Kidnapping the Female Teacher's Best Friend - Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Since it wasn’t a workday, Mu Hanxi was dressed very casually in lightweight black slim-fit joggers paired with a white T-shirt. Mo Zibei wore blue breathable athletic pants. The two walked together harmoniously, showing no visible sign of their six-year age difference.

The two left the elevator and walked toward the parking area. Midway, Mu Hanxi’s phone rang with a very pleasant English song.

Mu Hanxi gestured to Mo Zibei: “I need to take a call.”

Mo Zibei nodded and slowed her pace.

The person on the other end was Liu Chuqing, Mu Hanxi’s high school classmate. They also attended the same school for their postgraduate studies abroad.

“Want to come out for a drink?” Liu Chuqing pushed her notebook aside, stood up, and started walking out. “To relax a bit.”

Mu Hanxi glanced at Mo Zibei, smiling: “You asked too late.”

Liu Chuqing paused her steps: “You have plans?”

“Mhm, I’m going to buy groceries now,” she tucked her hair behind her ear. “We’ll eat at home later.”

“Is it convenient for me to come crash dinner?” She wasn’t sure who was with Mu Hanxi. “I haven’t eaten either.”

Mu Hanxi covered the receiver, leaned down, and quietly explained the situation to Mo Zibei. Mo Zibei nodded.

“You can come over a bit later. We’re on our way to the supermarket now.”

“Mhm,” Liu Chuqing walked back. “Who is that person?”

“A little one.”

Liu Chuqing sat back down in her office chair: “Got it, see you later.”

“Okay.”

Mu Hanxi had only mentioned that an older sister was coming over for dinner, not who it was, and Mo Zibei was quite curious but felt too shy to ask.

After a while, Mu Hanxi proactively explained: “Her name is Liu Chuqing. She’s a good friend of mine and also my current boss at work. We’ve known each other for many years.”

“Does Teacher Lin know this older sister?”

“They know each other,” Mu Hanxi gripped her car key and pressed the unlock button. “But they aren’t very familiar; they’ve only met a few times.”

Mo Zibei hummed, bent down to enter the passenger seat, and fastened her seat belt.

“Don’t be nervous when we eat together later. She’s easy to get along with.”

“I know.”

“What do you know?” Mu Hanxi’s lips curved in a smile.

Mo Zibei looked out the window, not replying. After a moment, she quietly said, “Where there is honey among the flowers, it naturally attracts butterflies.”

Mu Hanxi was slightly surprised: “Where did you read that phrase?”

Mo Zibei was first stunned, then slightly embarrassed. She lowered her head, fingertips rubbing her knee: “I thought of it myself.”

“Little one,” Mu Hanxi praised her. “You’re quite literary.”

“No,” Mo Zibei’s face turned red. “My Liberal Arts subjects aren’t good.”

“I think it’s very good.”

Mo Zibei slightly rolled down the car window. A gentle breeze swept in, gradually cooling the heat on her face: Darn it, why is she so good at complimenting people!

They arrived quickly. After parking the car, the two walked toward the supermarket together. Inside the entrance, Mo Zibei noticed people pushing shopping carts and tilted her head to ask, “Should we get one too?” She didn’t cook and rarely had experience picking out groceries at a supermarket. She felt pushing a cart added a sense of ritual.

Mu Hanxi nodded: “We can. It’s more convenient.”

They walked a short distance, passing the beverage section. Mu Hanxi asked, “Do you want to buy some juice?” She usually drank plain water, but high school students might prefer soft drinks.

“Let’s make some rice porridge ourselves.” Mo Zibei noticed that Mu Hanxi always served her warm water at home and probably didn’t keep soft drinks around, perhaps not being used to them.

“You are so well-behaved.”

Mo Zibei’s face flushed again upon hearing this. She wasn’t well-behaved at all; she usually accepted any drink offered. She just didn’t want Mu Hanxi to constantly accommodate her.

The two went through the fresh food section. Mo Zibei pushed the cart, following closely beside Mu Hanxi, watching her choose and pick items.

“I didn’t cook much before either,” Mu Hanxi put the selected bell peppers in a bag, weighed them, and placed them in the cart. “Later, when I went abroad for studies, I tried to cook because I missed local dishes, and I gradually learned.”

When she bent down to select things, her beautiful hair naturally fell, giving her an elegant and serene presence. Her voice was soft and gentle, making the listener unconsciously sink into the sound. Mo Zibei thought, Wouldn’t it be so happy to live with someone like Mu Hanxi?

As she thought this, another question naturally popped up: Does Mu Hanxi have a boyfriend right now?

Such a wonderful girl must have many admirers…

Mu Hanxi walked a few steps forward, then noticed the person hadn’t followed, looking lost in thought.

She didn’t walk back, simply stood in place waiting for Mo Zibei until the person snapped back and looked over with a deeply meaningful gaze.

Mu Hanxi didn’t understand the meaning of that look, but before she could investigate further, the little one’s expression returned to normal.

Mo Zibei continued to push the cart to follow her closely, and Mu Hanxi didn’t dwell on it.

They bought lamb, fresh shrimp, and spareribs. These were enough for three people.

Glancing over and seeing Mo Zibei staring at the fish, Mu Hanxi considerately asked, “Do you like fish?”

“It’s alright,” Mo Zibei scratched the back of her head. “I’m not very good at picking out bones.”

“Then let’s buy a fish with fewer bones.” Mu Hanxi asked for a Mandarin fish.

Mo Zibei followed blankly, silently walking next to Mu Hanxi. A pang of embarrassment struck her heart; she was causing Mu Jie to spend money again.

The two spent almost forty minutes in the supermarket. By the time they returned home, it was nearly seven o’clock.

Mo Zibei proactively helped her, washing the side dishes and bell peppers, peeling garlic, and peeling green onions. Mu Hanxi cut the vegetables and meat. The two cooperated tacitly, and by shortly after eight o’clock, Mu Hanxi had prepared three dishes.

One steamed Mandarin fish, one sweet and crispy spareribs, and one braised shrimp. With the limited appetite of three people, they didn’t cook the lamb.

For the main course, they had flatbreads bought from the supermarket and the rice porridge they had cooked.

Ten minutes before the meal was ready, Liu Chuqing arrived, bringing a bottle of fine red wine.

Mu Hanxi freed her hands, stepped out of the kitchen, and briefly introduced the two: “This is Liu Chuqing, a friend I’ve known for many years.”

“Hello, Older Sister,” Mo Zibei gave a slight nod.

“This is Mo Zibei, a little one I just got to know.”

Liu Chuqing slightly raised a delicate eyebrow at Mo Zibei and asked casually, “How old are you?”

“18.”

Mu Hanxi watched the two of them answer each other seriously: “You two chat. I’ll go finish up in the kitchen.” She gently patted Mo Zibei’s shoulder before leaving.

Liu Chuqing didn’t miss Mu Hanxi’s subtle gesture. She smiled, gesturing to Mo Zibei: “Go sit on the sofa.”

Mo Zibei followed her to the sofa.

Liu Chuqing placed the red wine on the coffee table, leaned back on the sofa, and looked sideways at Mo Zibei: “Were you referring to your actual age?”

“Mhm.”

“Are you in the third year of high school this year?”

“Yes,” perhaps feeling the answer was too simple, Mo Zibei proactively added, “I am Teacher Lin Xiaoran’s student.”

“Oh.”

Mo Zibei couldn’t detect the emotion in Liu Chuqing’s tone and didn’t say much more.

The two chatted casually for a few more minutes before Mu Hanxi came over to invite them to eat.

Mu Hanxi and Mo Zibei were dressed casually, while Liu Chuqing, having likely come straight from the company, was dressed somewhat formally in a black shirt paired with light green trousers and exquisite black leather shoes. Her attire looked more suited for Western dining.

Seeing Mu Hanxi set up the plates, Liu Chuqing rolled up her shirt sleeves, exposing her pale forearms. She raised the red wine in her hand toward Mu Hanxi. Mu Hanxi understood, washed two stemmed glasses, and planned to join her for a drink.

“Three people,” Liu Chuqing chuckled. “Why did you bring two glasses?”

“She’s still young,” Mu Hanxi served Mo Zibei a bowl of porridge. “She can’t drink alcohol.”

Liu Chuqing raised an eyebrow: “I just asked. She’s already an adult. Don’t treat her like a child.”

Since she said that, Mu Hanxi politely asked for Mo Zibei’s opinion: “Do you want to drink?”

“Just a little bit.” Mo Zibei formed a small circle with her thumb and index finger, indicating the amount.

Mu Hanxi looked helpless and amused: “Do you actually want to drink?”

“It’s… fine if I don’t.” She was just curious about the taste of red wine; she had never had it before.

Liu Chuqing interrupted: “Where are the glasses? I’ll get them.”

Mu Hanxi shot Liu Chuqing a reproving look, then turned to Mo Zibei and said seriously: “Then only a tiny bit.”

“Okay.”

Mu Hanxi got up, washed another stemmed glass, and poured Mo Zibei a height about the size of a pinky fingernail, just enough for one sip.

Liu Chuqing was somewhat speechless: “The alcohol content isn’t high. You don’t need to be so cautious.”

Mu Hanxi ignored her and insisted on not pouring Mo Zibei more.

“Come,” Liu Chuqing compromised and raised her glass to them. “A toast to our little Mo Zibei’s first sip of red wine.”

Mo Zibei also raised her glass, gently clinked it against Mu Hanxi’s, and then against Liu Chuqing’s, looking nervous and expectant.

Mu Hanxi returned the clink with a suppressed laugh.

Mo Zibei took a small sip, carefully tasting it. It was a sour and astringent taste, strange. She subtly frowned.

“Not used to it?” Liu Chuqing asked with a smile.

Mo Zibei put down the glass: “Mhm.”

“Hanxi loves red wine,” Liu Chuqing tapped the tabletop with her finger. “We often had a little drink together when we were studying abroad.”

Mo Zibei glanced sideways at Mu Hanxi.

Mu Hanxi met her gaze gently and explained: “It’s normal not to like it the first time. I didn’t like it at first either.”

Mo Zibei lowered her eyes and didn’t say anything.

Mu Hanxi lightly tapped the back of Mo Zibei’s hand with her finger: “Eat your food, it’ll get cold soon.”

Mo Zibei picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of Mandarin fish, and chewed it slowly, tasting it: “It’s very delicious.”

Mu Hanxi also took a taste.

Liu Chuqing put down her glass, picked up a piece of sparerib, and her eyes suddenly lit up: “Hanxi, your cooking skills are getting more and more refined. They’re even better than when you were studying in the UK.”

Mu Hanxi smiled: “If you like it, eat more.”

Liu Chuqing raised an eyebrow and asked, “If I can’t finish it, can I take it home?”

Mo Zibei looked up and interjected: “It’s so delicious, you can definitely finish it.”

Mu Hanxi’s expression paused. She silently picked up her red wine glass, took a small sip, and a faint smile showed in her eyes.

After eating a few pieces of sparerib, Mo Zibei put down her chopsticks, put on gloves, and peeled several large shrimp. She placed all the peeled shrimp meat into the white porcelain bowl in front of Mu Hanxi, saying sweetly: “Mu Jie, thank you for making dinner for us.”

Liu Chuqing quietly scoffed in her mind: This little girl is quite the flatterer.

Mu Hanxi graciously accepted her kindness, but in return, she used the serving chopsticks to give Mo Zibei several pieces of Mandarin fish.

Liu Chuqing pushed her bowl toward Mu Hanxi, the meaning obvious: she wanted Mu Hanxi to serve her too.

Mu Hanxi was slightly taken aback, but seeing her insistence, she smiled and served her a few pieces. Liu Chuqing moved her bowl back, her expression relaxed, and began to slowly enjoy the benefits she had solicited.

Of the three, only Mo Zibei loved fish the most, yet for some reason tonight, Mo Zibei kept eating the spareribs and hadn’t touched the fish much.

In the end, the spareribs and shrimp were gone, and only the Mandarin fish remained.

Before leaving, Mo Zibei gripped her backpack strap, a bit shy: “Mu Jie, can I take the Mandarin fish to go?”

Mu Hanxi was first surprised, then smiled gently: “Yes, wait for me.”

Liu Chuqing, standing aside, slowly realized what had happened: Did this little girl just play a trick on me????????

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