On the Redwood Eight Immortals Table sat simple home-cooked stir-fries, four cups of clear tea, and four people with different thoughts.
“Yuchen, you’ve overturned a jar of vinegar.”
Spitting disdainfully, Xu Jiaojiao dumped her favorite sugar vinegar ribs onto the table.
Gu Xiaonuan stared at the exquisite Redwood Eight Immortals Table, then at the appealingly colored sugar vinegar ribs that were tainted with spit and discarded, her brows furrowed tightly.
What a pity.
Out of all the dishes on the table, that was the one she had taken a liking to.
Gu Xijue’s mouth was patched with a band-aid, and he no longer looked as forlorn as he did sitting on the ground earlier.
Instead, he deftly served Nuannuan some dishes.
“The dishes aren’t cooked for you.” Si Yuchen couldn’t understand why Xu Jiaojiao wasn’t following her husband abroad to supervise the progress of the holiday resorts.
Now she’s back in Sea City alone—could it be that Situ Jin is also back?
Curbing the deep thoughts at the bottom of his eyes, he wasn’t to be outdone, picking up two ribs and placing them into her bowl, “Xu Jiaojiao has tested them for poison for you; they’re not poisoned, and they’re quite sour.”
His words “quite sour” were obviously in jest.
She glanced at him and, as if with great determination, took a big bite.
However…
the tangy and sweet taste made her fingers move eagerly, triggering her appetite.
She had been frightened and anxious all night, and busy with the hospital transfer the whole morning.
Now, with her stomach utterly empty, this small piece of sugar vinegar rib completely brought out the cravings in her stomach.
“I knew you’d like it.”
As if afraid she hadn’t had enough, Si Yuchen tenderly served her two more pieces.
Suddenly, Gu Xijue blocked Si Yuchen’s chopsticks, his usual gentlemanly manners on full display, “Director Si, you’re being too courteous.
I can take care of Nuannuan.”
“Today I’m fulfilling my duties as a host, Mr.
Gu is the one who’s acting like a guest.” He lightly deflected Gu Xijue’s challenge, and the ribs on his chopsticks landed steadily in Gu Xiaonuan’s bowl.
She looked left and right—both her brother and Si Yuchen were intently staring at the two ribs in her bowl, their eyes practically ablaze.
After pondering for a long moment, she spoke up in a meek voice, “I’m full.” Then, immediately, she divided the two ribs between the two of them.
Xu Jiaojiao watched the three across from her, and the subtle atmosphere among them, with a meaningful look…
This time there’d be a good show to watch, coming back to Sea City wasn’t so boring after all!
Gu Xijue was injured by Si Yuchen, and he did not admit to his culpable actions of injuring someone wantonly even after the meal.
Throughout the meal, Si Yuchen didn’t bring up the matter of moving his mother to another hospital; she was solely fixated on the sugar vinegar ribs and her brother’s mouth covered with a band-aid.
“Director Si, we’ve spoken and eaten.
Now, I’d like to ask you a serious question.”
She hadn’t forgotten the purpose of her visit, which was the main reason she had endured until now without falling out with him.
The man’s hazel eyes flickered with a complex expression as he hummed lightly, signaling her to continue.
She paused, swallowing, “I don’t have money… no, that’s not right, I temporarily don’t have enough money.
Save my mom first, and I can write you an IOU immediately.”
Today’s ordinary home-cooked meal made her realize how naive she had been.
Si Yuchen saved people according to his whims.
He had enough money to squander over several lifetimes.
His pitiful salary at the hospital wasn’t even enough to pay for the meal they were eating.
“An IOU?” He lazily crossed his legs, looking at her coldly, “So, Miss Gu, how much are you willing to pay me?”
“Whatever pleases you!
Write down any amount you want for compensation, and I will pay it back.”
Gu Xiaonuan’s resolute gaze fell on him, waiting for his answer.