The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 253. An Encounter at the Restaurant (Second Update)

Chapter 253: 253. An Encounter at the Restaurant (Second Update)

Shen Qinglan indeed had some matters to discuss with Daniel today, so by the time she arrived at Daniel’s studio, he was already waiting for her.

"Hey, Daniel, isn’t it a surprise to see me?" Jin Enxi walked out from behind Shen Qinglan, greeting Daniel with a cheery smile.

When Daniel saw Jin Enxi, a flash of light crossed his eyes. Since Jin Enxi left, he had not seen her again, knowing that her injuries had healed, but now that he saw her looking healthy, he genuinely smiled, "Long time no see."

"Yeah, it’s been quite a while. I never really thanked you properly for last time."

"As long as you’re okay. You are Qinglan’s friend, after all, so that little favor was something I could do."

Shen Qinglan handed over the painting she brought to Daniel, "This is a piece for the exhibition, take care of it."

Daniel received it and, without looking at it, opened up a room and placed the painting inside before suggesting, "We rarely get the chance to meet up, so how about having lunch together?"

Shen Qinglan glanced at Daniel with a meaningful look and nodded, "Sure."

Jin Enxi naturally had no objections.

The three of them left Daniel’s studio and went to a nearby restaurant. "I’ve been to this restaurant once before, and it tastes quite good. You guys should try it," Daniel said.

However, just as they entered the restaurant, Shen Qinglan spotted two familiar figures. Seeing the two of them together, Shen Qinglan couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows.

"Auntie." Little Douding saw Shen Qinglan, his eyes lit up, and he slid off the chair and ran towards her. Shen Qinglan squatted down and picked him up, "Auntie, are you here to eat too?"

Shen Qinglan nodded, "Are you out eating with Mommy?"

"Yes, and with Uncle Jiang." Little Douding said, then whispered in Shen Qinglan’s ear, "Uncle Jiang is Mommy’s friend, he’s really nice, and I want Uncle Jiang to be my Daddy."

Shen Qinglan raised her eyebrows, carrying Little Douding over to where Pei Yinong and the others were sitting. Pei Yinong hadn’t expected to run into Shen Qinglan while out for a meal. She glanced across at Jiang Chenxi, feeling a bit uncomfortable, "Cousin, Chenxi."

"Little sister-in-law, are you also here to have a meal with friends?" Jiang Chenxi looked behind Shen Qinglan and asked.

Shen Qinglan nodded, "Yes, I’m taking care of some errands nearby."

"Auntie, can I eat with you?" Little Douding asked, winking playfully at Shen Qinglan from a corner unseen by Pei Yinong. A smile flickered in Shen Qinglan’s eyes. This kid had always been clever, not at all like your typical three-year-old. Nevertheless, she didn’t immediately agree but instead looked towards Pei Yinong, "Cousin, is that okay?"

Pei Yinong had long known that her son was fond of Shen Qinglan. Seeing him so eager to ditch her, his own mother, she sighed and nodded reluctantly, "Alright, you take him; it’ll spare me the heartache."

Little Douding hugged Shen Qinglan’s neck and grinned, showing off his little teeth. Shen Qinglan sat down at a table not far from them, with Little Douding nestled in her embrace, pouring out his "sorrows of separation" from the time they hadn’t seen each other.

"Auntie, why haven’t you come to see Haohao for so long?"

"Because Auntie has been busy with some things recently and hasn’t had the time. How about I come to see Haohao when things are less busy, is that okay?"

"Then Auntie, you promise, the next time you come to see Haohao, it can’t be too long. I will miss you very, very much. When I can’t see you, my meals don’t even taste good."

"Okay, so what does Haohao want to eat right now?" Shen Qinglan turned the menu to the last page, where the restaurant’s specialty desserts were listed. Little Douding shook his head and patted his little belly, "I’ve already eaten plenty just now. I’ll watch Auntie eat."

Hearing this, Shen Qinglan passed the menu to Jin Enxi, who then handed it directly to Daniel. Jin was quite intrigued as she watched Shen Qinglan patiently pamper the little guy in her arms.

Little Douding, sensing someone looking at him, turned to Jin Enxi and flashed her a smile, "Hello, pretty sister!"

Jin Enxi chuckled aloud, "Such sweet talker you are." Then, she leaned slightly forward and pinched Little Douding’s round, chubby cheeks, to which the little boy frowned in discontent, "Don’t pinch my face; it’s not handsome."

Jin Enxi laughed even harder, "Oh my, little rascal, do you even know what handsome means?"

"Of course, I do! Someone like my Uncle Jiang, that’s what handsome looks like."

Jin Enxi continued to entertain Little Douding, while Daniel ordered a few dishes, then handed the menu to the waiter. He glanced toward Jin Enxi, beaming with joy, the tenderness in his eyes unnoticed even by himself.

The food arrived, and Shen Qinglan ate, occasionally feeding Little Douding, who had moved from her arms to sit beside her.

Meanwhile, Jiang Chenxi withdrew his gaze from Shen Qinglan and her group, "Yining, Haohao seems to really like the little sister-in-law."

"Mm," Pei Yinong sighed with resignation, "More than like. Upon seeing Qinglan, he could forget about me, his own mom. Last time Qinglan came to our house, he insisted on going back with her, and wouldn’t listen to reason. I even wondered if he’d been switched at birth."

Jiang Chenxi laughed, "The little sister-in-law has a..." he paused, "indeed, a special charm that makes people like her involuntarily. When I first met her, I was quite puzzled about why Hengyi would marry a girl so much younger than him, but after a few encounters, I understood."

Pei Yinong smirked proudly, "Of course, our family’s girls are naturally great. By the way, you mentioned last time that your mom arranged a blind date for you, how did it turn out, have you met the person?"

"Yeah, I have."

"And then?" Pei Yinong asked.

Jiang Chenxi gave her a peculiar look, "What do you mean, ’and then’?"

Pei Yinong was speechless. Was that it? Was this what they called ’love at first sight’?

"Chenxi, you’re not getting any younger; it’s time to settle down. Look, my sister is already married."

Jiang Chenxi smiled, "Yining, you sound very much like my mother."

Pei Yinong was speechless, closing her mouth.

"What about you? You’re so concerned about me, why don’t you find someone for yourself?" Jiang Chenxi asked her.

Pei Yinong laughed, "You know my situation. I’m busy with work and taking care of Haohao; I don’t have time for romance, and Haohao is enough for me."

Hearing this, Jiang Chenxi frowned slightly, "Yining, Haohao will grow up; he will have his own family, his own life. You should think about yourself a bit. You’re still young; what will you do when you’re old?" He hesitated, then continued, "Or have you been waiting for Haohao’s dad to come back all this time?"

Pei Yinong’s expression darkened slightly, then she smiled, "That man and I were over the moment he left me and Haohao. I gave birth to Haohao not because I loved him, and I’m not marrying now not because I’m waiting for him, but simply because I haven’t met the right person yet. When I do, I might even have a whirlwind marriage."

"What if one day Haohao’s dad comes back for you, would you forgive him?"

Pei Yinong had contemplated this hypothetical countless times, from initial hatred, to later longing, to subsequent disappointment and even despair. Pei Yinong shook her head, "No, if he returns, I won’t hide the fact that Haohao is his son, because I can’t deprive Haohao of his right to his father’s love. But I won’t hand Haohao over to him. Haohao is the child I carried for ten months and raised on my own; allowing Haohao to recognize him is already the biggest concession I am willing to make."

Hearing this, a glint flashed through Jiang Chenxi’s eyes; he changed the topic, "You’re heading back to Lin City tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah, but I’ll be back at the end of the month; Brother Jun Yu is getting engaged."

Jiang Chenxi had also received Shen Junyu’s engagement invitation, "I didn’t expect Jun Yu to be the first one to get engaged after Hengyi among our group of friends."

"So you should hurry up, too." Pei Yinong teased, and Jiang Chenxi responded with a silent, amused smile.

When Pei Yinong and her group finished, Shen Qinglan and her group were still eating. Pei Yinong went over to take Little Douding away, but the little guy refused to leave, "Mommy, you go on your date with Uncle Jiang. I won’t be the third wheel; I’ll stay with Aunt."

Pei Yinong glared at him. The child was becoming more and more outspoken.

"Cousin, let Haohao stay with me for now. I’ll send him back in the afternoon. You go ahead if you’re busy," Shen Qinglan offered.

Pei Yinong did have things to do in the afternoon, and since Shen Qinglan had suggested it, she agreed, "In that case, Haohao will be in your care. You can hand him over to my mom in the afternoon, or I can come to pick him up in the evening."

Shen Qinglan nodded, and Little Douding waved at his mom, "Mommy, you better hurry; Uncle Jiang is already waiting for you."

Pei Yinong cast an annoyed glance at her son and walked away.