The aroma of cooking filled the house: I sent my eldest brother to become the Grand Secretary.

Shen Cao, who lives far away in Xin'an County, had just finished dinner and was preparing to wash up and go to bed when he suddenly sneezed.

"Who's insulting me?"

After saying that, she shook her head and went to the kitchen.

The Shen family restaurant has not yet opened, and the docks in Xin'an County have also been closed. During this time, Shen Cao and her father have been keeping Shen Chen company in the study every day. They have almost finished correcting the books that Shen Chen bought.

Shen Cao had been feeling something was off these past few days; she kept feeling like her family was hiding something from her.

Whenever she got up to leave the study, her older brother would anxiously ask her where she was going.

The food she cooked today was a bit salty, so she drank more water, which resulted in her needing to go to the toilet frequently.

As soon as she stood up, her older brother looked at her and asked loudly, "Little sister, where are you going?"

Shen Cao looked puzzled. "Big brother, is there something you want to tell me?"

Shen Chen hurriedly and somewhat awkwardly touched his nose, "Is there? No, I don't think so."

"You're overthinking it. What could I possibly have to tell you?"

Shen Cao glanced at him. "Really?"

She continued walking towards the door, and sure enough, her older brother's voice came from behind her, "Little sister, you still haven't told me where you're going?"

"I need to use the outhouse, do you want to come with me, brother?"

Shen Chen smiled awkwardly, then shouted out the window, "Oh, so my sister is going to the outhouse."

"Then take your time, no rush."

Shen Cao turned around and said, "Big brother, you know what? When you lie, you like to touch your nose with your hand the most."

Shen Chen lowered his eyes and glanced at the hand that was groping on his nose. He quickly withdrew his hand.

I stood there somewhat awkwardly.

Shen Cao was a little confused. She realized after she returned from the outhouse that it seemed like no one else was home except for them.

She asked her father, "Father, where are Mother and the others? I didn't see Mother and my younger siblings when I went out."

Shen's father was writing something in a book when he heard Shen Cao's words. His pen stopped, and the words he was writing were smudged with ink.

He stammered as he spoke, "Your mother must have taken them out for a stroll."

"Yes, she took them out for a walk. She said so yesterday."

"I see," she nodded in understanding.

When Shen Cao walked to the desk, she found that her father and Shen Chen were standing there, frozen in place.

"Father, elder brother, what's wrong with you two? Something feels off."

"Really? I don't think so."

After Shen Chen finished speaking, he unconsciously wanted to touch his nose again, but he noticed in time and stopped his hand from rising.

The three of them stayed in the study until evening, and even after candles were lit, the rest of the family still hadn't returned.

Shen Cao put down her pen and stretched vigorously. "I'm so tired."

She looked up outside and realized it was already dark.

"I'll go cook. My mother and the others should be back soon."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chen quickly pulled her aside, "Little sister, you look tired after all these days of the New Year. Why don't we go out to eat today?"

Shen Cao waved her hand, "It's alright, everything's ready, it won't bother you."

Shen Chen quickly gave his father a look, and his father also quickly said, "That's right, Cao'er, you've worked hard all year, you should take a good rest."

"Your mother and the others haven't come back so late, they might have eaten out."

"Perfect timing! I'm craving Xiangmanlou's roast chicken too. Shall we go there today?"

Shen Cao thought for a moment, and decided that since her father wanted to eat it, then they should go.

Indeed, you can get tired of eating your own cooking all the time, no matter how delicious it is.

"Then let's pack up and get going!"

"it is good."

Shen Cao went back to her room, put on an outer garment, and when she came out, her older brother and her father were already waiting for her.

Just as the three of them were about to walk towards the door, she suddenly heard a noise at the door.

"Is it because Mother and the others have returned? We can go together."

As she was speaking, she prepared to walk towards the door, but Shen Chen stopped her.

"Sister, you must have misheard me."

"By the way, let's go through the back door today, it's closer."

"Yes, yes, the back door is closer." Father Shen quickly turned around and changed direction, pulling the two of them towards the back door.

Shen Cao found her older brother and father increasingly strange.

She wanted to see what the two of them were up to.

When she arrived at Xiangmanlou, she was starving and wanted to order some food.

However, the two kept dawdling, complaining that one dish was too oily and another that the other dish wasn't tasty.

Shen Cao looked at the waiter who was trying to kick them out and ordered a signature roast chicken.

After the waiter left, she crossed her arms, looked at the two of them, and said, "Tell me, what exactly are you hiding from me?"

The two looked at each other, feeling somewhat guilty, but remained silent.

Shen Cao continued, "You've been acting strangely since this afternoon, brother."

“You make a big fuss whenever I want to leave the study.”

"It was the same when I left. I clearly heard Shen Qing's voice, but you all insisted that I misheard."

"That's fine, but when you come to eat, your food isn't good, and your cooking isn't as good as mine."

"The waiter just now was so angry his face turned black."

"Tell me, what are you hiding from me?"

Shen Chen smiled and nodded, somewhat puzzled. "Little sister, you're overthinking it."

Shen Cao rolled her eyes and looked at him, "Big brother, do you want to take a look in the mirror and see how strange your expression is?"

Mr. Shen looked at Shen Chen and said, "How about..."

He had barely finished speaking when he heard Shen Qing's voice coming over.

"Father, elder brother, what are you doing here?"

Shen Cao turned around and looked at Shen Qing walking towards their table. Could it be that she had misheard?

When Shen Chen and his father saw Shen Qing, they immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

That was close; we almost got discovered.

Shen Chen stood up warmly and pulled Shen Qing to sit next to him. "Qing'er, what brings you here?"

Shen Qing pointed at his father, "Didn't Father tell me to come here to look for him if I didn't see him when I got back?"

Shen Chen covered his mouth and quickly gave him a meaningful look.

Shen Qing then realized he had let something slip, and he quickly tried to cover it up, "No, I just happened to be passing by and saw Father, my elder brother, and my elder sister before I came in."

Strange, these people are definitely hiding something from me.

They didn't want me to know what it was about.

Just then, the waiter came over with the roast chicken and said in a sarcastic tone, "Sir, your roast chicken, the only one you ordered, has arrived. Please enjoy."

After that, he left without looking back.

The four people left staring at the roast chicken, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Shen Qing suddenly spoke up, "Oh right, I almost forgot, it was Mother who told me to call you back for dinner!"