Chapter 290 You Are the Best
Fortunately, there were basically no people on the second floor, otherwise this sound would have become the focus of the whole audience.
Chenchen looked at the strange movements of Tang Yutong and Cui Hao, tilted his head and asked:
"Godfather, are you playing musical chairs?"
The atmosphere at the dinner table was awkward for a moment. Cui Hao straightened his chair with a wry smile, but his eyes were always following Mu Nanyan.
After everyone sat down, Cui Hao picked up the celadon teapot and began to pour tea.
He poured the first cup of emerald green tea into the cup gracefully and handed it directly to Mu Nanyan:
"Freshly brewed green tea to moisten your throat."
Amidst the aroma of tea, Tang Yutong suddenly stood up and stopped the teacup:
"Mr. Cui is so thoughtful. I'm thirsty."
She tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp. The scalding hot tea made her tongue numb, but she forced herself to smile brightly.
Cui Hao's hand froze in mid-air, his brows slightly furrowed. "Isn't this tea... hot?"
"It's not hot, this temperature is just right for me."
Tang Yutong waved her hand as if she was nonchalant, but secretly stuck out her red tongue.
She wailed in her heart: What is this sacrifice for the happiness of her best friend!
Seeing this, Mu Nanyan quickly handed over a tissue, her eyes full of heartache.
Tang Yutong had said so, Cui Hao didn't know what to say, then looked at Mu Nanyan and said with a smile:
"I'm pouring you a drink."
Tang Yutong's alarm bells immediately rang. Still coming? If she continued drinking like this, her tongue would be ruined today.
Cui Hao was about to refill the tea, but Tang Yutong immediately pressed the teapot:
"etc!"
Seeing the three of them looking at her with doubt, she quickly came up with a plan:
"Yanyan has a cold stomach recently, so black tea is more suitable for her."
Tang Yutong said as she waved over the waiter: "Please change a pot of black tea for us, thank you."
Cui Hao's expression suddenly changed when he heard this. He looked at Mu Nanyan with a worried look and asked:
"Is your stomach trouble coming back? Have you been staying up late to revise your plan these past few days? I've told you so many times..."
Tang Yutong frowned as she listened to this. Cui Hao's tone was just like an old Chinese doctor scolding a disobedient patient. There was concern mixed with blame, and heartache in the blame.
She secretly cursed inwardly, thinking that she was really talking about something irrelevant, saying something about a cold stomach! Now, this had directly touched Dr. Cui's professional trigger, and it was to the person he held close to his heart. This nagging was probably going to be endless.
"It's just a cold!"
Tang Yutong quickly interrupted him, her voice eight octaves higher than usual.
She stole a glance at Mu Nanyan. The thin beige sweater she was wearing looked particularly cool in late autumn.
Cui Hao saw this scene and saw that he frowned, with his slender fingers already on the buttons of his suit.
"Wearing so little?"
His voice deepened, and his coat was half off.
Seeing this, Mu Nanyan quickly leaned back and crossed her hands in front of her chest in a gesture of rejection:
"I'm not really cold, I have body heat."
As she spoke, she kicked Tang Yutong lightly with her toes under the table, and her eyes clearly said: Look at what you have done!
Cui Hao held his coat in the air, his hand suspended in mid-air, half believing and half doubting:
"real?"
"I lied to you, I'm a puppy." Mu Nanyan blurted out, and her ears turned red after she said it.
At this moment, Chenchen suddenly raised her little hand and waved it in front of Cui Hao:
"Godfather, I'm cold, please put some clothes on me!"
Chenchen blinked his big eyes and made the adults laugh.
The tense atmosphere was like a popped balloon, dissipating in the fragrance of tea with a puff.
Mu Nanyan took the opportunity to pinch Tang Yutong hard under the table, causing him to grimace in pain but not daring to make a sound.
She originally wanted to ask her best friend to help block it, but she didn't expect Tang Yutong to be so honest. She would block anything related to Cui Hao!
Originally, if she had just accepted the cup of tea, the problem would have been solved, but who knew that this girl would make things worse and almost trigger a "coat battle".
If it weren't for Chenchen's brilliant idea, the situation would have become a Qiong Yao drama of "Do you want to wear it or not?" and "I won't wear it."
Tang Yutong rubbed her thigh which was pinched blue, wanting to cry but having no tears. Being a matchmaker is difficult, being Mu Nanyan's matchmaker is even more difficult, and being a shield for Cui Hao when he pursues Mu Nanyan is even more difficult!
Exquisite dishes were served one after another, and the crystal turntable shone with a warm luster under the warm yellow light.
As Cui Hao's slender fingers touched the edge of the turntable, he caught a glimpse of Mu Nanyan's favorite steamed sea bass. The fish was covered with emerald green onion shreds and drizzled with amber soy sauce, just the way she usually liked it.
"I remember you..."
Before he finished speaking, the turntable was suddenly pulled aside by a force. Tang Yutong smiled and pressed the turntable:
"This steamed sea bass looks delicious. Let me try it first."
She cut the sea bass with swift movements and gave Mu Nanyan a wink.
Cui Hao paused, then turned his attention to the small bowl in front of Chenchen.
"Chenchen, try this..."
He picked up a piece of tender chicken tofu, but saw the little guy suddenly straighten his back and waved his hands like a little adult:
"Thank you, Godfather. I can pick it up myself!"
The table suddenly became quiet. Cui Hao's hand holding the chopsticks froze in mid-air as he suddenly realized something.
In the past, Chenchen always clung to him and acted like a spoiled child, asking him to pick up food for him every time they ate. And although Mu Nanyan didn't say anything, she would always quietly eat the food he turned away. But now...
He slowly withdrew his hand and looked between the three people.
Mu Nanyan was counting the rice grains in the bowl with her head down, her thick eyelashes casting a shadow under her eyes; Tang Yutong was pretending to concentrate on picking out fish bones, but she would sneak a glance at his reaction from time to time; Chenchen was biting the tip of his chopsticks, his round eyes full of guilt.
"Interesting, should I eat at the next table?"
Cui Hao suddenly chuckled and wiped his hands slowly.
Tang Yutong choked on the tea. Mu Nanyan looked up suddenly, and Chenchen blurted out:
"No! Godfather, don't leave!"
The little guy stood up from the child's chair in such a hurry that he almost knocked over the juice in front of him.
Mu Nanyan quickly held the cup and sighed helplessly.
She raised her eyes and met Cui Hao's insightful gaze. Her cheeks felt slightly hot. This deliberate act of alienation had ultimately failed.
Cui Hao's eyes slowly swept between the three of them. Tang Yutong turned away guiltily, Chenchen lowered his head and played with the corner of his clothes, while Mu Nanyan stared at the tea leaves floating in the teacup in a daze.
He tapped the table lightly with his slender fingers and said in a low voice:
"So, now you want to draw a line between you and me?"
Cui Hao suddenly remembered that they came to the capital in the afternoon, but Chenchen did not tell him. He did not take this matter to heart before, but only then did he realize that it was Chenchen who did not want to tell him and was trying to cut off ties with him.
If it were the Chenchen from before, he would definitely not do this. He had only been on a business trip for a short time, but Chenchen's heart was no longer with him. What happened in between?
Cui Hao looked at Chenchen with a complicated expression. Chenchen noticed Cui Hao's gaze and quickly turned away, not looking at him.
When Mu Nanyan heard Cui Hao's slightly aggrieved words, she was speechless for a moment. In fact, Cui Hao did nothing wrong. Wasn't it a bit too much for them to deliberately avoid him like this?
Mu Nanyan suddenly felt a little guilty, but she did not regret it. After all, their relationship had only lasted until now because of Cui Hao's initiative. It was not fair to him to do this.
Seeing that Mu Nanyan hadn't spoken, Tang Yutong immediately sat up straight and stood in front of Mu Nanyan like a hen protecting her chicks:
"Don't overthink it, Mr. Cui. We just...we just want to cultivate Chenchen's independence!"
"Really? Then Yanyan also needs to develop the ability to eat independently?"
Cui Hao raised his eyebrows and looked past Tang Yutong at Mu Nanyan.
Tang Yutong really couldn't make up any more stories now. She looked at Mu Nanyan with hope, hoping that she could come up with a good excuse.
The light from the restaurant cast a shadow under Mu Nanyan's eyelashes.
She gently stirred the black tea in front of her, and her slightly tired face was reflected in the tea.
She suddenly turned her head and said to Tang Yutong:
"When we came in earlier, Chenchen was quite interested in the aquarium over there. Why don't you take him over there to have a look?"
Tang Yutong immediately understood, stood up and took Chenchen's hand: "Come on, Chenchen, godmother will take you to see the clownfish."
Before leaving, she looked at Mu Nanyan with a worried look on her face.
Cui Hao's eyes followed the two people's departing backs until their figures disappeared at the spiral staircase.
He turned back, his voice trembling slightly:
"What do you want to tell me that you have to avoid Chenchen?"
Cui Hao had a bad feeling in his heart. When he chatted with Mu Nanyan before, he never avoided Chenchen. Not to mention avoiding her, Chenchen was always there every time Mu Nanyan was with him in private. He knew what she was worried about, that is, she was afraid of being misunderstood by others.
Mu Nanyan's fingertips unconsciously stroked the rim of the cup, and the porcelain felt slightly cool.
She took a deep breath, looked at Cui Hao and said, "I'm sorry."
These three words were like a blunt knife, slowly piercing Cui Hao's heart. He forced himself to maintain a calm appearance.
"Why are you apologizing to me?"
Mu Nanyan was silent because she really didn't know how to explain to Cui Hao what happened today.
Mu Nanyan's silence only made Cui Hao feel more flustered. He looked at Mu Nanyan and slowed down his tone:
"Nan Yan, how long have we known each other?"
"Three years and eight months."
She blurted out, then bit her lower lip in annoyance.
Cui Haodu's mouth curled up slightly: "So you remember everything."
He reached out and gently turned the table, placed Mu Nanyan's favorite steamed sea bass in front of her, and continued:
"So, can you tell me what happened?"
Mu Nanyan looked at the steaming dishes in front of her and suddenly felt her nose sore.
Cui Hao is really a good person. He remembers all of her and Chenchen’s preferences and habits, and basically orders dishes according to their tastes every time.
What's even more difficult is that this thoughtfulness never goes beyond the limit, just like the perfect breeze in spring, warm but not scorching.
Mu Nanyan looked at Cui Hao, took a deep breath, and then said:
"I just think... this is unfair to you."
"Unfair?"
"Well, you have given so much for me and Chenchen, and I..."
Mu Nanyan's voice became smaller and smaller. Cui Hao suddenly chuckled. He tilted his wrist and said to Mu Nanyan with a smile:
"So you think I'm the only one who's paying?"
Mu Nanyan followed his gaze and saw the cuffs of his shirt, and was slightly startled.
This was a limited edition that Mu Nanyan had bought after running across half the city for Cui Hao's birthday last year. She had only bought it to repay Cui Hao for his continued care, but she hadn't expected Cui Hao to actually keep it with him all this time...
Cui Hao was very serious about her, Chenchen, and this relationship, and Mu Nanyan felt a little touched.
She couldn't help but wonder, if she had met Cui Hao before she met Su Muyang and Lu Yiran, would she have fallen in love with him?
Maybe, but now Mu Nanyan no longer wants to think about emotional matters...
"Cui Hao, you are so outstanding and deserve someone better. There is no need to waste your energy on me."
"In my opinion, you are the best." Cui Hao's eyes were fiery and firm.
Mu Nanyan was so angry at him that she couldn't say a word. She couldn't say anything about Zhou Ruxuan, otherwise everything would change.
What reason could she give to make Cui Hao give up?
Mu Nanyan was thinking about the problem. At this moment, Cui Hao suddenly said:
"You suddenly want to draw a line between you and me, is it because of... Lu Yiran?"
Mu Nanyan was stunned for a moment when she heard this. What does this have to do with Lu Yiran?
However, in Cui Hao's opinion, Mu Nanyan's expression was a disguised admission of her intentions.
So that's how it is. Cui Hao's fingers tightened unconsciously, and his knuckles turned white.
No wonder Chenchen suddenly distanced himself from him and stopped calling him "Daddy" when they met today... No wonder Mu Nanyan was so eager to draw a clear line between them and let Tang Yutong stand between them...
He was only away on business for a week, and Lu Yiran was already...
Cui Hao suddenly understood that everything had a reasonable explanation.
He raised his head and glanced at Mu Nanyan with a complicated expression. So was it because of Lu Yiran that she had been unwilling to accept his confession for so many years?
After so many years, has she never let him go?
Mu Nanyan came back to her senses and suddenly felt that this was a good reason. If she said that she liked Lu Yiran, would Cui Hao give up?
Mu Nanyan thought so, and secretly tightened her hands under the table. She looked at Cui Hao and said:
"Yes, it's because of Lu Yiran. If he knew, he would be jealous. I don't want him to be unhappy."
Sure enough, those who are favored are fearless.
They were just having a simple meal together. If it were before, Mu Nanyan would definitely think that Lu Yiran was being unreasonable, but now, Mu Nanyan would rather reject him than make Lu Yiran unhappy...
Cui Hao felt as if his heart had been hit hard by a blunt object. The dull pain spread from his chest to his fingertips, and even his breathing tasted bitter like rust.
He really couldn't sit still any longer. Now he just wanted to leave here. He looked at Mu Nanyan and said in a hoarse voice:
"I see. I suddenly remembered that I have work tonight. I'll be leaving now. You guys take your time eating..."
Cui Hao stood up as he spoke, and turned around to walk towards the spiral staircase, forgetting to even take the coat that he had placed on Chenchen's seat...
Mu Nanyan looked at Cui Hao's lonely back and wanted to call him, but she didn't say anything in the end...
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