Reborn in the 90s, tearing apart scumbag men for the sake of women.

"Where are you? I'll come pick you up." Qiao Nansheng asked as he left the office.

"No need, maybe I'm just being too sensitive lately."

"Recently? You mean you've had this feeling for more than just a day or two?" Qiao Nansheng continued to press.

"No, no, it just happened in the last few days." Song Lingge pouted. It's true that the more she talks, the more mistakes she makes.

Why didn't you tell me right away?

"Maybe I'm mistaken! Ever since that blockade, I've been more sensitive to these things, as you know, but nothing has happened yet, so it's very possible that I'm mistaken."

"Forget it, let's talk about it when we meet. Where are you now?"

“You don’t need to come out. It’s unnecessary to make such a fuss! I’m on my way to your place. I was planning to have lunch with Li Meimei, but she went back, so I came to find you.”

"Okay, then don't hang up the phone, I'll wait for you at the gate."

"I'll be there in a while, come down later."

Qiao Nansheng did not answer, and Song Lingge assumed that he must have already gone downstairs.

She pouted. Although she knew that Qiao Nansheng cared about her, sometimes she still felt that love was a sweet burden!

Although they were on the phone, neither of them spoke afterward, as Song Lingge focused on driving here.

She paid special attention on the way, and it seemed that no one was really following her; perhaps she was just overthinking it.

Soon after, Song Lingge spotted Qiao Nansheng.

Qiao Nansheng opened the car door and sat directly in the passenger seat.

"Aren't we going to eat in the cafeteria?" Song Lingge asked.

"Let me take you out to eat. My colleague took me to a small restaurant last time, and I thought it was pretty good. I'm sure you'll like it."

"But lunch break is only so long, do you have enough time?"

"We'll make it in time, it's not far. Shall I drive?"

Qiao Nansheng and Song Lingge switched places, and he drove around and around until he quickly arrived at the small restaurant.

It's really small. There's only one table inside the shop, and two tables are set up in the aisle outside.

"It's all full, let's go back to the cafeteria!" Song Lingge said.

"It's okay, wait for me a moment."

Qiao Nansheng walked straight into the shop and said something to the owner. Soon someone came out and set up a small table outside.

"Sit down, it'll be ready soon." Qiao Nansheng scalded her chopsticks and bowl.

Song Lingge looked around the small shop: "It's kind of you to have found this place."

"It's quite hard to find; it's actually closer to walk here."

"Then we can just park the car over there and walk over, why did you have to drive all the way here?" Song Lingge asked in confusion.

"It's alright. You drive most of the time now, and I'm afraid I'll forget how to drive," Qiao Nansheng said with a smile.

Song Lingge knew that this was definitely not the reason, but Qiao Nansheng must have had his reasons for doing so, so she didn't ask any further.

The food was served quickly.

It was all home-style dishes: shredded pork with garlic sauce, Mapo tofu, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and a vegetable soup.

"It looks quite appetizing." Song Lingge picked up her chopsticks, eager to try it.

Home-style cooking is the most demanding, with every family having its own unique flavor, and it's difficult to please everyone.

"Then try it quickly." Qiao Nansheng picked up a bowl and ladled some soup for her.

"Don't worry about me, just eat by yourself. There's only a short time, so hurry up and eat."

"it is good."

"I still like this kind of shredded pork with garlic sauce the most. Adding some shredded wood ear mushrooms and carrots makes it both beautiful and delicious."

"Try this Mapo Tofu, I think you'll like it too."

Song Lingge immediately picked up a piece of tofu.

My eyes lit up after just one bite.

"This tofu—"

"Is it delicious?"

"It's more than just delicious to describe it. This must be homemade tofu. The soybean flavor is so strong."

"Haha, that's right, it's hand-ground."

It was the person who had spoken to Qiao Nansheng in the store who answered; he must be the owner of the store.

"No wonder it tastes so good; grinding by hand takes a lot of time."

"Haha, I'm glad you like it."

The owner was indeed a cheerful and smiling person. After greeting Song Lingge and her group, he went back to the shop.

"No wonder you like to eat here," Song Lingge said.

Qiao Nansheng gave her a meaningful look: "Why do you say that?"

"The warmth of everyday life is what soothes the human heart. What we diplomats like Qiao Nansheng love most is the warmth of everyday life."

"Isn't our great writer Song Lingge the same?"

My eyes were practically drooling from the meal...

"Have some more soup!" Qiao Nansheng said as he reached for Song Lingge's soup bowl.

Song Lingge quickly stopped her, saying, "I'm not drinking anymore, I'm too full."

Qiao Nansheng stopped trying to persuade her. He knew Song Lingge's appetite; she had indeed eaten far too much today.

Song Lingge glanced at her watch and said, "You should go back to work. I'll sit here a little longer before I leave. I'll definitely throw up if I drive now."

Qiao Nansheng laughed: "Why don't you come to work with me? We can go home together after get off work."

Song Lingge's eyes widened: "Is...this okay?"

"I have a private office now, so there's nothing I can't do. It just depends on whether Writer Song will give me the time of day."

"Then let's just walk back and come back to get the car after work?"

Qiao Nansheng smiled and agreed, extending his hand to Song Lingge.

Song Lingge took his hand and used it to stand up.

The two walked hand in hand through the alley.

Qiao Nansheng deliberately slowed down his pace to match Song Lingge's.

"Won't we be late if we walk this slowly?"

"No, walking slowly helps with digestion."

"Why didn't you ask me about being followed today, or about what I talked about with Li Meimei?" Song Lingge suddenly asked.

Today's lunch was so cozy that she only just remembered that Qiao Nansheng seemed to have stopped asking about those things after their meeting.

This is quite different from what has happened before.

Qiao Nansheng stopped, looked at her affectionately, and said, "Now that I've seen you, none of that matters."

"Maybe I was just overthinking it. I paid special attention later, and it seems like no one was really following me."

Qiao Nansheng patted her hair: "Well, I drove over here to check if anyone was following us, but I didn't find anything amiss."

Song Lingge then realized that this was the reason why Qiao Nansheng had specifically asked to drive.

"Then don't worry, I promise I'll be very careful in whatever I do now."

“It’s impossible not to worry!” Qiao Nansheng pointed to his heart. “It’s beyond my control.”

"If you can't control your heart, then who can?"

Qiao Nansheng looked at Song Lingge without saying a word, yet it seemed as if he had said everything.