I never felt that President Sheng was here to wreck this family.
“Xingxing.”
Sheng Luzhi looked up at Chu Xingxing, his gaze sincere and tinged with a smile.
He had switched the suit jacket draped over his left arm to his right hand, holding it casually, as if he didn’t care about wrinkling a six-figure suit.
Chu Xingxing stood higher up. From this angle, she could look down at both Sheng Luzhi and Jiang Luze.
Only then did she notice that the bottom of the cliff valley was covered in blooming cherry blossoms.
A cool breeze swept through, lifting the pink-white petals. Along with the faint scent of cherry blossoms, Chu Xingxing caught a familiar note of vetiver.
Just moments ago, Sheng Luzhi had seemed like he’d been “photoshopped” into the scenery—his aura clashed with the romantic yet dangerous little town of Ronda.
She wasn’t sure if it was because the last time she’d met Sheng Luzhi at SAP International School, they’d also been under a canopy of cherry blossoms, or if the vetiver scent had earned him some extra points.
Anyway, with that lively expression on his face, Sheng Luzhi no longer looked out of place at all.
“President Sheng, what brings you here?”
Jiang Luze slowly and deliberately wrapped the camera strap around his slender arm. Only after he finished did he look up at Sheng Luzhi.
His pretty phoenix eyes were smiling, but there was a hint of “protecting my turf” in them.
[Ha ha ha ha ha! The way “Little Fox” wraps the camera strap around his arm—why does it feel so murderous? Like someone wrapping their hands before a boxing match!]
[Fox really is a fierce beast. Suddenly I feel Jiang Luze’s presence is pretty powerful too.]
[Fight, fight, fight! (popcorn face)]
“Ah Ze,” Sheng Luzhi didn’t call him “Designer Jiang” anymore, clearly putting him back in the friend category. “I was in Barcelona for a meeting, so I stopped by to see Grandma.”
Jiang Luze let out a light laugh, maintaining perfect composure. “Then you should’ve gone up to the bridge. How could Grandma Sheng and Auntie be down here in the valley?”
Sheng Luzhi smiled and said, “I saw you guys from the helicopter. I thought Ah Ze might need help taking photos of Xingxing. You know I’ve studied photography.”
“Is that so? I’m wondering…”
Jiang Luze lifted his chin slightly, fixing Sheng Luzhi with a scrutinizing stare. “Isn’t it for a simpler reason than that? I may not have studied photography, but isn’t my sensitivity to color and composition better than yours?”
[“Little Fox” is ruthless! Boo hoo hoo, I misjudged gentle “Little Fox”—he’s totally a “smiling tiger”!]
[Designer Jiang’s combat power is maxed out!]
[Ha ha ha ha, is no one noticing our completely bewildered Xingbao?]
[Xingxing’s eyes have turned into camera lenses, panning left and right + totally clueless ha ha ha ha.]
Chu Xingxing was indeed clueless. She hadn’t picked up on the extra “gunpowder” in the air at all.
She only smelled cherry blossoms and vetiver…
Sheng Luzhi didn’t argue. He shook his head with a smile and said, “If Designer Jiang doesn’t believe me, there’s nothing else I can do. That’s just the truth.”
For this close, childhood friend—the youngest and most favored “little brother” among the older boys—Sheng Luzhi was especially indulgent with Jiang Luze.
He let Jiang Luze “act out,” as long as it didn’t cross any lines, treating him like a younger family member.
Jiang Luze clearly had no intention of letting Sheng Luzhi off easy.
“Little Fox” fiddled with the camera strap, saying offhandedly, “Isn’t it because you’ve never dared to say out loud what you like? So this time, is it another excuse you deliberately came up with, just like when you were a kid?”
[!!! I freaking love this kind of male competition!!!]
[Is “Little Fox” about to expose Sheng Luzhi’s embarrassing childhood stories right in front of Xingxing???]
[Holy crap, isn’t this basically a dating show with two guys fighting over one girl!!!]
[Can President Sheng take this??? If you’re a man, don’t hold back!!!]
Sheng Luzhi didn’t respond, standing calmly at the bottom of the valley.
Behind him was the hundred-meter-tall Ronda Bridge, standing firm like a mountain at his back.
“Xingxing,” Jiang Luze—the master of changing faces—turned to look at Chu Xingxing with the obedient “Little Fox” expression again, all “harmless and innocent.” “Has Grandma Sheng ever told you about what President Sheng was like as a kid?”
“Um…” Chu Xingxing raised her hand to hold down her hat brim. The wind had picked up.
She’d been suddenly put on the spot and shook her head blankly.
Grandma Sheng had only said that when it came to relationships, she’d always taught Ah Zhi to be disciplined and self-respecting, because…
Chastity is a man’s best dowry.
As for other things about Sheng Luzhi’s childhood, Chu Xingxing didn’t remember Grandma Sheng mentioning them.
It might also be because on these two trips, they’d all been revolving around Ms. Wen Xuelan and Grandma Jiang Yao, and Grandma Sheng had always been in a leadership position.
With a leader like a big boss, you naturally show more respect and wouldn’t think to ask about gossip.
Jiang Luze said in his usual gentle tone, “When he was little, he wanted a little pony just like Warm Bro’s. He wanted one so badly, but he was afraid Grandma Sheng would scold him, so he kept telling us he didn’t like ponies at all.
He held it in until upper elementary school, when he had his own money. The first thing he did was get a little pony, and he secretly kept it at the stables. When we found out, he insisted he was keeping it for a friend…”
[Ha ha ha ha, is this the start of a roast battle?]
[“Little Fox” is so cute even when he’s “exposing” someone. Why does it feel like a little brother throwing a tantrum at his big brother?]
[President Sheng, quick, expose “Little Fox’s” embarrassing stories!!! I really want to know if Ah Ze was a naughty baby when he was little!]
“Pfft…” Chu Xingxing burst out laughing. So Sheng Luzhi was that kind of kid—”says no but means yes”?
A little funny, and kind of cute.
From Ms. Wen Xuelan, Chu Xingxing had learned that Wen Han was an overly cautious child who didn’t like trying new things—a bit of a “little fuddy-duddy.”
From Grandma Jiang, she’d learned that “Little Fox” Jiang Luze was a sweet, clingy little clever clogs when he was young.
So far, the person with the biggest contrast from childhood was President Sheng…
“I really was keeping it for a friend.”
Sheng Luzhi shook his head with a faint smile and nodded. “You know the person involved—Wei Jinzhe, who was in the same year as your cousin. I charged five times the price for management fees, and the naming rights were auctioned off separately in the upper grades. The return on investment was very high.”
There was another part of the truth Sheng Luzhi didn’t mention.
He did this to prove to his grandmother that he wasn’t “ruining his ambitions with frivolous pursuits.”
Did he like ponies? He really did.
That little pony had always been well cared for at the stables, with dedicated staff, living like an “emperor.”
It just had a few extra names, that’s all. Anyway, it only recognized Sheng Luzhi as its master.
[Save! Sheng Luzhi had to consider ROI even for keeping a pony in elementary school??? He really—I’m crying. Is Grandma Sheng that strict?! He was just an elementary schooler!]
[You can only say different people have different fates. Since he was raised as a corporate heir, he had to undergo all kinds of training from childhood. There’s no way he could grow up carefree like a normal kid.]
“Ah Zhi had that much business sense even as a kid?”
Chu Xingxing covered her mouth and laughed, almost forgetting that Sheng Luzhi was the future ruthless big boss. She stopped using the respectful “President Sheng” too.
She just thought these two brothers were hilarious together—she could listen to them all night!
Hearing Chu Xingxing call him “Ah Zhi,” Sheng Luzhi couldn’t hide the delight in his eyes. He smiled and asked, “Does Xingxing like ponies?”
“I do. Seems like there’s no animal I don’t like.”
Chu Xingxing nodded, but then shook her head and waved her hands. “But I can’t afford five times the management fee and naming rights. I’m poor, but I’m not a sucker. If you’re looking to fleece someone, President Sheng, don’t look at me…”
Sheng Luzhi smiled helplessly. It was “President Sheng” again.
[Ha ha ha ha ha! Xingxing is so bold!!! So real!!!]
[Xingbao is totally me. If a capital big shot asked me that, I’d also frankly admit I’m broke /doghead]
[Holy crap, I really love Xingxing’s answer. It sounds like a joke, but her attitude is neither servile nor overbearing—it’s a confident answer. Xingxing must be a girl with a rich inner world!]
[Me too, I’m totally a Xingxing fan now!]
Jiang Luze became the only gloomy one.
He hadn’t expected his words to have the opposite effect???
How come after his “exposé,” Xingxing and Ah Zhi were even more natural with each other?
Had he not spoken clearly enough?!
“Sheng Luzhi, don’t change the subject!”
Jiang Luze barely maintained his composure and asked in a muffled voice, “I just don’t get it—is it that hard to express what you like? Is it that hard to just say it openly?”
Sheng Luzhi looked at Jiang Luze the way he looked at Sheng Youshan. Being “questioned” with that slightly accusatory tone didn’t anger him.
“It’s not hard, but it depends on the occasion,” Sheng Luzhi said mildly.
It was hard for Sheng Luzhi not to treat Jiang Luze like a younger brother.
To him, Ah Ze was no different from Sheng Youshan.
No matter what his younger brother or sister said, as long as it wasn’t a matter of principle, he had to be tolerant.
Just then, Sheng Luzhi’s assistant came running over from the helicopter pad, sweat beading on his forehead.
“President Sheng, the camera…” The assistant handed over an R6 Mark II—the only camera they carried for the exhibition.
“Thank you.” Sheng Luzhi took the camera and handed his suit jacket to the assistant, then started adjusting the sharpness and precision.
Jiang Luze was rarely left “speechless.”
But he also knew that when it came to photography skills alone, Sheng Luzhi was indeed far better than him—by who knows how many times.
Not to mention that Ah Zhi’s father was a famous freelance photographer, giving him a genetic advantage. When Sheng Luzhi was in college, he anonymously entered professional photography competitions and won gold awards.
As a “craftsman,” Jiang Luze had to concede to others’ areas of expertise.
He was willing to let Sheng Luzhi take photos for the sake of better showcasing the Saci brand, but he was just annoyed.
Sheng Luzhi adjusted the portrait mode and looked up, saying calmly, “We shouldn’t keep Xingxing waiting up there. Does Ah Ze want to shoot Saci promotional shots?”
“Little Fox” retorted grumpily, “They’re going on Instagram.”
“Let me test the light.” Sheng Luzhi crouched down, completely disregarding the weeds around him.
Jiang Luze also held up his camera, muttering stubbornly, “If you hadn’t come, we would’ve finished shooting already…”
[Ha ha ha ha! I’m charmed by “Little Fox.” Why is he so precious and cute?]
[I really want to pinch Jiang Luze’s cheeks, what’s going on? Is he really 24? He looks so young…]
[People like “Little Fox” who easily immerse themselves in their own world—even though he’s a brand owner, he spends most of his time creating, so he lives more simply and looks younger than his peers.]
[I said it—President Sheng isn’t that much older than him, but President Sheng feels like the big brother.]
“So…” Chu Xingxing looked at the setup and asked hesitantly, “Are we still shooting?”
Sheng Luzhi: “Shooting.”
Jiang Luze: “Shooting!”
Chu Xingxing looked at the lens on the left, the lens on the right, and the two men both crouching down. She said awkwardly, “Then which lens do I look at?”
Sheng Luzhi: “Either one.”
Jiang Luze: “Whatever.”
Chu Xingxing lightly slapped her forehead.
It wasn’t that she was an unprofessional model—it was just that facing such vague instructions was really frustrating.
She simply didn’t look at either lens and gave them her profile.
Then she turned around and gave Sheng Luzhi and Jiang Luze her back.
When she heard both shutter sounds stop, Chu Xingxing quickly jumped down from the rock. “Let’s go, let’s go. The grandmas will get impatient. It’s almost lunchtime.”
Sheng Luzhi patted Jiang Luze’s shoulder. “I’ll edit the photos when I have time and have my assistant email them to you. The SD card has exhibition photos, so I can’t give it to you directly.”
“Got it.”
Although Jiang Luze was annoyed by Sheng Luzhi’s sudden visit, getting a few Saci hard shots meant he couldn’t stay mad at his “big brother.”
“Are you climbing up with us?” Chu Xingxing glanced at Sheng Luzhi’s outfit—dress shirt, suit pants, leather shoes…
Probably can’t climb a mountain in that, right?
Jiang Luze had tried hard to control it, but his tone still had a hint of lemon. “President Sheng can just go back the way he came, right? He came by helicopter, so he can just take the helicopter back up.”
By then, Chu Xingxing had already jumped onto a nearby rock, ready to take a shortcut back to the viewing platform.
She saw Jiang Luze following her up before he’d even finished putting on his camera, and instinctively reached out to give him a hand. “Slow down, it’s a bit steep here…”
Suddenly she remembered that when “Little Fox” was going downhill, he’d seriously told her he wasn’t some delicate guy who couldn’t lift a finger.
Chu Xingxing quietly started to pull her hand back, but before she could fully withdraw it—
A slender, pale hand landed on her forearm, which was wrapped in a silk shirt. The calluses on the fingers from years of using pencils were familiar.
“Thank you for worrying about me, Xingxing.” Jiang Luze curved his pretty phoenix eyes, smiling so brightly his eyes sparkled.
He obediently held onto her arm and climbed up the higher rock.
Chu Xingxing could tell Jiang Luze wasn’t using her for leverage—he was just lightly holding her arm.
Then Jiang Luze turned around and extended his hand to Sheng Luzhi. “If Ah Zhi doesn’t want to go back the way he came, then climb up with us. Slow down, it’s a bit steep here.”
Jiang Luze repeated exactly what Chu Xingxing had just said to him…
Chu Xingxing: ???
That sounded familiar???
[Ha ha ha ha ha! “Little Fox” is full of jealousy!!!]
[Ah! Who gets it, fam—I really love this kind of slightly scheming and “tea-scented” “fox spirit” man!!!]
[Sorry sisters, yesterday I was shipping “Xing Fox,” today I’m shipping “Xing Zhi Sheng Shi.” I mean, a CEO this gentle, elegant, and good at photography is yyds!!!]
[Today the “Xing Fox” faction officially declares war on “Xing Zhi Sheng Shi.” Come on, let’s fight!!!]
Sheng Luzhi handed his camera to his assistant and turned to give a few instructions.
Then, with his expression unchanged, he took a few steps forward, naturally grasped Jiang Luze’s hand, and with a long stride, easily climbed onto the rock.
“Thank you for lending a hand, Ah Ze.” A calm smile hung on Sheng Luzhi’s handsome face.
“Why be so formal with me?”
Jiang Luze was annoyed but couldn’t find fault with Sheng Luzhi.
He just didn’t understand why Sheng Luzhi had been like this since childhood—putting on a “perfect” performance in front of everyone.
As if showing his “weaknesses” or revealing his true feelings was some kind of earth-shattering disaster.
“You’re not going to mooch lunch off us too, are you?” Jiang Luze put away his camera, deliberately exaggerating his tone.
Sheng Luzhi’s tone carried a composure beyond his years. “I’ll say hello to Grandma and then leave.”
“Better be…” Jiang Luze tried hard to hide his happiness.
“When have you ever seen me go back on my word?” Sheng Luzhi said with a smile, his tone clearly that of teasing a child.
Jiang Luze retorted, “How do I know you won’t make an exception?”
“Oh?” Sheng Luzhi nodded slightly. “Then I could consider it…”
Jiang Luze panicked for a moment, afraid that this “big brother” who always kept his word might actually change his mind. “Don’t! President Sheng is busy with a thousand things a day—hurry back to Barcelona for your big meeting!”
That phrase “busy with a thousand things a day” seemed to remind Sheng Luzhi of something, and he chuckled softly.
“President Sheng is thrilled to send you back to work, huh?” Jiang Luze teased.
“No.” Sheng Luzhi shook his head.
“Then what are you happy about?” Jiang Luze asked.
Sheng Luzhi glanced up at Chu Xingxing, who had climbed higher, and said, “It’s a secret.”
“Little Fox” was about to go crazy…
He couldn’t figure out what secret Ah Zhi and Xingxing could possibly have between them!
Chu Xingxing saw that the two tall, long-legged men behind her could help each other, so she stopped accommodating them.
Holding back a laugh, she hopped along like a little antelope that spent its days leaping across cliffs, lightly walking at the front.
These two were really funny.
The more she saw “Little Fox” acting slightly petty, the more she wanted to laugh.
Watching Sheng Luzhi tease “Little Fox” like a child made her even happier.
Chu Xingxing, who had already climbed far ahead of Sheng Luzhi and Jiang Luze, suddenly stopped in her tracks.
She had a revelation!
Well, well, well—Chu Xingxing finally figured out why she loved listening to Sheng Luzhi and Jiang Luze bicker so much.
Those fans in the comments who were shipping her and Cookie’s “Xingxing Cookie” CP so hard—was this how they felt too?!
Could this be the joy of shipping same-sex friendship CPs!!!
“What should we name the CP?”
Chu Xingxing curved her lips, jumped onto a rock, and seriously started considering a CP name for Sheng Luzhi and Jiang Luze…
“Got it!” Chu Xingxing clapped her hands together and looked down at the two young men. She’d thought of a great name—”Ginger Juice CP”!
It’s just… both of them are pretty hot. Very spicy.
—
The three returned to the viewing platform.
Sheng Luzhi kept his promise, said hello to the grandmas, gave Grandma Sheng a few reminders, had a cup of tea with her, and then left.
Because yesterday’s dinner and today’s breakfast had “nourished” them both physically and mentally, the old babies could happily enjoy Western food again, and they even ordered Spain’s signature Sangria fruit wine.
At this lunch in Ronda, everyone regained their fighting spirit and ate happily.
After lunch, the grandmas tried Spain’s most common traditional desserts—rice pudding and honey cheese.
The rice pudding here was made to suit Asian tastes perfectly—not too sweet.
Sprinkled with roasted cinnamon powder and fresh lemon zest on top, it had a rich milky flavor, with a thick, chewy texture from the rice grains.
“Using rice as dessert—that’s pretty novel, isn’t it?” Even the well-traveled Ms. Wen Xuelan was impressed.
It wasn’t exactly delicious, but the grandmas found it very novel.
The honey cheese dessert suited the grandmas’ palates even better.
Mel i Mató is actually a Catalan dessert, and this restaurant happened to make it.
The cheese used was a drier, unsalted ricotta-type cheese with a smooth, delicate texture and no gamey smell. Paired with floral honey, nuts, fresh figs, and raspberries, it had a fresh, elegant taste—perfect for afternoon tea.
After enjoying a perfect lunch in the leisurely, beautiful little town, the old babies had also had a little wine and were slightly tipsy.
Basking in the warm sunshine, they were utterly content.
—
On the flight back to Barcelona from Ronda.
Sheng Luzhi used the hour or so to edit photos on his laptop.
Compared to his serious and somewhat distant expression when handling daily work, Sheng Luzhi was completely relaxed while editing.
If you looked closely, the corners of his lips were slightly upturned.
Why did he like Chu Xingxing? Sheng Luzhi had long had his answer.
It wasn’t love at first sight.
It was that after one glance, he could never forget her.
The extreme excitement brought on by that wonderful nerve, the feeling of his heart racing—it was the first time Sheng Luzhi had felt it in his 26 years of living a structured life.
Using work as an excuse to come see Chu Xingxing and take photos for her—he wondered if this counted as the “special favor” Xingxing mentioned?
To Sheng Luzhi, he didn’t really understand the meaning of “special favor.”
In his view, in the relationship values instilled by Grandma Sheng since childhood, there were only two words: “exclusive love.”
He only remembered Chu Xingxing. In his eyes, there was only her.
The assistant, wearing earphones, occasionally glanced at the young President Sheng.
It was rare to see young President Sheng look so soft.
But right now, the assistant had some not-so-good news to tell Sheng Luzhi.
Sheng Luzhi noticed the assistant’s hesitation. He looked up and mouthed, “Speak. What is it?”
The assistant put on a professional smile. The helicopter was too noisy.
He typed on the tablet and respectfully handed it over.
[President Sheng, I’ve adjusted things according to your requirements, but three weeks from now, I really can’t free up a whole week.]
Sheng Luzhi looked up and asked, “How many days at most?”
The assistant held up three fingers. “Three days.”
Then the assistant shook his head rigorously and typed on the tablet.
[Three nights, four days.]
“OK.” Sheng Luzhi nodded. The schedule had been compressed as much as possible—better than he’d expected.
Sheng Luzhi paused, then typed a message on his phone.
[Set aside these three days. Contact Youshan’s school and request one day off for her this Friday, connecting with the weekend.]
“Got it, got it!” The assistant nodded briskly and immediately made arrangements.
—
At the same time.
The guests of “Grandma’s Journey” had already set off again, driving back to Seville.
On the return trip, Jiang Luze had looked up the location of an Asian supermarket in the suburbs of Seville in advance.
They stopped at the Asian supermarket and bought some Chinese vegetables, fruits, meat, and seafood that the old babies liked, planning to cook Chinese food for the grandmas that evening.
[Wow! Ah Ze is so thoughtful!]
[Cheering for the virtuous “Little Fox”!!!]
[“Little Fox” is so meticulous. Looks like he’s going to make a feast for the grandmas and Xingxing again tonight. Super excited!]
They returned to the villa in Seville. Although it was already 7 PM, it was still bright outside.
Jiang Luze turned on the hazard lights and temporarily parked at the street corner.
Chu Xingxing called Abao and the others out to help carry watermelons and cantaloupes.
She and the grandmas also carried the groceries from the Asian supermarket back to the villa.
But just as the old babies and Xingxing returned to the villa, they heard rummaging sounds from the kitchen—clanking and clattering…
Chu Xingxing stepped in front of the grandmas first and mouthed for everyone to stay quiet.
“Could it be a burglar?” Ms. Wen Xuelan was terrified.
“Shh shh shh…” Grandma Jiang Yao covered her mouth to keep her quiet.
Chu Xingxing grabbed the fireplace poker and cleverly hid in the shadows. “What kind of crappy stove is this? The fire won’t catch…”
A middle-aged man with a big belly, wearing a black chef’s uniform, walked out of the kitchen with a frying pan and a troubled expression, letting out a scream like someone had stepped on a cat’s tail. “Holy mother of god!”
“Mommy, he’s Chinese?!” Chu Xingxing’s poker stopped steadily five centimeters from the chef’s head.
[Ha ha ha ha! I’m dying laughing. Does Xingxing have to catch a “thief” everywhere she travels?]
[Xingbao is overly cautious, but whose chef is this?]
[It’s really not Xingxing’s fault for being so nervous. Sudden loud noises in the house are genuinely scary.]
“Ma’am…” The middle-aged man steadied himself on the door handle behind him, his voice trembling as he called out toward behind Chu Xingxing.
“Xingxing, it’s fine. He’s one of us.” Grandma Sheng Shuwen heard the familiar voice and quickly walked over, looking at the middle-aged man in disbelief. “Dawei, why are you here?”
Chu Xingxing slowly lowered the poker.
“Big Sister, isn’t this your family’s head chef?” Ms. Wen Xuelan had sharp eyes.
[Woc, the Sheng family really is loaded! The grandma even brings her chef when she travels!]
[Shocking! Bringing a chef on a trip—this kid really has never seen the world.]
[Mommy, “Grandma’s Journey” is my only way of understanding how the wealthy live.]
“Hello, Sister Lan!” The Sheng family’s head chef, Li Dawei, greeted Ms. Wen Xuelan warmly.
Ms. Wen Xuelan waved happily. “Hello, Dawei! Long time no see. What’s for dinner?”
Then, before the head chef could answer—
Two younger assistant chefs walked out of the kitchen.
They greeted Grandma Sheng Shuwen respectfully. “Hello, Ma’am.”
[!!! It’s not just one head chef—even the assistant chefs came!!!]
[Holy crap, how rich is this family?]
[Sisters, let me just ask—is the Sheng family still hiring? I just checked head chef Li Dawei’s Weibo. He was flown in on a private jet…]
[Grandma Sheng, look at me! Can I come work as a nanny at your house? This kid wants to ride a private jet too, boo hoo hoo.]
[I just found Li Dawei’s Weibo too. A quick Baidu search revealed the highlight—Teacher Li is one of the Ministry of Commerce’s Top Ten Chinese Master Chefs!]
[Sister above, don’t even think about it. For a family at Grandma Sheng’s level, probably only graduates from prestigious household management programs have a chance to work for them.]
“Good,” Grandma Sheng maintained her matriarchal demeanor, her tone questioning. “Why are you here?”
Li Dawei smiled cheerfully. “Young Master Ah Zhi arranged it. He said you and your old sisters were craving Chinese food, and he was worried that Xiao Ze and Miss Chu would be too tired cooking in the kitchen every day, so he brought us over.”
“Ah Zhi is so filial!” Ms. Wen Xuelan gave Grandma Sheng a thumbs up.
Grandma Ai Minli also praised Sheng Luzhi. “Ah Zhi is still so thoughtful. Yesterday he saw we wanted Chinese food, and today he brought the chefs over.”
“Ah Zhi is so considerate,” Grandma Xiao Jiang agreed.
[Even though I know President Sheng didn’t do anything wrong and just wanted the grandmas to eat well, I still feel a bit bad for “Little Fox” and Xingxing who’ve been busy all along. I hope the grandmas will praise Ah Ze and Xingbao more too.]
[Ah, I feel a bit bad for “Little Fox,” but I can’t bring myself to dislike Sheng Luzhi either, boo hoo hoo.]
[Only children make choices. Why can’t adults have both! I never felt President Sheng was here to wreck this family (hiding under a pot lid and running away)]
[Haha! The sister above brought up a new idea—I mean, a throuple isn’t impossible either (covering face and running away)]
[Open your minds, sisters! Why can’t all three be together?]
Chu Xingxing’s thoughts were similar to most of the commenters—of course, the part about Ah Ze.
She appreciated Sheng Luzhi’s filial piety and thoughtfulness.
But for Jiang Luze, who had already put in days of hard work, he deserved plenty of praise.
“Great! Then for the remaining two days, Ah Ze won’t have to rack his brains every day thinking about making us breakfast and late-night snacks. He can finally rest!”
Chu Xingxing naturally brought up Jiang Luze with a smile.
[Ahhh! Xingxing is speaking up for Ah Ze!]
[Wonderful! My “Xing Fox” CP hasn’t BE’d!!!]
“Ah Zhi just made some arrangements…” Grandma Sheng didn’t seem impressed. Instead, she waved at Jiang Luze, who had just walked in.
Jiang Luze had actually been standing at the door for a while.
He’d heard Chu Xingxing speaking up for him, and he’d recognized the three people in the kitchen.
Jiang Luze walked in and nodded politely at the Sheng family’s assistant chefs and head chef.
“Xingxing is right. We should be most grateful to Ah Ze, and of course to Xingxing too.”
Grandma Sheng Shuwen took Jiang Luze’s hand with one hand and wrapped her other arm around Chu Xingxing’s shoulder. “These two kids have been taking care of us the whole trip. Now that someone’s here to cook, they can finally rest.”
Chu Xingxing raised both hands and said earnestly, “No, no, no, Grandma Sheng. This is all Ah Ze’s credit. I can’t even count as an assistant chef…”
She didn’t want to steal “Little Fox’s” credit.
Grandma Sheng Shuwen couldn’t reach around the 6’1″ Jiang Luze, so Jiang Luze crouched down to let the old lady hug him.
Chu Xingxing also bent down slightly. As she turned her head, she met Jiang Luze’s sparkling eyes.
Grandma Sheng held one in each arm and said firmly, “Xingxing, don’t be modest. You and Ah Ze are both Grandma’s good children.”
[Boo hoo hoo, I’m crying. Grandma Sheng is so good. No, all the grandmas are so good. Xingbao is good too, Ah Ze is good too, Ah Zhi is good too…]
[I simply can’t make a choice. I’m about to pull all my hair out. How do I choose?!]
[Me too. Even if this were a dating show, I wouldn’t know how to choose in this situation. I mean, can’t we just have a poly relationship?]
[No, you can’t. Neither JJ nor the SARFT allows poly relationships. Stop thinking about it.]
[Then what do we do? Slice Xingxing into pieces? (Sorry, that sounds a bit cruel)]
—
The last dinner in Seville was prepared by a professional chef team, led by the Sheng family’s head chef who knew everyone’s tastes.
Teamwork was efficient.
Before 9 PM, the old babies finished dinner.
They’d completely adapted to Spain’s rhythm of life. At 9 PM, Spaniards’ nightlife hadn’t even started yet.
It was still bright outside.
On their last night in Seville, staying cooped up in the rental was too stifling.
Big Sister Sheng decided they should all take the two little “porters” for a walk by the river near the Golden Tower.
Of course, Grandma Sheng had a special reason for this arrangement.
This time, besides Grandma Xiao Jiang not knowing, even Chu Xingxing and Jiang Luze had become “spies.”
From the old villa where they were staying, they strolled all the way to one of Seville’s landmark historical buildings, the Golden Tower (Torre del Oro).
They walked and browsed, taking about twenty minutes.
At a souvenir shop on the street corner, Chu Xingxing also bought cute collars for Tank and Guaiguai, plus two of the largest doggie dresses.
The Golden Tower is an Arab-style fortress built along Seville’s Guadalquivir River.
Chu Xingxing had been here during her morning runs.
Walking down the stone steps leads to the banks of the Guadalquivir River.
It was lively around here at night. Cruise boats with colorful neon lights docked on the river, and the nearby restaurants and bars were buzzing with voices.
“Grandma Xiao Jiang, does the Golden Tower really have gold hidden in it?” Chu Xingxing had been holding Grandma Jiang Yao’s arm the whole way.
Her task today was to relax Grandma Xiao Jiang’s guard.
Grandma Jiang Yao had once seriously studied the city of Seville, so she seriously explained to Chu Xingxing, who’d asked the question, “It really did store gold. During the Age of Discovery, the gold Spain brought back from the Americas was kept here. Originally, the tower was coated with gold powder all around, which is why it’s called the Golden Tower…”
As she spoke, they arrived at a small plaza in front of the Golden Tower.
Just then, the sound of beautiful guitar music drifted over.
Along with the guitar came a melodious, husky male voice:
“You ask how deep my love for you is
How much I love you
My affection is true
My love is true
The moon represents my heart…”
[Holy crap, that’s beautiful!]
[This is the handsome grandpa we met at the Flamenco troupe that day, right! His voice is really lovely!]
[It sounds great, but it’s a bit like how Teacher Tengger sings everything like a Mongolian folk song. This grandpa sings Chinese songs with a Flamenco flavor too (in a good way)]
The handsome grandpa who’d appeared at the Flamenco troupe that day sat on the steps of the Golden Tower, holding his guitar, singing passionately.
“Sounds pretty good, huh?” Chu Xingxing held Grandma Xiao Jiang’s arm and whispered.
“So corny…” Grandma Jiang Yao’s tone was dismissive, but the corners of her lips were upturned.
Grandma Sheng glanced at Chu Xingxing and gave her a slight nod.
Chu Xingxing got it instantly and asked playfully, “Grandma Xiao Jiang is in such a good mood today. Could you give the handsome guitar-playing grandpa a chance and chat with him a little?”
Grandma Jiang Yao pretended to be angry, hands on her hips. “Oh, so you all knew about this already! You deliberately tricked me into coming here—you were all keeping it from me!”
Jiang Luze knew his aunt wasn’t really angry. He put his arm around her shoulders and said softly, “It was my idea. Auntie, don’t blame Xingxing…”
[Ah! “Little Fox’s” special favor, boo hoo hoo, I saw it!]
[Why is “Little Fox” so gentle when he speaks? I’m melting…]
“You guys…” Grandma Xiao Jiang tapped Chu Xingxing’s forehead with her index finger and pinched Jiang Luze’s chin.
“Xingbao!” Ms. Wen Xuelan took the opportunity to pull Chu Xingxing away. “I want that Italian Gelato. That place with the little naked angel looked pretty good.”
“Is it the ice cream shaped like a flower?” Chu Xingxing remembered that last time in Madrid, she hadn’t let Grandma Wen try the yogurt ice cream. This time she had to satisfy her no matter what.
“Yes, yes!” Ms. Wen Xuelan nodded like a little kid.
Grandma Ai Minli, who didn’t like sweets, said, “I’d like to try one too.”
“I want a dark chocolate one,” Grandma Sheng said with a smile.
Jiang Luze led everyone toward the ice cream shop across the small plaza. “Amorino’s most popular flavors are rich pistachio and mango. Let’s go try them?”
Everyone walked away, tactfully leaving space for Grandma Xiao Jiang and the grandpa whose name they didn’t yet know.
The remaining time was their private space.
The chief director called Jiang Changsheng on an international line to ask whether they should film.
Jiang Changsheng gave a negative answer. He told the crew not to leave any cameras and not to have any cameramen follow.
However, Jiang Changsheng had overlooked one small detail…
—
Chu Xingxing and the others arrived at the riverside ice cream shop.
The location was great—they could see the small plaza in front of the Golden Tower from a distance.
Grandma Xiao Jiang had already walked over to the grandpa’s side.
The handsome grandpa put down his guitar, took off the sweater draped over his shoulders, and laid it flat on the stone steps before letting Grandma Xiao Jiang sit down.
“Wow!” Chu Xingxing blushed a little.
Sure enough, watching other people’s romance is always more fun.
She and the other old babies hadn’t even gone into the ice cream shop. Even from far away, they couldn’t stop their intense “gossip cravings”…
“Xingxing!!!”
Suddenly, Chu Xingxing heard an incredibly familiar voice.
Chu Xingxing counted to three in her head. Sure enough, on the last count, a little “octopus” wrapped itself around her.
[Cookie: I, Hu Hansan, am back again!!!]
[Ha ha ha ha, “Xingxing Cookie” is giving out candy!!!]
[Today is such a worthwhile day. I shipped three CPs in one day! “Xing Fox,” “Xing Zhi Sheng Shi,” and “Xingxing Cookie.” Who’s happy? I’m not telling! Ha ha ha ha!]
“You ungrateful little thing,” Chu Xingxing deliberately put on a stern face, not giving Cookie a warm response. “Why haven’t you replied to my WeChat messages for two days?”
Cookie blinked her big eyes and rubbed against Chu Xingxing like a big golden retriever, refusing to let go.
“I’ve really been so tired and busy, wah. That day after we separated, as soon as we got back, my group’s guests elected me as Leader! I’ve never been a Leader before. Being a Leader is really so tiring, boo hoo hoo. I haven’t even opened WeChat these two days. I haven’t even replied to Mommy’s messages…”
Cookie’s little face was tearful as she explained pitifully.
[Pfft ha ha ha, I can vouch for Cookie on this one. The “Let’s Travel Together” team is too damn hard to lead. Even I feel exhausted for little Cookie.]
[Right, at first I really watched it as a comedy, but later I genuinely felt little Cookie had it rough. A nineteen-year-old girl dragging along a bunch of pig teammates who hold her back—it’s really too hard.]
[And there’s no budget. Cookie has to find all sorts of ways to save on transportation and food, while still making sure everyone has fun and tastes the local specialties. But honestly, Cookie’s leadership skills deserve a 99—knocking off 1 point so she doesn’t get cocky ha ha ha.]
[Right, apart from being a bit hot-tempered—like a golden retriever lion occasionally going crazy—Cookie is reliable most of the time. But which young person nowadays doesn’t go a little crazy?]
Hearing Cookie say this, Chu Xingxing couldn’t bear to tease her anymore.
“Thanks for your hard work, little Cookie. Sweetie, I’ll treat you to hot pot when we’re back in Beijing.” Chu Xingxing patted Cookie’s slightly messy little head and looked around. “So what are your team members doing?”
Cookie had the expression of someone who’d been “raising kids for ten years.” She sighed. “Oh, I arranged for them to enjoy the view and eat dinner by the river. I came out to get some air.”
[Pfft ha ha ha, I’m dying at little Cookie.]
[Don’t even—Cookie really does lead her team like kindergarten kids, coaxing and tricking them, and occasionally having to step out for a breather.]
[Yes, anyone who’s raised kids feels deep sympathy. The “kids” are important, but the adult needs to live too.]
“Want some ice cream?” Chu Xingxing flicked Cookie’s red nose.
“Gelato? Yes!” Little Cookie had already smelled it. Her eyes went wide instantly.
Cookie had eaten at this Gelato shop as a kid. The pistachio and mango flavors were the best.
Rich, silky, with a light texture that was unforgettable.
Cookie’s cameraman jumped in with a smiling face. “Sorry, Teacher Chu, you can’t buy extra food for the guests of ‘Let’s Travel Together’ with your own money…”
“Oh, I see…” Chu Xingxing nodded, and the hand holding Cookie’s squeezed her palm slightly.
Cookie understood immediately. “Xingxing isn’t buying it just for me. She’s just asking.”
“Xingbao, what flavor do you want?” Ms. Wen Xuelan came out holding a rose-shaped ice cream, excited. “You can pick five flavors!”
“I want rich pistachio, mango, dark chocolate, yogurt, and…” Chu Xingxing saw Cookie mouthing “strawberry” and said, “and strawberry.”
Ms. Wen Xuelan ran back inside. “Got it! Ah Ze, Xingbao wants these flavors…”
A few minutes later, Chu Xingxing was holding a flower-shaped ice cream too.
And it was the largest size.
The flower was almost bigger than Chu Xingxing’s face.
Honestly, Chu Xingxing didn’t have much of a sweet tooth.
A little taste was fine, but such a big one—she definitely couldn’t finish it.
Since the cameraman said she couldn’t buy ice cream for Cookie separately—
Chu Xingxing held the ice cream and seriously told Cookie’s cameraman, “This isn’t bought for Cookie, okay.”
So little Cookie just held Chu Xingxing’s hand and went “nom nom” bite after bite…
First she nibbled off the ice cream “petals,” then the “flower center,” and finally crunched through the chocolate-filled crispy cone…
The whole time, Chu Xingxing held the ice cream, and except for her mouth, no other part of little Cookie touched the ice cream.
[Ha ha ha ha ha! What kind of operation is this!]
[I super envy Xingbao and little Cookie’s bestie relationship. Who gets it! Besties are forever!!!]
[Boo hoo hoo hoo! Xingbao really loves Cookie so much!!!]
[I’m totally shipping girls’ friendship!]
Although the “Grandma’s Journey” guests plus one extra member, little Cookie, sat on chairs outside the ice cream shop eating ice cream on the surface—
Everyone’s hearts were dying to fly over to Grandma Xiao Jiang and the handsome grandpa sitting under the Golden Tower.
From far away, just watching Grandma Jiang Yao and the handsome grandpa sitting at a neither-too-close-nor-too-far distance made everyone anxious.
This kind of “gossip” was really unsatisfying. They desperately wanted to know what they were talking about…
“Oh hey?” Ms. Wen Xuelan wiped her mouth with a tissue and suddenly remembered something. “Isn’t Yao Yao’s lapel mic still within recording range?”
“Where’s Grandma Xiao Jiang’s cameraman?” Chu Xingxing caught Ms. Wen Xuelan’s point and immediately stood up, turning to ask her own cameraman, Xiao Mao.
“Over there…” Xiao Mao pointed with a gossipy face at the corner where a cameraman was crouching, holding recording equipment, “eavesdropping” with great enthusiasm.
Grandma Jiang Yao’s cameraman—a big, burly guy—was also crouching in the corner with a gossipy expression.
So a hilarious scene unfolded.
Ms. Wen Xuelan rushed over first.
Chu Xingxing, pulled by Cookie, ran over second.
Grandma Ai Minli curiously crowded in too.
Grandma Sheng, saying “Ah Ze wants to hear too,” grabbed Jiang Luze’s arm and strolled over… A whole group squeezed in front of Grandma Jiang Yao’s cameraman and videographer, surrounding them and pricking up their ears to “eavesdrop” on Grandma Xiao Jiang’s lapel mic.
Everyone’s face glowed with the light of “gossip” and the satisfaction of “eating melons.”
Chu Xingxing’s mouth formed an “O”…
Sure enough, “eating melons” is human instinct.
