As soon as the lid of the styrofoam box was opened, bright red strawberries, tightly wrapped inside, were revealed. Chu Yi's eyes widened and he swallowed hard. Then he opened the large box behind it.
Sure enough, inside were plump, large, almost dark red cherries—enough for her to eat for a week straight.
No wonder it was so heavy that she had to carry it all the way.
Chu Yi was both angry and amused. She immediately took a picture and sent it to Qiao Anchen, also showing him a picture of her wrist that had been pressed red, accusing him of the crime.
He replied very quickly this time.
"I'm sorry, I didn't pay attention to the quantity when I placed the order... That deliveryman was so irresponsible."
"Hmph." Chu Yi replied with a haughty single word and then ignored him, burying herself in processing the strawberries and cherries, trying to find a way to stuff them all into the refrigerator.
Halfway through, unable to resist the temptation, Chu Yi grabbed a bunch of food, took it to the kitchen to wash, and then started munching away.
After finishing eating, they continued their work, almost emptying the entire refrigerator. Half of it was still left and couldn't be stuffed in. Chu Yi squatted on the ground, racking his brains, when suddenly an idea flashed into his mind.
Just send her home, and while you're at it, let's visit her biological parents.
Chu Yi was delighted and proud of his intelligence.
She picked up her phone, ready to contact her mother, when she saw the unread message lying quietly in her chat box with Qiao Anchen.
Don't be angry.
The simple sentence, the moment it caught her eye, felt as if Qiao Anchen himself was standing in front of her, his lips slightly pursed, his eyes moist as he apologized to her.
Chu Yi forgave him in an instant.
"You bought way too many cherries and strawberries."
"It's too big to fit in the refrigerator."
"I'll take it back to my parents, and we'll have dinner there tonight."
After sending the message on the first day of the lunar month, I found Ms. Wenfang's profile picture, informed her, and then changed my clothes to go out.
The fruit was packed in a box. Chu Yi had called a car downstairs in advance. When she changed her shoes and carried the box out, Qiao Anchen's reply arrived late.
"Then I'll leave work early tonight and come pick you up."
Chu Yi was somewhat flattered; Qiao Anchen's sudden thoughtfulness was truly surprising.
"Would you like to come over for dinner?" she asked considerately.
"Is it okay?" came the cautious message from the other end, and a line of thick lines appeared on Chu Yi's forehead.
“...Speak properly.”
“Oh.” Qiao Anchen replied crisply and decisively.
"Just ask Mom to cook a couple more dishes, I don't eat much."
"...I wanted to cook a couple more dishes for you, but if you're late, you can just eat the leftovers!"
Qiao Anchen looked at the message Chu Yi sent, a smile involuntarily appearing on his lips. He was stroking the screen, preparing to reply to her, when a voice came from the doorway.
"Prosecutor Qiao, the suspect from the previous case has arrived."
"Okay, I'll be right there."
Qiao Anchen immediately turned off his phone, tidied up the things on the table, pushed back his chair and stood up, his expression returning to its usual serious and solemn state.
Upon seeing her biological mother, Chu Yi became much more relaxed, shoving the suitcase in her hand into her hands and starting to complain about Qiao Anchen's extravagant gesture.
I bought her two big boxes of fruit, which she couldn't finish, and then I made her carry them up from downstairs herself. Her arms are almost worn out.
It's an undeniable fact that mothers-in-law have always favored their sons-in-law. Hearing Chu Yi's rapid-fire complaints, Ms. Wen Fang raised her hand and slapped her on the head, scolding her.
“An Chen even remembered the fruits you like and bought two big boxes of them. Have you ever seen a husband who is so thoughtful? And you're still not satisfied?”
"I think you're really taking your blessings for granted!"
"..." Chu Yi argued back.
"That's because—" She started to say, but couldn't continue. Was she supposed to say that she was being bullied terribly in bed, and that this was Qiao Anchen's apology?
He was listless and dejected on the first day of school.
Upon seeing this, Ms. Wenfang concluded that she was feeling guilty and scolded her even more, before eating a washed strawberry and praising it.
"Mmm...sweet! Much sweeter than the fruit I buy at the fruit shop outside. See, An Chen really put his heart into it."
"Mom! Why don't you just acknowledge Qiao Anchen as your son!" Chu Yi couldn't help but shout. Her mother glared at her, speaking with righteous indignation.
"Isn't a son-in-law just half a son? What are you thinking, Chu Yi? Staying at home all day has made you lose your mind."
"...You really are my mother."
That's what she said, but as soon as Chu Yi came back, her own mother was still busy in the kitchen preparing delicious food for her, such as braised pork hock, braised dishes, cold chicken feet, etc.
Chu Yi was lying on the sofa watching TV and eating fruit, but he couldn't stand the smell.
She couldn't resist sneaking into the kitchen to eat a few bites, and even took a picture to post on her WeChat Moments, holding a chicken foot in her hand and watching people like and comment on her post.
I even saw Qiao Anchen inside.
Leave some for me.
Chu Yi snorted and replied with three words.
"Dream on."
She spent a comfortable day at home and even played two games of chess with her father. Chu Tian really enjoys playing chess. After retiring, she goes to the big banyan tree on the street every day to play chess with a group of old men.
When Chu Yi was little, he even sent her to a chess interest class for half a semester, and that's when her introduction to chess began. In the end, Ms. Wenfang couldn't stand it anymore. Her daughter was thinking about the chessboard all day long and becoming more and more dull, so she went against everyone's advice and brought her back.
In fact, Chu Yi still likes playing chess, but when she thinks, all sorts of random stories involuntarily pop into her mind, and she gets distracted without realizing it. To outsiders, she just stares blankly at the chessboard, her eyes vacant and her face expressionless.
Now that I'm older, I can control my thoughts a bit better, and I look much more normal when I play chess.
Qiao Anchen entered the room just in time to see her playing chess with Chu Tian. He was slightly surprised, as he hadn't expected Chu Yi to know such a thing.
In his memory, Chu Yi should prefer children's toys.
Qiao Anchen sat down next to her. Chu Yi was holding a car in her hand, deep in thought about where to go. Her brows were furrowed, and she looked very serious.
Qiao Anchen couldn't help but smile slightly and spoke up to remind him.
"Go to the other side and get hit by his cannon fire."
Chu Yi's eyes lit up, as if the fog had lifted, and he immediately moved the round piece in his hand over, pushing away the cannon.
Chu Tian objected, shouting, "A true gentleman observes chess without speaking; you're cheating! This is unacceptable!"
"Just tell me if you're coming or not. If you're not coming, I'm going to eat!" Chu Yi threatened him. Chu Tian choked and had nothing to say. He resignedly lowered his head and continued, muttering to himself.
“An Chen can’t help anymore. If you help him any more, I’m quitting. You young people can’t bully an old man like this…”
Chu Yi suppressed a laugh and glanced at Qiao Anchen, whose eyes also held a smile. The two of them held back and nodded solemnly.
"good."
After that, Qiao Anchen really didn't say another word. After a long tug-of-war, Chu Yi and Chu Tian finally decided the winner before dinner.
Chu Tian won by a narrow margin, with only one move.
He wiped non-existent sweat from his brow, let out a long sigh of relief, and shook his head with a slight hint of smugness.
"Sigh, I didn't expect that after so many years, your chess skills haven't improved at all."
Chuyi: "..."
"How can it compare to your daily practice? I haven't touched a ball in ages." I almost won.
Chu Yi couldn't help but mutter to himself, while Chu Tian snorted childishly, still smug.
"Alright, come and eat quickly," Ms. Wenfang called out from the front, wiping her hands on her apron and setting out the bowls and chopsticks.
The three of them got up and moved from the living room to the dining table.
As soon as she sat down, Chu Yi saw her mother bring out a full plate of braised dishes and pickled chicken feet from the kitchen and place it in front of Qiao Anchen, greeting her warmly.
"An Chen, I heard you were coming, so I specially saved this for you. Eat up, eat up."
"Mom!" Chu Yi's eyes widened. No wonder when she went to the kitchen to get another plate of food at noon, the pot was empty except for the broth. When she asked, her mother had the audacity to say that it had all been eaten.
Chu Yi was completely confused at the time. She clearly saw a huge pot of food, so how come she only ate a little bit and it was all gone?
It turns out they were all secretly given to Qiao Anchen.
Chu Yi was so angry that he had no temper left.
"Thank you, Mom." Qiao Anchen smiled pleasingly and thanked Ms. Wenfang politely. Chu Yi secretly rolled her eyes and was tapped by her mother again.
"What are you glaring at me for? You've already eaten so much for lunch, what's wrong with leaving some for An Chen?"
"..." Chu Yi lowered her eyes and remained silent. Ms. Wen Fang turned around and went back into the kitchen to continue her work. Suddenly, a movement occurred beside her. A white plate filled with braised dishes and chicken feet entered her field of vision on the dining table.
Qiao Anchen whispered in her ear, "Chu Yi, here, have some."
...
After dinner, I returned home. The night was deep, and the autumn colors were everywhere along the roadside. The leaves on the trees were withered and fallen. A pear tree in front of a house was full of fruit, plump and golden.
Qiao Anchen led her forward by the hand. As the night deepened and the chill deepened, a gust of cold wind blew by, and Chu Yi involuntarily shrank her shoulders.
It was still sunny during the day, and Chu Yi was only wearing a knitted cardigan when she went out, which now looked a bit thin. When Qiao Anchen saw this, he reached out and pulled her into his arms.
"The car is parked outside, we'll be there soon."
Chu Yi snuggled closer to him. Qiao Anchen was naturally warm, and even when he slept in winter, he radiated warmth, making it very comfortable to lean against him.
This moment was no exception. Chu Yi placed her cool hand on his waist and comfortably squinted her eyes.
A middle-aged couple with a child were walking by. Seeing their affectionate behavior, I couldn't help but linger for a few more seconds, scrutinizing their faces.
Qiao Anchen looked somewhat uneasy, but he simply pressed Chu Yi's head forward to cover her face.
A soft laugh came from her arms.
Qiao Anchen lowered his head and met Chu Yi's smiling eyes.
"What do you think people will think of us?" she asked quietly. Qiao Anchen shook his head.
"have no idea."
Chu Yi blinked, his face already displaying a different expression, adopting an affected tone.