My Aloof Husband Can't Stop His Devoted Affection-Chapter 268 - 264: You won’t do anything to him, will you?

Chapter 268: 264: You won’t do anything to him, will you?
"You little rascal, really think you’re still a child!" Ms. Qin shot him an annoyed glance but couldn’t help happily looking him up and down. Then she turned to her staff and said, "You all go about your work. He’s not an outsider, he’s my nephew. Bring out another serving of the peach pastry we just launched." Saying that, she pulled Shen Xiangchen outside to sit: "I remember you! Just like Cen Jin, you loved sweets since childhood. You even ruined your teeth because of it and had to go for an extraction, but you didn’t want to go. You wet your pants, and Cen Jin laughed at you for a long time."
"Auntie, I’m all grown up now. Can you stop mentioning that embarrassing incident whenever you see me?" Shen Xiangchen’s face turned bitter, responding helplessly.
"Alright, I won’t say it anymore." Ms. Qin pulled out a tissue, wiping off the flour from her hands, and as if on cue, the waiter brought over the peach pastry. Ms. Qin gestured: "Come, try our new product from this period."
"I just tried a strawberry pie, still tastes like before." Shen Xiangchen smiled, picked up a cake spoon and took a bite, nodding in satisfaction: "Hmm, quite tasty, not overly sweet or greasy."
"As long as you like it, how long are you staying this time? Not just a day or two, then leaving again, right?" Ms. Qin’s face was full of gentle warmth, but turned serious towards the end.
Facing Ms. Qin’s slightly warning gaze, Shen Xiangchen couldn’t hold back his laughter: "Auntie, rest assured, I’ll be staying a long while this time, at least until after next year’s Lantern Festival."
"You’re spending New Year’s here in Nancheng?"
Shen Xiangchen nodded: "Yeah, besides work, I mainly want to spend the New Year with you here. When it’s close to New Year’s, my parents will come back too. Honestly, it’s been a while since our family had a meal together."
"That’s wonderful! It’s indeed been a long time. Before, it was either you missing or your mom or dad." Ms. Qin was genuinely happy.
"Yes, my parents said the same. Plus, Cen Jin is getting married this year. My mom didn’t have time to come back and prepare the dowry. Next year, she and Jiang Baizhou will hold the wedding, and we definitely can’t miss it."
"Oh, what do you mean by dowry! Anyway, luckily Bai Zhou was raised by me. I know him well, and he has a good character. I’m relieved to entrust Cen Jin to him. Besides, when I grow old, Xiang Chen, Cen Jin is your sister, you must help her a little then."
"Auntie, please don’t say such things. What help or not, it’s natural. As her brother, I should protect my own sister."
Ms. Qin smiled knowingly, glanced at the artistic clock in the store: "Oh dear! It’s already twelve. You probably haven’t eaten yet, right? Doing it at home won’t be in time now. How about this, wait for me a bit, we’ll go out to eat, and I’ll make you something delicious tonight."
"Alright."
Seeing Shen Xiangchen agreed, Ms. Qin got up and went to the kitchen, instructed the staff a bit before taking off her apron, washed her hands with hot water, tidied up her clothes, and then walked out.
Shen Xiangchen pushed the suitcase and walked out of ’Time Inn’ with Ms. Qin. Because of the rain, they chose a nearby family-owned restaurant for the meal. Shen Xiangchen specifically sent a location to Cen Jin via WeChat.
While choosing dishes, Shen Xiangchen even ordered two dishes Cen Jin likes, then continued chatting with Ms. Qin about family matters.
Besides asking about his work, Ms. Qin also touched upon his marriage issues, making Shen Xiangchen’s drink pause involuntarily, his handsome face showing an astonished expression repeatedly.
He had just escaped his mom’s nagging, and upon returning embraced his aunt’s care, he was finding it too difficult.
"Well... I’m not in a hurry about this, nor should I rush it. It should be taken slowly. You can’t get married just for the sake of marriage; it’s irresponsible to oneself and to others." Shen Xiangchen’s mind spun quickly, finding an excuse as he put down his cup.
"Not in a hurry?" Upon hearing this, Ms. Qin gave him an annoyed eye-roll: "How old are you now? You’re 29, not in a rush? I bet your mom’s worried sick! Even Cen Jin, who’s three years younger than you, is already getting married, and you’re not catching up."
Shen Xiangchen smiled helplessly at her words: "Auntie, if I had a childhood sweetheart like Cen Jin, I certainly would’ve married sooner than her! Wouldn’t even wait till 26. As soon as I hit legal age, I’d get the certificate and bring your niece-in-law to you. But I don’t have that! Your urging won’t help. I also want to find a girl who’s all about me and makes me immensely happy, but things like this can’t be forced, right? You know how fate works, don’t you think?"
"You! Your mouth! I can’t argue with you; you always have excuses and philosophies. Though this can’t be rushed, at least put some thought into it, okay?"
"Yes, yes, yes. How dare I not listen to Auntie’s words? I’ll strive to bring back a daughter-in-law after the New Year."
"Just so you said! I’m not forcing you!"
"Got it!" Shen Xiangchen nodded solemnly, thinking it all depends on luck whether it happens or not; fate isn’t under his control.
When the dishes arrived, the Cen siblings embraced warmly upon meeting, then sat on the same side chatting.
Ms. Qin watched them harmoniously across and felt gratified. Cen Jin, besides her and Jiang Baizhou, now had another person to rely on, which made her, as a mother, truly happy.
No one can understand all her years of hardship, but she couldn’t talk about it. She just found satisfaction in seeing these returns for her efforts.
"Is Jiang Baizhou free tonight?" While eating, Shen Xiangchen looked at Cen Jin, asking.
Cen Jin had just bitten a rib, hurriedly swallowed and nodded upon hearing Shen Xiangchen’s question: "He called me back on the way here, said he’d come to mom’s place to have dinner together tonight."
Shen Xiangchen nodded with a smile: "Alright, speaking of which, it’s been a long time since I saw him. Last time was during the Mid-Autumn Festival two years ago, didn’t see him during the previous Qingming Festival."
"Cousin, you’re not planning anything against him, are you?" Cen Jin ate some rice, suddenly squinting her eyes, casting a somewhat suspicious and probing look over.
Upon hearing that, Shen Xiangchen nearly spat out his rice, looking at her in amusement and exasperation: "Auntie, look, this girl hasn’t even been married long and she’s already protecting that brat Jiang Baizhou! As her brother, I feel deeply hurt."