Chapter Twenty: Ji Xin'an Treats

  On the way back, Ji Xin'an's shoulder was still very painful, but it didn't affect her good mood. She excitedly asked Zhou Weiguo, "Master, when can we come again?"

  "I'd like to come again, but it's not certain. I'm leaving tomorrow and next time I'll be back is uncertain." Zhou Weiguo smiled as he saw her still looking expectant.

  "Leaving tomorrow?" Ji Xin An's face immediately fell, and she let out a sigh, feeling her shoulders ache even more. "I was thinking of coming over a few more times before you leave!"

  Zou Weiguo turned his head and looked at her, shaking his head helplessly.

  "Hey, Master, can you let me come here often like Officer Guo?" Asked Jin Xian with a hopeful expression.

  "This...," Zhou Weiguo paused on purpose, "it's not impossible."

  "Really? That's great!" Ji Xin'an excitedly almost pounced over to celebrate.

  "Drive carefully." Zou Weiguo hastily dodged out of the way, and the car swerved along with him.

  "I'm so happy." Ji Xin's eyes were narrowed into a slit from joy.

  "Don't be too happy, it's not the time yet, you're still too young now. I'm also worried about you running around like this. At least wait until you go to high school." Zou Weiguo poured a bucket of cold water on her just as she was getting excited.

  "Who speaks like that with such a big gasp?" Ji Xin'an felt that she could go learn how to change her face too, "Does it have to be after high school?"

  "This is the least I can do, don't worry now, although I won't be able to come often, but as long as I'm back, I'll take you there." Zou Weiguo comforted her, seeing that she was pouting and unhappy.

  "Oh, but every time you come back, I don't know when, I really admire my teacher's wife, who can only see you a few times a year without getting frustrated." Zhi Xin'an felt suffocated whenever he thought about having to wait another year or half a year before seeing him again.

  Zou Weiguo didn't know if he hadn't understood or just ignored her resentment, and continued to drive with a smile, no longer paying attention to the sulking Ji Xin'an.

  The next day, Zou Weiguo left, and Ji Xin'an stayed at home to nurse his wounds for two days. He was finally able to lift his arm again. Ji Xin'an found that he no longer felt like resting or playing whenever he had some free time, but now even a single idle day made him feel uncomfortable. It really seemed like he was becoming a masochist.

  But Ji Xin'an can't be busy now because it's about to be Chinese New Year, all the teachers of the courses are on holiday and go home to prepare for the festival.

  Ji Xin'an felt that she couldn't waste these few days, so she had to do something. After the winter break, she invited Zou Ze and Chen Zhaoji out for the first time. It was too cold to go out, and there was no one at home, so Ji Xin'an asked them to come over to her place. She bought ingredients and prepared to cook herself to entertain them.

  "An An, did you make all of these?" Zou Ze looked at her in surprise as she brought out dish after dish.

  "It's just An'an, you're also too amazing, even this can be done." Chen Zhaoji was also quite surprised.

  "Stop gawking and come help pick up the bowls. You two should work together to get food and clothing." Ji Xin'an shouted at the two of them to help out.

  "This An'an's craftsmanship is really good, absolutely a beauty who can go to the hall and enter the kitchen. If anyone marries her in the future, I guarantee that he will be happy every day and won't know what to do." Zou Ze said vaguely while shoving food into his mouth.

  "Since it's so good, you should take advantage of the fact that others don't know yet and marry her back home. Otherwise, once more people find out, be careful not to get snatched away by someone else." Chen Zhaoji really didn't let go of any opportunity to make them lose face.

  "You two just eat more if you want, eating won't stop your mouths." Ji Xin'an wouldn't get angry at these harmless jokes.

  "An An, how can you still cook? You said you're good at studying, piano, singing and dancing, I thought that was it, but I didn't expect you to be a great cook too! This is too much for people to take!" Chen Zhaodi also started eating in the same way, and found that every dish was extremely delicious.

  "Don't praise me so much, or I'll really lose my way. Actually cooking is the simplest thing, mainly it's just a matter of practice, after doing it several times you'll get the hang of it, if you do it, it will definitely be better than mine." Being praised by Chen Zhaodi like this actually made her blush a little, she had spent many more years to achieve this, and there was really nothing to be proud of.

  "An An, you said that if you practice more, you'll get better. Is it true that you cook and eat your own meals every day?" Zou Ze asked while eating, his ears not idle either.

  "My parents didn't come back at noon, and when they came back in the evening, it was late. I had to do it myself." Ji Xin'an tasted each one carefully and found that it was more delicious than before.

  "An an, you're always eating alone by yourself, aren't you?" Zou Ze's face was smiling slyly, with a look that didn't seem to have good intentions.

  Ji Xin'an didn't respond, she just put down her chopsticks and propped up her chin with her hand, staring at him. Zou Ze was a bit embarrassed by her gaze, but for the sake of his own stomach, he continued to speak in a thick-skinned tone. "You see, we're already so familiar with each other, how can I bear to watch you eat alone every day without even someone to talk to? Ah, I've decided, based on the principle of being willing to stab a friend in the back for their own good, I'll sacrifice my own future and come to keep you company for meals every day, what do you think?"

  "If you want to come over for a meal, just say so, why beat around the bush? But I don't always cook such delicious food, it's just ordinary home cooking. By then, you might not even like it." Ji Xin'an gave him a white eye, but looking at his expression as if he was letting her take advantage of him, she couldn't help but laugh out loud.

  "Hey, you don't know, my family basically never cooks at home every day, always eating in the cafeteria is almost torturing me to death. My biggest wish now is for our whole family to cook and sit down together to eat ordinary meals every day. So, hehe, just make some home-cooked dishes for me every day." Zou Ze heard her teasing tone and awkwardly chuckled.

  "Look at you!" The two of them couldn't help but laugh at Zou Ze's expression. "If you want to come, that's fine, but you have to help me with something."

  "What's up? You say, with our relationship, even if you don't treat me to a meal, I'll still help you out." Zou Ze patted his chest, with a self-righteous expression.

  "Help me borrow a set of all subjects' books for the second year of junior high school." Zhi Xin'an knew that this matter was not easy for himself, but it wasn't a difficult task for him.

  Zou Ze let out a sigh, "I thought it would be difficult, but this is easy to handle. However, what do you want to do with the second-year books? Are you starting to read them now? Even if you have nothing better to do, isn't this a bit too early? You can start reading them when you're in second year."

  "I'm not thinking of getting ahead, I want to skip grades." Ji Xin'an hesitated for a moment whether to tell them or not, but then thought that they would find out sooner or later, so she said it.

  "Skipping grades?" The two asked in unison, their eyes wide with surprise as they stared at Ji Xin'an, but then they thought of her grades and weren't surprised anymore.

  "Yes, I've been thinking about it for a long time. At first, it was just an idea that hadn't been set in stone, but then some things happened that made me want to get into high school even earlier, so now it's decided." Ji Xin'an looked at these two friends who were even closer than before and told them what she had been thinking in her heart.

  "An An, if you skip a grade, we won't be able to be together anymore, and there will be no one to accompany me at school." Chen Zhaoji currently has no other friends, and as soon as she heard that Ji Xin'an was leaving, she felt extremely reluctant.

  "I don't want to be separated from you either, but......" Ji Xin'an had long been used to parting ways over the years, but Chen Zhaojun was not like her. Ji Xin'an didn't know how to comfort her for a moment.

  "Alright, you don't have to say anything else, I understand. Although it's hard for me to let go, I will still support you." Chen Zhaodi interrupted her words and said with a smile to Ji Xin'an.

  "Alright you two, it's not like you're parting ways forever, it's just that you won't be in the same grade anymore, and it's not like you won't see each other again. Why be so sentimental? Besides, isn't there still one more semester left? " Zou Ze jumped out to interrupt their emotional moment, then with a look of indulgence, "Looks like I can still enjoy another semester of delicious lunches."

  Ji Xin'an rolled her eyes at him again, but still quite appreciated his personality. "It's just Zhaodi, this matter can only be discussed for now, and it will take another semester to settle down. It's not worth being sad about it yet, let's not think about it for now, let's eat."

  "I love hearing this, let's eat." Zou Ze immediately started attacking the dishes on the table.