half-smile.

In short, it's like every girl who rejects a confession from her.

This is a taste that Xiao Yao is familiar with.

However, he wasn't really panicked.

If you and your girlfriend have a fight, and you know in your heart that she will not break up with you, then even if you feel anxious, it is still within a controllable range.

...Okay, actually I'm still a little panicked.

Shen Tianyun picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs and put it in her mouth, but Shen Jie stopped her halfway.

"Eat slowly, be careful it's hot," Shen Jie said with a smile.

"...This is a cold dish." Shen Tianyun said, somewhat confused.

"Even cold dishes should be eaten slowly. No matter how good the food is, you can easily choke if you eat it too quickly," Shen Jie said earnestly.

Shen Tianyun reached out and picked up her cup, puzzled.

"The same goes for drinking water; be careful not to burn yourself." Shen Jie took the cup back and gently blew on the ice cubes inside. "Be careful not to choke. Everything should be done slowly."

"I'm full, okay!" Shen Tianyun snapped.

"If you have something to say, say it to me." Xiao Yao slammed his hand on the table: "Don't take it out on the child."

"You took a picture of me?" Shen Jie looked at Xiao Yao, a hint of confusion in her expression.

I slammed my hand on the table!

"Okay, then I'll make things clear to you." Shen Jie said calmly, "I..."

“Oh, right, Mom,” Shen Tianyun suddenly stood up, “didn’t you just tell me that you bought Xiao Yao a cell phone this afternoon? Take it out and take a look.”

"..." The two continued to stare at each other, neither saying a word.

Shen Tianyun took out Shen Jie's LV bag and said to herself, "My mom spent a long time picking one out and chose one that should suit you."

“Hello, moto.” Xiao Yao read an advertising slogan, reached out and took it, turning it over and examining it closely: “Motorola V400? The latest model.”

"Mm," Shen Jie responded without looking at him.

"So this is what you went out to do this afternoon... Why spend this money? It's not like I don't have a phone." Xiao Yao muttered casually.

“What Mom means is,” Shen Tianyun explained, “that with this you can use QQ on your phone, which is more convenient for her than sending text messages.”

"Just for this? You might as well buy a computer." Xiao Yao blurted out.

……

"That's not what I meant," Xiao Yao quickly explained, realizing his slip of the tongue. "I didn't mean to ask you for anything!"

Oh no, the more I try to explain, the worse it gets.

Seeing Xiao Yao's clumsy attempt at explanation, Shen Jie burst out laughing, easing the tension in the room.

“Okay, I’ll buy it for you.” Shen Jie immediately made the decision.