We ordinary people also need to fall in love.

beep!

The gates of Yuehu Bay slowly opened, and the security guard saluted the black Mercedes-Benz, watching it drive away.

On September 29th, the Mid-Autumn Festival, the temperature in Pingyang City gradually turned cool, and the leaves of the trees along the roadside began to turn a light yellow.

Xie Zhiqiang parked the car steadily in the garage next to the villa, turned off the engine, picked up the mooncake gift box from the passenger seat, and opened the car door.

The villa was empty. He placed the gift box on the coffee table, just as the study door opened.

"It's Mid-Autumn Festival today, shall we go to that restaurant again tonight?" Xu Ting came out with a book in her hand.

"No." Xie Zhiqiang sat down on the sofa. "Teacher Yang happens to be in Pingyang. He'll be at Bailuyuan at six o'clock tonight. The private room has already been booked, and Shen Huarui will be there too."

"Teacher Yang?" Xu Ting asked with a hint of surprise. "Isn't he in Jiangnan? Why is he here?"

"We came here to escape the summer heat, and we'll go back after National Day." Xie Zhiqiang paused for a moment, then asked, "What about Xiao Shu?"

Study indoors.

Xie Zhiqiang nodded, stood up from the sofa, went upstairs, and gently knocked on the door of Xie Shu's bedroom.

"Little Shu, it's Daddy. Are you busy right now? Is it convenient for you to come in?"

Through the door, Xie Zhiqiang heard light footsteps behind it, and then the door was pulled open.

"Dad, what's wrong?"

"Xiaoshu, our family is going out for dinner tonight. Grandpa Yang will be there too, along with one of Mom and Dad's high school classmates."

"Okay, I understand," Xie Shu replied casually, then closed the door again.

Xie Zhiqiang stood outside the door for a moment, feeling that Xiao Shu was becoming increasingly quiet and withdrawn as he grew older...

Xie Shu returned to the study in her bedroom, where a book lay open on her desk—an abridged English version of "Principles of Economics".

She looked up from the book, reached for her phone, typed a line of text, and then clicked send.

Yan Shu: "I have family matters to attend to today, so I can't come to see you."

The phone buzzed twice a few seconds later.

Li Bubai: "It's okay, we're going to someone else's house for dinner this afternoon too."

Li Bubai: "We can meet again tomorrow, or when we go back to school. In short, there will be plenty of opportunities to meet."

Xie Shu smiled slightly, typed "Mmm," and an emoji popped up in the chat box. She selected a sketch of a puppy and sent it.

At 5 p.m., Xu Ting drove off, Xie Zhiqiang sat in the passenger seat, and Xie Shu was in the back. She had changed into an ordinary long dress, rested her hands on her lap, and looked at the scenery outside the window.

"Xiao Shu, how's school lately?" Xie Zhiqiang asked casually.

"fine."

The carriage was stuffy, and no one spoke. Xie Shu rolled down the window, and a cool breeze blew in, dispelling the oppressive atmosphere.

A few seconds later, the car window was rolled up again and the air conditioning was turned on.

"It's not safe to open the window," Xu Ting said.

"I want to open the window and get some fresh air." Xie Shu rolled down the car window again.

Xu Ting frowned, but before she could speak, Xie Zhiqiang interrupted her.

"It's not hot today, let's open the windows and let in some natural breeze." He said, rolling down his own car window as well.

More than half an hour later, they arrived at Bailuyuan, where three people were already seated in the private room.

"Hey—our big boss is here." One of the men stood up and greeted him warmly.

"Shen Huarui, old classmate, long time no see." Xie Zhiqiang smiled and patted his arm.

"Yes, it's been three years since we last met." Shen Huairui's tone was also somewhat sentimental. He looked at Xu Ting, "Squad Leader Xu, it's been a long time too."

Xu Ting nodded slightly and smiled politely.

"Hua Rui, are these your wife and child?" Xie Zhiqiang asked, looking at the other two people standing in the private room.

"Yes, this is my wife, Wen Xiuyu, this is my daughter, Shen Nianning, and my eldest daughter, Shen Nianan, but she couldn't come because of other commitments."

Shen Huarui patted Shen Nianning, who was standing blankly to the side. The latter immediately bowed slightly to Xie Zhiqiang and Xu Ting to greet them. Xie Shu glanced at her and then looked away.

"Nianning is also a senior in high school this year, and she should be in the same grade as your daughter. The two girls can chat more later."

"That's great! It'll also be a good opportunity for Xiaoshu to make more like-minded friends."

Xie Shu wasn't interested in this. After the adults were all seated, she found a seat and sat down quietly without saying a word.

It was almost six o'clock when Teacher Yang arrived. He had white hair, but was in good spirits, and was followed by three people.

"Mr. Xie, Mr. Xu, I'm late. Shall I punish myself with three drinks?" Teacher Yang said with a smile as soon as she entered the door.

"How could that be? Teacher Yang, you arrived five minutes earlier than I planned for 6 o'clock."

While everyone was busy exchanging pleasantries, Xie Shu picked up his phone and glanced at it, but there were no messages.

"This must be Xiao Shu. It's been so many years since I last saw her. She's grown into a beautiful young lady."

Xie Shu immediately put down his phone and greeted Teacher Yang.

"Okay, okay, okay." Teacher Yang said "okay" three times in a row, and after exchanging pleasantries, the group took their seats.

Xie Shu also saw the three people following behind Teacher Yang: a middle-aged man and woman whom she had seen before, who were Teacher Yang's son and daughter-in-law; and a boy who also looked like a student, who was probably his grandson.

"Zhiqiang, Xiaoting, and Huarui, I asked Yang Xin to bring each of you a box of mooncakes from Jiangnan. Take one box back with you later. Don't eat for free."

"You're too kind, Teacher Yang. You're our homeroom teacher, so of course we have to show you some hospitality since you've come to Pingyang," Xu Ting said with a smile.

"Yes, in the blink of an eye, your children are already seventeen or eighteen years old, and I'm almost eighty."

"I can't believe it, Teacher Yang, you're still walking with such a sprightly gait."

"I'm getting old." Teacher Yang waved his hand and looked at the three children on the field. "I also brought a box of 'Top Scholar Mooncakes' this time. I'll share them with the three children later, as a wish for them to have a smooth college entrance examination and achieve top scores."

"Thank you, Grandpa Yang." Xie Shu thanked him politely first, followed by Shen Nianning and another boy.

"Little Shu is still the most well-behaved. Is there someone you like at school?"

Two question marks seemed to appear above Xie Shu's head; he didn't understand what Teacher Yang was saying for a moment.

"Old Yang is joking. I'm currently focused on my studies, how could I have time to please others?" Xie Zhiqiang smiled and took over the conversation.

"Don't be so hasty. You and Xiaoting were in the same age group and started dating back then."

"I'm still young, so I can take my time to think about finding a partner. It doesn't matter if I don't settle down in the end."

During the encrypted call, Xie Shu only vaguely understood Xie Zhiqiang's last sentence. She glanced at Shen Nianning across the table and found her staring blankly at the bowl.

What is Li Mubai doing right now? Xie Shu lowered his head and slowly took out his phone from under the table, typed a message and sent it.

Yan Shu: "What are you doing now?"

The phone vibrated quickly. Li Mubai sent a photo of dinner, which looked like a typical home-cooked meal made by an ordinary family. The table was full of food, with a plate of sliced ​​mooncakes in the middle.

She looked up slightly. The dishes at Bailuyuan were exquisite and elegant, with meticulous plating, but they seemed to lack something—warmth and a touch of everyday life.

Yan Shu: "Whose house are you at?"

Xie Shu noticed that there seemed to be a girl wearing shorts next to the photo, but her upper body was not visible.

Before she could get a reply, Xu Ting gently patted her arm.

"This is a rare opportunity! Let's raise a glass to celebrate our reunion, wishing you great success in your career and hoping our little one will be the top student in her exams next year!"

Xie Shu followed suit and raised the wine glass in front of him...