Chapter 8 Chapter 8 A strange feeling

Chapter 8

Ruan Yan didn't expect to meet her idol in such an occasion. She was immersed in an extremely excited and incredible mood and couldn't extricate herself, automatically blocking out other irrelevant voices.

After a while, Luna raised her eyebrows. She was already used to such occasions, so she quickly regained her composure.

What? Are you trying to get close to me? Humph, I'm not buying it!

Luna coughed lightly and said, "If you want to create a scandal, find someone else. Brother Shi is not your tool."

"Luna, can you sign an autograph for me later?" Ruan Yan's eyes were starry.

"We'll talk about it when we have time... Anyway, stay away from Brother Shi."

"If it's convenient, could you take another photo with me?" Ruan Yan clasped her hands together, full of anticipation.

Luna: "You...you have to agree to my request first!"

"I promise, I promise, I'll agree to whatever you say!" Ruan Yan excitedly took out her cell phone.

Luna: “…”

Why do I have such a weird feeling?

Lu Peishi: “…”

Seeing the two people who were furious with their swords drawn a second ago and in a tense atmosphere, now chirping and pouting in cute poses and taking pictures of the harmonious scene, Lu Peishi felt very complicated.

After taking the photo and signing her name, Luna looked at the excited people around her, half believing and half doubting: "Do you really live next door?"

Ruan Yan nodded: "Yes."

When Luna learned that she was here with one of her younger sisters to do homework, she wondered if she had misunderstood her.

What about the photo? Lu Peishi has been keeping himself clean, self-disciplined and cautious for so many years, and has never been involved in any scandal with any woman. He was photographed right after he came back this time. Others may not think there is anything wrong, but how could she, who has been struggling in the big dye vat for many years, not smell that there is something fishy?

She didn't believe it was just a coincidence.

Besides, Ruan Yan was no pushover. It wasn't like she had just heard of him today...

Thinking of this, Luna rolled her eyes and looked at Ruan Yan again: "Anyway, no matter what your purpose is, you are not allowed to have any ideas about Brother Shi. Besides, you already have a boyfriend, but you are still so fickle."

"You misunderstood. I really don't have that kind of intention towards him." Ruan Yan looked at Luna, then at Lu Pei, and then couldn't help but pull her aside and said in a low voice: "You and him, you two are not..."

Luna didn't react for a moment: "Could it be something?"

When she noticed Ruan Yan's strange look, she realized what Ruan Yan meant. It turned out that she had misunderstood that she and Lu Peishi had that kind of relationship.

"What are you thinking about? He is my brother! My cousin!" Luna explained hurriedly.

Ruan Yan was instantly relieved: "So it's my cousin, I knew you always had high standards!"

Lu Peishi: “…” Why does this sound so awkward?

The lights come on and dusk falls.

Looking at Ruan Yan's back as she walked back holding the little girl's hand, Luna seemed to be thinking about something.

Although she didn't look like a scheming person just now, maybe she was just good at disguising herself?

He even said that he was his fan. Wasn't he just trying to flatter him?

Luna brushed her hair. Although she admitted that she was extremely charming and could attract both men and women, she had seen all kinds of people over the years. There were countless men and women in the circle who used crooked means to get to the top for the sake of interests and ambitions. It was normal for her to be very vigilant.

This Ruan Yan always feels weird, I have to be more careful and cautious about her.

*

Blanch the pork belly to remove the fishy smell, then rinse with cold water. Use a meat tenderizer to poke dense holes in the skin. Slice the meat side open, then evenly apply rose water, five-spice powder, and coarse salt...

Wang Xia placed the marinated meat on the edge of the cooking table and was just about to prepare the next dish when a figure flashed into the kitchen.

"Wow, Aunt Wang, what delicious food are you making?" Ruan Yan, wearing a nightgown, appeared behind her.

Wang Xia politely replied, "Crispy roast pork, marinating it in advance makes it more flavorful."

"I love this dish. You made it last week and I ate it all up." Her hair was not combed and was scattered on her shoulders. She was holding a ceramic cup in her hand and sipping it in small sips, as if she had just woken up.

Her deliberate approach made Wang Xia's tone relax a little: "Yes, since you like it, I specially picked a piece of meat with even fat and lean meat and good color this morning. It tastes better this way."

She wasn't just saying nice things, it was true that Ruan Yan always praised the dishes she cooked.

Wen Ying rarely eats at home. After Ruan Mingkun passed away, her excellent cooking skills had nowhere to be used and were almost abandoned.

Although before her disappearance, Ruan Yan always ate a light diet in order to maintain a good figure and almost never touched fried food.

But who would have thought that losing memory would lead to drastic changes in even eating habits.

The young lady who used to get furious if a drop of oil was added to her fat-loss meals now has a sudden change in her taste for heavier foods. She accepts everything, whether it's fried or grilled, cooked with red oil or with pepper or sesame oil.

She enjoyed the meal very much, and Wang Xia was even happier watching her.

Every time she looked at a table of empty plates, she felt a sense of accomplishment.

This gives me more motivation to cook every day.

"Xiaoyan, do you want to eat anything for lunch?" Wang Xia asked her.

Ruan Yan tapped her teeth against the rim of the cup. She caught a glimpse of a piece of pure white lotus root in the corner of the countertop. "Hmm, stir-fried lotus root shreds?"

"Okay, I'll prepare it now and we'll be able to eat it in a while."

Wang Xia rinsed the lotus root that had just been delivered in the morning, peeled it and cut it into shreds.

When adding white vinegar to the soaking water, Ruan Yan asked, "Why do you add vinegar?"

Wang Xia patiently explained: "After peeling, lotus roots tend to turn black when exposed to air. Soaking them in vinegar can prevent oxidation."

"So that's how it is."

Ruan Yan seemed very interested in cooking. She stared at Wang Xia's movements for a while and said, "Auntie Wang, your cooking skills are really good."

Wang Xia felt a little embarrassed by the compliment: "It's OK, as long as you like it."

"Anyway, I like everything you make," Ruan Yan tilted her head. "By the way, Aunt Wang, you've been in our family for—more than ten years, right?"

Wang Xia smiled and said, "Not that long, maybe eight or nine years. I came here after my mother retired. She's been working here longer, probably for decades."

"That's a really long time ago," Ruan Yan leaned against the kitchen counter, "So she's been here since I was very young?"

Wang Xia bent her head over the chopping board, chopping onions and garlic. "Yes, that was when the eldest lady had just passed away, and she came over to take care of Yingying."

The eldest lady refers to Wen Ying's mother.

"Then she must have met my mother too," Ruan Yan murmured, and suddenly asked, "Aunt Wang, have you met my mother?"

Wang Xia nodded: "Yes, your mother is very beautiful and gentle."

"Really? It's a pity that I don't have any memory of her anymore." Ruan Yan lowered her arms and gently shook the lemon rose tea in the ceramic cup.

"You were still young at that time, it was normal," said Wang Xia.

Ruan Yan's thin eyelids trembled: "So my mother passed away when I was very young?"

Wang Xia finally realized that she had lost her memory: "Yeah..."

"Aunt Wang, can you tell me more about my mother?"

The little girl's eyes were sparkling with water, her skin was fair, her black hair was smooth, and she looked both cute and pitiful.

Thinking of how she lost her mother at such a young age, Wang Xia couldn't bear it and found it difficult to refuse her small request.

"She was very kind and gentle to everyone, and she and Yingying had a very good relationship," Wang Xia recalled slowly. "When I was young, I would occasionally come here to help, and she was very kind to me. She never looked down on me because of my status."

"What was the reason for her death?" Ruan Yan asked.

"She must be sick. Her health has been poor in the later period." Wang Xia sighed silently. She was such a bright and beautiful person, but later she became ill due to depression and mental disorder. She became so thin that she was unrecognizable. She was like a quickly withering flower, so sad.

Of course, she couldn't tell Ruan Yan this.

"Did she... leave home later?" Ruan Yan smoothed her hair. "I mean, did she live somewhere else?"

Wang Xia shook her head. "Probably not. I haven't heard of her. She doesn't seem to like going out much. Every time I come, she's either doing flower arrangement or needlework at home. Even when she goes out, it's with her employer or her good friend..."

When she said this, Wang Xia's expression suddenly changed slightly.

Ruan Yan, who noticed it, pretended not to notice and said nonchalantly: "Then she and my dad must be very much in love."

"Yes, the man is talented and the woman is beautiful, they are a perfect match." Wang Xia's tone was normal.

It seems that it’s not because of Ruan Yan’s father.

Ruan Yan stared at her and asked again, "Who is that good friend you just mentioned?"

Wang Xia's face immediately turned awkward. "Uh, it's... it's just a friend of your mother's. I'm not very familiar with her. I've only met her once or twice."

She is lying.

Ruan Yan was sure of it.

The unnaturalness she showed just now was because of this friend.

But since Wang Xia was obviously unwilling to bring up this topic, Ruan Yan didn't need to force it. There was still a long way to go after all.

"Oh, it's already half past ten," Ruan Yan straightened up and put the lemon rose tea on the table. "I'm going upstairs to wash up first. Call me when the meal is ready."

"Okay, go ahead." Wang Xia removed the flesh and veins of the red pepper, cut it into sections, and then cut it into shreds.

Wang Xia breathed a sigh of relief when she caught a glimpse of Ruan Yan leaving the kitchen.

Did she think she had said too much?

Ruan Yan suddenly started chatting with her about family matters. She didn't think too much about it and relaxed for a moment, accidentally bringing up the taboo topic.

I don't know if this kid took it to heart...

In the room on the second floor, Ruan Yan sat at the table with a gloomy expression.

Gentle, sick, good friend...

She picked up the ballpoint pen on the table and wrote these three words on the paper.

Then he recited it again softly.

Could it be her?

Ruan Yan narrowed her eyes and lingered on the word "good friends" for a moment.

Then, he clenched his fingers again and drew a circle on it with the tip of the pen.

Who is this good friend?

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