Chapter Thirty-Seven: Once Again

To be honest, the boss’s cooking was terrible, almost inedible, but because Lin Shuo was cold and harsh, and she was afraid of disappointing him, she smiled sweetly without hesitation and said, “It’s delicious.” Perhaps her skill at lying was truly masterful, because he immediately brightened with joy.

On the stall sat an old-fashioned radio, stained yellow and black from years of smoke and grease. The station was playing “Yesterday Once More.” That night was also the first time she returned home late.

All my best memories
Come back clearly to me
Some can even make me cry.
Just like before
It’s yesterday once more.

The song drew her back to the present. When the final verse ended, she had already picked out everything she needed. He pushed a cart overflowing with goods, a faint smile on his lips.

As they passed the landlady’s door, she was whispering with her newly arrived mahjong partners. They exchanged knowing smiles—the landlady showed unprecedented interest in this unexpected incident.

He joked, “Your landlady seems to like you.”

She shook her head. “She just loves gossip.”

The apartment originally had no kitchen. To raise the rent, the landlady had built a short brick wall as a partition, creating a semi-open kitchen. After moving in, Xiaoxiao added two open shelves on the wall to store dishes and condiments.

She donned an apron and earnestly searched for recipes on her computer, while Lin Shuo rolled up his sleeves and stood at the sink, washing vegetables with care. The sound of running water, the click of the mouse, the shuffle of tiles from the ladies downstairs, and the occasional bursts of laughter—all these blended together in the golden evening, harmonious as if woven by fate.

The cramped space gave her little room to maneuver; even turning around was a challenge, lest she bump into him. In the end, she brought to the table a few home-cooked dishes and what she called her disastrous attempt at West Lake Vinegar Fish. They sat by the window, the bottle of pink and white hydrangeas casting a long shadow across the table.

Lin Shuo let down his sleeves and picked up his bamboo chopsticks, suddenly unsure where to begin. Xiaoxiao picked up a piece of fish belly—one whiff, and the sourness was almost overwhelming. He watched as she stuffed the piece into her mouth, and her face immediately puckered.

The TV had said that West Lake Vinegar Fish must be cut into two halves, making seven strokes in total. The fish should be boiled, arranged on a plate, then covered with a sauce made of vinegar, sugar, rice wine, and starch, finally sprinkled with minced ginger and scallions for flavor. The last and most crucial step was to remove the fish’s eyes with chopsticks—the finishing touch.

Though she followed the TV instructions exactly, the result was far from what she had imagined. She reached for the plate, but he quickly stopped her.

“Don’t eat it, it’s too sour.”

He simply moved the plate in front of himself, dismissing her suggestion. “Let me try it first.”

As expected, it was too sour, though the aftertaste was sweet. He had never imagined he would one day eat her cooking. Somewhere inside, the icy walls began to thaw. He picked up another large piece and ate it.

“Isn’t it sour?” she asked, suspicious. Was something wrong with her own taste buds?

He didn’t reply, choosing instead to show her with his actions—he practically finished the entire meal himself.

After dinner, she washed the dishes in the kitchen, faintly hearing him on the balcony as he called to cancel his plans for the evening. Having obligations does not always mean you truly wish to go—perhaps that’s where human flexibility lies.

The dishes were still wet when she received a call from a client. The client’s blind date had suddenly moved the appointment to tomorrow, so tonight she must accompany her to shop for an outfit. She glanced sidelong at Lin Shuo, who had his back to her. Since the client was referred by an old customer, she weighed her options and agreed.

Lonely moments are not the time for romance. Chapter Thirty-Seven: Once More, now updated!