Su’s mother helped her grandchildren get dressed and wash up. When they came out, she still didn’t see her son or daughter-in-law.

She teased her grandchildren, "Your uncle and aunt, those two lazybones, aren’t up yet. If you’re hungry, why don’t you go ahead and eat?"

"I’m not hungry yet. If Grandpa and Grandma are hungry, let’s eat together," Erya said sensibly.

"Let’s eat," Mr. Su said confidently. "Your uncle and aunt are definitely over at their place making their own breakfast."

"Then let’s eat. This on the table is our breakfast. If your uncle were coming, he’d definitely call. I can make more then."

"Okay! I’ll eat first, then." As soon as he heard this, Little Stone immediately went to the dining table and clambered onto a chair.

He grabbed a small spoon and shoveled a large mouthful of preserved egg and pork congee into his mouth, not at all afraid of the heat, his little hand trembling as he did.

The sight made Su’s mother’s heart ache. She quickly rushed over and said gently, "Sweetie, slow down. No one’s going to take it from you. Don’t choke."

Little Stone nodded as he ate his congee, his cheeks puffed out. "Mhm, Grandma, you eat too," he mumbled.

When he had finished half his bowl of congee, Su’s mother handed him a meat bun. "A bite of congee, a bite of bun. That way you won’t choke."

After the four of them finished breakfast, Su’s mother cleared the dishes while Erya took the initiative to wipe the table and sweep the floor.

Mr. Su played with Little Stone in the living room for a while. Su’s mother was just coming out of the kitchen and had reached the doorway when the phone in the living room rang.

It was Su Shuochi calling back to tell his parents that they had made breakfast at their new house.

He was going straight to the factory later and wanted Gu Jiaojiao to drive them to go shopping. Then they would all eat out for lunch.

Su’s mother readily agreed over the phone. After hanging up, she shouted, "Come on, let’s go inside and change! We can’t embarrass our daughter-in-law, you know!"

"Alright! Does Erya need to change?"

"Erya and Little Stone don’t need to. What they’re wearing this morning are new clothes."

Su Shuochi hung up and said to Gu Jiaojiao, who was sitting beside him, "Darling, you take Mom, Dad, Erya, and her brother clothes shopping. I’m heading to the factory first."

"I know, you little old man. I heard you just now," Gu Jiaojiao teased, but couldn’t help adding a worried reminder. "Be careful on the motorcycle."

Su Shuochi gave her a quick kiss and teased her cheerfully, "Haha... Darling, didn’t you just say it twice?"

Gu Jiaojiao’s face flushed red as she shot him a playful glare. "What, you don’t like being called a little old man? You just had to get back at me."

Su Shuochi grinned and pinched her cheek. "Fine, fine, ’little old man’ it is. Do you want to call Sheng Shijing and his group to see if they want to go shopping with you?"

Gu Jiaojiao nodded. "You dial, I’ll do the talking."

Before she could even finish her sentence, the phone beside them rang. It was Sheng Shijing, who had already arrived at the Su family’s house with Fu Guoguo.

Gu Jiaojiao hung up and tossed the motorcycle keys to Su Shuochi. "Be careful on the road, and drive slowly."

After she spoke, she clapped a hand over her mouth. ’Oh no, now that little old man is going to tease me for saying it three times.’

But Su Shuochi didn’t say anything. He just happily took the motorcycle keys and kissed her on the cheek again.

"Whoa, I come outside only to see you two lovebirds torturing us single folks with your PDA," Song Zijie yelped as he came out from next door.

Gu Jiaojiao linked her arm through Su Shuochi’s and walked toward the car. "If you’re so envious, then go get a girlfriend," she said with a grin. "I hear Xi Li has been visiting a *certain someone* at the factory every day."

"Hehe, thanks for your support, Jiaojiao," Song Zijie said. "How about we all have lunch together?"

"Tsk, tsk... Man, you work fast," Gu Jiaojiao said. "Getting the girl so quickly. You’re something else."

Gu Jiaojiao laughed so hard she fell into Su Shuochi’s arms. He caught her and took the chance to mock Song Zijie, "She’s the one chasing him. What’s so impressive about that?"

He was displeased because his wife had just praised Song Zijie.

Gu Jiaojiao pinched Su Shuochi’s side and shot him a look, silently telling him to stop his nonsense.

"Hey, Su’s right. I’m not the impressive one here! You’re just teasing me, aren’t you, Jiaojiao?

Eldest Brother Sheng is the one who’s really impressive. I heard he’s already engaged. When are they getting married?" Song Zijie added, mocking himself.

’Are you kidding me? There’s no way I can accept a compliment from her! Su would probably beat me up!’

Gu Jiaojiao smiled and shook her head. "I don’t know when they’re getting married, but it’s true they’re engaged."

Song Zijie chuckled. "Even you don’t know, Jiaojiao? Then their wedding must be a long way off!"

Gu Jiaojiao rolled her eyes at him. "You sure have a wild imagination. How would I possibly know when they’re getting married?"

"Haha... I just figured Eldest Brother Sheng is getting on in years, so he’d get married quickly!" Song Zijie said, rubbing his nose.

"By that logic, does that mean you and Xi Li are planning to get married soon?" Gu Jiaojiao asked, her interest piqued.

"Haha, we’ve only been engaged for half a month. We’re thinking of holding the wedding banquet during the first lunar month, while everyone’s still in Qing City."

"That’s great! We missed your engagement party, so we’ll be sure to come to your wedding banquet."

"Lunch is on me, then. We can consider it a make-up for the engagement dinner," Song Zijie said happily.

"Song Zijie, you look so happy and in love. Your relationship must be going really well. I’m truly envious."

Su Shuochi did not like the sound of that at all. He tightened his arm around her waist.

He deliberately leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Darling, is our relationship not good? Just wait, I’ll deal with you properly tonight."

Gu Jiaojiao’s face flushed red, and she pushed him lightly. "You’re impossible! Can you act normal for once?"

Su Shuochi just gave another doting smile, and with his arm still around her, walked her the rest of the way to the car. He opened the driver’s side door for her. "Be careful on the road."

"Okay," Gu Jiaojiao said crisply. With other people around, she didn’t say anything more.

Su Shuochi watched her car drive off into the distance before straddling his motorcycle.

Aunt Song and her younger daughter, Song Sisi, had been standing on their balcony, watching the group’s playful banter without a word.

Aunt Song watched Gu Jiaojiao’s car disappear down the road and sighed. "Jiaojiao has really been a blessing for your brother."

"She has, Mom. We really need to thank her properly. I went to school with her from elementary all the way through high school, and I never knew how capable she was. It’s a good thing she is, or else she would have been completely ruined by Second Brother Sheng and Sheng Yueyue!"

"What goes around comes around. Bad people never meet a good end," Aunt Song said, taking the opportunity to teach her daughter.

"Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll definitely learn from Jiaojiao and be an upright person."

The subject of their conversation, Gu Jiaojiao, had already pulled up to the gate of the Su family’s courtyard. Hearing the car, Erya got excited and shouted, "Grandpa, Grandma, my uncle’s back! Let’s go lock the door!"

"You all go on ahead. I’ll lock up," Mr. Su said cheerfully.

"Eldest Brother Sheng, Guoguo, you go first," Su’s mother said, politely gesturing for them to lead.

"Aunt Su, you and the children go first." Sheng Shijing pulled Guoguo’s hand and stepped aside, returning the polite gesture.