SYLM Chapter 86

Chapter 86 Dinner.

Chapter 86 Dinner.

Although Tang Ying was quite critical of Gu Wan Jun’s “valuing romance over friendship,” she didn’t have the habit of being a third wheel. Seeing that Duo Duo was safely delivered home and having shot daggers at Gu Wan Jun with her eyes, she thought, “A gentleman takes revenge, ten years is not too late,” and silently held a grudge against Gu Wan Jun, then left.

After entering the house, Duo Duo kept tightly clutching Chen Lu’s fingers, as if afraid that her beloved Lu Lu *jiejie* would suddenly disappear. The little dumpling looked up, her eyes sparkling like two twinkling stars, and she said in a childish voice:

“Lu Lu *jiejie*, did you put on makeup today? You look so pretty!”

“……”

Looking down at that adorable little face that seemed to be carved from the same mold as Gu Wan Jun, Chen Lu curved her lips into a smile, but her heart felt somewhat complicated.

Duo Duo pulled Chen Lu to the sofa, where Gu Wan Jun was sitting. A long purple dress accentuated her snow-like skin, and her gentle and dignified eyebrows and eyes revealed an unintentional charm.

Duo Duo leaned closer and said sweetly in her childish voice, “Mommy looks so pretty today!”

Gu Wan Jun smiled, reached out, and ruffled her daughter’s hair, her eyes as gentle as if they could melt everything: “Thank you, baby.”

Just a second ago, the little one was still immersed in the beauty of her mommy and Lu Lu *jiejie*, but the next second, when Duo Duo noticed that Gu Wan Jun’s ankle was a bit red and swollen, her fair and rosy little face immediately crumpled into a ball, like a freshly steamed *xiaolongbao*, full of heartache:

“Mommy, what’s wrong with your foot?”

“Mommy accidentally sprained it when she went out today.”

“Mommy is too careless, it must hurt a lot! Did you go to the hospital to see a doctor *ayi*?”

Duo Duo was so anxious that she was about to cry. Gu Wan Jun quickly took her daughter’s little hand and comforted her softly:

“It doesn’t hurt too much. Lu Lu *jiejie* has already applied medicine for Mommy. Don’t worry, baby.”

Hearing that Lu Lu *jiejie* had already applied medicine for her mommy, Duo Duo rubbed her eyes, and then she didn’t cry. She squatted beside the sofa, her fair little hands gently lifting her mommy’s foot, lowered her head, and carefully blew on it, murmuring softly:

“Mommy, Duo Duo will blow on it for you. If I blow on it, it won’t hurt anymore.”

Looking at her daughter’s careful actions, Gu Wan Jun’s heart softened into a mush, and she said softly, “Thank you, Duo Duo, baby. Thanks to you blowing on it for Mommy, it doesn’t hurt anymore now.”

“……”

Watching this heartwarming scene between mother and daughter, Chen Lu’s heart felt like something had gently scratched it, giving her an indescribable feeling.

She clearly knew that she shouldn’t have any emotional fluctuations regarding people or things related to Gu Wan Jun anymore, but when she saw Gu Wan Jun and Duo Duo interacting, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of tenderness in her heart.

No. Can’t. Shouldn’t.

Chen Lu, you can’t repeat the same mistakes.

Chen Lu repeatedly warned herself in her heart. She tried to force herself to look away, but her gaze unconsciously fell on Gu Wan Jun’s face in the end.

That face was gentle and beautiful, her eyebrows and eyes full of tenderness, but Chen Lu knew what kind of stubborn and determined heart was hidden beneath Gu Wan Jun’s seemingly gentle exterior.

Chen Lu, you’re simply hopeless.

Just as Chen Lu was absentmindedly scolding herself, Duo Duo suddenly grabbed her hand and asked with a face full of anticipation:

“Lu Lu *jiejie*, are you having dinner with us tonight?”

“……”

Chen Lu was stunned for a moment and subconsciously wanted to refuse, but before she could open her mouth, Gu Wan Jun had already softly interjected:

“Mommy’s foot is injured, so she might not be able to cook tonight. If Lu Lu *jiejie* stays, then she’ll have to work hard to cook for us.”

Gu Wan Jun’s voice was soft, and her tone carried a hint of subtle probing, but her eyes never looked at Chen Lu.

When Duo Duo heard her mommy say this, she immediately clapped her hands excitedly: “Okay, okay! Mommy, didn’t you say before that Lu Lu *jiejie* cooks especially well? Duo Duo hasn’t eaten it yet!”

Gu Wan Jun looked down at her daughter and said in a gentle tone, “Yes, but I don’t know if Lu Lu *jiejie* is still willing to cook now.”

When she said the second half of the sentence, Gu Wan Jun’s voice carried a hint of faint disappointment, as if she was deliberately saying it for Chen Lu to hear.

Duo Duo seemed to understand and not understand what her mommy was saying. As if she had made some kind of determination, she looked up, staring at Chen Lu with expectant eyes, her entire little face exerting effort:

“Lu Lu *jiejie*, don’t worry. If you stay to cook, Duo Duo can help you. Duo Duo won’t let you get too tired. Stay and have dinner with us tonight, okay?”

“……”

Looking at the two people in front of her, one big and one small, Chen Lu moved her lips, feeling a burst of helplessness in her heart.

How could she refuse?

Gu Wan Jun was always like this, seemingly not saying anything, but in the end, she could always make her willingly stay.

After a moment of silence, Chen Lu finally compromised. She asked softly, “Then what do you want to eat tonight?”

“……”

As soon as Chen Lu’s voice fell, a hint of a smile instantly flashed across those beautiful peach blossom eyes, like a triumphant little fox. Gu Wan Jun leaned gently on the sofa, her gaze towards Chen Lu was unbelievably gentle:

“Just make anything, I like everything you make.”

“……”

Whether Gu Wan Jun did it on purpose or not, as soon as these words were spoken, a trace of subtle ambiguity immediately permeated the air. Chen Lu looked away, but couldn’t control her racing heartbeat.

The two adults in the living room had different thoughts, while the only innocent Duo Duo, who didn’t know anything, was happy because her Lu Lu *jiejie* had agreed to stay. She jumped and skipped, holding Chen Lu’s hand, and cheered with joy:

“Yay! Lu Lu *jiejie* is going to cook for us!”

“……”

The city’s dusk was like a warm yellow-toned oil painting, the clouds outlined with golden edges exuding a sense of ethereal beauty. The architectural outlines of the entire city also gradually blurred in the twilight.

After arriving home, Tang Ying smelled wafts of food aroma as soon as she entered the entryway. Fu Yi Wen was busy preparing dinner for the two of them in the kitchen.

“You’re back?” Fu Yi Wen walked out of the kitchen carrying a plate of food. Seeing Tang Ying, she asked cheerfully, “Did you send Duo Duo home?”

“Sent her home.”

Tang Ying answered casually. When her gaze fell on the dish in Fu Yi Wen’s hand, the annoyance in her heart from being bombarded with displays of affection seemed to be diluted by the aroma of the food. Tang Ying took off her trench coat and hung it up, casually telling Fu Yi Wen about Chen Lu being at Gu Wan Jun’s house.

“Lu Lu is at Gu Wan Jun’s house?!”

Mentioning Chen Lu, Fu Yi Wen’s expression suddenly changed, looking worried, as she feared her friend might get hurt again. Tang Ying glanced at her and snorted:

“Those two are just one willing to hit and the other willing to be hit. Chen Lu still has feelings for Gu Wan Jun. Otherwise, not to mention just a sprained ankle, even if Gu Wan Jun died outside, Chen Lu wouldn’t even give her a second glance.”

Fu Yi Wen: “……”

Although this was a bit crude, it was indeed true.

Who knows why her Lu Lu was so set on Gu Wan Jun, that crooked-neck tree?!

Eh? Wait, why does this sound familiar…?

Fu Yi Wen stood there, still worried about her friend in her heart. Tang Ying approached her, flicked her forehead, and forcibly pulled this person’s wandering thoughts back:

“Stop thinking about things you shouldn’t be thinking about. How much longer until the food is ready? I’m starving.”

Fu Yi Wen came back to her senses and answered with a smile, “Just one more red date, longan, and black chicken soup, and it’s done.”

“……”

Hearing the name of this very nourishing soup, Tang Ying frowned subconsciously, looking disgusted. Just as she was about to open her mouth to complain, she heard Fu Yi Wen earnestly add:

“This soup is very good for nourishing blood and *qi*. I’ve been simmering it for a long time, it’s very delicious, you should drink more later.”

Tang Ying crossed her arms and asked coldly, “What, are you saying I’m getting old?”

Fu Yi Wen was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud: “My Teacher Tang, you’re not old, can you not be so sensitive about age?”

Tang Ying rolled her eyes: “Who’s your teacher? You’ve graduated for so many years.”

Fu Yi Wen laughed even harder. She gently bumped Tang Ying’s shoulder and coaxed her nicely, “What’s wrong? It’s just a title, are you really angry? If you don’t like it, I won’t call you that anymore.”

Tang Ying raised her chin, her tone icy: “Hmph, is it just a matter of the title? Who knows if you like young people.”

Fu Yi Wen panicked: “Hey, hey, hey! Stop! Who was it who promised me last time to try not to be sarcastic as much as possible in the future? How did you go off track again while talking?”

“……”

The boomerang may be late, but it arrived. Knowing that she was in the wrong, Tang Ying rolled her eyes unhappily and didn’t say anything, turning around to go to the bathroom to wash her hands.

Looking at Tang Ying’s tall back, Fu Yi Wen, who had finally won a comeback battle, curled up the corners of her lips. The deep affection in her eyes was so strong that it was about to overflow.

How could I dislike you?

It’s clearly that I love you and there’s not enough time.

On the other side of the city.

Chen Lu returned to Gu Wan Jun’s house carrying the groceries she had just bought. She decided to simply make four dishes and a soup for dinner. Although she still had some complex emotions in her heart, she compromised when she saw Duo Duo’s expectant little face.

Before cooking, Duo Duo hopped into the kitchen, saying she wanted to help.

Chen Lu ruffled her little head and said gently, “No need, Duo Duo, go keep Mommy company.”

Duo Duo shook her head, saying firmly, “Duo Duo must help Lu Lu *jiejie*. Duo Duo wants to keep her word.”

Chen Lu thought for a moment, a hint of imperceptible tenderness flashing in her eyes. She said softly to Duo Duo, “Okay, I’ll give Duo Duo a more difficult task, okay?”

Duo Duo’s eyes lit up immediately, and she asked excitedly, “What kind of task?”

Chen Lu bent down, leaned close to the little one’s ear, and whispered a few words.

After listening, Duo Duo had a mysterious smile on her face, nodded, and ran out of the kitchen.

In the living room, Gu Wan Jun was sitting on the sofa. Seeing her daughter come out of the kitchen, she smiled gently, “Baby, why did you come out? Didn’t you say you were going to help Lu Lu *jiejie*?”

Duo Duo shook her head mysteriously and said, “Lu Lu *jiejie* gave Duo Duo a more difficult task.”

Gu Wan Jun raised her eyebrows, somewhat curious: “Oh? What kind of task?”

Duo Duo shook her head, her little face full of pride: “This is a secret between Duo Duo and Lu Lu *jiejie*. Duo Duo can’t say.”

Secret? These two have a secret behind her back?

Gu Wan Jun suddenly felt a little jealous, but she couldn’t tell for a moment whether she was more jealous of her daughter or more jealous of Chen Lu. She deliberately put on a sad expression and said softly, “Does Duo Duo not love Mommy anymore now that she has Lu Lu *jiejie*?”

When Duo Duo heard this, she became anxious and quickly shook her head: “No! Duo Duo loves Mommy the most!”

Gu Wan Jun looked at her daughter with a deliberately aggrieved expression, her tone gentle: “Then why doesn’t Duo Duo tell Mommy your secret?”

No one can resist Gu Wan Jun’s coquetry, let alone the simple-minded “Mommy’s girl” Duo Duo. The little dumpling hesitated for a moment, then finally said softly, “Then… Mommy, Duo Duo can tell Mommy, but Mommy can’t tell Lu Lu *jiejie*, okay?”

Gu Wan Jun nodded and held out her finger: “Then we pinky swear.”

Duo Duo held out her little hand and pinky swore with her mommy, then leaned close to Gu Wan Jun’s ear and said softly:

“The task Lu Lu *jiejie* gave Duo Duo is that she asked Duo Duo to take good care of Mommy. She said Mommy always gets hurt easily, and is afraid of the dark and afraid of being alone, so she can’t be without someone to accompany her.”

“……”

Gu Wan Jun’s eyes stung as she listened, and a warm current surged in her heart. She gently hugged Duo Duo, and tears almost fell.

So the little girl still remembers.

On the other side, a certain detached apartment.

The last dish, red date, longan, and black chicken soup, was finally brought to the table. Fu Yi Wen happily prepared to start the meal.

Before sitting down, Tang Ying wanted to go to the wine cabinet to pick out a bottle of red wine, but Fu Yi Wen directly stopped her.

“No drinking alcohol today, you can only drink soup.” Fu Yi Wen held Tang Ying’s shoulders, her tone firm.

These words made Tang Ying, who loved wine as much as her life, immediately turn cold. Just as she was about to protest, Fu Yi Wen put on a pitiful expression and said softly:

“I cooked for the whole afternoon, if you don’t drink it, I’ll be angry.”

“……”

Looking at the person in front of her with her drooping eyes and obedient appearance, Tang Ying was stunned for a moment, and her originally cold expression softened a lot in an instant.

It was just one meal without drinking alcohol, what was the big deal?

Tang Ying raised her eyebrows and didn’t say anything. She sat down silently, not mentioning drinking alcohol again.

After the two of them sat down, Fu Yi Wen smiled happily, picked up a bowl, and prepared to serve Tang Ying soup. Just then, the phone in the living room rang, and Tang Ying got up to answer the phone.

At this time, whose call could it be?

The action of serving soup stopped, and Fu Yi Wen, whose smile had faded, subconsciously looked up at Tang Ying’s back, feeling inexplicably uneasy in her heart.

In the living room.

Picking up the phone, Tang Ying’s expression immediately sank when she saw the caller ID.

It was her mother, Tang Lan.

Her originally decent mood was completely ruined. Tang Ying coldly pressed the answer button.

As soon as the call was connected, the familiar, overbearing tone came through the receiver. Her mother, Tang Lan, gave Tang Ying the address of a restaurant, demanding that she go there immediately.

Assuming it was another dinner similar to the one with the Jiang family last week, Tang Ying was completely rejecting it, her tone somewhat impatient: “Didn’t we just have dinner together last week?”

“The driver is already downstairs at your house, don’t waste time.” In the receiver, her mother, Tang Lan, did not answer her, her tone unquestionable.

Tang Ying coldly hung up the phone, and the annoyance in her heart surged up again.

At the dining table, Fu Yi Wen anxiously waited for Tang Ying to finish the call and come back to eat together. As expected, the next second—

“I have to go out.” Tang Ying’s tone was cold, even carrying a hint of impatience.

Guessing that it might be something related to Tang Ying’s family, Fu Yi Wen pinched the corner of the apron she hadn’t taken off yet, trying to persuade her to stay: “What’s so urgent? Can’t you go after eating?”

Tang Ying had already walked to the entryway, picked up the trench coat she had just hung up, and said coldly, “You eat first, don’t wait for me.”

Fu Yi Wen followed her, suppressing the disappointment in her tone: “When will you be back? I’ll wait for you.”

Tang Ying put on her trench coat and said without looking back, “I don’t know. I told you to eat first, don’t wait for me.”

After saying that, Tang Ying pushed open the door and walked out without looking back.

The sound of the door closing echoed in the empty room, and the home, which had just been lively, suddenly became deserted.

Fu Yi Wen stood there, the intense loneliness and desolation in her heart making her nose tingle. She looked down at the apron on her body and suddenly realized that this wasn’t her home, but Tang Ying’s home.

Tang Ying had abandoned her again.

Fu Yi Wen silently walked back to the dining table, looking at the bowl of red date, longan, and black chicken soup that was still steaming, her heart filled with mixed feelings. She sighed softly, picked up a spoon, and took a sip of the soup, but felt that the taste in her mouth had become bitterly astringent.

Fu Yi Wen put down the spoon, her somewhat unfocused gaze falling on the darkening sky outside the window.

Outside the window, the twilight had completely faded, and the night quietly descended. Fu Yi Wen sat at the dining table, the desolation and loneliness in her heart, like the endless night, gradually engulfing her silently.