Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
When Auntie Chubby noticed the two little girls who were following behind Xue An, she immediately fell in love with the adorable angels.
“What pretty little girls. Little An, are they…?”
“They’re my daughters!” replied Xue An with a smile.
“So pretty! And so cute!” The creases on Auntie Chubby’s face deepened as she smiled.
“Nanny!” Xue Xiang and Xue Nian chorused in saccharine tones.
The way they addressed her as “Nanny” nearly brought Auntie Chubby to tears. She opened a drawer promptly and grabbed a handful of dried fruits each for Xue Xiang and Xue Nian.
“Which one of you is the oldest and which is the youngest?”
That always seemed to be the first question people asked when they met the twins.
Xue Xiang giggled and said, “The one standing beside the big sister is the little sister!”
Xue Nian chimed in, “The one standing beside the little sister is the big sister!”
Auntie Chubby laughed so hard that tears came out of her eyes. “What clever little angels!”
At that point, the remaining customers had been politely asked to leave by Mr. Xie. Then, Mr. Xie went into the kitchen and began cooking up a storm.
That was when Auntie Chubby took notice of Tang Xuan’er and Fan Mengxue as well.
Auntie Chubby was visibly impressed as soon as she saw their faces.
She dragged Xue An far away from the girls and whispered to him, “Little An, which one of them is your wife?”
Xue An didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Neither!”
“What? What happened between you and your wife, An Yan?” Auntie Chubby asked in astonishment.
Xue An let out a small sigh. “Auntie Chubby, An Yan is alive and well. She’s just a little busy right now, so she couldn’t come. Those two are my friends!”
Auntie Chubby looked slightly skeptical.
Seeing as there were no more outsiders in the restaurant, Fan Mengxue took off her face mask.
Auntie Chubby’s eyes widened when she saw her face.
“Isn’t… Isn’t she…”
Fan Mengxue laughed cordially. “That’s right, Auntie. I’m Fan Mengxue!”
Auntie Chubby was in a daze.
“Are you really Fan Mengxue, the television star?”
Fan Mengxue nodded with a smile.
Auntie Chubby was at a loss for words.
When she had first laid eyes on Xue An years ago, she knew he wasn’t a run-of-the-mill guy, but she definitely hadn’t expected to see him four years later, surrounded by two of the most gorgeous women she’d ever seen.
One of them was even a star who appeared regularly on television.
At that moment, Fan Mengxue and Tang Xuan’er rolled up their sleeves, tied up their hair, and went into the kitchen to help.
Suddenly, a loud clang came from the kitchen.
When Mr. Xie saw Fan Mengxue and Tang Xuan’er in the kitchen while he was busy cooking, his heart skipped a beat, and he accidentally dropped the spatula on the ground.
“Mr. Xie, let me help you!” Fan Mengxue said warmly.
Meanwhile, Tang Xuan’er was cutting and cleaning the vegetables with incredible dexterity.
Just like that, Mr. Xie was ousted from his own kitchen.
Outside the kitchen, Mr. Xie remained stuck in a daze.
It wasn’t until Auntie Chubby knocked him on the head exasperatedly that Mr. Xie snapped out of his trance.
“What’s the matter? Never seen pretty girls before?”
“No, no. I was just thinking; why does that girl look so familiar?”
“How is she not familiar? Isn’t she your favorite actress, Fan Mengxue?”
Mr. Xie looked at her, aghast. “She is? I thought she looked like her!”
“What did you think? Did you expect any less from our Little An?” said Auntie Chubby, bursting with pride.
In no time, the table had been laid out with all sorts of dishes.
Just the look and smell of the dishes were enough to make one’s mouth water.
Mr. Xie tasted it and gave them a thumbs up.
“You’ve got skills!”
Fan Mengxue smiled lightly.
She’d been living independently ever since she was little. Naturally, she’d long become proficient in the kitchen.
After she became a celebrity, she’d even sought out pointers from famous chefs. Now, her cooking had surpassed even that of head chefs in hotels.
Meanwhile, Tang Xuan’er had carved two rabbits out of carrots and given one each to Xue Xuang and Xue Nian.
Impressed by the lifelike little rabbits, Mr. Xie exclaimed, “Great knife skills!”
Tang Xuan’er blushed and lowered her eyes.
Her knife skills had been born out of her love for various handicrafts, which she’d taught herself.
Especially since An Yan’s departure, she’d taken up the responsibility of feeding and caring for the two little girls. Oftentimes, she’d make little trinkets by herself and sell them outside.
Surprisingly, they sold quite well.
Mr. Xie decided to pull out all the stops and brought out a bottle of wine that he’d had for many years.
“Come, Little An, let’s drink to our hearts’ content tonight!”
Auntie Chubby shot Mr. Xie a disapproving look. “Drinking is all you ever think about. If you get Little An drunk, who’s going to take the ladies home?”
Her condemnation left Mr. Xie feeling embarrassed.
But Xue An beamed. “Auntie Chubby, don’t worry. I’ll drink a little bit with Uncle Xie. It’ll be fine!”
Xue An sounded more convincing than Mr. Xie, and Auntie Chubby nodded. “It’s not that I like to lord it over Uncle Xie, but his health isn’t getting any better. Yet he keeps drinking!”
Suddenly, Xue An was struck by an idea. “Uncle Xie, give me your hand!”
“What for?” said Mr. Xie as he reached out his hand.
Xue An pressed his hand against the artery in Mr. Xie’s wrist, sensing his Spleen Energy.
After a short while, he lifted his hand. “Auntie Chubby, Mr. Xie is perfectly fine. It’s just that years of hard work have taken their toll on his body. Later, I’ll prepare some medicine for you and Uncle Xie. I guarantee both of you will live well into your hundreds!”
Mr. Xie cheered joyfully. “Little An, you know medicine, too?”
“I’m alright with the simple stuff!”
Xue An decided he was going to rustle up some medicinal herbs and make Core Reinforcement Pills for Auntie Chubby, Uncle Xie, Xuan’er, and the rest.
Although it wouldn’t grant them immortality, it wouldn’t have any problem extending their lifespan to 200 years!
As everyone sat down at the table, something didn’t feel quite right to Xue An. “Auntie Chubby, where’s Jingjing? Isn’t she here?”
As soon as the name was mentioned, Auntie Chubby’s face was filled with grief.
Mr. Xie let out a long, hard sigh. “Don’t talk about that useless girl!”
“What happened?”
“Ever since she started high school, Jingjing has become a completely different person. She started dressing provocatively and mingling with a bunch of sleazy guys. Because of that, I’ve beaten her a few times, but she never learns her lesson,” said Auntie Chubby, her face laced with sadness.
“Okay, that’s enough. Today is a joyous occasion. Forget about her.” Mr. Xie’s face darkened as he tried to change the subject.
Xie Jingjing was Mr. Xie’s daughter. The couple had always wanted a daughter of their own, and when they finally had one at ripe old ages, Mr. Xie doted on her.
Xue An recalled the first time he had stepped into the restaurant and how Xie Jingjing had pestered him all the time. She’d just started junior high then.
Back then, Xie Jingjing had a clean student haircut. When she smiled, her eyes turned into crescents. She was very cute.
At one point, Xie Jingjing would jokingly tell Xue An, “Brother An, when I grow up, I want to find a boyfriend just like you!”
Although it had been three thousand years, those memories still lingered in Xue An’s mind.
“Come, Uncle Xie! Let’s drink!” Xie An raised his cup respectfully and toasted to Uncle Xie.
As Uncle Xie took a huge swig of wine, all the sadness and sorrow on his face dissolved.
Right at that moment, the shutter door, which had been closed, was lifted again. A girl sporting a tight-fitting miniskirt, pigtails, and bright red lipstick entered the restaurant.