Home-cooked meal

Cui Yu got out of the car but didn't immediately ring the doorbell. Instead, he went around to the passenger side and opened the door for Meng Yihe. He walked to the quiet, black lacquered door and gently pressed a button on an inconspicuous area beside it, seemingly some kind of intelligent recognition device.

Almost simultaneously, a very faint unlocking sound came from inside the door.

Cui Yu pushed open the heavy door and gestured to Meng Yihe, indicating "please".

The main house is not directly inside the gate, but rather a meticulously maintained courtyard.

The flagstone path meanders forward, flanked by verdant pines and cypresses and meticulously manicured flowers and trees. There's even a small bamboo grove in the corner, rustling softly in the wind. The entire courtyard is tranquil and elegant, exuding a serene and composed air that has been refined by time.

A simply dressed middle-aged woman was waiting with a smile under the eaves.

"Little Cui is back." The aunt greeted him with a smile, looking at Meng Yihe with gentle eyes. "This must be Mr. Meng, right? The old gentleman and lady were just talking about him."

"Aunt Wu, it's been a long time," Cui Yu greeted her with a smile.

Meng Yihe nodded slightly and said politely, "Hello."

"Oh, good, good, please come in, it's sunny outside." Aunt Wu warmly led them through the courtyard and towards the main house.

The main house is decorated in a dignified Chinese style.

The furniture is mostly dark solid wood, looking somewhat old, yet it is extremely well-maintained. Several landscape paintings with profound artistic conception and vigorous calligraphy works hang on the walls, while some porcelain and small antiques are displayed on the antique shelves. The entire space is filled with a faint fragrance of books and wood.

As they entered the living room, a sprightly old gentleman with silver hair emerged from the study. His gaze was sharp yet not intimidating, and he wore a gentle smile.

The old man first glanced at Cui Yu, then looked Meng Yihe up and down, his eyes flashing with admiration.

"Grandpa," Cui Yu called out.

"So you know how to come back?" Old Master Cui snorted, as if complaining, but there was a smile in his eyes.

He looked directly at Meng Yihe and said in a cheerful tone, "This must be Xiao Meng, right? I've often heard this brat mention you. It's great to finally meet you today. Don't be shy, have a seat."

"Mr. Cui, hello." Meng Yihe stepped forward and bowed slightly as he handed over the gift box. "It's just a small token of my appreciation." His demeanor was proper, neither humble nor arrogant.

"You're here, why bring anything?" Old Master Cui said, but he still took the tea, glanced at the packaging, and smiled, "Oh, good tea! How thoughtful. Aunt Wu, put the tea away first, and try it after dinner."

Just then, a kind-faced old lady wearing an apron hurried out from the kitchen, holding a spatula in her hand, her face beaming with joy: "Xiaoyu's back? Oh my, this must be Xiao Meng! He's so handsome! Come on, sit down, the food will be ready soon! Old Cui, don't block the way, let the children sit down!"

"Grandma," Cui Yu called out with a smile, stepping forward to help the old lady up. "Take it easy, no rush."

"Hello, Madam Cui." Meng Yihe immediately greeted the old lady as well.

"Alright, alright, just call me Grandma, don't be so formal!" Grandma Cui smiled from ear to ear, her gaze sweeping over Meng Yihe again and again, becoming more and more satisfied with her.

"Xiaoyu is such a lucky child... Oh no, my soup!" She suddenly remembered something and hurriedly turned around and ran to the kitchen.

Grandpa Cui shook his head helplessly and smiled at Meng Yihe, "You flatter me. That's just how she is; she forgets things when she's happy. Come, sit down."

The group sat down on the mahogany sofa in the living room. Wu Ma quickly brought out freshly brewed tea and delicate tea snacks. Old Master Cui picked up his teacup and blew on it to cool it down.

"Xiao Meng, I heard from Xiao Yu that you work in strategic development at Xinghuan? Young man, it's remarkable to have reached this position."

"You flatter me, I just did my best," Meng Yihe replied cautiously.

"It's good that young people are humble." Old Master Cui nodded, took a sip of tea, and then changed the subject slightly, looking at Cui Yu with a hint of teasing. "But working with this kid must be tough, right? Does he always cause you trouble?"

Cui Yu immediately protested, "Grandpa, what are you saying? When have I ever caused any trouble? We work together perfectly."

Meng Yihe glanced at Cui Yu, a faint smile flashing in her eyes, then turned to Old Master Cui: "Director Cui is very capable, our cooperation is going very smoothly."

Grandpa Cui took in their little interaction and laughed heartily: "It's good that things are going smoothly. It's good that we can help each other at work and take care of each other in life. That would be the best."

As they were chatting, Grandma Cui called out that dinner was ready.

Inside the restaurant, the table was already laden with food, all home-style dishes, but it was clear that they had been prepared with great care, and they looked, smelled, and tasted delicious.

"I didn't know what you liked to eat, so I just made something simple. Xiao Meng, please don't be shy, eat more!" Grandma Cui warmly served food to Meng Yihe.

"Thank you, Grandma, I can do it myself," Meng Yihe quickly thanked her.

The atmosphere at the meal was much more relaxed than I had imagined.

Grandma Cui mainly nags and serves food, showing concern for their daily lives and reminding them to remember to eat no matter how busy they are. Grandpa Cui occasionally chimes in with a few words.

Although Meng Yihe didn't talk much, she remained polite and focused throughout, and answered questions with humility.

After the meal, Aunt Wu efficiently cleared away the dishes and brought out freshly cut fruit and freshly brewed tea, the same kind that Meng Yihe had brought.

The tea soup is clear and bright, with a rich and mellow aroma.

Grandpa Cui took a sip, nodded slightly, and praised, "Hmm, good tea. The roasting and aroma are just right, a rare find."

He looked at Meng Yihe, his eyes showing even more appreciation. "Little Meng, you know a lot about tea?"

"I know a little bit about it. My father likes it, and I've learned some basics from him through exposure."

"You're too modest." The old man smiled and didn't delve any deeper. Instead, he started talking about tea, sharing some interesting anecdotes about tea-producing regions and seasonal changes. His insights were quite unique, yet he didn't show off at all. It was just like chatting casually, revealing his remarkable knowledge.

Grandma Cui listened from the side, occasionally refilling their tea with a smile and urging them to eat fruit.

Her attention was more focused on the details: "Xiao Meng, you're so thin. Do you work too hard? Tell Xiao Yu to take better care of you. If he dares to bully you, tell Grandma, and Grandma will teach him a lesson!"

Cui Yu was peeling an orange when she heard this and immediately protested, "Grandma, how could I dare? Look at my status, do you think I look like someone who could bully him?"

As he spoke, he placed most of the peeled oranges onto the plate in front of Meng Yihe.

This action did not escape the eyes of the two elderly people.

Grandma Cui smiled even more happily, and Grandpa Cui also held his teacup, a knowing and gratified smile flashing in his eyes.

We sat for a while longer and chatted about some trivial things.

Seeing that Meng Yihe was responding politely but maintaining an upright posture, Cui Yu knew that he was still a little reserved, so she took her leave at the right time: "Grandpa, Grandma, it's getting late, so we won't disturb your rest any longer."

Grandma Cui was clearly reluctant to let them go: "Are you leaving already? Stay a little longer, have dinner at home tonight, Grandma will cook you something delicious!"

"Next time, Grandma," Cui Yu said with a smile as she stood up. "We'll come back for a meal next time. We've already taken up most of your day today."

Grandpa Cui also stood up and waved his hand, saying, "Don't say it's a bother. We're overjoyed that you're back."

He looked at Meng Yihe and said gently, "Little Meng, when you have time, come back for dinner with Xiaoyu often. Make yourself at home and don't be shy."

Meng Yihe immediately stood up and nodded seriously: "Okay, thank you, sir and madam, I'm sorry to have bothered you today."

"Just call him Grandpa and Grandma." Grandma Cui stepped forward, took Meng Yihe's hand, and patted it gently. "Be careful on the road, Xiaoyu, drive slowly."

"Okay, Grandma."

The two elderly people escorted them all the way to the courtyard gate.

As the car drove out of that quiet area, Cui Yu glanced at Meng Yihe in the passenger seat and asked with a smile, "How was it? I didn't lie to you, did I? Was it just a simple home-cooked meal?"

Meng Yihe looked out the window, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and hummed in agreement.

Looking back, there was indeed no tense questioning or awkwardness; the two elderly people only showed kindness and tolerance.

“My grandparents really like you.” Cui Yu’s tone was a little proud. “The old man praised you for being calm and knowledgeable, and the old woman thought you were too thin and told me to make sure you get some nutrition.”

Meng Yihe turned her head, glanced at him, and didn't say anything. After a while, he said in a low voice, "They...are very good."

“Of course,” Cui Yu said with a smile.

While waiting at a red light, Cui Yu reached out and gently shook Meng Yihe's hand.

"So, I can go back more often from now on?"

Meng Yihe's fingers twitched slightly, and she responded softly, "Mm."

Time flowed smoothly, work and life intertwined and moved forward. On a beautiful spring weekend, Meng Yihe's birthday arrived. He didn't have much expectation for it, and even originally planned to spend it quietly, like in previous years, working overtime.

However, Cui Yu was clearly prepared.

On the morning of my birthday.

Cui Yu appeared on time downstairs at Meng Yihe's apartment building and took him to a highly renowned kaiseki restaurant in the suburbs that required advance reservations.

The environment is quiet and elegant, with only a few private rooms. Outside the window are carefully manicured plants and early cherry blossoms in the courtyard, where spring is in full bloom.

The food is presented like a work of art, with each dish offering both a delicious taste and a visual delight.

Cui Yu didn't have a boisterous celebration; she simply introduced him to the seasonal ingredients in a peaceful manner. Occasionally, when raising a glass, she would offer simple and sincere blessings such as "May the new year bring you good fortune and health."

The whole process was comfortable and just right, perfectly matching Meng Yihe's preferences.

After the meal, Cui Yu drove slowly along a newly green lakeside road.

Willows sway gently by the lake, and spring flowers bloom in profusion.

Finally, we stopped at a viewing platform with a wide view. It was afternoon, and the sun was warm.

"Wait a minute, there's something else I need to give you." Cui Yu said, taking out a rectangular flat box from the trunk. The packaging wasn't fancy, but the quality was excellent.

Meng Yihe took it and opened it under Cui Yu's smiling gaze.

Inside was a set of extremely well-preserved, out-of-print professional books. This was a particular early edition he had searched for years during his studies, a source of great regret ever since, and it concerned a very niche research area. Its value far surpasses monetary worth.

Meng Yihe's fingers gently brushed over the yellowed but smooth pages of the book, his eyes filled with disbelief. He looked up at Cui Yu.

"Where...where did you find this?"

He tried to find this version using his connections, but to no avail, and had almost given up.

Cui Yu smiled and said, "It was a coincidence. I asked a few friends in the collecting circle to keep an eye out for me, and luckily, I came across it."

He omitted the effort and arduous process involved, focusing only on the rare joy in Meng Yihe's eyes. He felt it was all worthwhile.

"Thank you." Meng Yihe's voice was lower than usual as she gently stroked the spine of the book.

"I really like this gift."

This thoughtfulness surpasses any expensive item; it means that the other party not only understands his profession but also delves into his preferences and even unspoken regrets.