I started with a portal, then turned around and handed it over to the nation.

Ye Qing's voice was very soft.

"What are you doing? Come in, come in!"

Wang Guifen, with a broad smile, grabbed Ye Qing's hand and took the fruit basket from her.

"You've come all this way, why did you bring anything! You're too kind, child!"

Upon hearing that it was Ye Qing, Lin Dezhu in the restaurant reacted even faster than Lin Mo.

He jumped up, hurriedly moved the wine glass aside, and wiped the corner of the table with his sleeve.

"Xiao Qing's here! Come in, come in and have a seat!"

Lin Dezhu warmly greeted them, "Lin Mo just came in not long ago, and we've only just started eating! Come, come, sit down and have some with us!"

Ye Qing was pulled into the restaurant by Wang Guifen.

Her gaze passed over Lin Dezhu and landed on Lin Mo, whose expression was somewhat stiff, sitting at the dining table.

Ye Qing's lips curled up slightly, and a hint of a smile flashed in her eyes.

"Uncle, there's no need to trouble yourself."

Ye Qing smiled and waved her hand, her tone sincere:

"I've already eaten at the base canteen. I heard that the team members have all gone home for the holidays, so the leader asked me to stop by and check on everyone's situation."

"I just happened to be passing by, so I thought I'd come and visit my uncle and aunt."

This was a very thoughtful remark; it explained the purpose of the visit while also conveying a sense of closeness.

However, in Lin Dezhu and Wang Guifen's ears, it automatically became "I heard the team members have all gone home" and "I just happened to be passing by to take a look".

The two exchanged a glance, which conveyed the meaning of "I understand" and "There's potential."

"Ugh, what's so good about the food in the cafeteria's big pot?"

Wang Guifen wouldn't listen to any explanation and simply pushed Ye Qing towards the dining table:

"Auntie just made this, it's still warm! Since we're on the way, we definitely have to try her cooking!"

"Exactly!"

While agreeing, Lin Dezhu quickly pulled out the chair next to Lin Mo:

"Xiao Qing, don't be shy, come, sit here! Sit next to Mo'er!"

Ye Qing was so overwhelmed by the two men's enthusiastic banter that she couldn't refuse and had no choice but to sit down in the chair.

She turned her head and glanced at Lin Mo beside her.

Lin Mo was standing there, his hands hanging limply at his sides, his eyes darting around, looking at the ceiling and then the floor, but never at Ye Qing.

"It smells so good~ Well then... I'll trouble you, Uncle and Auntie."

Ye Qing sat down gracefully without further hesitation.

"No trouble at all!"

Lin Dezhu was so happy that his face turned red, and he turned and ran to the kitchen:

"I'll go get a set of chopsticks and a bowl! Old woman, pour Xiaoqing a drink, that orange juice!"

Wang Guifen responded and turned to get a drink from the refrigerator.

The atmosphere at home immediately became lively.

Lin Mo sat to the side, feeling like he had been forgotten.

His heart skipped a beat; he had a bad feeling.

The conversation will definitely veer towards "checking household registration" and "urging marriage," and there's no stopping it.

You must save yourself.

Lin Mo took a deep breath and picked up his rice bowl.

The only thing to do now is to bury your head in your food.

As long as your mouth is full of food, you don't need to answer questions.

If you eat fast enough, you can get off the table sooner and escape this troublesome place.

He shoveled large mouthfuls of rice into his mouth, his cheeks bulging out, chewing rapidly.

"Snoring..."

The sound of shoveling rice into their mouths was rather loud amidst the chatter.

"Snapped!"

Suddenly, a crisp sound rang out in the room.

Lin Dezhu slapped Lin Mo hard on the back of the head.

"Cough cough cough..."

Lin Mo had just swallowed a mouthful of rice when he was slapped so hard he almost choked, coughing violently and his face turning red instantly.

He covered the back of his head and looked up at his own father in disbelief.

"Dad, what are you doing?"

Lin Mo's voice was choked with sobs, and tears were almost coming out of his mouth.

"What? I was just about to ask you what you're doing!"

Lin Dezhu stared wide-eyed, pointed his finger at Lin Mo's nose, and spat everywhere:

"Have you not eaten in your past lives? Or is there something wrong with your food? The guests are still here, and you're just sitting there slurping away with your bowl, what kind of behavior is that!"

Lin Dezhu was furious. He turned and pointed at Ye Qing, who was smiling beside him:

"Xiao Qing came all this way and hasn't even had a sip of water yet, and you're already eating! Don't you have any manners? Have you wasted all your education?"

Lin Mo rubbed the back of his head, opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Lin Mo could only give her father a resentful look, as if she were a free gift with a phone top-up, and then look at her mother.

Wang Guifen was busy getting Ye Qing a drink when she heard the commotion and turned around. Instead of helping her son, she scolded him:

"Serves you right! You deserved to be beaten by your dad! You have no sense at all."

Ye Qing, sitting next to him, was wiping her mouth with a tissue.

Seeing Lin Mo's frustrated and silent demeanor, her shoulders trembled slightly.

She quickly lowered her head and covered her mouth with the back of her hand, but her crescent-shaped eyes still betrayed her.

"Uncle, please don't blame Lin Mo."

Ye Qing adjusted her breathing, looked up, and gently advised:

"We eat at a fast pace at the base, he's used to it. And..."

Ye Qing glanced at the braised fish on the table, her smile widening.

"The food Auntie makes smells so good, just smelling it makes me hungry."

Wang Guifen's previously stern face instantly blossomed into a smile.

"Oh, you little rascal, you have such a sweet tongue!"

Wang Guifen placed a glass of orange juice next to Ye Qing, then wiped her hands on her apron, beaming from ear to ear:

"Eat up if you're hungry! Don't be shy, make yourself at home!"

Lin Dezhu immediately changed his demeanor, his previous stern fatherly air vanished, replaced by a face full of enthusiasm:

"Yes, yes, yes! Xiao Qing, since you're here, you should eat something. The cafeteria food is nowhere near as nourishing as home-cooked food!"

As he spoke, Lin Dezhu picked up the serving chopsticks, took a piece of meat from the belly of the fish, and put it into the empty bowl in front of Ye Qing.

"Here, try this fish! It's your aunt's specialty. I've removed all the bones, so you can eat it without worry!"

Ye Qing looked at the fish in the bowl, and without refusing, picked up her chopsticks generously.

"Thank you, Uncle. Then I won't be polite and will just have a little bit."

She picked up a piece of fish, took a small bite, then her eyes lit up slightly as she turned to look at Wang Guifen:

"Auntie, this fish is really well made. The meat is very tender and there is no fishy smell at all. The sauce is also very flavorful."

"See? I told you it would be delicious!"

And so, with both parents serving food to Ye Qing, Lin Mo, who was engrossed in his rice, had his chance.

However, the good times didn't last long! Wang Guifen was putting meat on Ye Qing's plate, and she had only picked up half of it.

She suddenly stopped what she was doing and looked at Lin Mo, who was preparing to continue eating.

"Thump!"

A muffled thud came from under the table.

Lin Mo felt a sharp pain in his calf, as if he had been kicked hard by something.

"hiss--"