Because it was raining, the sky got dark earlier than usual.
He Jinxuan finished work with his colleagues and, after briefly discussing some tasks with them, packed his things and headed to the cafeteria.
The head cook saw him holding four lunch boxes, "Director He, why are you getting so many dishes today?"
He Jinxuan simply said he was bringing them for others, ordered two identical sets of four dishes, bought some buns and steamed buns, packed them in two mesh bags, and quickly walked out of the cafeteria.
Nearby, several girls were eating at a table close to the entrance. After He Jinxuan left, one of the young girls nudged the girl next to her, "Xiujun, actually Director He is more reliable than that guy from the Li family. He’s still single, and the Li family looks down on you anyway. You might as well reconsider Director He."
Luo Xiujuan withdrew her gaze, "Bai Shan, stop talking nonsense. What do you take me for? I’m still good with Li Jiang."
The girl named Bai Shan internally scoffed, "Weren’t you just saying last time that the Lijia treats you badly, always complaining about this and that? Life should be about comfort, and you two aren’t even married yet. Imagine how exhausting it would be if you got married."
Luo Xiujuan was somewhat displeased, "Bai Shan, I was just venting to you on a bad day, and you took it seriously. Who doesn’t have some quarrels when dating? You seem almost eager for us to break up."
Bai Shan, feeling like Luo Xiujuan embarrassed her in front of others, retorted, "How ungrateful you are! I spoke as a friend, but maybe I overstepped my boundaries. Alright, fine!"
Shu Yue’er, observing the two arguing, intervened, "Alright, alright, do you know where we are? I don’t want to embarrass myself with you all here."
Only Jiang Meihua, a girl who hadn’t spoken, looked thoughtfully towards the entrance, then turned back to her meal after a brief pause on Luo Xiujuan’s face.
He Jinxuan, with his long legs, walked rapidly. Due to the heavy rain, the kindergarten was closed for a few days, so he had to deliver food home to his two nephews.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Ye Sili holding an umbrella and working with a small shovel by the fence, "Sili, what are you doing?"
Ye Sili stood up, seeing his uncle return, "Uncle, there’s water accumulating in the yard. I saw Uncle Xie opening a channel by the courtyard earlier, so the water can flow out into the alley."
He Jinxuan quickly pulled the child back into the house and handed him a towel, "Dry yourself off, I’ll take care of it later."
Ye Sili didn’t argue, "Uncle, is Sister Xinyan done with her exam today?"
He Jinxuan went to fetch the lunch boxes while replying, "Yes, she should be back soon."
The little one, Ye Siyan, heard his uncle, "Now Sister can play with us, right?"
He said this while jumping up and down.
He Jinxuan laughed, "Are you that happy?"
Ye Siyan made a face at his uncle, "Yeah, previously I wanted to go, but uncle wouldn’t let me. Now that Sister doesn’t have to study, she can play with us."
A while ago, the two little ones often wanted to visit Yu Xinyan’s small courtyard, but He Jinxuan, fearing they would disturb her studying, told them they couldn’t go until their sister finished the big exam.
After saying this, Ye Siyan looked a bit troubled, "But it’s always raining, so Sister can’t take us fishing."
He Jinxuan raised his hand and lightly knocked on his little nephew’s head, "You’re craving again, aren’t you?"
Afterward, he went out to fetch a basin of water, "Okay, little kids like you think about too much stuff. Wash your hands and get ready to eat."
When the two children finished washing their hands, he went out to empty the water, opening a channel by the courtyard fence, allowing the water inside to flow out quickly. He settled the two children, "You eat first; I’m going out for a while. Don’t play with water in the yard, be careful not to catch a cold."
Ye Sili looked at his uncle, "Uncle, you haven’t eaten yet."
He Jinxuan grabbed a steamed bun and quickly ate it, "Alright, you eat first, Sili, watch your brother."
Tossing the remaining mesh bag into a cloth bag, he then left the house; by now the bus for picking up exam candidates should’ve returned.