"I’m going to cook; I also bought a lot of groceries, including spare ribs and beef. Later, I’ll make your favorite spare ribs for you. We’ll make something delicious to eat soon."
Tang Yue was excited to start cooking, but before she could get up, she was pulled back by Meng Siyu. Seeing the depth in his eyes, she understood that his kind of hunger was not for food.
"It’s not dark yet; let’s cook first."
After not seeing him for a long time, Tang Yue felt an impulse to retreat. A wolf starved for so long, now about to feast, she...
"Wife, wait for me."
Meng Siyu quickly got up, took a quick cold shower, then came into the room and drew the curtains. Instantly, the room dimmed, casting a hazy ambiance.
Meng Siyu said, "See? Now it’s dark."
"I want to eat."
Tang Yue kept backing away. Was her impulsive trip to Jin City to find him a case of walking right into a lion’s den?
"Wife, there’s no rush to eat." Meng Siyu grinned, not hurrying to eat at all.
"Si Yu."
Tang Yue’s voice was soft; the bedspread was freshly aired by her and still carried the warmth of the sun.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
...
Outside, as night fell, it grew colder, while inside, the room was filled with the aura of spring.
After some time, Tang Yue was too tired to move, her stomach playing the Empty Fort Strategy, growling in protest.
Meng Siyu cooked, set up a small table, and they ate in the bedroom. She was so hungry her stomach was caving in, but after a bowl of rice and one of soup, she finally felt warm inside.
"Want another bowl?" Meng Siyu asked.
Tang Yue shook her head and said, "I’m full."
"Really full? Then you’re not allowed to say you’re hungry again tonight." Meng Siyu looked at Tang Yue with a meaningful gaze.
Tang Yue glared at him, too lazy to argue and changed the subject, "It’s almost a month until the New Year. I was thinking of staying here for ten days, then visiting Wangjiang County, and also Jing City..."
"Don’t bother with Jing City; wait for my holiday to end before we go back," Meng Siyu unabashedly said, sitting close to Tang Yue and playing with her dark hair. "You’re running to Wangjiang County then to Jing City, it’s too tiring. This year, we’re not going home for the New Year anyway. Mom and Dad know we’re in Jin City. Besides, my dad would rather I didn’t go back."
Meng Siyu pursed his lips and continued, "Dad’s looking forward to spending time alone with Mom."
It was obvious to anyone how well Meng Jin treated Mo Xiaolin. Mo Xiaolin now carried a younger look, free from the worries that once marked her eyebrows, her eyes always lit with a smile, not like the hollow ones she used to have.
"What about Grandpa then..." Tang Yue hesitated, it was one thing not to visit for the New Year, but to miss Zheng Yue as well?
"We’ll call them up when the time comes, they’ll understand," Meng Siyu kissed her cheek.
Tang Yue, in slight disgust, said, "You just ate."
Meng Siyu bowed his head and kissed her again.
Tang Yue: ...
...
Through the long night, Tang Yue and Meng Siyu agreed to just chat and then sleep. But somehow, as they talked, the subject veered off course and, in the end, she was devoured once again.
"Grandma, let’s, let’s go to the hospital," said Tang Yue upon hearing this, immediately deciding. She looked around and happened to see a BMW. Biting her lip, she rushed forward and stood in front of the car, blocking its path.
’Screech’
An ear-piercing sound of brakes filled the air.
"Are you out of your mind?" the driver yelled out.
Tang Yue, doing this for the first time, was somewhat embarrassed. She approached and apologized, "I’m sorry. This grandma has fallen, and there’s no car available for the moment, so I got a little desperate and stopped your car. Could you please help us and take the grandma to the hospital?"
Tang Yue’s lips maintained a light smile, polite and hard to refuse.
The driver didn’t speak but looked towards the back seat.
"Help the old lady into the car," said Xie Ziyue as he got out and walked quickly toward the old lady at the side of the road. "Old lady, can you stand up?"
The grandmother shook her head, continuously complaining about the pain. Her features, wrinkled with pain, made one involuntarily wish to offer help.
"Old lady, let me take you to the hospital," said Xie Ziyue as he squatted, lifted the old woman, and carefully placed her in the car.
The driver, initially ready to help, saw the situation and got back into the car.
"Thank you," said Tang Yue with a glance at Xie Ziyue. Gentle and refined like jade, in this era, someone who could afford a BMW surely had an extraordinary status. She didn’t expect he would be so compassionate.
She followed and got into the car. With the old lady having no relatives, she couldn’t be at ease without accompanying her to the hospital.
Arriving at the hospital, Xie Ziyue helped send the old lady to the emergency room.
The old woman thanked them all the way, saying she had met good people today and so on, implying that if it hadn’t been for them, her old life might have been lost.

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