Chapter 152: Shyness Near Home

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

In the early morning, the sound of a cargo ship’s horn on the Jialing River stirred Zhou Chao from his peaceful slumber. A beam of morning sunlight streamed directly onto the top of his bed.

“Mmm-” Stretching lazily, Zhou Chao instantly felt refreshed.

“Time to wake up!” Zhou Chao quickly got out of bed, freshened up briefly, changed into clean clothes, and checked out.

“Boss, I want a bowl of beef noodles! 150 grams, no cilantro!” Zhou Chao had just come down from his lodgings and was surprised to find a noodle shop downstairs.

He grabbed two chairs, one tali and one short, and found a flat spot to sit down. The noodle shop was small, and most customers preferred to sit outside, which was a unique feature of Fog City’s noodles.

“The one with 150 grams of beef noodles!” the boss’s wife spoke in an authentic Sichuan accent.

“Over here!” Zhou Chao waved as he watched the boss’s wife carrying a bowl of beef noodles, looking around for him.

Seeing the generous chunks of beef in his bowl, Zhou Chao thought the boss was pretty good. Without much thought, he started eating.

“All, the taste at home is still better!”

In no time, a bowl of 150 grams of beef noodles had been devoured. After paying, Zhou Chao headed towards his car.

“Vroom- I’m heading home!” Zhou Chao stepped on the gas, driving in the direction of Fuzhou.

Fog City was about 90 kilometers away from Fuzhou, and by the time Zhou Chao arrived home, it was nearly 11 o’clock. He unloaded all the gold from his luggage and piled it up on the table.

After putting everything away, Zhou Chao changed into fresh clothes and took out his phone to call Guo Yan.

“Hey, Brother! What’s up?”

“I’m back, come over for lunch! Ask Third Aunt to cook some extra food!”

“All, Brother, you’re back! Did you bring me a gift?” Guo Yan’s excited voice came through the phone, and Zhou Chao was speechless.

“You crazy girl!” Three Aunt’s teasing voice could be heard on the other end of the phone.

“Uh… no!” Zhou Chao’s words were like a bucket of cold water poured on Guo Yan’s enthusiasm, and her excitement quickly faded away.

“Okay! Hurry over! Mom…! Brother is back, so you have to prepare more food!” Guo Yan didn’t even hang up the phone and ran to the kitchen to tell Third Aunt. Zhou Chao listened to the voices coming through the phone and smiled.

After hanging up the phone and grabbing his keys, he headed out. He drove directly to Golden Coast. The security guard at the entrance saw Zhou Chao’s car and didn’t stop him; he just let him through. Sometimes, the car itself was a kind of prestige.

“Guo Yan, open the door!” Zhou Chao knocked on the door a few times, and he heard the sound of slippers shuffling inside.

“Brother! I’ve missed you so much,” she said as if she wanted to throw herself onto Zhou Chao, but he quickly stopped her.

“You’re all grown up, still acting like this!”

“But in the end, I’m your little sister, right? Hehe.” Watching Guo Yan’s cheerful smile, Zhou Chao couldn’t help but smile too.

“Xiao Chao, you’re here. We can eat soon.” Third Aunt’s figure emerged from the kitchen. She wiped her hands on her apron and prepared to pour Zhou Chao a glass of water.

Seeing this, Zhou Chao walked over quickly. “Third Aunt, I can do it myself.”

“You little rascal, why be so polite with your aunt?”

“Third Aunt, are you cooking vegetables in the pot? If you don’t go now, it might burn!”

“Oh dear, my garlic stir-fried pork!” Third Aunt hurried back into the kitchen.

“Hahaha!” Guo Yan, sitting on the sofa, burst into laughter at the scene.

“You’re laughing, but you don’t even offer me a glass of water. Are you being lazy now?” Zhou Chao looked at Guo Yan, who was laughing heartily on the sofa and said with a hint of annoyance.

“I know I was wrong!” Zhou Chao looked at Guo Yan, who seemed like she was about to cry and shook his head helplessly.

“Alright, I’m not blaming you. Stop crying.”

“Hehe, I knew my big brother wouldn’t be mad at me.” Hearing that Zhou Chao wasn’t upset with her, Guo Yan immediately smiled.

“Brother, you’re back! Today, my mom made some dishes, so you have to eat more!” Guo Yan had a very ingratiating look.

“Okay, I got it. I’ll definitely eat more!” Looking at Guo Yan’s expression, Zhou Chao couldn’t quite connect it to the lively and energetic girl he had seen just a moment ago.

“Brother, please have a seat. We’ll be ready to eat soon!” Guo Yan took out bowls and chopsticks from the kitchen.

Shortly after, Third Aunt emerged from the kitchen with several dishes and placed them on the table. Zhou Chao smelled the delicious aroma, and his appetite was instantly piqued.

“Wow, Third Aunt, what a sumptuous lunch!” Zhou Chao walked to the table, looking at the long rectangular table filled with dishes like braised pork, sweet and sour ribs, steamed fish, and more. Zhou Chao’s mouth watered.

“Hehe, you little flatterer, complimenting Third Aunt as soon as you’re back!” Seeing Zhou Chao’s eager expression, Third Aunt laughed.

“That’s not true!” Zhou Chao scratched his head.

“Come on, sit down and eat! Try some of Third Aunt’s cooking!” Third Aunt invited Zhou Chao to the table and served him some dishes.

“Thank you, Third Aunt. You should eat more too!” Looking at Third Aunt’s kind eyes, Zhou Chao felt warm inside.

“Mom, can you serve me some too?” Guo Yan looked at her mother with anticipation.

“You little girl, can’t you take them yourself?” Although she said this, Guo Yan’s mother still served her some meat and vegetables.

“Thanks, Mom, love you!” Seeing Guo Yan, who looked like a child, Zhou Chao couldn’t help but smile.

“Xiao Chao, do you have a girlfriend? If not, Auntie will help you find one.”

“Third Aunt, no need. 1 already have a girlfriend. She’s very beautiful and virtuous!” Originally, Zhou Chao was engaged in a food competition with Guo Yan, but she also looked at Zhou Chao curiously when he mentioned his girlfriend.

“Then why haven’t you brought her home for the New Year?” Third Aunt was a bit annoyed when she heard that Zhou Chao had a girlfriend but hadn’t introduced her to the family.

“Third Aunt, she’s in Jingdu. She said she’ll come back for the New Year, and I’ll bring her to meet you then. Is that okay?” Zhou Chao felt a bit helpless. After all, this was the usual routine – coming home always led to various hints about marriage.

“Alright, that’s okay! When your girlfriend comes, be sure to introduce her to me. Let’s dig in; the dishes are almost empty, thanks to Guo Yan!” Guo Yan glanced at the nearly empty plates on the table and marveled at how she had managed to finish them all by herself.

Two hours of cooking, ten minutes of eating, and soon the three of them were comfortably full. Zhou Chao initially wanted to help clean up the table, but Third Aunt promptly chased him to the sofa.

“We’re so full!” Zhou Chao and Guo Yan lay on the sofa, both looking satisfied.

“Brother, do you want to go out and stroll in the afternoon?”

“What’s there to see? Fuzhou is just this big, and there’s not much fun stuff. Why go out?”

“To buy New Year goods and fireworks! We can go to Beishan to set off fireworks later!” Guo Yan’s suggestion did appeal to Zhou Chao.

“Alright, after taking a break we’ll go out later.”

“Hehe, love you, big bro!” Excited, Guo Yan jumped up, and seeing her happiness, Zhou Chao couldn’t help but smile along..