Jiaojiao thought this would make him embarrassed, but she clearly underestimated Shen Ting’s thick skin.

Because when Shen Ting heard her, he acted like he couldn’t even be bothered to think of an excuse, just nodded along with what she said, then turned his head and continued chatting with Duan Xi.

"..." Jiaojiao.

Feeling a bit down.

Jiaojiao watched the two men chatting back and forth about things she didn’t understand at all when her phone rang. Taking a look, it was a message from Yu Rou asking if she’d arrived at school. She replied "no," and Yu Rou immediately responded.

[Why are you replying now!] —— Yu Rou.

The speed made Jiaojiao think she must have been clutching her phone, waiting.

Jiaojiao replied again with [Packing things, now in the car.]

This time Yu Rou didn’t reply with a message but called directly instead.

"Jiaojiao, have you returned to school?"

As soon as Jiaojiao answered the call, Yu Rou asked.

Jiaojiao replied: "Yes, didn’t you just start school today? How do you have time to call?"

"Nothing much, we’re just rearranging the seats now, classes officially start in the afternoon. Jiaojiao, do you want to hear some gossip?" Towards the end, Yu Rou’s voice had a mischievous tone.

Jiaojiao laughed: "Is it about your cousin again?"

As soon as Jiaojiao said this, Duan Xi, who had been chatting with Shen Ting, gave her a glance. Jiaojiao noticed but pretended she hadn’t, since he ignored her earlier, only talking to Shen Ting.

Jiaojiao deliberately turned her face outward, listening to Yu Rou chattering on the other end.

Jiang Xun has been gone from home for half a month now, strangely enough, he’s staying with Zhou Yun and her mother.

Zhou Yun’s mother has been a housekeeper, working for the Jiang Family for most of her life, and was recently let go with no other means of livelihood.

Zhou Yun had long been frustrated with her mother’s demeaning life as a housekeeper, and after being dismissed from the Jiang Family, she simply encouraged her mother to set up a food stall.

Zhou Yun’s mother was quite honest and simple, and loved her only daughter dearly. She wasn’t very decisive, so when Zhou Yun suggested setting up a stall, she went ahead and did it, even pulling out the little savings she had managed to accumulate over the years.

But running a food stall isn’t as easy as it sounds. Leaving aside the skill needed, location is key.

However, good locations require rent, and those that don’t have already been taken. Zhou Yun’s mother’s savings were only just enough to cover the cost of setting up the food stall, not these extra expenses.

Most importantly, everyday folks aren’t yet able to afford eating out all the time, and those who are well-off wouldn’t eat at such small stalls.

Zhou Yun worked as a housekeeper, not a chef, and her cooking skills were only average. She wasn’t skilled in making special snacks; she’d only learned a few cold dishes from a chef at the Jiang Family, so she made those.

But when it comes to making cold dishes, the recipe is crucial, and timing even more so.

Zhou Yun’s mother wasn’t skilled in these, and unsurprisingly, the business was bleak. Without proper refrigeration, some ingredients couldn’t be preserved and went bad, leading to significant losses within a few days. In the end, it was Jiang Xun who sold some of the belongings he brought with him just to make ends meet.

"Just the day before yesterday, my uncle went to find him, asking him to come back, but he still refused. Do you think he really likes Zhou Yun that much?" Yu Rou asked Jiaojiao.