"I learned from Auntie after I got back."

Chen Xin said proudly, "I bet you didn’t know, but I’ve already learned several dishes from Auntie.

Besides this one, I can also make stir-fried tomato and egg, braised pork ribs, and pepper chicken."

"Impressive!" Xu Yun gave her a thumbs-up.

’But wait, how come all these dishes are my favorites?’

Realizing what was going on, Xu Yun couldn’t help but sigh again.

’My mom is really something else, plotting away for my happiness.’

’She’s totally training Chen Xin to be her daughter-in-law.’

’And this sweet, silly woman probably has no idea.’

After buying the mandarin fish, Xu Yun decided he might as well buy some more seafood.

The supermarkets in this small county town had a limited selection of seafood. The quality wasn’t great, and it was expensive to boot.

But there weren’t any other options.

Xu Yun led Chen Xin to the seafood counter. A sign on a glass tank read: Boston Lobster, 165 a pound.

The lobsters in the tank, claws bound, looked listless and half-dead.

There were only three in total.

After all, not many people bought them. Sometimes, they wouldn’t even sell one in a whole day.

Just as Xu Yun was about to grab all of them, he had the bad luck of running into someone he knew.

And a relative, at that.

It was his younger cousin, Zhang Lei, who worked for the state tobacco company.

He hadn’t been a great student, but he’d smoothly landed a job at the company right after college, taking over the position his uncle—Xu Yun’s uncle—had vacated.

With him was his wife, a teacher at the best high school in the county.

They had just bought a new car and were planning to buy a couple of lobsters to celebrate.

But they hadn’t expected to run into Xu Yun.

When they saw each other, Zhang Lei offered a smirk. "Oh, you’re out grocery shopping too?"

His tone was distant, forgoing any sort of familial title.

His wife just offered Xu Yun a polite smile.

Xu Yun wasn’t bothered.

Other than their wedding last year, this was only the second time he had ever seen her.

He replied, "Yeah, it’s my mom’s birthday. Your dad said they were coming over for lunch, so I’m here buying groceries."

"I know."

Zhang Lei explained, "We were going to come too, but we figured your place would be too crowded. We’re thinking of going to the restaurant tonight instead."

"Yeah, my place is pretty small. It gets crowded fast."

Xu Yun smiled and asked, "So, are you here for the lobsters?"

"That’s right."

Zhang Lei said, "We just bought a car, and my wife’s been craving them, so we thought we’d buy one to celebrate."

"A new car is a great reason to celebrate."

Zhang Lei asked curiously, "Are you here to buy lobsters too?"

"Yep. I was about to buy all three of them."

Xu Yun smiled. "Since you want one, how about I give you one? A little something to congratulate you on the new car."

Zhang Lei was speechless.

’Keep putting on an act. Buying all three? As if.’

’He couldn’t believe Xu Yun would be willing to drop over a thousand yuan on three lobsters.’

"Well, thanks then," Zhang Lei said, not holding back.

’I’d like to see if he actually buys them, or if he’s just putting on an act to save face now that I’m here.’

Xu Yun, of course, saw right through his petty thoughts.

He glanced at Chen Xin.

Chen Xin understood immediately. She scooped all three lobsters out of the tank, added two king crabs for good measure, and handed the whole lot to an employee to be weighed and tagged.

Once that was done, she walked back and handed one of the bagged lobsters to Xu Yun.

Xu Yun placed it in their cart. "Alright, we’ve got more shopping to do."

Having scored a free lobster, Zhang Lei made a show of being polite. "Hey, you guys have a lot of stuff? I can give you a ride home later if you want."

"It’s alright, no need."

Xu Yun refused. "We have our own car."

"You bought a car too?"

Zhang Lei was a little surprised. "How come I haven’t heard my parents mention it? What kind of car did you buy?"

"Yeah, I’ve had it for a little while."

Xu Yun replied with a smile, "Oh, it’s just a little something to get around in. Nothing worth mentioning, really."

"Well, all cars are just for getting around, right? No need to buy anything too fancy."

"Take my car, for example," Zhang Lei said in a consoling tone. "Spent a few hundred thousand on a 2.0T Audi. It’s a bit much.

Sure, it looks a little nicer, has a bit more power, and a little more space, but the gas mileage is terrible.

And I hear the maintenance is expensive, too. Like, over a thousand a pop. I kind of regret buying it, to be honest."

He said he regretted it, but his expression told a different story.

He obviously didn’t mean a word of it.

Watching this clownish performance from the side, Chen Xin almost burst out laughing.

’Xu Yun was being so wicked.’

’Calling his multi-million-yuan car "a little something to get around in" and acting all embarrassed about it?’

’Can’t he see this guy flaunting his car that’s only worth a few hundred thousand?’

’And he’s just playing along!’

"You’ve got a point."

Xu Yun chuckled in agreement. "Anyway, we should get back to it, still have a lot to buy. See you tonight."

’He was having trouble keeping up the act. He was afraid if he didn’t leave now, he wouldn’t be able to resist and would just utterly crush him.’

’It would be a total public humiliation.’

"Alright, see you tonight."

Zhang Lei assumed Xu Yun was trying to escape the conversation because he was embarrassed about his own inferior car, so he let him go.

’We’re relatives, after all. And he’s got a girl with him. I should let him save a little face.’

After they separated, Zhang Lei’s wife asked with some confusion, "Honey, your cousin doesn’t seem broke. Buying three lobsters at once, and two king crabs on top of that?"

Zhang Lei laughed. "We know his situation perfectly well. He acts like he’s making it in the big city, but he’s really not doing that great. His last girlfriend dumped him for being poor. They broke up after the wedding invitations had already been sent out to all the relatives."

"Oh? Wow, that is pretty pathetic."

"So who was that woman with him?" his wife asked. "She was very pretty, with a great figure."

"Probably his new girlfriend."

Zhang Lei chuckled. "He was probably just putting on a brave face because she was there. You know, pretending to be rich so he doesn’t lose face in front of his girl."

"Oh, right, honey."

"His mom’s birthday is tonight," his wife said. "Should we get her a gift?"

"Nah."

Zhang Lei said dismissively, "We never do. We just show up and eat. It’s fine."

Meanwhile, Chen Xin couldn’t help but ask with a smile, "Xu Yun, who was that?"

"My cousin. My maternal uncle’s son."

"Your cousin?"

Chen Xin was surprised. "But the way you two were talking... you seemed more like strangers.

And he didn’t even call you ’cousin’ or anything. It felt so disrespectful."

"Well, you notice I didn’t call him ’cousin’ either, did you?"

Xu Yun explained, "We never really played together when we were kids. He always played with the kids from his mom’s side of the family. It’s natural that we’re distant.

If it weren’t for our parents, my mom and his dad, we probably would have cut off contact years ago."

"Oh, I see."

Chen Xin said, "I never would have guessed you had a relationship like that with your own relatives."

"It’s not all of them," Xu Yun replied. "I get along great with my aunt and cousins on my dad’s side."

"Most people are pragmatic. There’s a reason for the saying, ’A poor man has no rich relatives.’"

"Tell me, what kind of expression do you think he’d have if he suddenly found out your car is worth millions?"

"He probably wouldn’t believe it even if his life depended on it."

Xu Yun said, "After all, a fact like that would be pretty hard for him to swallow. So, out of the kindness of my heart, I decided to spare him."

Chen Xin laughed. "How very considerate of you."

The two of them then bought a few more items, filling up their bags, before checking out and heading to the parking garage.

But, as luck would have it...

They unexpectedly ran into each other again in the garage.

This time, when Zhang Lei and his wife saw Xu Yun, they were feeling a bit disgruntled.

They felt they had been tricked by Xu Yun.

When they were checking out, they’d discovered that the lobster Xu Yun "gave" them hadn’t actually been paid for.

It was only then they remembered that everything in the supermarket had to be paid for together at the checkout counter.

They’d been so pleased at the time that they’d completely forgotten.

No wonder the guy had been so generous. He didn’t just give them a lobster, he "gave" it to them—to carry to the checkout and pay for themselves.

"Hey, we meet again."

This time, Zhang Lei spoke up first. "Well, what a coincidence. Since we’re in the garage, why don’t you show me that car you’ve been hiding? You’re acting like you’re afraid for anyone to see it."

’Cousin, you walked right into this one.’

’It’s not like I wanted to flex on you!’

"Well... okay."

Xu Yun feigned reluctance. "But... if you see it, you’d better be mentally prepared."

"Uh..."

Zhang Lei laughed. "Don’t worry, I won’t laugh at you... Cousin."

He even called him ’Cousin’ this time, just for the chance to mock him!

’Let’s see what piece of junk he’s driving that he’s too ashamed to even show anyone.’