In winter, the sun shines brightly, a warm ray filtering through the treetops, gently warming those below. The comforting sunlight, accompanied by a soft breeze, felt like blessings showering from the sky, filling hearts with warmth.
Huo Chen stood motionless, his mind consumed by Xu Ying’s words: “Let’s give it a try.” He gazed at Xu Ying, his fists clenching and unclenching, a slow smile spreading across his lips, his face alight with unbridled excitement. Xu Ying had never seen him so openly joyful, and a flicker of happiness sparked within her.
Suddenly, a cacophony of virtual fireworks erupted on the system’s big screen.
[Congratulations to the host, congratulations to the host.]
“You don’t want to?” Xu Ying asked, a hint of unhappiness creeping into her voice as he remained silent.
Huo Chen quickly shook his head, looking as helpless as a child. “I do.” Having confessed, he was too nervous to meet Xu Ying’s gaze. “Let me help you with the basket.” Xu Ying didn’t stand on ceremony, simply handing the basket over.
The Xu and Huo families lived close by, and in a mere few minutes, they arrived at Xu Ying’s door. Xu Ying took the basket back, a small smile gracing her lips. “Thank you. Now, go back.” With that, she turned and slipped into her home. Huo Chen remained standing there, a blissful smile lingering on his lips for a long, long time.
Xu Ying had breakfast at home and then hurried off to the county seat. Thankfully, Huo Chen hadn’t sent her bicycle to the county town, or she would have been without a way to get to work. When Xu Ying arrived at the restaurant, it had already been open for over an hour.
Gao Guihua glanced at her, but dared not utter a single word of lecture. In the past, she would have unleashed a barrage of sharp, unpleasant remarks, but now, she was so utterly terrified of Xu Ying that she held her tongue completely. Gao Xianghong, much like his sister-in-law, was a bully, but if her sister-in-law didn’t dare speak, she certainly wouldn’t.
Xu Ying entered the kitchen and explained her tardiness to Chef Ge. Hearing her story, Chef Ge’s brow furrowed with worry. “Is it safe for you to live by yourself? Perhaps you should take a few days off and go home to rest.”
“It’s okay,” Xu Ying reassured him. “There are a lot of people living there. Those kidnappers definitely wouldn’t dare act recklessly. Moreover, this matter has been reported to the Public Security Bureau. I imagine the county will be much stricter recently, and those people won’t dare to make any more moves.” Chef Ge nodded, a glimmer of reassurance in his eyes.
At noon, Gu Fuying brought Gu Fuzhu to the restaurant. The moment she saw Xu Ying, Gu Fuying’s face crumpled with a profound sense of injustice. “Yingying, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Xu Ying replied, a pang of guilt in her voice. “As for you, it’s all my fault for causing you so much trouble.”
Gu Fuying shook her head. “I’m fine too. This is all the fault of the Wu family; they are truly vicious. Don’t feel guilty, nothing happened to my cousin and me.”
“Yes, we are fine,” Gu Fuzhu chimed in, subtly changing the subject, wanting to spare Xu Ying any further self-reproach. “But you, you promised to cook for us yesterday, and you haven’t done it yet! We’re still waiting to eat the food you cooked.”
Xu Ying chuckled at their playful demand. “Just wait! I’ll prepare lunch for you now. If you want something specific, I’ll cook it just for you.”
“I want Mapo tofu, braised pork, and some rice!” Gu Fuying rattled off her favorite dishes.
Gu Fuzhu was no longer shy. “Do you have any fish? You can make one for me. You can prepare it however you like. As long as it’s fish, I love it!”
“Okay, no problem!” Xu Ying made an “OK” gesture and walked towards the kitchen.
Liu Guohua, watching the two girls outside, approached Xu Ying curiously. “Master Xu, those two are your friends. Do either of them have a partner?”
Xu Ying looked at him with amusement. “Hey, which one do you like?”
Liu Guohua chuckled, feigning nonchalance. “Oh, I was just asking.” After saying that, he furtively glanced at Sun Lifang’s expression, but seeing no change, a sour feeling twisted in his gut.
Xu Ying cast him a disgusted look and replied, “No one is suitable.” Liu Guohua nodded, then continued with his work.
“Yingying, someone is looking for you!” Sun Lifang called out, tapping on the window glass. Xu Ying looked up, surprised, and saw Huo Chen. “Why are you here?” she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
Of course, it was his longing for her that had brought him, but Huo Chen stated earnestly, “I want to eat the food you cooked!”
Xu Ying was delighted. A big order meant more favor points, and she was ecstatic. “Sit down first and wait for me for a while!”
Huo Chen stood stubbornly at the door, wanting to watch her for as long as possible. “Why don’t you go?” Xu Ying asked, feeling a little self-conscious under his gaze. If this were a friend, she wouldn’t care, but now their identities were different—they were partners. She had to worry about her image. She no longer dared to roughly chop the fish.
“I want to see you,” Huo Chen blurted out. The words escaped before he could stop them, and he immediately regretted them, wondering if he had been too forward.
“Hey, I’m not bothering you anymore!” Sun Lifang, standing nearby, had been listening intently. She sensed that the relationship between these two was now something extraordinary. Their feelings are truly remarkable. ‘I want to look at you.’ Oh my God, this is too sickeningly sweet!
“No way!” Xu Ying exclaimed, not realizing her voice had risen slightly in pitch. Indeed, she’s a woman in love, Sun Lifang thought, and he’s completely smitten. Sun Lifang rolled her eyes. When would she experience such sweet love?
Huo Chen stood there, his eyes fixed on Xu Ying, his gaze gentle and intensely warm, unable to conceal the adoration shining on his face. But it was hard for Xu Ying. She had to act like a lady even while cutting vegetables, careful in everything she did. Huo Chen observed that Xu Ying was beautiful in every way, even when she was cooking; she was so pretty and graceful.
“Brother Chen, you come to eat too!” Wu Qingsong’s voice boomed from the doorway. Xu Ying felt a wave of relief. The young man, seeing Huo Chen, reacted as if he had spotted his own elder brother, running over excitedly.
“Xu Ying, is there braised pork today? Make one for me!” Wu Qingsong was clearly in high spirits.
Huo Chen looked at him with a hint of dismay. “Why are you here?”
“I’m here to take Sister-in-law Lancao for a meal.” After Wu Qingsong spoke, he looked at the woman beside him with a happy face. The name sounded familiar to Xu Ying. When she clearly saw the woman’s face, a shock of recognition washed over her. “Are you Sister-in-law Lancao’s brother?”
Wu Qingsong’s face instantly twisted into an ugly grimace at the title of “younger brother.” He lifted his head proudly. “No, I am her partner!”
“Then why do you call her ‘sister-in-law’?”
Wu Qingsong paused, momentarily flustered. “That was before, but not now.”
Xu Ying’s eyes suddenly lit up with a gossipy gleam.
Wu Qingsong walked towards Zhang Lancao and her child, his gaze doting as he looked at Zhang Lancao. “Sister-in-law Lancao, what do you want to eat? I just ordered a portion of braised pork. Let’s see what the two children want to eat.”
“No need, food in state-owned restaurants is expensive; why spend so much money?” Zhang Lancao was so accustomed to hardship that she couldn’t bear to eat at a restaurant. If Wu Qingsong hadn’t insisted on bringing her, she would never have set foot in the state-owned establishment.
Gu Fuying, who had entered the restaurant with Wu Qingsong, had been unable to take her eyes off him. Now, seeing him sitting with a woman and two children, her expression suddenly changed. Especially when she saw the doting way Wu Qingsong looked at the woman, as if she were his cherished beloved, a bitter pang twisted in Gu Fuying’s heart.
“What’s wrong?” Gu Fuzhu followed her gaze, looking a little confused. “Do you know her?”
Gu Fuying nodded. “That man saved me yesterday.”
Gu Fuzhu was extremely surprised. “Then let’s treat him to dinner and thank him for saving you yesterday.”