Zhuang Yan was pushed to sit down at the dining table. In front of him was a bowl of congee with preserved egg and lean pork, a plate of forty fried dumplings, and a high layer of pancakes, which looked to be about ten, each pancake as big as the plate.
Aunt Jiang also made her own pickled radishes, which were tossed with chili oil and were crisp and refreshing.
"Eat quickly, it won't taste good when it gets cold."
Aunt Jiang thought his appetite was still like it was in high school, when he could eat forty or fifty dumplings in one sitting.
Under her enthusiastic gaze, Zhuang Yan drank a bowl of porridge, ate ten fried dumplings and a large pancake, and then put down his chopsticks.
"Why are you eating so little? Has my cooking gotten worse?"
Zhuang Yan quickly said, "No, I wasn't very hungry. I ate something on the way. I really wanted to finish this whole table of food, but eating too much can upset my stomach."
"That's true, eat in moderation, there's a big meal at noon."
After breakfast, Aunt Jiang pushed Zhuang Yan out of the kitchen to watch TV. Zhuang Yan couldn't sit still, so he simply helped her with the cooking, washing vegetables and peeling garlic. After not seeing each other for many years, he couldn't help but reminisce about the past.
Aunt Jiang told many funny stories about Zhuang Yan and Jiang Ning when they were children.
"It's been so many years since we last met. Xiao Yan has grown more and more handsome, and his personality has matured a lot. I also watched your variety show. You performed exceptionally well, doing everything. Everyone around me who watched the show liked you. Time flies, and you've grown up so much. You've reached the age to settle down. Xiao Yan, do you have someone you like now?"
The topic shifted so quickly that Zhuang Yan was caught off guard. She wondered if all women of this age were concerned about young people's marriages, urging those who weren't dating to start dating, those who were dating to get married, those who were married to have children, and those who had children to have a second child...
Fortunately, Jiang Ning appeared in time to interrupt her: "Mom, the water is boiling."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Jiang hurriedly went to the kitchen to check.
“My mom has been quite concerned about my love life these past few years. Even though she herself is unhappy in her marriage, she keeps urging me to get married.”
Zhuang Yan watched Jiang Ning squatting on the ground washing vegetables. Her voice sounded sad and lonely. He comforted her, "She's just concerned about you."
Jiang Ning tucked a stray hair behind her ear: "I know, but her concern is one-sided. She doesn't see things from my perspective at all, and she doesn't understand me at all."
Every family has its own troubles, and bystanders shouldn't say anything. Zhuang Yan changed the subject and asked, "How has Aunt Jiang's health been all these years?"
"To be honest, it's not good. I'm frequently hospitalized, and I just got back from the hospital a couple of days ago."
Overwork has taken its toll on Jiang Ning's mother. She had lived a hard life, working herself to the bone when she was young. As she got older, health problems started to appear. When Jiang Ning was in her senior year of high school, her mother fell ill and had to have a kidney removed.
You can live with one kidney, but it's definitely not as good as having two. Your physical condition will be much worse, and as you get older, your immunity will decline.
Jiang Ning: "Stop talking about me, let's talk about you lately. Does that video on the internet really not need any editing?"
Zhuang Yan remained calm and said indifferently, "Don't worry about it. It's better if it blows up."
How big of a fuss are you trying to make?
"It would be best to keep the hype going for at least a month." Zhuang Yan didn't need to worry about the hype at all. Gu Qian and Xia Qingshan were even more eager to keep the hype going, hoping to use online harassment to kill him off.
Zhuang Yan stood up: "I'll go check on the kitchen."
Aunt Jiang prepared a lot of dishes for lunch today, including chicken, duck, fish, beef, and steamed hairy crabs.
"Aunt Jiang, there's too much food, we can't finish it all."
"If you can't finish the food, you can stay here for a couple more days. Auntie will cook delicious food for you every day. There are extra rooms in the house."
"No, I have to go back tonight."
Aunt Jiang was stunned when she heard this: "Going back tonight? Aren't you going to eat dinner?"
"I'm not eating anymore. There are people waiting for me to go back for the Mid-Autumn Festival."
As soon as Jiang Ning entered the kitchen, she heard Zhuang Yan's words. She put down the vegetables she had just washed and tactfully left the kitchen.
"Aunt Jiang, I'll cook the dishes, you go and rest." Zhuang Yan put on her apron and took the pot from her hands.
"You're a guest, how can you cook?"
“Aunt Jiang, when I first came here you told me to treat this place like home, how come you’re treating me like a guest now? I used to eat your cooking all the time, and now I can cook too. I’d like you to try it, so please let me cook.” Zhuang Yan said as she pushed her aside.
Aunt Jiang was amused by him and looked at him with loving eyes: "Okay, then you cook these dishes and I'll help you."
Zhuang Yan skillfully stir-fries the vegetables, and just by looking at their color, they look delicious.
"Speaking of which, the person I'm most worried about is Ningning. She doesn't know how to take care of herself or cook. I'm really happy to see you two recording the show together. You two used to be the best of friends. With you here, I feel at ease about her." She couldn't help but sigh when she mentioned Jiang Ning.
Zhuang Yan didn't answer, nor did he know what to say.
Aunt Jiang continued, "My health is deteriorating day by day, and I don't know how much longer I have to live. Xiaoyan, can you promise Auntie that if I'm gone, you'll take good care of Ningning?"
Meeting her expectant gaze, Zhuang Yan was momentarily speechless, suddenly recalling what Lu Yan had said when she sneaked into his tent that night.
"Auntie, you will definitely live to be a hundred years old. Seeing Jiang Ning living a better and better life, she is very capable now and doesn't need anyone to take care of her at all."
Zhuang Yan recalled what happened in his previous life. After breaking up with Jiang Ning, he deliberately avoided paying attention to her. However, as a famous actress, he could see her everywhere: on billboards, in products she endorsed, on the red carpet, in trending topics, and in movie promotions.
She became incredibly famous, winning numerous domestic awards before venturing abroad and becoming one of the most influential actresses internationally, with over 100 million fans worldwide.
Jiang Ning not only has her own career, but her family is also well-maintained. She takes her mother abroad, and videos and photos of the mother and daughter traveling together are frequently seen on social media.
Aunt Jiang took Zhuang Yan's words as comforting her. She smiled bitterly and said, "When you're young, you don't need anyone to take care of you, but what about when you get old? She's a woman, and she has to start a family and have a child. My biggest regret in this life is that I didn't know how to choose a good man back then, and my luckiest thing is that I gave birth to Ningning."
Hearing this, Zhuang Yan couldn't help but frown: "How can you guarantee that a man will always be good?"
Aunt Jiang said, "I can't guarantee the same for others, but you're different. I've watched you grow up since you were little."
Zhuang said, "People change; don't place your hopes on others."
"Xiaoyan, are you still blaming Jiang Ning for breaking up with you?" Mentioning this, she hurriedly explained, "I was the one who persuaded you to break up, and I also kept your grandmother's death a secret from Ningning all these years. Although she didn't say it, I could feel her pain. I watched the live broadcast of your show every day. Ningning was truly happy when she was with you; her eyes were always on you, and she never forgot you. Please don't blame her, okay..."
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