I awakened the cultivation panel.

Chapter 95 Sensitive Topics
"Hello, Mom, what's wrong?" Li Shiming asked softly, covering the microphone.

Liu Qiong frowned on the other end of the phone: "Why is it so noisy on your end?"

Li Shiming stammered, "I'm out shopping with my friends."

"alright."

Liu Qiong didn't think too much about it. After all, her daughter often went out to eat and shop with her friends, as long as they didn't go to any shady places.

So I said, "It's nothing, I just wanted to ask if there's anything you'd like to eat tonight? So I can ask your Aunt Wang to prepare it in advance. Your dad went to play ball with his friends today, so he probably won't be home for dinner tonight, just the three of us."

It turns out to be this.

Li Shiming thought for a moment and said, "It's been too hot and humid these past few days, and I haven't had much of an appetite. Would you like to make some sweet and sour dishes to whet my appetite?"

"Okay, I'll tell your Aunt Wang."

Liu Qiong had no objections. She also felt the weather had been a bit uncomfortable these past few days, and added, "Remember not to stay out too long, come back early."

"Okay, I know!" Li Shiming said helplessly.

That's how parents are; in their eyes, you'll always be a child, even after you start working and get married and have children.

Fortunately, her mother only gave instructions and did not directly control her.

After hanging up the phone, Liu Qiong realized that she seemed to have heard applause and cheers coming from the other end.

Is there some kind of performance going on?

Never mind, I'll ask her when she gets back.

Li Shiming put away her phone, met Chen Jingle's gaze, and explained with a smile, "It was my mother calling to ask me what I wanted to eat tonight."

"Oh." Chen Jingle nodded without saying anything.

It's best not to pry into other people's private affairs.

Li Shiming hesitated, wanting to continue the conversation to learn more about each other's family situations, but the other party didn't respond, leaving her feeling a bit awkward.

Chen Jingle said with a smile, "Let's watch the performance first."

Li Shiming: "..."

The words that were on the tip of my tongue had to be swallowed back.

She had no interest in watching the performance; she had seen far more spectacular shows. Animal performances in a small place like Jiangbei simply didn't pique her interest.

Originally, I just wanted to stay with Chen Jingle; what we did specifically didn't really matter.

Lin Yuqing, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy watching it.

It was the children's first time watching an animal show live, and it featured marine animals, which was a real eye-opener.

……

It was almost 11 o'clock when we came out of the aquarium.

I didn't expect time to pass so quickly.

Next, of course, was to find a place to eat, and this time Li Shiming was treating.

Compared to before, this time she chose a more upscale restaurant with a great atmosphere, which young people might like.

Chen Jingle looked around the shop and saw that most of the customers were in their early twenties, while he, a thirty-year-old middle-aged man with a child, stood out from the crowd and attracted a lot of curious glances.

He had some doubts: could food from a place like this really be good?
Li Shiming noticed his confusion and said with a smile, "Don't be fooled by their trendy decor; the food is really good, and the prices aren't outrageous."

Not outrageous, but still a bit outrageous, right?

Considering that Li Shiming was treating, and since she had decided to eat here, Chen Jingle simply went along with it and didn't say anything more.

Let her have complete control over ordering, and I can just focus on eating.

Li Shiming did not refuse. After several meals together, she had gained a certain understanding of Chen Jingle's taste preferences. In short, as long as it tasted good and was suitable for the general public, it would be fine.

She even took Lin Yuqing's preferences into account, ordering dishes that children could eat.

It has to be said that her emotional intelligence is truly on point.

The menu was brought out, and three small cold dishes were served first. These were complimentary, and the portions were quite generous. It seems there's a reason why the owner's business is so successful.

Then comes the main meal.

The portions weren't large, but there were plenty of them, and the dishes were quite exquisite, including abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, and fish maw, and the taste was also good.

They ordered a portion for two, but there were so many dishes that three people could easily have a full meal.

Chen Jingle had just looked at the menu prices and did a quick calculation, and found that, as Li Shiming said, the prices were not outrageous considering the dining environment.

These days, there aren't many mid-to-high-end restaurants that can fill you up without making you feel ripped off.

The two ate and chatted, occasionally feeding Lin Yuqing.

“I don’t think I’ve mentioned my family situation before,” Li Shiming said, changing the subject. “Actually, I’m an only child.”

Chen Jingle exclaimed in surprise, "Only daughters are quite rare in Jiangbei."

Li Shiming smiled and said, "Right? That's what many people say when they first hear it."

Because Jiangbei has one of the highest birth rates in the country, and even now, it still maintains a natural growth rate of over 7%.

People in Jiangbei are known for their high birth rate. Leaving aside the old days, starting with the post-90s generation, most places only have one child, but many families in Jiangbei still have two or three children.

even more.

The three siblings in Chen Kexin's family are a typical example. Chen Jingle didn't want to say whether this behavior was good or bad, but he didn't really like it.

Li Shiming continued, "My father now runs a small company, and my mother used to be a middle school music teacher. Later, she partnered with a friend to start a music training institution, but she wasn't very dedicated to it and would only visit every few days. Anyway, she didn't need to teach herself."

Chen Jingle nodded slightly. This family is quite well-off; no wonder they can eat and drink so carefree.

"And you?" Li Shiming asked with a smile.

Hmm? Me?
Chen Jingle said, "I am also an only child, and I am the only one in my family now."

"Oh... um?!"

Li Shiming was a little taken aback and was stunned: "Just you?"

"Mm." Chen Jingle nodded.

Li Shiming asked cautiously, "Is it... is it what I understand it to mean?"

"Mm." Chen Jingle nodded again.

Li Shiming was stunned and somewhat at a loss.

Now I understand why Chen Jingle didn't respond when watching the seal show; I've stepped on a landmine.

Why bring up such a sensitive topic?

I was filled with mortifying regret.

After hesitating for a moment, she took a deep breath: "Um, would you mind telling me what's going on?"

"There's nothing that can't be said."

Chen Jingle smiled and explained a few words, briefly introducing his family's situation.

In short, nowadays it's a case of one person getting enough to eat for the whole family.

Li Shiming felt a pang of heartache listening to him. Looking at his seemingly calm demeanor, she felt as if he were forcing a bitter smile.

It must have been very difficult for him to be away from home for so many years. I wanted to comfort him, but I didn't know what to say.

No matter how much you say, outsiders can never truly empathize.

The atmosphere was silent for a moment.

Seeing this, Chen Jingle had no choice but to say, "I don't feel sorry for you. It's been several years since then, and I've moved on. If they could see this, they wouldn't want me to be wallowing in sadness."

Li Shiming nodded.

That being said, the atmosphere did become rather somber afterward.

……

After they had almost finished eating, Chen Jingle asked, "Do you have any other plans after dinner? Or are you going straight home?"

"And you?" Li Shiming asked in return.

She naturally didn't want to leave; she just needed to get back before dinner.

Chen Jingle said, "I might take the kids around and then wait for my sister to pick them up after get off work."

Sister Xin messaged me saying that she would probably be busy until 3 p.m., and before that, she had several options.

Either continue wandering around outside, or find a place to continue accompanying Lin Yuqing on sightseeing, or if that doesn't work, go back to your own home and have Sister Xin come to pick her up.

"How about we look around some more?" Li Shiming blinked.

She thoroughly enjoyed being with Chen Jingle, feeling completely relaxed. This was a feeling she had never experienced with other friends, best friends, or even family.

It's really addictive.

Chen Jingle didn't refuse: "Sure. Do you have any good recommendations?"

"Uh……"

Li Shiming's mind raced, and she realized that all the things that left a deep impression on her were food; she didn't care at all about things that involved fun.

Ashamed.

Seeing her expression, Chen Jingle guessed what she was thinking and said with a smile, "How about we find a place to have a drink?"

This statement immediately triggered the keyword.

Li Shiming quickly replied, "Great! I know a really delicious dessert shop!"

“Okay, I’ll head over there later.” Chen Jingle nodded.

This dining buddy is quite interesting.

However, just as the two paid the bill and left, and Li Shiming was about to get her car, two men on a motorcycle suddenly stopped, whistling, and called out in a frivolous tone: "Hey, beautiful, all alone? Do you have a boyfriend?"

Li Shiming paused as she pulled on the car door, her brows furrowed and her eyes filled with disgust.

In the last two years, for some reason, there have been a lot more people with these hooligan traits on the streets. Young blonds, greasy old men, ranging in age from teenagers to those in their fifties and sixties, they all approach and strike up conversations with women who are even slightly attractive and fashionably dressed.

It's one thing to strike up a conversation, but to do it with such a lewd and frivolous tone makes it seem like people from other places, when they talk about Jiangbei, western Guangdong, or even the entire Lingnan region, think that this kind of person is everywhere.

Damaging reputation!

Just as Li Shiming was getting angry, Chen Jingle walked over with a blank expression.

"What did you just say? I didn't hear you clearly."

(End of this chapter)