"Understood!"
"Uncle Shen, I’ll head to the cafeteria first."
The disappointment in Zhou Yu’s eyes flickered briefly, but then he waved goodbye to Shen Qiushan with a cheerful smile.
This chubby kid really has some tricks up his sleeve!
Shen Qiushan silently mused to himself.
"Uncle Shen, I heard you’re treating me to a meal!"
At this moment, Luo Yao came out of the classroom with her arm linked with Shen Yanran’s. Her lips were slightly upturned, a bright smile hanging on her charming face, reminiscent of the first cherry blossom blooming in spring, soft and tender.
I have to admit, my boy has good taste.
Luo Yao is definitely an outstanding contender in the cute girl category!
"Hmm, what do you want to eat?"
Shen Qiushan nodded with a smile.
"How about hotpot?"
"Yanran also wants hotpot!"
Luo Yao said openly, without any hesitation.
"When did I ever say I wanted hotpot!"
Shen Yanran decisively denied, thinking to herself that hotpot was too expensive. A meal for four would probably cost around two hundred yuan.
Today wasn’t a special occasion; there was no need for it.
Besides, her father might be secretly munching on steamed buns for lunch; she couldn’t be as thoughtless as her brother Shen Yixiao!
"You said it at noon..."
Luo Yao mumbled quietly.
"Hotpot it is!"
Shen Qiushan made the decision right away. He could roughly guess what was on his daughter’s mind. Compared to his son Shen Yixiao, this daughter of his was more sensible.
Of course, it might also have something to do with girls maturing earlier.
The three of them left the teaching building and headed straight to the gymnasium.
After training, most athletic students would take a shower in the locker room before changing and coming out.
So, athletic students often came out of the gym a bit later.
Shen Yixiao was the same.
On the way to the gym, Shen Qiushan pondered about getting the two kids a communication tool, otherwise, it was really inconvenient.
However, the current stage was definitely not suitable for them to use phones, which were seen as all-encompassing harmful devices.
So, he needed a communication tool that could contact them in real-time without too many entertainment features.
A smartwatch!!
Shen Qiushan suddenly thought of the smartwatch that "Little Potato" wore on his wrist every day.
This gadget not only allowed for real-time contact, but also enabled him to track the kids’ location at all times, and after activating the class mode, it could only make calls and send messages.
Just exactly what Shen Qiushan needed.
Yes, it’s decided!
Shen Qiushan made up his mind.
At that moment, the synchronized sound of reciting words echoed from the gymnasium.
Equality!
equality!
e-q-u-a-l-i-t-y!!
...
"These athletic students are working too hard!"
Luo Yao couldn’t help but exclaim.
"Dad, did you really agree to compete with them?"
Shen Yanran turned to look at her dad.
"Yes, I did."
Shen Qiushan nodded with a smile, "If competing with me helps improve their English scores, don’t you think that’s a good thing?"
"For them, it is a good thing."
"But if you lose, won’t it be embarrassing?"
Shen Yanran curiously asked.
After all, adults are concerned about their face.
If he lost to a group of kids, it might be hard to save face.
"As long as you don’t think your dad embarrassed you, then it’s not a problem."
Shen Qiushan shrugged lightly.
"Of course, I don’t think it’s embarrassing."
"But if you win, Dad, I’ll be even prouder of you!"
"Go for it~"
Shen Yanran playfully threw a fist, intending to have a father-daughter fist bump.
They had done this many times before.
Shen Qiushan understood her intention and was about to complete the gesture with his daughter when a tall, brawny girl suddenly appeared and completed the fist bump on behalf of Shen Qiushan.
Then she shouted towards Shen Qiushan, "Uncle Shen, go for it!"
"I believe in you!"
"Uh, who are you??"
Shen Qiushan looked at the girl who suddenly sprang out, completely dumbfounded.
"Uncle Shen, my name is Zhao Dongmei."
"Just like Shen Yixiao, I’m also part of the school athletic team."
"I’ve won the city middle school sports meet shot put championship!"
Zhao Dongmei, holding a 4kg shot put in her left hand, proudly introduced herself.
"Impressive!"
Shen Qiushan gave a thumbs up, while silently thinking to himself: This girl looks a little bull-headed!
Just then, a group of athletic students started coming out of the gym one after another.
The group was still discussing next week’s competition as they walked out.
They soon spotted their "enemy" Shen Qiushan from afar.
"Ah Xiao, your father is waiting for you, isn’t he?"
Gao Bin looked towards Shen Yixiao, who was at the back of the group.
"He probably is."
Chatting with Wang Yunpeng, Shen Yixiao looked up and immediately spotted his dad and girlfriend.
And his sister.
Shen Yixiao quickly ran a few steps forward, "Dad, are you guys waiting for me?"
"Waiting for you to have lunch."
"Let’s go, we’re having hotpot!"
Shen Qiushan waved his hand.
"Hotpot?"
"That sounds great!"
Shen Yixiao immediately broke into a smile, then winked at his girlfriend Luo Yao by his side as a form of greeting.
And so, the "family of four" walked towards the school gate with laughter and chatter under the watchful eyes of the athletic students.
Watching their backs, Wang Yunpeng felt a bit melancholy, as he too wished to be part of their group.
After all, the spot next to Shen Yanran was still open.
Unfortunately, he had to go home for dinner after school, otherwise, he might have shamelessly tagged along.
"Full Score Hotpot."
It was likely named due to its proximity to the school, as the owner created a "little tip," using "full score" to name the hotpot restaurant.
This clever marketing tactic indeed worked well, as many students would come to check in and have a "full score hotpot" before their exams.
The four of them found a window-side seat.
Shen Qiushan and his son Shen Yixiao sat on one side, while Shen Yanran sat opposite with her "daughter-in-law" Luo Yao.
Shen Qiushan naturally left the task of ordering to the three kids.
Shen Yanran sensibly ordered some vegetables and a small amount of meat.
However, that rascal Shen Yixiao complained that there wasn’t enough meat and ordered two more plates of it.
Luo Yao then added a portion of her favorite tofu skin on top of the previous orders!
While waiting for food, Shen Yixiao and Luo Yao went to the self-service area to get some fruits and snacks.
Shen Yanran quietly said, "Dad, isn’t this a bit too lavish? This meal alone would cost over two hundred!"
"No worries, we’re not short on money now."
"Eat to your heart’s content!"
Shen Qiushan waved his hand with a laugh.
"Dad, you never used to take money from Grandpa. What’s different this time?"
Actually, Shen Yanran wanted to ask this question yesterday, but she never found the right moment.
"I’ve come to terms with it!"
"After all, he’s your grandpa. Just consider the money as a loan for now, to be repaid later..."
Shen Qiushan casually replied.
But right then, Shen Yanran suddenly exclaimed, "Hey? Second Aunt!!"
"What a coincidence!"
Following his daughter’s gaze, Shen Qiushan spotted a familiar yet distant figure.
She had a neat short haircut, with slightly inward-turned ends, reflecting a chestnut hue in the sunset; a few strands of hair casually rested on her forehead, perfectly framing her smooth and full brow.
Her eyes, like clear springs, were pure without any hint of impurity.
At this moment, she was also looking at Shen Qiushan through the hotpot restaurant’s glass window, but her delicate face showed no emotional fluctuations.