They hadn't seen each other for three years, not since they met when she lost her memory.
It wasn't that they didn't want to meet, but rather that they didn't want to disturb each other.
He stayed happily at the small base, unwilling to leave. She was busy outside. Living their own lives separately was perfectly fine.
"Old man, long time no see."
She wasn't the amnesiac Xu Qian, so she wasn't as enthusiastic. However, she was genuinely excited and very happy to see the old man again.
Li Zhou smiled and sighed, "It has indeed been a long time."
As they walked into the barbecue stall, Xu Qian saw Ji Liyang grilling skewers at the chef's station, sweat dripping from his face.
Could the leader of the Ji Liyang Base, even a small one, have fallen so low as to sell barbecued skewers?
"Girl, sit down. I'll get you some skewers."
Before Xu Qian could stop him, Li Zhou picked out a few skewers from the grill, placed them on a plate, and put them in front of her, sprinkled with chili powder.
"Eat up. Liyang is a very good barbecuer. Give it a try."
Xu Qian wisely didn't ask too many questions. She picked up a skewer and took a bite.
The smoky aroma and the meatiness were perfectly blended, melting in her mouth. No wonder so many people were queuing up.
Xu Qian didn't indulge herself and stopped after eating one skewer.
"Old man, when did the Ji Liyang Base move here?"
"They came a year ago. Everyone is living quite well. Liyang didn't have much ambition, so he started this barbecue business. And mind you, he's making quite a lot."
Li Zhou smiled and stroked his beard. His cloudy eyes were brighter than before, indicating that he was happier living in Hope Base than he was in Ji Liyang Base.
Xu Qian noticed that most of the employees around were older, likely the old guards from the Ji Liyang Base.
"Old man, if you're happy, then I'm happy. Just let me know if you need anything."
Li Zhou sighed. He hadn't expected that the pair of sisters he had casually saved years ago would be so kind.
He had saved so many people in his life that he had almost forgotten them, but she had always remembered.
"I'm doing very well. Your happiness is the greatest repayment to me."
Li Zhou naturally knew about her guilt and her desire to compensate him. But doing good deeds expecting compensation would go against the very spirit of kindness.
He had been poor before, but even in poverty, he had maintained his integrity.
Xu Qian heard his unspoken thoughts and understood his mindset.
Since the old man wanted nothing, she would patronize the barbecue stall more often and visit him more.
Little Nian would probably jump for joy if she saw the old man.
They chatted for a while. As more customers arrived, Li Zhou had to get back to work.
Xu Qian didn't disturb him. She silently left the corresponding crystal cores and departed.
The weekend market was truly vast. Xu Qian shopped from morning till night, barely managing to finish, her spatial storage now filled with both necessary and unnecessary items.
After notifying the driver to pick her up, she waited not far from the main gate.
The evening market was even more crowded. Everyone had finished work and was flocking into the market.
Xu Qian was a bit tired, so she closed her eyes and leaned against a large tree to rest.
Suddenly, a system notification chimed.
[Ding, Gu Ziming's favorability +5, total favorability is 20.]
"Xu Qian, what are you doing here?"
Xu Qian slowly opened her eyes, looking at the tall figure before her.
Gu Ziming's eyes flickered, his gaze fixed on her face.
Xu Qian blinked slightly. It seemed like it had been a long time since anyone new had shown her feelings of affection, apart from those few...
What she didn't realize was that no one dared to harbor any romantic feelings for her.
Firstly, she was too strong. The weak, even if they liked her, were powerless to act on it, keeping their feelings buried deep inside.
Secondly, the people who liked her were too powerful, having completely suppressed any potential rivals. No one dared to entertain any improper thoughts.
"Help!!"