Chapter 53

“Where are you now?” Yu Na asked.

“Hmm,” Xiao Chen said, “I moved to Huating No.1. The environment there is good and it’s close to your school. I won’t charge rent, but...” Xiao Chen deliberately drew out his words, intentionally building suspense, “you’ll have to help me with something.”

Yu Na’s eyelid twitched. “Are you serious? What kind of help could offset over ten thousand in rent?”

“I’m serious. And this help, only you can provide it for me.”

“Tell me what it is.”

“Come to Yunwan Mansion on the weekend and help me supervise Qiao Rui doing his homework.”

Xiao Chen made up an excuse so she wouldn't feel burdened. Besides, Huating No.1 and Yunwan Mansion were very close, less than a ten minute walk.

...

The fireworks show began.

Colorful lights shot up from the bottom, the colorful rays projected onto the starry night sky, bursting open with a crackle, shaped like massive dandelions.

The fireworks were fleeting, and before they faded another blossom rose up.

Accompanied by the excited shouts of tourists and the constant flashing of cameras.

From above, it looked like dandelions were blooming freely amidst the dazzling starry sky, enjoying a brief moment of splendor.

This was its fate, and its mission: to dazzle when it bloomed, and after it withered, leave behind beautiful memories.

The fireworks show ended and they left with the crowd.

Back in the car, Yu Na buckled her seatbelt. Their earlier conversation had abruptly stopped because of the fireworks show. Now, with no other noise in the car, Yu Na said, “I can supervise him doing homework on weekends, but do you have any other tasks that need my help?” She looked awkward. “Otherwise I don’t feel at ease living there almost free of charge...”

“Don’t worry, making sure Qiao Rui studies well is harder than getting ten students from your class into Tsinghua or Peking University.”

Yu Na thought he was exaggerating, “...Actually I think it’s fine, Qiao Rui is pretty obedient.”

Xiao Chen glanced at her. He thought, what’s this about, do I have to spell it out that I want to see you on weekends?!

On the surface he remained calm, going along with his own story, “He only listens to you, that’s why I said only you can help me. Also, I might not always be home on weekends.”

After saying this, Xiao Chen quickly changed the subject, if he kept talking he would get too embarrassed, “Where should I take you? Or do you want to come over to my place?”

Yu Na took out her phone, her parents hadn't contacted her.

She thought for a bit, “Take me back to Jinyu Jiayuan for now.”

Xiao Chen was silent for two seconds. “Okay.”

... The car entered Jinyu Jiayuan complex.

The atmosphere in the car was obviously more oppressive than before.

It was like waking up from a fairy tale world full of joy, only to find yourself still trapped in endless darkness.

Xiao Chen parked below building 9.

Yu Na looked around but didn’t see her parents’ car. She wondered to herself, so they left?

She undid her seatbelt and turned to say, “I’ll get going first.”

“Wait a second,” Xiao Chen also undid his seatbelt, “I’ll go up with you.”

Yu Na stopped moving. She asked a random question, “Aren’t you scared?”

Xiao Chen scoffed contemptuously, “Scared of who?”

The motion sensor lights in the building were broken. Yu Na turned on her phone’s flashlight to use as a flashlight. When they reached the third floor stairwell, she saw the door to her home shut tight.

The insulation here wasn't great, but she didn't hear any noise inside either.

Yu Na and Xiao Chen went up to the third floor. She had wanted to press her ear against the door to listen for sounds inside, but she suddenly stepped on something on the ground.

There was a doormat outside this home, it had been there since they moved in.

She crouched down and lifted the mat, only to discover the house keys underneath!

Yu Na used the keys to open the door. Inside was pitch black.

She turned on the lights. The Doraemon doll she had thrown on the ground earlier was now neatly placed on the sofa. The room was empty.

“Looks like they left.”

Xiao Chen asked, “Did your parents say how long they would stay here?”

“No, they didn’t say anything.”

Yu Na took out her phone, wanting to send her mother a WeChat message, but when she opened the input box the scenes from that afternoon seemed to replay in her mind.

“...”

Forget it, I won’t send anything. Let them do as they please.

Xiao Chen came up with her because he was worried about leaving her alone.

Now that her parents were already gone, she was also reluctant to part ways with him so quickly.

Yu Na tentatively asked, “Are you leaving now?”

“Who said that?” Xiao Chen gave her an unexpected answer, “Didn’t you say you would treat me to dinner?”

...Huh?

Yu Na was happy inside but pretended to casually ask, “What do you want to eat then? I can order takeout.”

“I don’t eat takeout,” Xiao Chen made himself at home, lounging on the sofa. “I want to eat something you make.” “...” The corner of Yu Na’s mouth twitched. “Are you sure? My cooking skills are just average.”

He clearly already had this expectation. “No problem,” he lazily replied.

Yu Na didn’t like to stock up on ingredients since they could spoil. She would buy and cook things fresh.

She took out tomatoes and eggs, washed them and placed them on the cutting board. She had just started slicing the tomatoes when a figure loomed over her.

Xiao Chen was leaning against the kitchen doorway, curiously asking, “What feast are you making for me?”

Yu Na felt a little embarrassed. “...tomato and egg stir fry.” Thinking it was too simple, she added a justified reason, “It’s late now, light dishes are better.”

Xiao Chen made no move to leave. “Do you need any help?”

“No need,” she was already not great at cooking, and felt more self-conscious with Xiao Chen watching her.

Yu Na didn’t even have time to wash her hands. She went up to Xiao Chen, “My kitchen isn’t as big as yours, hurry up and go wait in the living room.”

Xiao Chen noticed she still had tomato juice on her hands and backed away in fright. “Hey, hey don’t touch me! I’m going, I’m going.”

When the tomato and egg stir fry was almost done, Yu Na started boiling noodles.

The tomato egg noodle dish was plated. She didn't taste it ahead of time and eagerly brought it out to the coffee table in the living room.

Xiao Chen had been playing on his phone. Seeing the heaping bowl of noodles, his eyes went as round as brass bells. “What the, are you feeding pigs?”

“Eat more! You didn’t even have dinner tonight.”

“But I can’t finish that much!”

As he spoke, Xiao Chen got up and went to the kitchen. He took out two bowls and set one down in front of her, “Let’s eat some together.”

Yu Na touched her stomach. “I already ate a baked sweet potato.”

“Have some more, how filling could one sweet potato be.”

Without waiting for her refusal, Xiao Chen directly scooped her a bowl and put it in front of her. “You’re thin as paper, eat more.”

“......”

Yu Na reluctantly agreed.

Her tomato egg stir fry looked very appetizing, but...she had put in too much sugar and made it very sweet.

And Yu Na herself preferred sweeter flavors, she didn't know if Xiao Chen would be able to eat it.

But judging by his appearance, he didn't seem to dislike it. Maybe he was just hungry and ate the noodles silently in big mouthfuls.

Yu Na wasn't very hungry. After a few bites, she suddenly asked, “Is Northeastern Chinese food tasty?”

Xiao Chen didn't expect her to ask this. He glanced at her and nodded without hesitation, “Delicious.”

After all it was the cuisine of his hometown.

Yu Na eagerly suggested, “Then let’s go try it someday!”

“The Northeast dishes here aren't that authentic. They don't taste as genuine.”

“...Ah? In such a big city, there isn’t even one truly authentic Northeast restaurant?”

“There are, but the most authentic still has to be my mom’s cooking. Absolutely incredible.” As he ate the noodles, he swallowed and said, “There will be a chance someday for you to taste my mom’s cooking.”