As the three entered, they saw their mother and sister already sitting at the dining table, ready to eat. Mother Ji immediately chided them, "What are you doing? Did you bring so much stuff? Did it take three people to carry it all back?"
Ji Xingmi looked at her father and the others with an expression of helplessness. She had just been lectured by her mother and didn't want to be nagged again. Dad, you're on your own!
"Qingqing, you take care of Xiao Xing'er's meal first. We'll wash up and be right there. Haocheng, take the boxes to your sister's room."
Ji Haocheng took the luggage and delivered it to his sister's room. Then he went downstairs to eat with his parents.
At the dinner table, Mother Ji kept picking food for Ji Xingmi. Ji Xingmi was too embarrassed to refuse her mother, fearing that Mother Ji would cry if she did. It had been like this when they first entered the house. She didn't know what she had said wrong, but Mother Ji's eyes immediately welled up, and she looked at her with concern.
Now she didn't dare to say anything, as she didn't know what might upset her mother later. She felt that her mother's actions now were because she thought she hadn't been eating well in the countryside. So she could only secretly wink at her adoptive father for help.
"Qingqing, eat some yourself! Don't keep picking food for Xiao Xing'er; look, she can't eat anymore!"
"Oh~ Star baby, don't eat if you can't. It's all my fault; I've given you too much!"
"Thank you, Mom. No one has ever picked food for me before."
"It's okay~ Then Mom will pick food for you from now on! Tell Mom if you don't want to eat, and tell Mom which dish you want!"
"Okay, thank you, Mom. Mom, you eat too!"
Ji Xingmi also reached out to pick some food for Mother Ji, urging her to eat more. Just as she was about to retract her hand, she saw the envious glances of her adoptive father and two brothers, and her lips twitched. Alright, she couldn't be biased. She had to pick up the serving chopsticks again and pick a piece of food for each of them.
After dinner, Mother Ji took Ji Xingmi upstairs. As she pushed open the room prepared for her, Ji Xingmi felt a slight sting in her eyes.
The furnishings in the room were all to her liking. Not only was the room spacious, but it also had a bathroom and a walk-in closet. There was even a small study.
The walk-in closet was also hung with quite a few clothes and accessories. There were clothes for all four seasons, showing great care.
"How is it? Do you like it? Your father and I picked it out for you!"
Ji Xingmi didn't speak. She went up and hugged Mother Ji. Mother Ji was stunned for a moment before hugging back the little girl in her arms.
"Why are you acting spoiled? Go wash up and go to sleep! Aren't you tired after such a long train ride?"
Ji Xingmi finally emerged from Mother Ji's embrace, smiling at her shyly. Mother Ji didn't linger, stroking her hair, giving a few instructions, and then left.
When Ji Xingmi woke up, it was already dawn. After washing up, she went downstairs and saw her mother waiting for her on the living room sofa. Ji Xingmi took the gifts she had packed the night before and went downstairs, handing them directly to Mother Ji.
Mother Ji was a little confused. When she opened them, she found a hundred-year-old ginseng and a Ganoderma lucidum. She quickly tried to return the items to Ji Xingmi, but Ji Xingmi didn't accept them, urging Mother Ji to keep them safe. As they stood there in a stalemate, her adoptive father and her two older brothers returned from their morning run.
"What are you two doing so early in the morning?"
"Look at your daughter; what did she give me this morning!"
Mother Ji showed the items in her hand to her adoptive father. He was also surprised upon seeing them, but only for a moment. He joked to Ji Xingmi, "Did you rob someone's nest? I remember you sent us a piece before."
"Hehehe, I was lucky!"
Her adoptive father didn't ask further. Just then, the housekeeper came to call them for breakfast, and everyone moved to the dining room together.
"Aren't you going to the hospital today?"
"I've taken a few days off. I wanted to take Xiao Xing'er back to see my father."
"Speaking of which, I heard from colleagues over there that my father almost fainted a few days ago. I wonder how he is doing?"