Chapter 26
Saturday night ended in Lin Qi's sweet and chaotic mood.
The next day, Sunday, early morning.
Lin Qi was still deep in sleep. The bedroom was quiet, with only the soft morning light filtering through the gaps in the curtains. The alarm she had set for nine o'clock hadn't rung yet.
But at 8:55, a soft, persistent vibration came from her nightstand.
She reached out her hand dazedly, felt for the phone by feel, and swiped the answer button without even opening her eyes.
"Hello?" Her voice was nasal and hoarse, as if she had just woken up.
There was silence on the other end of the line for two seconds. Then, a low, smiling voice, with a hint of the unique charm of the early morning, came through.
"……woke up?"
It is a Shenyan.
Lin Qi woke up instantly, and his face suddenly felt hot.
He seemed to be able to guess her embarrassment at the moment, and stopped teasing her. Instead, he continued in a very gentle tone:
"It seems that I am a little more punctual than your alarm clock."
"Didn't it bother you?"
"Okay, stay in bed for five more minutes." He said softly, as if coaxing a child, "I'm going for a morning run."
After saying that, he simply hung up the phone.
Lin Qi lay on the bed, holding the busy phone in his hand, looking at the ceiling. He couldn't help but cover his slightly hot face with the quilt and laughed silently.
A new day begins in this way.
Sunday morning started with a phone call that brought a smile.
Over the following Mondays and Tuesdays, a new, unspoken agreement developed between them. He would start her day at 8:55 a.m. with a phone call or a simple "good morning" message. During the day, they were both busy with their work, rarely interrupting each other. Late at night, before going to bed, he would call her again, briefly, for only three to five minutes, to ask about her day and say goodnight.
Their relationship was like the pot of pork tripe and chicken soup they once ate together. It no longer had the fierce boiling in the beginning, but was simmering slowly with a very peaceful and warm simmer, seeping into the texture of each other's daily lives.
Tuesday, eleven thirty at night.
Lin Qi had just finished washing up and was about to go to bed when Chen Yan called on time.
"Are you ready for bed?" The voice on the other end of the phone was a little tired after work, but very gentle.
She briefly told him about the day, and he did the same.
"...Oh right," he said, as if suddenly remembering something, and changed the subject, "Regarding the second leg of our 'grand plan', I have an immature suggestion."
"Last time, Guide Lin chose the restaurant. Why don't I choose the location this time?"
Lin Qi asked him where he was going.
On the other end of the phone, he seemed to chuckle, and then said slowly in a serious, yet somewhat unquestionable tone:
"Come to my house."
Before Lin Qi's heart skipped a beat because of these words and before he could react, he had already explained the reason in a leisurely manner.
"The equipment in my kitchen is more complete than those in restaurants outside."
"I'll be responsible for buying all the ingredients, preparing them, and acting as your assistant."
He paused, then threw out the final bait that she couldn't refuse.
"You...are responsible for teaching me how to make the braised beef in soy sauce that can be cut up and put in noodles."
Lin Qi paused for a few seconds, then smiled and said, "This isn't an immature suggestion, but a mature plan. Okay. Then let's go to your house. I'll send you the necessary materials tomorrow, and you'll be responsible for purchasing them."
A very clear, full-bodied chuckle came from the other end of the line. Her straightforwardness and humor made this slightly nervous, tentative invitation of his tonight the perfect response.
"Okay." The smile in his voice didn't fade at all. "It seems that my 'immature suggestion' has passed Teacher Lin's final review."
Naturally, he used the nickname he had given her, which was a bit doting.
"Then send me the list tomorrow," he promised. "I promise to prepare all the materials for you and will not delay Teacher Lin's class."
This topic was completely settled in such a relaxed and happy atmosphere.
"Okay, it's a deal." He lowered his voice and softened it. "It's getting late, go to bed."
"……good evening."
Tuesday night ended with an appointment full of anticipation.
The next day, Wednesday morning, Lin Qi woke up almost a second before the alarm went off. Sure enough, at exactly 8:55, his phone screen lit up, displaying the name "Chen Yan."
She pressed the answer button, and this time, without the panic and sleepiness of Sunday morning, her voice was clear.
"morning."
His smiling, refreshing voice came from the other end of the phone, completely free of the fatigue from last night.
"Good morning, Lin."
He gave her a new, more affectionate name.
"Did you sleep well last night?" he asked gently.
After she answered, he continued in a businesslike tone with a smile on his face, "Remember to send the list of materials needed for the course to your purchasing agent today."
"Okay," he chuckled, "get up. Today, you have to eat well too."
Their conversation has naturally changed from "you" to "we", and from "eating" to "eating well".
On Wednesday morning, after that laugh-filled phone call, Lin Qi sent Chen Yan a detailed list of ingredients for his braised beef stew. He replied with just two words: "Got it."
For the next two days, their lives returned to their regular, sweet, tacit understanding. Morning phone calls, late-night goodnights, like two planets finally finding their most comfortable orbit around each other.
Friday, evening.
Lin Qi had just finished a day's work and was on the subway heading home when his phone vibrated. It was a photo sent by Chen Yan.
The photo's background was probably his kitchen. On the large, clean glass countertop, all the ingredients on her list were neatly arranged: a large piece of fresh beef shank, lined with clean baking paper; next to it, small bowls of various spices like star anise, cinnamon, and bay leaves; and the specific brands of soybean paste and light soy sauce she had specified.
Everything is available and displayed in an orderly manner with his distinctive personal style.
Then, his message came.
【Chen Yan: Teacher Lin, please review.】
[Chen Yan: The purchaser is in place, and all the "course materials" are ready.]
[Chen Yan: Now, we just have to wait for the chef's arrival tomorrow.]
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