Chapter 135: Not Waiting for Her on Purpose

“What’s wrong?”

Bo Qingshan was nibbling on a half-empty bag of chips, generously offering the opening to Nan Jiaojiao, then hesitated and brought it back, his little face drooping in a woeful pout, “Sister Jiaojiao, it’s been a week since we last met, and the first thing you ask about is Third Uncle.”

Nan Jiaojiao took a deep breath, “When have I cared about him?”

“Just asking, isn’t that allowed?”

“But you have, you didn’t even ask if I’m okay.”

Nan Jiaojiao narrowed her eyes, looked at him for a while, and then silently took out an acupuncture needle.

Bo Qingshan drew his legs in, hiding into the sofa, instinctively covering the back of his neck; he remembered the last time Nan Jiaojiao poked him there, and he turned mute.

“I was wrong.” He gave in immediately.

Nan Jiaojiao stuck a needle in the sole of his foot and asked as if it was an afterthought: “I noticed he’s wearing casual clothes.

Is he not working today?”

“He is, when has my Third Uncle ever rested?

Even while eating breakfast, he’s capable of making several phone calls, busy as a bee.”

But he was clearly at home, waiting for her, wasn’t he?

After positioning the needles properly, Nan Jiaojiao sat aside to play games.

Bo Qingshan chirped and chattered at her, talking about this and that, especially when it came to his tutors, suddenly his brow knitted, his eyes not their usual self; he didn’t curse or complain, but there was a slight arrogance in his demeanor, as if he didn’t quite respect the tutors’ teaching methods.

Nan Jiaojiao would listen occasionally, and only when her hands grew tired, she would get up and walk about.

She caught sight of the only photo frame on the desk.

“Who’s this?”

Bo Qingshan glanced over, “My sister, Qianqian, my Fourth Uncle’s daughter.”

In the entire room, not a single photo with his parents nor any solo pictures, but there was this one photo of his cousin.

“I don’t like taking photos with others, but Qianqian does.

She wanted to, so I accompanied her for the photo.”

Bo Qingshan stuffed another chip into his mouth, chewing absent-mindedly, and glanced at her, seemingly with something to say, but he held back.

Nan Jiaojiao sensed it but didn’t probe further.

She checked the time and said, “I’m going to step out for some fresh air.”

As she left the bedroom, she happened to meet Auntie Wu carrying a bowl of fish maw soup upstairs.

“I was thinking of coming up later to disturb you, but the Old Lady said the soup would be cold and not as tasty, so she told me to bring it to you while it’s hot.

I added a few red dates in there, good for replenishing blood and energy.

When you arrived this morning, the Old Lady noticed you looked off; did you stay up late?”

Auntie Wu smiled kindly, and Nan Jiaojiao, not wanting to hurt her feelings, took the soup, which was in an insulated container, and so didn’t feel hot to the touch.

“Where’s Grandma?”

“In the backyard, playing with Xiao Ba.”

Auntie Wu’s expression darkened slightly, hinting at unsaid words, “Now, Miss Nan, enjoy your soup, I’ll go look for the Old Lady.”

“Alright.”

Nan Jiaojiao watched Auntie Wu go, then headed to the extended terrace on the second floor, where she removed the lid, stirred with the spoon, and blew on a spoonful to cool it.

Unfortunately, from this angle, she could clearly see Bo Yanching and Kang Xiangyue by the fountain.

The two were chatting and laughing merrily.

Bo Yanching was looking down slightly, his face expressionless, but not impatient.

So, he wasn’t at home waiting for her instead of going to work.

The Old Lady didn’t like Kang Xiangyue and preferred to avoid her, playing with the parrot in the backyard.

Yet she didn’t send her away either.

Kang Xiangyue had free access to the Bo Family’s home, a privilege that wouldn’t exist without someone’s permission.

Nan Jiaojiao stood there, finished a bowl of soup in silence, then went downstairs and brought the bowl back to the kitchen.

As she turned around, she spotted two bugs on the floor, let out a low cry of surprise, and ran out of the kitchen, bumping straight into Bo Yanching.

Seeing that she couldn’t stop in time, she simply jumped onto him and clung to his body.