Supermarket

The whole afternoon, Jiang Shen and Shi Fen spent talking about anything they could talk about. It was a great way to spend her afternoon. And best of all, Shi Fen shouldered the costs.

When she got home just before dusk, Jiang Mei greeted her at the front door and said, "Had fun?"

Jiang Shen nodded. It was rare of her to hang out outside the house. And even then she might not necessarily enjoy herself, so today was a fulfilling day.

"Nanny Su had already prepared dinner. The cream roll's in the fridge if you want it. Go ahead and have dinner, I have a meeting." Jiang Mei patted her head lovingly before leaving off to her own room.

In the east wing where she changed out of her clothes and into comfortable pajamas, Jiang Shen laid on the floor with the doors opened, allowing her a view of the splendidly decorated backyard.

The willow tree completely occupied the sky, covering the entire backyard, protecting them from the rain and blazing heat, but still providing sunlight.

By the time night fell, Jiang Shen had already eaten her dinner and brought back a plate of cream roll for herself. Thinking of the young man she had met gazes with earlier, she subconsciously frowned.

His gaze felt weird. Like he somehow could see through her but at the same time he couldn't. His gentle eyes reminded her of her mother and the smile that decorated his face looked at her softly.

Jiang Shen frowned again. 'I never knew I could get so philosophical about a person's facial features.'

It was no use thinking about it, instead of fretting over it, she had to spend the most of her time trying to do revisions and mock exams so as to keep up and maintain her position.

If it wasn't because Nanny Yue saw that the light in her room was still on, Jiang Shen would've studied all throughout the night and stop when dawn had broke out.

...

Over the next few weeks, besides the usual times Shi Fen and her friends visiting over to study or hang out, Jiang Shen devoted her time to playing a new instrument, one that Nanny Su had recommended, the kalimba.

It was easy enough to master, and the sound was so pleasant it made her feel joy just playing a song.

Unfortunately while she was busy playing with the instrument, Jiang Mei walked to the east wing's backyard and told her that she had to go grocery shopping with Nanny Cho.

Nanny Su was taking care of Nanny Yue, who had collapsed from heat exhaustion the past day. Jiang Shen wasn't heartless to refuse a request and ended up accompanying Nanny Cho to the supermarket.

The place barely had any people, as it was still quite early in the morning. Nanny Cho, who was the youngest in her forties, grabbed a cart and informed her to go in the meat section before handing her a list to buy.

There wasn't much. And so she strode towards the meat section and requested for the different types of meat on the list. It was a good thing that the staff was polite as she took the list from her hands and she didn't need to say it out loud every single time.

While she patiently waited for the meat in the far end of the section, a young man was browsing the section with a confused expression. Judging from his face, he was inexperienced in grocery shopping and was probably sent on an errand.

But Jiang Shen wouldn't help him. First of all he didn't ask her. And second of all, if he didn't need her help, why should she embarrass herself? She remembered her younger self that kept stuttering every time she went grocery shopping because she was too nervous to ask for the things she needed.

Jiang Shen turned her attention away and instead pulled out her phone. It was 9 am. The usual time that people come to the supermarket, or at least, here where she's been coming to for the past few years.

"Excuse me, miss?"

"Yes?" Jiang Shen turned off her phone and looked up.

"I was wondering if you could help me?"

Surprise flashed in her eyes as she remembered the young man to be the person she'd been seeing since the day before summer break started. This would be the third time they had met and the first time they conversed.

The young man was a bit taller than her standing at 178cm while she stood at 173cm. He wasn't imposing at all and exuded a warm aura that most old people find endearing.

"What do you need help with?"

"I'm trying to find where the ground beef is?" He felt lost trying to find it.

Jiang Shen turned to the meat section and said, "That's because you're in the pork subsection." She pointed at the sign above them.

The young man turned red when he realized his mistake and bowed his head. "I'm so sorry, I didn't know. I'm not familiar with this supermarket."

Jiang Shen nodded understandably. Besides, the supermarket in the city was indeed different, since the meat displayed here was always fresh and not individually wrapped in plastic. "The beef subsection is over here."

They walked to the right where all of the beef were displayed. "If you need a specific type and weight, just ask the employee behind the glass. They'll help you weigh and package them.

There's also a self service behind us. But that's for the seafood, if you need any." She gestured behind them where there was an array of seafood doused in ice.

The young man nodded as he listened attentively to the girl. "Then, where will I pay? Here or the checkouts?"

"The checkouts. When they wrap the meat up, there's another tag with the price on it where they'll scan it."

"Oh, okay okay. I get it."

Jiang Shen nodded. "Is there anything else?"

The young man looked apprehensive, as if he wanted to ask but at the same time didn't. Jiang Shen didn't push it and said, "If you can't say it then that's fine. I'll be in the produce section if you need me." She returned to the end of the section and thanked the employee before taking the meat.

"Yang Mu!"

Then, Jiang Shen stopped and turned around. She tilted her head in confusion.

"That's my name!" he shouted.

She couldn't help but let out a laugh. "You don't have to yell. I can hear you perfectly well. Anyways, see you around, Yang Mu." she waved goodbye and hurried off to another section.

Yang Mu waved and heaved a sigh of relief. Walking to the end of the section to grab the requested meat, the employee smiled and said, "Goodluck, sir!"

At the employee's words, Yang Mu didn't managed to stop his blush.