Chapter 54 Playing
The morning sunlight filtered through the cream-white gauze curtains, casting soft dappled patterns on the pale yellow bedsheets. The incessant vibration of my phone under the pillow was like a bee disturbing my peaceful slumber.
Jiang Yining groggily pulled one hand out of Xie Shiyan's warm embrace, fumbled for the phone, and answered it with a heavy sleepiness in her voice: "Hello... Mom?"
"Ningning, what time is it? Why aren't you up yet?" Jiang's mother's strong voice pierced through the receiver. "Your dad and I are at the hotel. Should we ask him to drive over and pick you up?"
Jiang Yining struggled to open her heavy eyelids and glanced at the cute lemon-shaped alarm clock on the bedside table—it was five past nine.
She mumbled a reply: "No need to pick me up, Mom... I'll take a car to the hotel to find you myself later."
"Alright, alright, get up quickly, hurry up." There was some noise in the background on Jiang's mother's side, and it seemed that other people were talking. "When you come over, we'll go out for a walk with your aunt and uncle. We'll eat out for lunch. Your second cousin and his wife have already flown abroad for their honeymoon."
"Okay, I'm getting up now," Jiang Yining hung up the phone, buried her face in the pillow, and let out a kitten-like whimper. The warm blanket was ruthlessly pulled off, and she resignedly sat up, rubbing her messy hair.
A tight embrace tightened around her waist, and a husky, magnetic voice, warm and gentle, whispered in her ear, his breath brushing against her neck: "Did I wake you? Do you want me to come with you?" Xie Shiyan's arms seemed to have a mind of their own as he pulled her back into his embrace, his chin lingering on the soft top of her head.
Jiang Yining felt ticklish from his rubbing, laughed and dodged away, then turned around and cupped his face in her hands, rubbing it gently. It felt wonderful. "No need," she said, "just take me to the hotel. It's all women here, it'll feel awkward for you. Besides..."
She playfully twirled the stray hairs on his forehead with her fingertips. "Mr. Xie is so busy, it won't do to keep you from earning a living."
Xie Shiyan opened his eyes, his deep gaze losing its usual coldness and filled with the languid warmth of just waking up. He took her mischievous hand and kissed her fingertips.
He then lifted his head and kissed her lips. "Okay," he chuckled, his voice filled with the satisfaction of being stroked. "Call me anytime if you need anything."
After the two finished washing up, while Jiang Yining was choosing clothes and getting ready in the dressing room, Xie Shiyan came downstairs and skillfully tied on an apron. Soon, an enticing aroma of food wafted from the kitchen.
When Jiang Yining finished tidying up and came downstairs, two bowls of steaming hot egg noodles were already set on the dining table. Bright green scallions garnished the golden noodle soup, with crispy fried eggs lying in the middle, and a few slices of refreshing pickled cucumbers on the side.
"Wow, it smells so good." Jiang Yining's eyes lit up, and she immediately pulled out a chair and sat down. This familiar smell instantly evoked countless memories.
During high school, Xie's parents were always away on business trips, so Xie Shiyan quickly developed excellent cooking skills. Since Jiang's mother often worked late grading papers, Jiang Yining would frequently sneak over next door for a free meal. His initial cooking was nothing short of a "disaster"—either overly salty or a complete mess, much to Jiang Yining's frustration.
Later, after reading countless recipes, his cooking skills improved by leaps and bounds, especially a simple bowl of egg noodles, which always soothed her stomach and heart.
Xie Shiyan watched her eat with satisfaction, his smile deepening. Eight years is enough time for a clumsy boy to grow into a composed man, but the care put into this bowl of noodles seemed to have never changed.
The car came to a smooth stop in front of the hotel's grand entrance. Jiang Yining unbuckled her seatbelt, leaned over, and quickly kissed Xie Shiyan on the cheek: "Let's go."
"Okay, have fun. I'll contact you later." Xie Shiyan watched her fly towards the hotel revolving door like a light butterfly before driving away.
Jiang Yining called her mother from the hotel lobby. A moment later, the elevator doors opened, and a group of brightly dressed, chatting and laughing middle-aged and elderly women filed out, led by Jiang's mother. Aunts, cousins… almost all the close female elders in the Jiang family were present.
Upon seeing Jiang Yining, who was dressed up meticulously in a beige skirt and pants, looking fresh and neat, the elders' eyes lit up instantly.
"Oh my, is this Ningning? She's really blossomed into a beautiful young woman." Her distant cousin held her hand, looking her up and down with loving eyes.
"That's right, her temperament and appearance are just like her mother's," the aunt chimed in with a smile.
Auntie then handed her a freshly bought, still-warm glutinous rice ball: "Here, Ningning, have something to tide you over. It's fresh out of the oven and still sweet."
Jiang Yining accepted it with a smile, feeling warm inside, yet also a little amused and exasperated. It seemed that the script of "the lost youngest daughter" had long been automatically replaced in the minds of the elders as "Ningning is back."
This unspoken understanding and unconditional love made her feel incredibly at ease.
"Mom, what's the plan for today?" Jiang Yining asked, taking her mother's arm.
"Mom made a plan." Jiang's mother took out her phone, looking radiant.
"Today, let's go to the famous Yunqi Lake Wetland Park in the west of the city. I heard the scenery is beautiful and the air is fresh. We'll have lunch at a well-known local restaurant near the park; I've made a reservation in advance. In the afternoon, we'll go to Tianjie to shop for clothes and buy some things for the old men at home."
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