SYLM Chapter 93

Chapter 93: Love is Profound Because of Difference.

Yunjiang Century Garden.

In the elevator.

Chen Lu held a carefully wrapped bouquet of carnations. The petals were layered, pink and white intermingled, with some baby’s breath as embellishments. The whole bouquet emitted a faint fragrance.

Watching the numbers on the electronic display climb, Chen Lu heard her heart beating faster. Her fingertips were slightly cold, and the bouquet in her arms suddenly felt heavy.

Bringing flowers and gifts to the door, she and Gu Wan Jun didn’t seem to be in a relationship that would do this.

But she still came. Didn’t she?

Thinking of this, Chen Lu frowned and sighed silently.

What must be faced will always be faced.

Outside 1602.

Chen Lu took several deep breaths, then raised her hand and knocked on the door.

A light and cheerful sound of footsteps came from behind the door, and then the door was pulled open.

Duo Duo looked up with her small face, her eyes shining with excitement. Her bare little feet made a “pat pat” sound on the floor: “Sister Chen Lu! You’re here!”

Looking at that innocent face, Chen Lu felt a wave of tenderness in her heart. Before she could respond, Gu Wan Jun also walked out of the kitchen. The woman was wearing a light blue house dress with an apron tied around her waist. When she saw Chen Lu, a gentle smile bloomed on her face: “You’re here.”

The gentle voice was like a spring breeze brushing past her ear. Their eyes met, and an invisible current seemed to pass through the air. Chen Lu felt her heart skip a beat, and her slightly cold fingertips unconsciously tightened around the wrapping paper of the bouquet.

“Wow, what a big bouquet of flowers! Did Sister Chen Lu buy it for Mom?”

Duo Duo’s childish and curious voice broke the delicate silence.

“Yes.” Chen Lu averted her gaze and nodded, her voice a little dry.

“Yay, yay!” Duo Duo clapped her small hands excitedly, as if she had heard some great news.

Hearing that the flowers were for her, Gu Wan Jun stepped forward, took the bouquet, lowered her head and gently sniffed it, her smile deepening:

“Thank you, the flowers are beautiful.”

Chen Lu pursed her lips, then handed over the gift bag in her hand, her tone deliberately calm: “Happy birthday.”

Looking at the beautiful paper bag in front of her, Gu Wan Jun’s eyes flashed with an undisguised surprise. She took the paper bag, and Duo Duo took the opportunity to grab Chen Lu’s wrist and pull her into the house:

“Sister Chen Lu, come in quickly! Mom is baking cookies, they smell so good!”

“…”

Chen Lu was pulled into the living room by Duo Duo. The air was filled with the sweet aroma of pastries. Just as she was about to say something, Gu Wan Jun took out a pair of white slippers from the shoe cabinet and handed them to Chen Lu:

“These are new, put them on. The floor is cold.”

Then Gu Wan Jun bent down and rubbed her daughter’s little head, and gently reminded her, “Duo Duo, put on your slippers, the floor is cold.”

“…”

Chen Lu looked down at the slippers on the floor. A cute little rabbit was embroidered on the shoe, which was obviously the same style as the pink slippers that Duo Duo had just put on. Her heart stirred, and she unconsciously glanced at Gu Wan Jun’s feet, and found that the other person’s slippers were also the same style, but the color was light blue.

Chen Lu’s lips moved slightly. She wanted to refuse, but the next second, Duo Duo excitedly shared with her the fruits of their mother and daughter’s labor early in the morning:

“Sister Chen Lu, look, these are the cookies that Mom baked. I shaped them!”

Duo Duo took Chen Lu’s hand and led her to the dining table. Several baking trays were placed on the table, with golden and crispy cookies on them, in various shapes, some sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Besides the cookies, the two gift boxes placed next to the table also attracted Chen Lu’s attention.

The gift boxes were exquisitely packaged, tied with golden ribbons, obviously carefully prepared gifts.

Gu Wan Jun, who followed the two, big and small, to the dining table, obviously noticed Chen Lu’s gaze. Afraid that the young girl would misunderstand something, she quickly explained that these were birthday gifts from Tang Ying, just delivered, and she hadn’t had time to open them yet.

Hearing this, Chen Lu’s eyes flickered slightly, her expression unclear.

What does it have to do with her who sent what? Why explain to her?

She doesn’t care.

Chen Lu wanted to refute this, but felt that it seemed too deliberate, so she just replied with a nonchalant “Mm.”

From the moment she entered the door and saw Gu Wan Jun, Chen Lu felt that something was wrong. Now that she had seen the person, given the gift, and said happy birthday, shouldn’t she find a time to leave?

Chen Lu had this thought, but when she was calculating the excuse to leave in her heart, Duo Duo’s next words completely cut off her retreat:

“Sister Chen Lu, you’re going to spend the whole day with us today! Mom said we can go to the supermarket later, and we can cook together tonight!”

“…”

Chen Lu was stunned for a moment, and immediately turned her head to look at Gu Wan Jun. As a result, the other person seemed to know something in advance, and directly turned around and rummaged through the cabinets to find a vase to arrange the flowers, leaving her with only a back view.

—-

On the other side.

After watching the movie, Fu Yi Wen felt like her whole heart was floating.

She didn’t hear a single word of the movie. Tang Ying’s sentence “Today, I just want to be with you” really flattered her.

In Fu Yi Wen’s impression, Tang Ying had never said such straightforward words, even words that could be called sweet nothings, so that when the two of them sat down in a private room in a restaurant, Fu Yi Wen was still giggling in her own emotions, her heart filled with honey, so sweet that it was greasy.

“You’ve been smiling all the way, what are you giggling about?”

Tang Ying’s clear voice pulled her back to reality. Coming back to her senses, Fu Yi Wen shook her head: “Nothing, nothing.”

She said nothing, but the bright smile on her face betrayed her. Her round and gentle eyes were full of unconcealable joy.

Knowing the reason, Tang Ying raised her eyebrows. She had to say, she was very satisfied with Fu Yi Wen’s reaction.

The two didn’t continue this topic. Tang Ying raised her hand to call the waiter, and soon, a menu was handed over.

Tang Ying hardly looked at the menu, and directly ordered a few dishes.

“Order these first, we’ll talk about the rest later.”

The waiter respectfully wrote down the names of the dishes Tang Ying had said earlier, and turned to leave.

Fu Yi Wen was a little surprised: “You ordered so much, can we finish it?”

Tang Ying didn’t care: “If we can’t finish it, we’ll pack it up. Their Shanghai cuisine is very authentic, try every dish.”

Knowing that she couldn’t persuade Tang Ying, Fu Yi Wen had to nod. She looked around at the decoration and design of the private room, and couldn’t help asking: “Do you come to this restaurant often?”

“Not often.”

“But the waiters here seem to know you.”

“Mm, this restaurant is one of my father’s industries.”

“…”

Fu Yi Wen obviously gasped.

This restaurant is located in the most prosperous section of Yunjiang City’s city center, covering an area of at least a thousand square meters. To open such a restaurant in this kind of place, and it’s one of the industries, one can imagine how much money it would take.

Wealth has always been an abstract concept. Fu Yi Wen knew that Tang Ying’s family was rich, but didn’t know they were this rich.

Compared to this restaurant, her own restaurant is simply a sparrow compared to an eagle.

Fu Yi Wen was lost in thought, and seemingly aware of something, Tang Ying turned her bracelet and asked the person in front of her: “What are you thinking about?”

Fu Yi Wen raised her head and smiled: “Nothing, I was just thinking that my restaurant still has a lot of room for improvement.”

Tang Ying’s expression turned slightly cold, and a trace of complexity flashed in her eyes. She couldn’t figure out whether Fu Yi Wen said this because of an economic or psychological gap, or whether she was tentatively trying to make some demands of her.

Honestly speaking, Tang Ying didn’t dislike others approaching her because of money. She knew human nature well and understood that this was human nature. In the past, she had the same mentality towards Fu Yi Wen. She even hoped that Fu Yi Wen was staying by her side because of money, so that even if they parted ways in the future, she could avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble.

But now it’s different. Everything has changed.

She had fallen in love with Fu Yi Wen, and she had poured her few precious true feelings into Fu Yi Wen.

This feeling may be worthless in the eyes of some people, and even the former Tang Ying might sneer at it.

Don’t talk about money, talk about feelings, what a joke.

But now, perhaps because people want what they lack, Tang Ying’s thinking has undergone earth-shattering changes.

She doesn’t care what others do, but Fu Yi Wen can’t.

Only her. Only her. She doesn’t want her to be with her because of money.

This kind of mood is very complicated. Tang Ying had never had it before. She even wondered if she had become stingy.

Is it because she has been friends with Gu Wan Jun for a long time? Someone like her would actually think about those unnecessary things.

Associate with the good, and you become good; associate with the bad, and you become bad. That’s right, it must be because she was influenced by Gu Wan Jun.

Thoughts flew, but it was only a few seconds. Tang Ying restrained her expression. She was just about to say something when she heard Fu Yi Wen speak again, her tone a little more firm than before:

“I will definitely work harder and earn more money for you to spend in the future!”

“…”

Tang Ying was stunned for a moment. There was a childish stubbornness in her words, but after hearing it, she felt like something had hit her heart.

What Tang Ying didn’t know was that in those few seconds when she was thinking, Fu Yi Wen was also calculating.

Fu Yi Wen knew that Tang Ying didn’t lack money, but she wanted to let the person she liked spend the money she earned one day. She knew that the little money she was earning now might be insignificant in Tang Ying’s eyes, but she would work hard. One day, she would definitely be able to let Tang Ying spend the money she earned as she pleased.

Whether in terms of feelings or material things, Fu Yi Wen wanted to give Tang Ying the best she could give.

Are there such silly people in the world?

Meeting Fu Yi Wen’s clear and round eyes, Tang Ying suddenly felt like her heart was filled with something. Her eyes flickered slightly, her tone deliberately indifferent:

“I thought you would have a psychological gap because of this.”

“Psychological gap?”

Fu Yi Wen repeated these four words, then tilted her head and asked seriously: “Because you’re too rich?”

Tang Ying didn’t speak, just stared at Fu Yi Wen quietly.

Their eyes met, and Fu Yi Wen couldn’t help but laugh. She supported her chin with both hands, her tone frank:

“Honestly speaking, you’re so rich, so beautiful, so smart, it’s really hard not to feel inferior to be with you.”

Halfway through, Fu Yi Wen paused intentionally, but her bright eyes were extremely firm:

“But I won’t feel inferior now.”

“Why?”

“Because you like me.”

“…”

Tang Ying’s eyebrows moved slightly, but she didn’t say anything.

Seeing that she didn’t get a response for a long time, Fu Yi Wen was a little anxious: “Am I wrong? There are so many excellent people around you, but you only like me, isn’t that enough to prove that I’m a very good person?”

These words sounded a bit interesting. Tang Ying had to say, she liked Fu Yi Wen’s youthful and confident energy.

Moreover, this person is very good in herself.

Compared to this sentence, the previous sentence “I won’t feel inferior now” caught Tang Ying’s attention.

What does it mean to not feel inferior now? Did she feel inferior before?

Tang Ying crossed her arms and asked the question directly. As soon as she finished speaking, Fu Yi Wen curled her lips and answered truthfully:

“How is it possible not to feel inferior? Just your face alone would attract so many people, not to mention that you’re such a good person and have such excellent conditions. In the past, when I faced you, I felt like I was a flyer soaked in the rain, like a little dog that would be abandoned at any time, like something unclaimed in the lost and found. I was afraid that you wouldn’t like me, afraid that you would abandon me one day.”

“But it’s different now. I know for sure that you like me.”

The eyes that had just dimmed lit up again. If Fu Yi Wen was really a large dog, Tang Ying would definitely be able to see her tail wagging almost to the sky at this moment.

“To say something that sounds a bit shameless, I actually know that I’m not bad. I’m also quite likable when I’m thrown into a crowd, but I don’t care if others like me at all. Your liking is the most important thing to me. As long as you can like me, I’m willing to do anything, but if you don’t like me, I feel like I’m going to die.”

“…”

Fu Yi Wen spoke sincerely, every word was hot and heavy, and melted the ice that Tang Ying had built in her heart little by little.

Love is profound because of difference.

So there really are people who regard her worthless affection as the most important thing.

Tang Ying lowered her eyes slightly. She rarely made such emotional cover-up movements, and she wasn’t used to talking about such straightforward and in-depth topics. Even though she was already moved by what Fu Yi Wen said, a few seconds later, she still deliberately changed the subject indifferently. Fortunately, Fu Yi Wen also knew her well enough and directly followed her topic and talked about something else.

Soon, the waiter pushed the cart to serve the dishes.

Steamed bass, crab meat meatballs, braised pork, braised bamboo shoots, sweet and sour pork ribs, scallion oil noodles, pine nut corn, crab roe tofu, exactly eight dishes.

While eating, as if thinking of something, Fu Yi Wen mentioned that her restaurant’s first anniversary celebration was on August 9th and asked if Tang Ying had time to attend.

There was still almost a week until August 9th. Tang Ying unlocked her phone and glanced at her schedule. That day was a Saturday, but it was also the day she was going to have dinner with Jiang’s group.

“No, I have something to do that day.”

Fu Yi Wen thought for a moment, “What about August 10th?”

“The 10th? Isn’t your restaurant opening on the 9th? Can the time be changed at will?”

“The date doesn’t matter. To me, the most important thing is that you can come and participate.”

Tang Ying thought for two seconds and agreed to attend on the 10th.

“Then it’s settled. You must come then.”

“Mm.”

Tang Ying answered indifferently, but her hands didn’t stop moving. She used public chopsticks to put a large piece of fish for Fu Yi Wen.

Looking at the fat fish in her bowl, Fu Yi Wen felt sweet in her heart. As if thinking of something, she deliberately asked Tang Ying who cooked better, her or the chef here.

Tang Ying raised her eyelids and asked: “Do you want to hear the truth?”

One sentence directly deflated Fu Yi Wen. Of course, she knew that her level was much different from that of the chef here, but she just wanted Tang Ying to praise her, was that so difficult?

Fu Yi Wen pouted and resignedly said: “It’s not that much worse, I think I—”

“You cook better.”

“?”

Fu Yi Wen was stunned, and the chopsticks in her hand almost fell on the table. She blinked, thinking she had heard wrong: “…Huh?”

Tang Ying looked up at her, with a hint of teasing in her eyes, but also a hint of seriousness: “I said, you cook better.”

“…”

Fu Yi Wen was so flustered that she was dizzy. She really wanted to ask the chef how the fish was made, why it tasted sweet.

—-

On weekends, there were more people on the streets, not to mention large public places like supermarkets.

Chen Lu drove around the underground parking lot several times before finally finding a parking space. After parking the car, she took a deep breath, adjusted her emotions, and then got out of the car and walked towards Gu Wan Jun and Duo Duo who were waiting for her.

Duo Duo was holding her mother’s hand in one hand, and eagerly reached out to Chen Lu with the other, her small face full of excitement:

“Let’s go to the supermarket!”

Chen Lu curved the corners of her lips and reached out to hold the little one’s warm and soft little hand.

The first floor was the living area. After taking the elevator from the -1 floor, Chen Lu took the initiative to push a shopping cart. The three went to the fruit and vegetable area first.

In front of the shelf, Gu Wan Jun carefully selected ingredients. She picked up a carrot and examined it carefully. Duo Duo stood on tiptoes, curiously watching her mother’s movements.

“Mom, how do you pick carrots?” Duo Duo asked in a milky voice.

Gu Wan Jun squatted down and explained gently: “When picking carrots, choose the slender ones. Carrots with smooth surfaces and a sense of weight like this have enough moisture and taste better, understand?”

As she spoke, Gu Wan Jun handed the carrot in her hand to her daughter to see. The little one nodded as if she understood, and gently touched the surface of the carrot with her small hand.

Chen Lu stood aside, her eyes involuntarily falling on Gu Wan Jun. This scene reminded her of her high school days, and even what Gu Wan Jun said just now was almost the same as what she had said back then.

She had also taught Gu Wan Jun how to pick vegetables like this.

At that time, Gu Wan Jun was still a young teacher who was not very good at cooking and picking vegetables, but now, her technique has become too skilled.

Chen Lu restrained the emotions surging in her eyes, and silently pushed the cart towards Gu Wan Jun’s hand, making it easier for her to put vegetables in it.

After roughly selecting the vegetables, the three came to the snack area.

Duo Duo stood in front of the snack shelf, her eyes shining.

While Gu Wan Jun was picking out seasonings on the side, Duo Duo secretly reached out and tugged at Chen Lu’s sleeve, whispering:

“Sister Chen Lu…”

Chen Lu didn’t know why, but she still lowered her body very cooperatively, put her ear close to the little one, and lowered her voice: “What’s wrong?”

“Can you help Duo Duo plead with Mom later?”

“Plead?”

“Duo Duo wants to buy Want Want milk candies.” The little milky dumpling blinked her big eyes, with a hint of pleading in her voice.

“Doesn’t Mom usually buy them for you?” Chen Lu asked softly.

“She buys them, but Mom said that eating too much candy is bad for your teeth.” Duo Duo pouted her small mouth, looking a little aggrieved.

Chen Lu couldn’t help but smile and reached out to touch Duo Duo’s head: “Mom is right, you’re too young now and can’t eat too much candy.”

“Duo Duo promises not to eat too much, and will brush her teeth obediently after eating. Can Sister Chen Lu help Duo Duo? Sister Chen Lu’s pleading must work, Mom listens to you the most.”

“…”

Meeting Duo Duo’s expectant big eyes, Chen Lu’s face flushed slightly, not knowing how to answer.

On the other side, after putting the selected seasonings into the shopping cart, Gu Wan Jun turned her head and saw two heads, one big and one small, gathered together, not knowing what they were “plotting.” As soon as she walked over, Chen Lu, who was originally leaning down, immediately stood up straight.

“What are you chatting about?”

“Mom~” Duo Duo tugged at Gu Wan Jun’s sleeve and asked in a milky voice, “Mom, can Duo Duo buy Want Want milk?”

“Yes.” Gu Wan Jun nodded with a smile.

“Then can Duo Duo buy Want Want milk candies?” Duo Duo blinked her eyes, with a hint of probing in her voice.

Sure enough, it’s candy.

Gu Wan Jun touched her daughter’s head and said gently: “Mom bought them for you last week. Eating too much candy is bad for your teeth.”

Seeing her mother refuse, Duo Duo pouted her mouth. She turned her head to look at Chen Lu, her big flickering eyes clearly full of help.

To help or not to help, this made Chen Lu very difficult.

On the one hand, she felt that she shouldn’t interfere with Gu Wan Jun’s discipline of Duo Duo, but on the other hand, being stared at by the little milky dumpling’s pair of watery eyes, it was difficult for her not to be soft-hearted.

So much so that after hesitating for less than two seconds, Chen Lu looked up at Gu Wan Jun and finally opened her mouth somewhat laboriously:

“How about… just buy two bags? She just promised me that she wouldn’t eat too much.”

“…”

Obviously not expecting Chen Lu to plead for Duo Duo, Gu Wan Jun was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head to look at her daughter, and then looked up at Chen Lu, with a trace of complicated emotions flashing in her eyes. Finally, she nodded and smiled helplessly: “Okay, just buy two bags.”

“Thank you Mom! Thank you Sister Chen Lu!”

Duo Duo was so happy that she danced with joy and immediately took two bags of her favorite Want Want milk candies from the shelf and put them in the shopping cart.

Looking at her daughter’s excited look, Gu Wan Jun couldn’t help but shake her head: “You, you’re so young and cunning, you know how to find someone to plead for you.”

Duo Duo giggled, feeling a little embarrassed. She held Chen Lu’s hand and shook it gently, her tone excited:

“See, Duo Duo was right, Mom listens to Sister Chen Lu the most. Last time I went to the supermarket with Grandma and Grandpa, Grandma and Grandpa both helped me plead, but Mom didn’t buy them for Duo Duo in the end. With just one sentence from Sister Chen Lu, Mom agreed!”

“…”

Duo Duo is worthy of being her own daughter. One sentence directly exposed Gu Wan Jun’s past. It would be a little embarrassing to have these words said by her daughter. Gu Wan Jun smiled helplessly, and Chen Lu clearly saw the red ears.

Not long after walking, when passing another snack shelf, Duo Duo suddenly pointed to a packaging bag on another shelf, looking cheerful: “Mom, isn’t that your favorite coffee candy?”

Following the direction Duo Duo was pointing, Chen Lu, who saw the familiar packaging, was slightly startled.

Those were the coffee candies that Gu Wan Jun often bought for her when she was a student.

And if she remembered correctly, Gu Wan Jun’s own favorite should be White Rabbit milk candies.

Chen Lu’s heart stirred, and she looked at Gu Wan Jun with a complicated expression. The other person’s ears seemed to be even redder, but the next second, she walked to the shelf without hesitation and took two large bags of coffee candies, her tone meaningful:

“Yes, Mom really likes this brand of coffee candies, and it hasn’t changed for so many years.”

Chen Lu’s heart jumped with this sentence. The palm of her hand holding the shopping cart handle tightened silently. She turned her head and avoided Gu Wan Jun’s burning gaze.

After checking out, the three took the elevator to the -1 floor parking lot.

What Gu Wan Jun said earlier played back in her mind like a rewind, so much so that before opening the trunk, Chen Lu completely forgot about the orchid that she had bought in a fit of pique at the flower shop but didn’t dare to give away, and finally had to hide in the trunk.

In the trunk, the orchid was lying there quietly, its leaves emerald green and its flowers budding, looking particularly vibrant.

When she saw the orchid, a trace of surprise flashed in Gu Wan Jun’s eyes, followed by joy. She subconsciously turned her head to look at Chen Lu. The moment their eyes met, the young girl frowned, her face cold, and avoided her gaze immediately.

She could avoid her gaze, but the complicated emotions in her eyes had nowhere to hide.

Gu Wan Jun already had the answer in her heart.