Chapter 21: This Life, No Next Life

Seeing Qin Xiaorou suddenly appear before him, Chen Feng was momentarily stunned.

This time, it wasn't a chance encounter with Zhang Jingwen, but a chance encounter with Qin Xiaorou.

He didn't have much of a favorable impression of her—she had a foul temper, loved to talk back, and was impolite. Of course, it wasn't that he disliked her either.

"What are you doing here?"

Since they knew each other, Chen Feng asked casually.

"Is it strange for me to be here?"

As expected, Qin Xiaorou was a natural at talking back.

Chen Feng asked again, "Did you come with your family?"

Qin Xiaorou finally started speaking properly and nodded. "Yes. With my mom and a bunch of pretentious adults. It was boring staying in the private room, so I came out to sit in the lobby. I didn't expect to see you as soon as I sat down. Hehe, isn't that a coincidence?"

Chen Feng could only nod truthfully. "It is quite a coincidence."

"Then, Uncle, are you here to eat with someone? Bring me along too."

This wild girl was certainly unceremonious; she had quite thick skin.

"Aren't you eating with your mother? Why would you eat with me?"

Chen Feng naturally didn't want to eat with her and rejected her immediately.

Qin Xiaorou said dissatisfiedly, "Didn't I just tell you? I don't want to eat with those adults."

"Am I not an adult too?"

"You're not going to be that petty, are you?" Qin Xiaorou pouted and glared at him. "I treated you to a drink last time, and I even helped you win a big prize. Can't you treat me to a meal?"

That was actually true.

Qin Xiaorou wasn't being unreasonable. She asked, "Are you eating with a lot of people?"

Looking at her innocent face and remembering how she had indeed helped him win a prize by treating him to a drink last time, Chen Feng couldn't bring himself to lie.

"No, I'm eating alone."

Chen Feng finally told the truth.

"What? You're eating alone?"

Qin Xiaorou's eyes widened.

It was well known that Fumanlou was a place for banquets, and there were minimum consumption limits; you couldn't just come here to order two or three small dishes.

"Is it strange for me to eat alone?" Chen Feng retorted, mimicking her tone.

Qin Xiaorou chuckled. "Uncle, I didn't misjudge you. You really are quite a character."

After saying that, she even gave Chen Feng a thumbs-up.

"Let's go. I'll book a private room."

Since he couldn't shake her off, he might as well bring her along. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to finish a table of good food, which would be a waste.

Besides, he was returning to his hometown this afternoon. With this trip, he wouldn't have much time left; he didn't know if they would ever meet again in the future.

He booked a private room on the second floor.

Taking the menu, Chen Feng, having eaten there twice before, skillfully ordered a few dishes he had been craving and then handed it to Qin Xiaorou.

She also ordered a few dishes without any hesitation.

"Do you want alcohol? Moutai or Wuliangye are fine; don't try to save money for me," Chen Feng teased intentionally.

Qin Xiaorou rolled her eyes and said, "Can I take it to go? If I can, I'll order two bottles of Feitian."

Chen Feng didn't want to be a sucker, so he shook his head. "Taking it to go is definitely not allowed. Forget it, I'll just get you two bottles of juice."

"I don't want juice. Just get large bottles of Sprite."

"Then I'll get a bottle of Coke."

After the waiter left, Qin Xiaorou's face quickly dropped. "I sent you a WeChat message yesterday, why didn't you reply? Don't you think that's a bit much?"

Chen Feng felt a bit sheepish; he was indeed in the wrong for not replying. Moreover, the girl seemed to have sent several messages, which Chen Feng had been too lazy to check.

Mainly, he thought they were just passing strangers and that they would never meet again until his death. Who would have thought he'd run into her here and get caught red-handed?

"I haven't been in a good mood these past two days. I've basically cut off contact with the outside world."

Chen Feng wasn't exactly lying.

Qin Xiaorou asked bluntly, "Did you get a divorce, or did your wife have an affair? Otherwise, why would you come here to order food and eat alone?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Feng's face darkened instantly. He said irritably, "You really have a foul mouth, kid."

Qin Xiaorou giggled. "Did I hit the mark?"

Chen Feng glared at her, but ultimately said, "I got a divorce."

"Why? Did your wife have an affair?" Qin Xiaorou looked like a curious child.

Chen Feng glared at her again. In the past, if he had encountered such a tactless brat, he would have definitely lost his temper and kicked her out. But now, his tolerance was extremely high, simply because he was dying. After this meal together, it might be their final farewell.

Therefore, he could show her the utmost tolerance; after all, meeting and reuniting was a form of fate. There was this life, and perhaps no next.

The young girl wasn't afraid of him and switched to a gentle tone to persuade him, "Tell me. It's just the two of us here. If you say it, you'll surely feel better."

Chen Feng shook his head. "There was likely no affair. We just lost our feelings for each other, so we decided to part ways amicably. I was the one who initiated the divorce."

Qin Xiaorou suddenly frowned and asked unhappily, "Then what about your daughter?"

Chen Feng froze for a moment before remembering the lie he had casually told in his last WeChat message.

Since this would be their final farewell, Chen Feng didn't want to continue lying to her. He confessed, "I don't have any children. I just said that randomly last time."

Qin Xiaorou stared at him with an unfriendly expression, which actually exerted a slight pressure on Chen Feng.

Chen Feng cleared his throat and hurriedly changed the subject. "Why did your mother bring you here to eat today?"

Qin Xiaorou's attention was successfully diverted. She frowned and said, "It's because she has to go out for social engagements, and bringing me along makes her look more close to others. There were several men and women, and I was the only junior. How could I eat comfortably?"

Chen Feng thought about it and nodded. "That's true. What your mother is doing is a bit wrong. Next time, tell her directly that you don't want to eat with so many adults. I think she won't bring you to social events anymore if you do that."

"What do you know?" Qin Xiaorou glared at him unceremoniously. "My mom is very stubborn. She insists that I obey her unconditionally; I'm not allowed to have my own ideas. It's useless to talk to her."

He had been too hasty. After all, this was a matter between a mother and daughter; as an outsider, it wasn't easy for Chen Feng to say much. He could only nod awkwardly and change the subject again. "What grade are you in this year? Eighth grade?"

"What kind of eyes do you have? Do I look like I'm in eighth grade?"

This wild girl really was impolite.

*I'll endure it!*

"I'm in ninth grade. I have the high school entrance exam next year. After that, I might go abroad to study, but I'm not sure."

"Going abroad right after high school? Isn't that too young?" Chen Feng asked with concern.

Qin Xiaorou lifted her chin and said, "What's the big deal? Many kids are sent abroad straight from elementary school. If not abroad, they go to international schools, and then go abroad after elementary, or just finish high school and apply to foreign universities. You don't know about all this, do you?"

*I'm being looked down upon!*

*I'll endure it!*

"But they can't just send you abroad alone, can they? Is there anyone from your family going there to accompany you?"

Qin Xiaorou pouted and said somewhat gloomily, "My dad is over there."

As soon as Chen Feng heard this, he understood. Mom is in the country, and Dad is abroad—how could their relationship be good? They had likely been divorced for a long time.

Just as he was wondering whether to say a few words of comfort, he heard Qin Xiaorou's phone ring.

Qin Xiaorou picked it up, looked at it, and answered with a look of helplessness. After a few "mhm"s and "ah"s, she said, "I ran into a friend, but I'm eating at his place. He just finished eating here, no, it's just the two of us... a man, just an ordinary friend, not what you're thinking. Okay, okay, it's the private room diagonally across from you, the Furong Hall."

Putting her phone away, Qin Xiaorou looked at Chen Feng very awkwardly. "My mom might have misunderstood. She's a very strong-willed person. If she says something unpleasant later, please give me face and be patient with her. She's going through menopause and has been single for several years, you know."

Chen Feng was speechless.

He reached up to rub his forehead. Just as he was hesitating whether to slip away, the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open. A woman walked in briskly, looking furious, but when she saw Chen Feng sitting there, she was instantly stunned.

Chen Feng was equally stunned.

"It's you!"

"It's you!"