Huo Mingyue met Su Yuanshan’s serious gaze and spoke earnestly patting her chest. “Uncle Su rest assured my brother is true through and through All his life it has been nothing but the army and home No old flames he could not get over He has never properly held a woman’s hand His whole heart goes into his work.” She leaned closer lowering her voice half joking half serious. “Between us our father worries he will stay single forever But the way he looks at Xingci I have never seen him like this before His eyes light up”
“Uncle Su please do not be angry but I think he has cared for her for quite some time.”
Su Yuanshan breathed easier hearing that No tangled past relationships He found himself leaning toward Huo Chenzhou more and more.
Dumplings boiled bright and colorful in the courtyard pot. The first batch was served steaming hot. “Come everyone eat while they are hot” The table filled with savory aromas.
“Delicious Truly wonderful” Su Yuanshan bit into one and sighed happily. “Mingyue your filling is superb.”
Mingyue beamed. “Thank you Uncle Su Chenzhou chopped the meat so well it has perfect texture.”
Tangtang sat beside Su Xingci swinging her legs unable to reach the floor. She carefully ladled vinegar then pushed a dumpling toward Su Xingci. “Sister Xingci try this Uncle made it” Her voice was sweet and soft.
All three adults paused. Huo Mingyue smiled broadly Su Yuanshan wore a knowing look. Su Xingci felt her cheeks warm. “Thank you Tangtang” she murmured keeping her eyes down. Huo Chenzhou stayed calm quietly adding two rabbit shaped dumplings to Tangtang’s bowl stopping further words.
Su Xingci glanced up and caught him watching her Her face flamed and she looked away quickly. The air felt strange.
Su Yuanshan looked on pleased. “Xingyue they make such wonderful dumplings We should not impose constantly.” Su Xingci nodded not quite following. “Also” he continued “we must thank Uncle Yuanhang for looking after you Let us invite him for a meal We can make dumplings at your dormitory as a proper thank you.”
The name struck cold. Su Xingci’s hand froze mid air. The dumpling lost all taste her face drained of color. Thank him? For what? For playing her for three years? For loving someone else all the while? Nausea rose in her throat she bit her lip hard forcing it down. The warmth vanished from the room.
Huo Mingyue’s smile faltered. Su Yuanshan noticed. “What is wrong Xingci Did I say something”
“No” she managed voice dry eyes fixed on the table.
Huo Chenzhou stood up and went to the kitchen returning with a small dish which he set before her. “Try this.” His tone was steady. “Not spicy.”
Something shifted deep inside her. She did not eat spicy food. Gu Yuanhang never remembered in three years Yet this man had noticed. Tears pricked her eyes.
Su Yuanshan watched realizing he had misspoken. Huo Mingyue quickly lightened the mood. “Dumplings getting cold Tangtang have another one See how cute the rabbit is”
Su Xingci poked at her food unable to eat. Tangtang looked from one to another and spoke innocently. “Uncle do you like Sister Xingci? You keep looking at her!”
Huo Mingyue choked on her soup spraying it out. Everyone froze. Silence fell. Su Yuanshan stared mouth open. Su Xingci wanted to vanish.
Huo Mingyue recovered quickly covering Tangtang’s mouth. “Do not say such things You are too little to know what that means!”
Tangtang pulled free. “I know Like my rabbit toy That is how he looks at her!”
All eyes turned to Huo Chenzhou. He sat upright expression unchanged yet his hand clenched tight beneath the table. He did not answer instead picking up his chopsticks slowly. No one missed the warm flush creeping up his neck spreading steadily across his ears.