“Ah Ci, she is the younger sister I mentioned to you—Yu Wei.” Ying Sisi said.
Qin Yanci gave a slight nod. “Hello.”
Li Yuwei stammered in response, “Ah… hello.”
Her stepmother, Song Hanmei, heard the commotion and walked out of the main room. The moment she saw Qin Yanci, her eyes went straight, utterly stunned.
Sharp brows, bright eyes, defined and striking features.
With this face, this build—there probably wasn’t a second like him in the entire east or south of the city combined.
Yu Wei had insisted that he had been sent to the countryside for ten years and had already been “corrupted” by low-quality rural people, refusing to even consider an engagement as if her life depended on it.
How could someone like this be low quality?
Just standing there, she could tell he was anything but.
Ying Sisi calmly caught Song Hanmei’s greedy yet regretful expression.
She felt slightly uneasy inside, but her face remained composed and obedient as she said softly, “Auntie, this is Ah Ci.”
Song Hanmei snapped back to her senses and immediately became warm and enthusiastic. “Ah, Yanci! Come in, sit down. Sisi, your cooking is good—go make him a bowl of noodles to fill his stomach first.”
“Okay.” Ying Sisi turned and went into the kitchen.
From behind came Song Hanmei’s almost flattering voice.
“Yanci, you’ve spent so many years at the farm in the northwest—you’re practically a veteran. Our Yu Wei works at the neighborhood office. Let her talk to you about current job policies.”
“Mom, you talk to him.” Li Yuwei avoided Qin Yanci as if he were something dangerous, turning and leaving immediately. She couldn’t understand why Qin Yanci in this life wasn’t treating Ying Sisi the way he had in her previous life. She followed Ying Sisi into the kitchen, curious.
“Sister, isn’t it awkward meeting Qin Yanci? What did you two talk about?”
“A little awkward. We didn’t talk much—he doesn’t like to speak, and I didn’t want to talk too much either, afraid he’d find me annoying,” Ying Sisi replied honestly, since Li Yuwei had been unusually friendly.
Li Yuwei didn’t believe it could be that simple. “Can you describe what it was like in detail?”
Ying Sisi hesitated. “That’s hard to explain. My way of speaking isn’t very good. Why don’t we call Ah Ci over so he can repeat it? I’m just afraid he won’t cooperate.”
“Forget it!” Li Yuwei quickly waved her hands.
Qin Yanci had a dual personality and bipolar tendencies—one moment unhappy and he might lash out at both of them.
In her previous life, she had nowhere to run.
But Ying Sisi did—she could just flee back to the countryside and never return. Then who would marry Qin Yanci?
Afraid of arousing suspicion by asking too much, Li Yuwei quickly made an excuse and left, ignoring Song Hanmei’s calls.
Ying Sisi closed the door and continued making noodles. She even secretly ate a full bowl herself before preparing Qin Yanci’s portion. She added three poached eggs underneath the noodles and placed two slices of beef on top, then carried the bowl out to him in the main room.
“Yanci, you don’t come often. You’re only giving him two slices of beef? People might think we’re stingy,” Song Hanmei complained, pretending generosity as she headed into the kitchen to add more.
Ying Sisi just smiled and pointed at the noodles.
Qin Yanci understood and stirred them with his chopsticks. Three poached eggs were revealed. He froze for a moment, disbelief and faint surprise flashing in his eyes.
A warm current slowly spread through his chest, softening his usual cold expression.
For the first time in his life, someone had given him three eggs in one meal.
A barely noticeable smile appeared on his lips. “Did you eat?”
“Yes, I’m full already. Hurry and eat,” Ying Sisi replied.
When Song Hanmei came back and saw them sitting close together talking, she felt displeased and cursed inwardly.
But she still forced a smile at Qin Yanci. “Yanci, here, have some beef.”
“Thanks,” he said briefly after finishing the noodles and stood up to leave.
“I’ll see you out,” Ying Sisi said.