My happy life in a courtyard house with triplets.

Chapter 135: Accompanying Lou Xiao'e Shopping

Hearing Lou Xiao'e's words, Zhang Lei frowned and said, "Alright then, but you should tell your driver, right? Otherwise, Chairman Lou won't not know where you went and will have to look for you everywhere."

Lou Xiao'e thought about it and agreed, so she said, "Okay, I'll go tell them. You wait for me at the factory gate."

Zhang Lei waited at the factory gate for five minutes before seeing Lou Xiao'e running over happily.

"Where do you want to go?" Zhang Lei asked.

Lou Xiao'e thought for a moment and said, "How about we go to Wangfujing Department Store?"

Zhang Lei nodded and said, "Okay." He thought to himself that he hadn't used the tickets Lou Bancheng had given him yet, and now he could buy both the watch and the sewing machine.

On the way, Zhang Lei rode his bicycle with Lou Xiao'e sitting behind him. The two talked and chatted, and gradually they had more to talk about.

Suddenly there was a pothole ahead. Zhang Lei didn't notice it and rode straight over it. With a "thump," Lou Xiao'e was startled and quickly hugged Zhang Lei's waist.

Zhang Lei suddenly felt the softness of Lou Xiao'e's hands and back, and his whole body felt a tingling sensation.

"Lou Xiao'e, are you...are you alright?"

Lou Xiao'e awkwardly released her hand and said, "I...I'm fine."

Then Zhang Lei quickly added, "I wasn't paying attention just now, but I will be more careful from now on and try to ride on flat roads."

Lou Xiao'e was silent for a moment, then said, "It's nothing."

On the way there, perhaps because of the awkwardness caused by what had just happened, Zhang Lei sped up his bike and soon arrived at Wangfujing Department Store.

Lou Xiao'e was immediately delighted upon entering.

Zhang Lei shook his head, thinking: It seems that no matter the era, shopping is a woman's nature.

Lou Xiao'e immediately started her "buy, buy, buy" spree.

Soon, Zhang Lei's bicycle handlebars were covered with things. Taking advantage of the situation, Zhang Lei used his sewing ticket to buy a sewing machine and a watch. He had the sewing machine delivered to the back annex of the courtyard house at No. 95.

Afterwards, Zhang Lei continued to accompany Lou Xiao'e shopping. Perhaps because Lou Xiao'e's shopping was too conspicuous, several petty thieves took notice of them.

As the two walked out of the department store, preparing to find a place to eat, a few people suddenly bumped into Zhang Lei's bicycle. Zhang Lei immediately felt that several items were missing from the handlebars.

At that moment, Lou Xiao'e suddenly cried out, "My...my wallet!"

Zhang Lei, seeing this, realized something was amiss! He then told Lou Xiao'e, "You stay here, I'll go after them!"

Zhang Lei quickly chased after the group and shouted, "Stop thief!"

People back then weren't as indifferent as they are in later generations, who were afraid of being falsely accused if they didn't help an elderly person who had fallen. When someone shouted "Stop thief!", a crowd immediately swarmed around them, completely surrounding the thieves.

Zhang Lei quickly pointed to the group and said, "Yes, it's them!"

Before Zhang Lei could even make a move, some people in the crowd couldn't hold back any longer and rushed forward to push, shove, punch, and kick him. The thieves were surrounded and beaten, without even a chance to fight back.

Zhang Lei tried to squeeze in to see what was going on, but he was blocked by the wall of people and couldn't get in at all.

It wasn't until the police arrived that the crowd slowly made way for them.

The police rushed in and shouted to their colleagues, "Quickly, protect the thief! Don't let him get beaten to death!"

Some people were still not satisfied and even hit the thief in the face.

At this moment, the police officer quickly shouted, "Sir, stop! No... stop stomping! Stop hitting him! Stop stepping on him!"

Soon, with the police's help, the thieves slowly stood up.

Zhang Lei couldn't help but find it amusing to look at the thief with a bruised and swollen face.

Lou Xiao'e's wallet and all the stolen items were quickly recovered.

Lou Xiao'e looked at Zhang Lei and said gratefully, "Great job, Zhang Lei, thank goodness for you."

Zhang Lei laughed and said, "It wasn't me, but it has nothing to do with me. It's all thanks to everyone's enthusiasm. They're the ones who caught the thief."

Lou Xiao'e looked at Zhang Lei and said earnestly, "Then I also want to thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't know what to do."

Zhang Lei looked at Lou Xiao'e and said with a smile, "Isn't it natural for men to protect women?"

After saying this, Lou Xiao'e blushed deeply and whispered, "Who's your woman?"

After saying that, she ran away, leaving Zhang Lei alone on the spot.

Zhang Lei was completely bewildered. He quickly pushed his bicycle and chased after her, explaining, "Lou Xiao'e, don't misunderstand. I was just saying that when a man encounters trouble, he should bravely stand up."

Lou Xiao'e blushed and said, "I...I know."

Seeing Lou Xiao'e's embarrassed expression, Zhang Lei smiled and said, "Do you like hot pot? How about we go eat Donglaishun mutton hot pot?"

Upon hearing about hot pot with mutton, Lou Xiao'e nodded and said, "Okay, let's go eat hot pot with mutton. It's my treat."

Zhang Lei looked at Lou Xiao'e and, upon hearing her say that, didn't refuse, saying, "Alright then, you treat me this time, and I'll treat you next time."

Soon, the two arrived at Donglaishun and found a seat by the window.

Zhang Lei looked around at Donglaishun and felt it was very nice, especially their mutton, which was all freshly cut. He also heard that the mutton was transported from Inner Mongolia and was very authentic.

Zhang Lei watched as Lou Xiao'e's cheeks bulged out from eating and couldn't help but find it amusing.

Lou Xiao'e saw Zhang Lei laughing at her and said somewhat awkwardly, "I...I'm a little hungry."

Zhang Lei laughed and said, "It's okay, keep eating. I think it's quite cute."

Hearing Zhang Lei say that about her, Lou Xiao'e said somewhat shyly, "If you... if you laugh at me again, I won't talk to you anymore!"

Seeing Lou Xiao'e's expression, Zhang Lei quickly said, "Okay, okay, okay, stop laughing. I'll go make some sesame sauce and get you some more meat."

After eating hot pot for forty minutes, both of them were so full that their stomachs were bulging.

Just then, the two of them arrived at the entrance of the movie theater.

Lou Xiao'e asked softly, "Zhang Lei, shall we go see a movie?"

Hearing Lou Xiao'e's words, Zhang Lei was a little taken aback. Two people, a man and a woman alone, going to see a movie...

Zhang Lei said, "This...this isn't quite right, is it?"

Lou Xiao'e looked at Zhang Lei and said, "I'm a girl, and you're going to refuse? I really don't know why you're so timid. Are you afraid of your wife?"

Provoked by her words, Zhang Lei's temper flared up, and he retorted, "Afraid of your wife? How could that be! I have three..."

As soon as he said this, Zhang Lei immediately shut up, startled, as he had almost let something slip.

Lou Xiao'e looked at him suspiciously and asked, "Three? What three?"

Zhang Lei quickly explained, "This...this can't be explained in just a few words!"

Zhang Lei composed himself and said with a forced smile, "Fine, I'll go! I'm just worried that if I take advantage of someone in the dark movie theater, they might get scared."

Lou Xiao'e simply replied, "I'm not afraid!"

The movie started quickly. Zhang Lei hadn't expected it to be a foreign film. The movie opened with the male and female leads sharing a passionate kiss.

Lou Xiao'e blushed at the sight, and involuntarily gripped Zhang Lei's hand tightly.

Lou Xiao'e was a little nervous at this moment, her pupils dilated slightly. She explained to Zhang Lei, "I... I didn't expect it to be like this either."

Zhang Lei didn't say anything, letting Lou Xiao'e hold his hand.

Suddenly, a terrifying scene appeared in the movie, and Lou Xiao'e screamed in fright.

Lou Xiao'e was so frightened that she immediately burrowed into Zhang Lei's arms.

Seeing Lou Xiao'e's mixture of wanting to see and being afraid, Zhang Lei patted her back and gently comforted her, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I'm here."