Lin Shengmiao confirmed again: "Is this for me?"
“That’s right,” Xu Xingyan nodded helplessly, then looked up and covered her face, saying, “So, for the sake of this rowan branch, could Miss Lin please grace my humble abode with her presence and have a simple meal today? Please, give me a chance to show off my cooking skills, I’m about to burst!”
Xu Xingyan was initially quite willing to follow Lin Shengmiao's pace.
Senior Sister Ke Lin is like a snail, so slow! Her so-called long holiday is almost halfway over, but the progress bar is still not moving. After much patience, Xu Xingyan decided to take action herself.
Glancing at Miss Snail, who was absentmindedly holding a flower branch and lost in thought, Xu Xingyan sighed inwardly, experiencing for the first time in her life what it meant to be 'desperate to get married'...
Lin Shengmiao was completely unaware that she had acquired a new nickname; she was caught up in a feeling of excitement.
Although the rowan tree is mainly promoted as a landscaping plant in China, Lin Shengmiao had previously studied Russian folk culture and knew that it is also a symbol of love, often used in weddings to represent family happiness and harmony.
In some regions, during wedding ceremonies, people will place rowan leaves in the shoes of the newlyweds and hide the bright red fruits in their pockets, because in ancient legends, the rowan tree is also a tree that can ward off evil spirits and protect the newlyweds from harm.
The only question now is... whether Xu Xingyan knows this layer of meaning about the rowan tree.
Lin Shengmiao was caught in a dilemma.
It shouldn't be surprising that a florist would know the symbolism of a common plant... right? But she just said she only asked for it because she thought it looked nice.
"It's just a meal, why are you thinking about it for so long?" Xu Xingyan said quietly.
"Huh?" Lin Shengmiao suddenly came to her senses and remembered what she had just said. Her heart was in turmoil, and she subconsciously agreed to all her requests: "Okay, whatever you say."
"What would you like to eat? We'll go grocery shopping later," Xu Xingyan asked with great interest.
“Just cook what you’re good at,” Lin Shengmiao smiled and said sincerely, “I’ve always felt that people who don’t cook have no say in kitchen matters.”
Xu Xingyan raised an eyebrow, in a good mood. "Now the head chef allows you to speak. Go ahead."
"Then I'd like..." Lin Shengmiao had never met such an enthusiastic head chef before. After thinking for a moment, she finally said, "Shrimp and egg stir-fry, steamed mandarin fish, and... I'll also have shredded pork with green peppers."
Xu Xingyan looked at her, remained silent for a long time, and finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Goodness, they ordered three dishes in total. Two of them were dishes that Xu Xingyan loved to eat in high school, and one was a dish that she herself loved to eat in high school. It's all about sentimentality.
Lin Shengmiao: "Is there a problem?"
"No, no," Xu Xingyan shook her head, then instructed, "Let's hurry to the supermarket to buy groceries. At this time of day, we don't even know if there will still be any mandarin fish left..."
Walking to the parking lot, Xu Xingyan looked at Lin Shengmiao's back and couldn't understand why she had followed her wishes and started a relationship that even elementary school students would find tedious. For them, some processes were simply a waste of life.
It wasn't until she got into the car and fastened her seatbelt that she suddenly realized—Lin Shengmiao was toxic; getting close to her would lower her IQ.
Xu Xingyan sighed deeply and decided to act on behalf of Heaven. Some suffering was best left to her alone.
--------------------
Author's Note:
Happy reading!
Chapter 23 Laughing until my stomach hurts
"We couldn't find any mandarin fish, Miss Lin, please make do with some crucian carp soup."
As soon as Xu Xingyan entered the supermarket, she arranged for Lin Shengmiao to go to the vegetable section to buy green peppers, while she herself plunged into the fresh produce section. Because it was the weekend, even though it was close to noon, there were still quite a few people buying groceries and strolling around. Xu Xingyan had just managed to grab a dozen or so shrimp when the last mandarin fish disappeared, which was truly regrettable.
Lin Shengmiao, carrying a small bag of green peppers, couldn't stop smiling. "Miss Xu cooked this herself, how could it be anything less than what she needs... Shall we go buy some lean meat now?"
"No need, we still have lean meat at home," Xu Xingyan said.
Lin Shengmiao was in high spirits until she left the supermarket, perhaps because the place she was about to go was the 'home' that Xu Xingyan had mentioned.
"I'll go cook dinner. You can watch TV here for a while," Xu Xingyan said as soon as she entered the house. She quickly changed her clothes, turned on the TV, and carried the groceries into the kitchen. "There are cups in the cabinet under the water dispenser. Help yourself to a glass of water. The bathroom is next to the art studio, and there are snacks under the coffee table. Feel free to look around the rooms..."
"Is there anything I can help with?" Lin Shengmiao asked, standing at the kitchen doorway.
Xu Xingyan glanced at her briefly, her hands still busy, and said with a smile, "My grandma said that when a special guest comes to our house for the first time, you don't have to do any housework. You just have to wait to wash your hands and eat."
Lin Shengmiao was not a native of Nancheng, and her family did not have many elders to guide her. Therefore, she did not know that the so-called "precious guest" in the locals was mostly an affectionate term for "son-in-law".
She looked around the whole room carefully; it was all decorated in a strong 'Xu Xingyan style'.
Ms. Xu is romantic, nostalgic, and skillful. She can't bear to throw away many things that she feels have sentimental value. With a little processing, they become beautiful accessories and ornaments.
Lin Shengmiao even saw a portrait made of candy wrappers. Upon closer inspection, she realized that the candy wrappers used were the same kind that were most popular and loved to eat in their high school days.
Lin Shengmiao walked around Xu Xingyan's living room, and the more she looked, the softer her heart became.
She recognized that violin. It was during her senior year of high school, at a school performance. In the rehearsal room, after everyone else had left, Xu Xingyan played "Rainy Jiangnan" for her alone.
They bought that ceramic doll from an old lady's stall on their way to the city library. Unfortunately, Lin Shengmiao lost her own doll during a move abroad.
...
As Lin Shengmiao opened the bedroom door, she glanced at the decorations and was immediately struck by the girlish atmosphere filled with various cotton dolls, finding them incredibly cute.
Just then, a noise came from the kitchen, "Miaomiao, do you want some wakame seaweed?"
"Eat!" Lin Shengmiao strolled into the kitchen with a joyful heart, leaned against the door frame with her arms crossed, and asked with a smile, "When did you learn to cook?"
Xu Xingyan lowered her eyes and smiled, "When I was a sophomore, my grandfather was sick with Alzheimer's disease. At that time, he often forgot that he hadn't eaten yet. He would only eat a couple of bites of the food I made. It was at that time that I realized I had quite a talent for cooking."
“So…” Xu Xingyan turned to look at her, “I’ve always been quite grateful.”
"What are you glad about?" Lin Shengmiao asked, lowering his arm.
"I'm so glad I didn't go to study in another city back then..." Xu Xingyan slowly removed the shrimp veins and sighed, "Staying in Nancheng to take care of my grandfather and see him off in his old age was the best decision I ever made in my life, and I don't regret it at all."
Alzheimer's disease is not a short-term illness, especially for patients' families, it is a long-term undertaking.
However, at that time, Fang Yuan and her husband were busy with work and could only visit twice a month at most. Fang Yi and her husband were in a similar situation. Luo Bin was working at the grassroots level in another province, so it was very inconvenient for him to travel back and forth. Luo Jing was studying at a medical university in a neighboring province and could only come home once a week, and even then, she had to travel back and forth in a hurry.
Of the entire family, only Xu Xingyan, who was studying at a university in the city, was available whenever they needed her.
In the last few years of his life, although most of his children and grandchildren could not be by his side often, his most beloved granddaughter was always by his side, taking good care of him. When he was occasionally lucid, he felt at peace and loving, feeling that his later years were peaceful and that his life was enough.
Lin Shengmiao lowered her head and tugged at the corner of her mouth, "You still want to study in another city?"
“Yes,” Xu Xingyan nodded, “It’s good that you gave up.”
"Why give up?" Lin Shengmiao asked.
When Xu Xingyan took the college entrance examination, Grandpa Fang was still very healthy, which was not enough to constitute a reason.
"Because the school I wanted to attend had too high an admission score, I definitely couldn't get in on my own. My mom has a junior colleague who is a professor at Z University, and she said she could guarantee me admission to her graduate program, which is also my favorite major."
Lin Shengmiao: "..."
Sometimes the truth is just that stark and naked.
...
After placing the last dish on the table, Xu Xingyan looked at it from left to right, feeling that something was missing. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Tmall Genie, play some music."
As a piece of soft, soothing music began to play, the entire atmosphere instantly changed.
"Here, have a taste," Xu Xingyan said, getting up to pour her a large glass of freshly squeezed apple juice.
Miss Xu was so elegant that she made Lin Shengmiao taste the flavor of a fine red wine in a glass of ordinary juice.
Looking up at Xu Xingyan's eyes, which suddenly appeared more beautiful, Lin Shengmiao was slightly taken aback and felt a desire to gaze at her like this forever.
During her youth, Luo Jing disliked Lin Shengmiao intensely, always regarding her as a seductive enchantress who had tried to seduce the princess. The princess was innocent and naive, having never seen much of the world, while the enchantress was adept at seducing people, so of course all the blame fell on her.
Therefore, Luo Jing was extremely worried and racked her brains trying to make the princess see the true face of the demon. She wished she could imitate the Queen Mother of the West, pull out her hairpin and draw a Milky Way to separate the easily deceived little princess from the demon.
Unfortunately, the little princess was stubborn and always mistook "honest advice" for "slander," remaining obstinate and breaking the hearts of her "good ministers." It was a heartbreaking sight that brought tears to the eyes of all who heard it.
But if we remove Luo Jing's overly thick, unbearable filter, is that really the case? Did the princess fall into the devil's trap, or was the devil seduced by the princess?
"Is it pretty?" Xu Xingyan stopped eating at some point and gazed at her intently, resting her chin on her hand.
Lin Shengmiao didn't speak, but just looked into her eyes.
Lin Shengmiao never said that what she liked most about Xu Xingyan was her eyes. They were just like the well in the village where she grew up. They were the kind of spring water squeezed out from the cracks in the mountains, without a speck of dust, yet not clear enough to reflect the filth of the world. They were full but not overflowing, warm in winter and cool in summer, as if they had their own unique way of dealing with things.
If Lin Shengmiao were to be stared at by those eyes when she was 18, she would often flee in panic. Occasionally, if she was caught off guard, she would uncontrollably become immersed in them, feeling restless all day long, her mind and eyes completely invaded.
Those who haven't experienced it won't understand. If there were someone who looked at you with the same gaze she uses when looking at the stars, moon, and clouds—serene and distant—as if in her eyes you were as important as the sun, moon, and stars, what an allure that would be! But it's just too precious. How could someone with nothing to their name possibly take it? And how would they dare to take it?
But sitting here now is 28-year-old Lin Shengmiao, who has outstanding experience and has achieved great success.
so……
Now she could muster the courage to look into those eyes and return their gaze with the same serene and distant expression.
Then she said softly, "It looks good."
Seriously, no one is more beautiful than you.
The atmosphere suddenly became very ambiguous.
"us……"
A purely instrumental violin piece enters its ethereal finale, its lingering tenderness remaining, melodious and moving, as if offering a unique kind of prompting.
Lin Shengmiao realized something and held her breath.
Xu Xingyan chuckled softly, about to speak...
The Tmall Genie, oblivious to the atmosphere, automatically switched to a new song.
A familiar, sorrowful, and melancholic female voice rang out in the living room, singing the theme song "Ambiguous" from a Taiwanese youth idol drama from many years ago.
"Ambiguity makes people suffer all kinds of grievances"
No evidence of love could be found
When to move forward
When should I give up...?
Xu Xingyan & Lin Shengmiao: "..."
Well, the background noise between the two of them, in this atmosphere, seemed particularly strange.
Xu Xingyan, whose obsessive-compulsive disorder was acting up, had to interrupt, "...Tmall Genie, change the song."
Mechanical voice: "Okay."
The next moment, a sweet and youthful song, "Sakura Grass," began to play.