After lunch, Lin Chan directly sent He Zhilan back to her dorm. However, as soon as Zhilan entered, she froze, noticing that all of Fang Fang’s things were gone.
Zhilan assumed that Fang Fang had quit her job, but she only found out later when she went to work at the restaurant that Fang Fang had moved to another dorm. Now, Zhilan was the only person left in the room.
About this, Zhilan did not ask Fang Fang, after all, Fang Fang has her own freedom.
On her first day back at work after the New Year, Zhilan ran into a familiar face at the restaurant.
"What a coincidence, Senior Zhou." He Zhilan greeted Zhou Hongjin and glanced at the lady who was with him. Their gazes met and Zhilan simply smiled at her.
"This is my mother." Zhou Hongjin introduced, "Mom, this is my junior from school, she’s been working here during the winter break."
Although Zhou’s mother’s smile was slight, it was very friendly. She gave a slight nod and smiled at Zhilan, ordering two cups of coffee and a dessert.
After Zhilan went away, the face of the elegant lady transformed instantly, her sharp eyes staring straight at Zhou Hongjin across the table, she gave a sly smile, "Is this the one you finally fell for, but who ended up getting married? Good taste, this girl has clear eyes, not a crafty person. She’s beautiful, well-educated, and most importantly, hard-working. I wouldn’t mind having her as my daughter-in-law, it’s a shame you met her too late."
Of course, Zhou Hongjin could hear the teasing in his mother’s words. His mother and his advisor were good friends, how could he keep anything from school from her?
Since it was the afternoon during the New Year period, there weren’t many customers. When Zhilan brought the coffee to them, Zhou’s mother invited Zhilan to sit and chat.
Seeing that Zhilan was a bit nervous, Zhou Hongjin said, "If it’s not convenient for you, go ahead to your work. My mom tends to be impulsive like a child, you can ignore her."
"Oh, please! Do you talk about your mom in front of her?" Zhou’s mother rolled her eyes at Hongjin, then jovially said to Zhilan, "I won’t bite, just sit and chat. Anyway, you’re free now, right? Let me tell you, I am a physiognomist, believe it or not!"
Zhilan was confused, why did Zhou Hongjin’s mother seem so different from what Gu En had described? Gu En had said Zhou Hongjin’s mother was a stern personality who couldn’t take a joke, but the Zhou’s mother in front of her seemed as cheerful as Mrs. Tan.
Seeing that Zhilan didn’t move, Zhou’s mother stood up and pulled Zhilan beside her, saying: "Don’t you doubt me, thinking that at this age, the state says to trust in science and not believe in superstition! But, my maternal ancestors were physiognomists, although some elders lost their lives and many skills were lost during the reform, I still know the basics."
Zhilan was helpless and was pressed down on the seat before she could react. Zhou’s mother took Zhilan’s hands to read her palm and was gentle when she noticed her injured hand. She looked at her left hand, then her right, and then at her face closely for a few minutes, before finally speaking slowly.