The delicious smell quickly drew Yang Huilan and Chen Zhilei out of their rooms. Chen Zhilei stepped out, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she hurried downstairs. “Mom! Didn’t I tell you not to cook breakfast because your health isn’t good? Let me handle it!”
“Zhilei, I’m not the one cooking,” Yang Huilan said as she walked out of the nearby room, her face just as puzzled as she looked toward the kitchen.
“It’s not you? Then who else?” Chen Zhilei frowned even more, and suddenly a thought flashed through her mind. “Mom, don’t tell me a thief broke into our house?”
“That shouldn’t be possible. Who dares to steal things nowadays?”
“No, I’m calling the police first. Mom, don’t go downstairs!” After saying that, Chen Zhilei turned to head back to her room.
“Wait, Zhilei, could it be your brother cooking in the kitchen?”
“My brother? Cooking?” Chen Zhilei froze for a second and then let out a short, unbelieving laugh. “Mom, are you joking? Has my brother ever cooked even once since he was a child? Even if he did know how, there’s no way he would wake up early by himself to do it.”
Based on everything she knew about Chen Tianyou, she would sooner believe pigs could fly.
“I’m calling the police first. We can talk when they arrive!”
“Wait, listen,” Yang Huilan quickly grabbed her hand.
Two light coughs came from the kitchen.
“That’s definitely your brother. I can recognize his voice anywhere. Let’s go take a look.”
“Could it really be him?” Chen Zhilei’s eyes were filled with disbelief.
They quickly walked to the kitchen entrance.
“Ke-ke…” Chen Tianyou walked out with two bowls of noodles in his hands, bumping right into them.
“Be careful!” Fortunately, he held on tightly; the noodles he had worked hard to make almost spilled.
Seeing who it was, Chen Tianyou let out a relieved breath. “It’s you two. I was just about to call you down. Why didn’t you say anything when coming over? You nearly scared me to death.” This chapter is updated first at g.com.
He placed the noodles on the dining table. “The gas stove needs to be repaired. I tried lighting it several times just now and it kept failing, the gas choked me a few times.”
“What are you two standing there for? Hurry and eat breakfast!”
Yang Huilan and Chen Zhilei exchanged looks, both unable to believe what they were seeing.
Yang Huilan walked over and looked at the bowls of tomato and egg noodles. The bright red tomato cubes and soft golden egg pieces created an appetizing contrast, and the aroma of the noodles made her mouth water.
“Tianyou, when did you learn to cook?” she asked, confused.
“Well… I watched some videos online when I had nothing to do. Didn’t expect it to come out so well. Sit down and eat. There’s still more in the pot.” After saying that, Chen Tianyou went back into the kitchen.
“Zhilei, what is going on?” Yang Huilan still couldn’t believe her eyes.
“I don’t know. Maybe he’s up to some trick again! Like a weasel paying respects to a chicken for New Year—definitely not with good intentions!”
“What if your brother has changed? He seems different from before.”
“Mom! Do you still not know what kind of person he is?” Chen Zhilei grew irritated. “I get it! He must’ve run out of cash and now he’s eyeing the money dad left us. That’s why he’s putting on this fake show!”
“But he didn’t mention money,” Yang Huilan frowned.
While they were talking, Chen Tianyou returned with another bowl of noodles. He sat down and looked at them curiously. “What are you two whispering about? Go wash up and eat. These noodles need to be eaten while hot or they’ll get mushy and won’t taste good.”
He just sat down and began eating; after only having instant noodles last night, he was starving.
“Chen Tianyou, don’t think we’ll fall for your act just because you made two bowls of noodles!” Chen Zhilei said coldly.
“Act? What act?” Chen Tianyou swallowed a mouthful and raised his head in confusion.
“Aren’t you eyeing the money our father left to mom and me? Let me make this clear: I will never give you that money!”
When their father passed away a few years ago, he divided the inheritance into three parts. Most of it—including company shares and cash—went to Chen Tianyou. Yang Huilan and Chen Zhilei received some property and savings. Follow the newest chapters on novelping . com.
Chen Tianyou smiled. “Zhilei, you misunderstood. I’m not thinking about that at all. I just made breakfast while I was up. You’re too defensive.”
“Chen Tianyou, I already told you last night to stop calling me ‘sister.’ I don’t have a brother like you. If you must call me something, call me by my full name—Chen Zhilei.”
The cold and distant look in her eyes made his heart tighten painfully.
“And don’t bother cooking for us next time. I can do it myself.”
“Alright, Chen Zhilei. But since you mentioned cooking, I feel like you don’t need to do it yourself. With how busy things are, you can always hire a caretaker. You have to go to the company during the day, and mom needs someone at home. Our family doesn’t lack that kind of money, right?”
“Heh…” Chen Zhilei let out a cold laugh. “Do you even understand mom’s health at all? How could I trust someone else with her? People like you will never understand because you don’t have any empathy!”
“Say what you want.” Chen Tianyou sighed and didn’t argue. He quickly finished his noodles, placed the empty bowl in the kitchen, and walked away.
After he left, Yang Huilan pulled her daughter to sit. “I think his noodles look pretty good.”
“Mom! Don’t eat anything he makes. If you want noodles, I’ll cook them for you!” Chen Zhilei picked up the bowls to throw them away.
“Zhilei!” Yang Huilan grabbed her hand again. “Don’t waste food. Put them down. I’ve never tasted anything cooked by my son.”
“Mom…” In the end, Chen Zhilei gave in and set the bowls down.
Yang Huilan picked up her chopsticks and took a bite. Just one bite, and her eyes turned red.
“What’s wrong? Is it too awful?” Chen Zhilei quickly grabbed tissues to wipe her eyes.
“No…” Her voice trembled. “It’s delicious. It’s just… I suddenly feel emotional. I never thought in this lifetime I’d ever get to eat noodles cooked by my son.”
“Mom…” Seeing this, even Chen Zhilei felt sad.
“Actually, Zhilei, it’s our fault too,” Yang Huilan said as she held her daughter’s hand tightly. “Your dad was always busy making money, and we didn’t teach your brother well. We placed too many expectations on him, and that made him rebellious. It’s our fault…”
“Mom, don’t blame yourself. If that were true, then why didn’t I turn out like him? In the end, the problem is him…”