Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
In fact, there was something Shu Pan didnât want to tell him, but when she thought of Xiaomeng, she couldnât help feeling a pang of heartache. They had known each other for almost 10 years, from school until now, and their relationship was closer than that of sisters. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Shu Pan understood Xiaomeng the best. Despite her carefree and outgoing appearance, Xiaomeng was emotionally fragile, especially when it came to matters of relationships. She wasnât as carefree as she appeared.
So, Shu Pan didnât want her good friend to get hurt. She hoped they could avoid that.
Cheng Yang nodded in gratitude, but Shu Pan gave him a cold look, hoping he would do what was right.
When Shu Pan returned to the noodle shop, Ye Xiaomeng had finished eating as well.
âLetâs go back. Iâm a bit tired,â Shu Pan feigned exhaustion.
âAlright, letâs go. Cheng Yang is returning tonight, and Iâm waiting for him at home,â Ye Xiaomeng said a bit sheepishly.
At this moment, Shu Pan felt relieved that she hadnât told her the truth. If Xiaomeng knew that Cheng Yang had lied, that he hadnât gone on a business trip and was instead with his childhood friend, she probably wouldnât be able to handle such a blow.
âThen go back quickly. Is he treating you well these days?â Shu Pan couldnât help but ask.
âMorning, noon, and night, he calls me three times a day. Heâs treating me even better than before. Probably because of his son,â Ye Xiaomengâs tone sounded somewhat sour.
âCaring for you is a way of treating you well. Thatâs good.â Shu Pan heaved a sigh of relief, hoping it was just her imagination, that there were no issues between them.
âHey, whatâs wrong? You seem a bit off,â Ye Xiaomeng, while usually carefree, wasnât naive. She sensed that something was amiss with Shu Panâs sudden change in behavior.
âItâs nothing. Go back safely,â Shu Pan smiled and pretended to speak casually.
After parting ways, as evening approached, Shu Pan went to the market to buy groceries. Sister Zhang had been unavailable lately due to personal matters.
Shu Pan skillfully prepared rice and cooked dishes, making two dishes and a soup.
She actually couldnât eat so much, as her appetite had been poor lately, and she was eating even less. Nevertheless, she prepared portions for two people.
Yes, portions for two people, because she didnât know whether he would return or not.
After preparing the meal, Shu Pan washed a pair of bowls and chopsticks. Just as she was about to eat, Gu Shaoting returned home. He had come back early today, whereas he usually came back late.
He sat directly across from Shu Pan, who felt fortunate that she had cooked extra.
âIâm hungry,â Gu Shaoting told Shu Pan.
Shu Pan served him his meal and then silently started to eat herself, lowering her head to sip the soup.
Neither of them spoke, yet the atmosphere was unusually pleasant. Gu Shaoting suddenly found himself enjoying this feeling.
The sense of being home, after a hard dayâs work outside, all he wanted was to drink a bowl of soup and have some home-cooked food.
âIâll be back for dinner tomorrow,â Gu Shaoting said while picking up a piece of food.
âUm⦠Iâll be returning to work at the company tomorrow. I donât know what time Iâll be back. I might not have time to cook, â Shu Pan looked at him and cautiously said.
Gu Shaoting frowned slightly. âThis is how you take care of a patient? Iâm still recovering.â
âYou can have dinner at your old house. Auntie Wang cooks there every day, and you can also spend time with your grandfather,â Shu Pan persistently suggested. If he frequently came back for meals, and she was returning to work, overtime was bound to happen, and she wouldnât have time to cook.
âI just want to have dinner here,â Gu Shaoting stubbornly said. The previously cold and composed him had lately been acting like a willful child, his temperament also becoming unpredictable.
âIâll do my best,â Shu Pan replied helplessly, feeling like she had been caught in a difficult situation..