Her expression was a bit indifferent, looking somewhat unhappy.
Ning Youguang pondered for a moment and said, "I’ll contact dad tonight to see what he’s up to."
Ming Jinxin finally smiled, "I’ll go check if the squirrel fish is ready."
This was a dish Ning Youguang ordered.
"Have another strawberry." She picked the biggest, reddest one from the plate and handed it to her.
Ming Jinxin took it with a smile, eating as she walked to the kitchen.
"Dinner will be ready in half an hour," Ming Jinxin sat next to Ning Youguang, "I saw your boyfriend at a party last time."
"Oh, he told me," Ning Youguang said, "was it last week’s charity dinner?"
"Yes," Ming Jinxin laughed, "he was at the table next to mine and suddenly came over to greet me. At first, I didn’t realize who he was. It wasn’t until he said his name was Shi Wangyue that I remembered. Isn’t it a small world?"
"It sure is." Ning Youguang laughed too, "He told me about it as soon as he got home that night, said he had a long chat with you, learned a lot, and mentioned that you are a very elegant and capable lady who he greatly admires."
"He told you that night?" Ming Jinxin asked, puzzled, "How did he tell you?"
"Ah..." Ning Youguang quickly thought on her feet.
She absolutely couldn’t tell Aunt that she moved in with her boyfriend after only a few months of dating. "On a WeChat video call."
"I see." Ming Jinxin was reassured, "Seems like you two communicate very intimately."
"Yes," Ning Youguang said, "he loves sharing his things with me, chatting on and on. Sometimes I feel he talks a bit too much."
"Really?" Ming Jinxin was surprised, "He seemed quite polite and reserved around me, a little distant with others, not like someone who talks a lot."
"That evening, many people came up to greet him, and he just responded politely without saying much. I didn’t expect him to be so chatty with you."
Ming Jinxin couldn’t stop laughing.
"Quite a contrast, right?" Ning Youguang also found it amusing, "Are men different at home compared to when they’re out?"
Ming Jinxin thought for a moment, "Maybe, your dad is a bit like that too."
Then she laughed again and said, "I really enjoyed our conversation. I found many of his views very interesting, and his approach to problems quite novel. He’s very keen on market trends and has a good strategic perspective."
"His logical thinking and intuition are both very strong," Ning Youguang said, "He’s serious, hardworking, and diligent."
Ming Jinxin smiled with a deeper meaning, "He’s even better looking than I imagined."
Aunt Ming had always had a thing for good looks, and Ning Youguang was well aware of that.
Thus, she wasn’t surprised that Shi Wangyue won her favor.
"He’s been good looking since he was a kid," she said, "I knew him back in kindergarten and he’s never hit an awkward phase."
"Oh wow," Ming Jinxin teased, "so he really is your boyfriend now, huh? You like everything about him."
Ning Youguang toned down her smile, "It’s because I know him so well."
Your own child is always the best.
...
At lunchtime.
Ming Chao brought Zhao Sui to the house.
Ming Jinxin happily asked, "Why didn’t Tangtang come?"
Zhao Sui glanced discreetly at Ning Youguang sitting in the living room, "He’s off on a shoot, not home."
"Not home?" Ming Jinxin said in surprise, "I ran into Xiao Qian in the elevator this morning, so I assumed Tangtang was home too."
"Is Xiao Qian home?" Zhao Sui looked surprised as well, "I didn’t know, I contacted him this morning and he said he was on set."
Normally, as Zhou Tang’s personal assistant, Xiao Qian accompanied him everywhere.
Maybe he had some other things to take care of at home today.
Ming Jinxin thought to herself.
"Come and eat," she invited both of them to sit.
...
During the meal, everyone chatted casually.
"I feel like my hair has grown a lot lately. The pills you made for me worked wonders. Could you make some more for me when you have time?" Ming Jinxin said happily to Ning Youguang.
"Sure thing." Ning Youguang took an avocado slice handed over by Ning Youyu, "Thanks, Xiaoyu."
"You’re welcome." Ning Youyu smiled brightly but quickly covered his mouth, "I don’t like salty avocado."
Ning Youyu was in the stage of losing his baby teeth, with one of his front teeth gone but not yet replaced, leaving a gap when he smiled.
Seeing him like this, Ning Youguang couldn’t help but giggle, "Good thing I love it."
"That’s why I love eating with sister the most," Ning Youyu said, forgetting about the gap in his teeth, "Sister, can I have some of that sweet and sour fish?"
The sweet and sour squirrel fish was right in front of Ning Youguang. The siblings shared similar tastes, and Ning Youyu enjoyed it too.
Ming Chao didn’t touch such dishes at all.
"Of course."
Ning Youguang picked out a tender, boneless part of the fish belly and served it to Ning Youyu.
"Squirrel fish is the best dish," Ning Youyu said, thoroughly enjoying it.
Zhao Sui, sitting next to Ming Chao, chimed in at the right moment, "Does little sister Youyou also treat hair loss?"
"Her Traditional Chinese Medicine skills are excellent," Ming Chao explained to him.
Ming Chao rarely praised anyone, so if he said something was "excellent," it was indeed exceptional.
Zhao Sui was astonished, "Why didn’t you ever mention it before?"
"Huh, we never mentioned it?" Ming Jinxin thought aloud, "Oh, you never brought up this topic before, so we forgot to say it. Youyou’s maternal grandpa is a TCM master in Jincheng, she learned medicine from him since she was little. Her medical skills are really good."
Zhao Sui curiously asked Ning Youguang, "Why didn’t you become a TCM doctor?"
"I prefer healing people’s hearts to healing their bodies," Ning Youguang replied.
Zhao Sui nodded admiringly, and after pondering for a bit, he asked, somewhat embarrassed, "Um..."
Everyone turned to look at him, making him blush. He finally bit the bullet and said, "Um, Ning family sister, could you prescribe me something for hair loss too? I feel like my hairline is really receding."
"..."
Everyone in the Ning family looked on.
Feeling a bit awkward, Zhao Sui touched his head in embarrassment.
"And alopecia." He pointed to one side of his head, "I bought lots of anti-hair loss shampoos, but they haven’t worked at all. It’s driving me nuts; I feel like going to 315 to report those companies for false advertising."
His handsome face was full of frustration, with complaints in every word he said.
The Ning family, although understanding his pain and frustration...
— Sorry, but it was really hard not to laugh!