Grocery Store No.514

At eight o’clock in the evening on 30 October, 3020, Jiang Chengyan was checking documents in the office, and his phone suddenly vibrated.

Jiang Chengyan hurriedly picked up his phone, clicked the voice message and Ling Hua’an’s voice sounded. “I made fish today. If you haven’t eaten yet, come over to eat.”

Jiang Chengyang feels incredibly happy. Just as he was about to reply, he suddenly remembered the man he saw yesterday, then he clicked on the voice reply “I have eaten.”

But he immediately withdrew it as soon as it was sent.

Ling Hua’an clicked on the VX but did not hear the voice. He handed the phone to Sun Ming and asked, “Sun Ming, please help me to see if there is any new voice message.”

Sun Ming glanced at it and said with a smile, “There is information, but it has been withdrawn.”

Ling Hua’an frowned slightly but did not say anything more.  He turned on the music and listened to it.

Jiang Chengyan felt annoyed and threw his phone on the table. After five minutes, he sighed, picked up the phone, and replied, “I like fish the most. I’m coming over.”

Hearing the reply, Ling Hua’an couldn’t help raising his eyebrows along with the corners of his mouth raised into a smile.

Sun Ming who looked at the smile by chance was stunned for a moment. His heart skipped a beat for no reason, before he came back to his senses, he said, “ Laoban, you look so good when you smile.”

Ling Hu’an was taken back, “don’t I usually smile?”

“Yes, but your usual smiles make people feel a little distant. But just now Laoban’s smile is different. I do not know how to describe it, I just thought it was very beautiful.”

“Of course. I’ve seen a lot of people, but I’ve never seen a good-looking man better than my brother.” The door of the store was pushed open and Lu Hao walked in.

Ling Hua’an frowned and looked at the door, “Why are you here so late?”

Lu Hao pouted and said coquettishly, “Ge, it’s only eight o’clock. The nightlife has not even started yet. You said it’s late? I haven’t seen you for three days. Ge, you don’t want me anymore?”

“Nightlife?” Ling Hua’an deliberately asks it.

Lu Hao sensed the danger and hurriedly explained, “No. Ge, I don’t have any nightlife. I just miss you, and I came here to see you. Ge, I haven’t had dinner yet.”

“What have you been doing at eight o’clock when you haven’t eaten dinner yet?” Ling Hua’an’s brow furrowed even tighter.

Lu Hao said with a pitiful tone, “There was an activity that was organized by the school to prepare school celebration, so I’m busy working and forget the time.”

Without hesitation, Ling Hua’an took out the thermos bucket and handed it to Lu Hao, “Pickled fish, and rice. Take it to the table over there and eat it.”

Wow! Pickled fish!” Lu Hao excitedly took the thermos bucket, then frowned and asked, “Ge, have you had dinner yet?”“Ate. This is an extra. Hurry and eat.”

Ling Hua’an smiled helplessly then he introduced Sun Ming next to him, “He is my younger brother, his name is Lu Hao. He has a more lively temperament and is a bit noisy.”

Lu Hao retorted, “Ge, I’m still here! And you say bad things in front of me. Do you dislike me?”

Ling Hua’an snapped, “You can’t stop your mouth when you eat?”

“It can be blocked, it can be blocked.” Lu Hao blinked at Sun Ming and said with a smile, “Hello, my name is Lu Hao. Are you my brother’s newly recruited night shift clerk?”

Sun Ming smiled and replied, “Yes, my name is Sun Ming. I heard you say that the school is preparing for the celebration activities. Are you also a student of Huacheng University?”

Lu Hao’s eyes lit up and smiled, “En. I am a freshman, in computer science. How about you?”

“Third year, Journalist Departement. Hello Junior!”

“Hello Senior.”

The two chatted with each other, while Ling Hua’an listened quietly. Suddenly, the bell at the door rang making Ling Hua’an subconsciously look at the door. Sun Ming hurriedly greeted, “Captain Jiang, you’re here.”

Jiang Chengyan nodded with a smile  and glanced at Lu Hao who was eating before walking straight to Ling Hua’an, “Hu’an, I’m here.”

Ling Hua’an lied, “Captain Jiang, your reply was a little slow. I thought you wouldn’t come, so I gave him the food.”

Jiang Chengyan’s face stiffened, then he looked at Lu Hao again. Seeing Lu Hao looking curiously, he glanced at him and smiled, “It’s alright. Actually, I’ve already had dinner, and I just thought that you made it, so I wanted to come over and try it.”

“You have eaten? Hmm, probably officer Yao remembered it wrong.

Jiang Chengyan felt a little guilty for some reason, and asked, “Yao Min? What did she say?”

Ling Hua’an smiled lightly, “Officer Yao said that Captain Jiang has been busy and hasn’t eaten dinner yet. Maybe she was too busy and didn’t pay attention.”

Jiang Chengyan touched his nose awkwardly and said, “Yeah, the workload is a bit heavy today. She didn’t pay attention when I was eating.”

The growling sound rang out. Ling Hua’an can’t help but chuckle “Captain Jiang, your stomach seems to be more honest than your mouth.”

Jiang Chengyan immediately blushed in embarrassment, he hesitated for a moment, “ Well, there’s still something going on in the team, I’ll go back first.”

“Captain Jiang.” Ling Hua’an stopped Jiang Chengyan, “Even if you’re busy with work, you still have to eat on time. So let me make you noodles today, and I’ll cook two eggs for you.”

Jiang Chengyan stopped and turned to look at Ling Hua’an. He hesitated for a moment, “Then I’ll trouble you, I’ll go get the noodles.”

Jiang Chengyan turned around and went to the shelf along with Ling Hua’an taking out the egg cooker.

Lu Hao hurried to Ling Hua’an’s side and asked in a low voice, “Ge, who is this handsome guy? Why did I hear that the pickled  fish was specially made for him?”

“He’s the head of the criminal investigation team. He helped me a lot before. So I’m expressing my gratitude.”

“Oh, I see.” Lu Hao asked curiously, “Then what did he do for Ge?

Ling Hua’an raised his eyebrows, “are you not going to eat? If you don’t want to eat it, it just happens that he hasn’t eaten yet. So I don’t need to boil eggs anymore.”

“Eat, eat, eat. Gege cooked it, of course, there will be no grain of rice left.”

Ling Hua’an rubbed Lu Hao’s hair messily and scolded with a smile, “Brat, you have a glib tongue.”

“It depends on who it is. Hehe, then I’m going to eat. Ge, be careful…” Lu Hao glanced at Ling Hua’an’s hand and saw the scald on it, he asked nervously, “Ge, what happened to your hands?”

“It’s okay. It’s almost healed. Eat your food or it will get cold.”

“Ge, is there something wrong with Yan Yu-ge  in the past two days?” Lu Hao’s eyebrows furrowed into a lump.

Ling Hua’an drew back his hand and said helplessly, “He has his business to d. I was just careless. It’s not a big deal, don’t make such a fuss.”

“Is it nothing to have scald such a big piece? Ge, if Yan Yu-ge is busy, you can call me. I’m so close to where you live. It takes ten minutes to ride a bike. I can go back after eating lunch with you. No problem at all.”

Ling Hua’an replied in amusement., “I’ve been myself for so many years, and I’ve already gotten used to it. Don’t think I’m useless. I am just blind and not paralyzed.”

“No, I’ll pack up and move in tomorrow.” Lu Hao interrupted Ling Hua’an’s refusal, then continued  in a low voice, “Ge, don’t worry, I will never disturb you and Yan Yu-ge.”

Ling Hua’an was startled before he laughed. He scolded “What are you thinking, you bastard. Yan Yu and I are just friends. It’s not like what you think.”

“I get it. I get it. Ge, don’t worry.  I will not say anything. Then this matter is settled, I’m going to eat first.” Lu Hao didn’t give Ling Hua’an a chance to refuse, and hurriedly walked back to the table and sat down.

Although the latter words can’t be heard clearly, when Lu Hao mentioned Yan Yu, Jiang Chengyan can hear it clearly. His heart feels uncomfortable. After hesitating for a while, he walked up to Ling Hua’an, “Hua’an, the injury on your hand is not healed yet.  You should pay more attention. No need to boil the eggs.  I will just eat noodles.”

Ling Hua’an pushed the egg cooker in Jiang Chengyan’s direction, “Then you cook it yourself, how can you be full just by eating noodles.”

Next to him, Sun Ming smiled, “It’s better for me to do it, the store is not busy anyway.”

“I’ll do it myself.”

After Jiang Chengyan finished speaking, he went to the shelf to take the two eggs. When he came back, Sun Ming had already soaked the noodles for him. He thanked him, washed the eggs then put them into the egg cooker.

The store was quiet, Ling Hua’an could hear Jiang Chengyan’s shallow breathing, “Captain Jiang has been getting busier and busier recently. Is there any progress in the case?”

Jiang Chengyan who was thinking about the relationship between Yan Yu and Ling Hua’an answered it with an absent-minded, “yes, there is some progress.”

“It’s good to have progress. Captain Jiang, there is something I do not know whether I should tell you or not…”

Jiang Chengyan was stunned. He looked at Ling Hua’an who wanted to say something, “Hua’an, we …… are friends. if there is anything you want to say, just say it. As long as I can help, I will help.”

“I’m fine. I don’t need any help, Thank you Captain Jiang.” Ling Hua’an paused and then said, “The matter I’m talking about is about Jiang Changping. Since it’s a private matter, I don’t know if I should talk about it.”

“About Jiang Changping?” Jiang Chengyan remembered Ling Hua’an’s IOU. He frowned and said, “Hua’an, what is your relationship with Jiang Changping? Why didn’t we find you when we investigated who he had financial dealings with before?”

Ling Hua’an raised his eyebrows and said, “is Captain Jiang suspecting me?”

Jiang Chengyan hurriedly explained, “No, don’t misunderstand. I just feel a little strange.”

“In fact, Jiang Changping and I are also considered a business partner. He said that my writing is very good. He can help me promote and hold painting and calligraphy exhibitions. He said I can be promoted, but for the initial, he needs a sum of money. I agreed without thinking about it. Who knows that it didn’t take long for the money to be given to him. He died. ”

“Calligraphy? You can write with brushes?”

“En. I prefer regular script, I have practiced for a while.”

“Didn’t you ever think that he was lying to you?”

“Lying to me?” Ling Hua’an smiled and said, “Captain Jiang, my eyes might be blind, but my heart is not. Before investing money, I do some research. Jiang Changping’s gallery is his own, and the real estate alone is worth tens of millions. What’s more, he is still a well-known painter in Huacheng.”

~~~