Chapter 32 Are you...going home for dinner tonight?
Walking out of the hospital building, the winter afternoon sun brought a hint of warmth. He took out his phone, his fingertips paused on Lu Yu's name, and ultimately did not dial out, but simply typed a message:
【Cat Lover Fish】: We have finished the discussion and it went very smoothly. ()
【LY】: Go home and be safe.
【Cat Lovers Fish】: OK
—————
Lin Che had just finished replying to the message and was about to start the car when her phone rang.
The words "Ayu's mother" were jumping on the screen.
"Xiao Che," Song Wanzhi's gentle voice came from the receiver, with a hint of smile, "Are you home? I had someone stew some bird's nest for you. I also have some new supplements that I wanted to send over. You just got out of the hospital, so you need to nourish yourself well."
Lin Che's heart warmed, and she quickly said, "Mom, don't bother me. I just came back from the hospital, and it happens to be not far from the old house. I'll come and get it. It will save you having to make a trip."
Ever since Lu Yu reminded her to call her mom last time, Lin Che felt a little awkward at first. However, after being discharged from the hospital, Song Wanzhi often called and sent things to her, and with the back and forth communication, Lin Che could say it naturally.
"Hey, kid, why are you running around?" Song Wanzhi scolded, "You've just gotten better, you should rest at home."
"It's okay, Mom. I'm really fine. And I missed you, too, so I came over to see you." Lin Che's tone was sincere, with a hint of the coquettishness of a younger generation. "Just wait for me at home. I'll be there soon."
Song Wanzhi on the other end of the phone was obviously very happy to be coaxed, and her voice became softer: "Okay, okay, then drive slowly and be careful on the road. I'll wait for you at home."
After hanging up the phone, Lin Che walked quickly towards the main house. The carefully tended flowers and trees in the old house's garden looked vibrant even in the winter, and the air was crisp and clean.
As soon as I reached the door of the main building, the heavy door was opened from the inside. Song Wanzhi was standing at the door herself, wearing comfortable home clothes and a soft cashmere cardigan, with an unconcealable joy on her face.
"Come in, come in, it's cold outside!"
Song Wanzhi reached out and pulled Lin Che in, examining him closely as she did so. "Let me take a good look... Well, you've gained some weight on your face. Aunt Qu has taken good care of you. But you're still too thin!"
As she spoke, she reached out and gently squeezed Lin Che's arm, as if she was weighing a small animal that needed to gain weight.
Lin Che smiled a little embarrassedly: "Aunt Qu makes delicious food for me in different ways every day. I'm almost full."
"That's right! Young people should eat more to build a good physical foundation." Song Wanzhi nodded with satisfaction and pulled him to sit on the large and comfortable sofa in the living room. Immediately, a servant quietly brought hot tea and exquisite snacks.
"The bird's nest and supplements are all packed for you." Song Wanzhi pointed to a beautifully wrapped gift box and a thermos on the coffee table next to her. "The thermos contains freshly stewed food, still warm. You can drink it when you get home. Take these dry goods home and ask Aunt Qu to stew some for you every day. Don't mind the trouble. Maintaining your health is the most important thing."
"Thank you, Mom. I'm sorry for your trouble." Lin Che looked at the pile of things, feeling both touched and a little burdened. "You're so kind to me."
"What's there to thank me for? We're all family." Song Wanzhi waved her hand and glared at him. Then, as if remembering something, she leaned forward slightly, lowered her voice, and wore a mischievous yet expectant smile on her face. "Xiao Che, tell your auntie, has Lu Yu been coming home lately...every night? Does he come home early?"
Lin Che was startled by the question, his face slightly hot. He remembered that Lu Yu had been very busy recently, but he would always come home every night no matter how late it was. Even when he was asleep, he could still feel the slight sinking of the mattress beside him and that familiar, reassuring scent.
He nodded: "Yes, but...I came back quite late."
"Oh..." Song Wanzhi dragged out the tone, her eyes sparkling with a kind of "I understand" understanding, "No matter how busy you are, just go home. For a man, career is important, but family is more important."
She paused, leaned closer, and lowered her voice, with a hint of excitement about sharing a secret. "He called me yesterday afternoon and asked if I had time to visit you recently. He even mentioned... you really like the squirrel fish Aunt Qu makes."
Lin Che's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason. Lu Yu... actually mentioned this to Aunt Song? And even mentioned his favorite food? This didn't seem like the kind of trivial things Lu Yu would normally mention. A subtle warmth crept into her heart.
"Ah... yes, Aunt Qu cooks very delicious." Lin Che replied a little awkwardly, her ears slightly red.
Song Wanzhi looked at Lin Che's slightly red ears, and her smile deepened, filled with relief and satisfaction. She patted the back of Lin Che's hand and said, "As long as you like it! Tell Aunt Qu or Lu Yu what you like to eat! Tell him to remember it!"
Lin Che's heart felt like it was being soaked in warm water, warm and swollen. Lu Yu's silent concern, expressed through Song Wanzhi's mouth, was a special kind of touching. He pursed his lips and softly said "hmm."
Song Wanzhi watched Lin Che sip his tea, hiding his slightly red cheeks, and she liked him more and more. This child was clean and gentle, yet also had a bit of stubbornness and understanding that made people feel distressed.
She had been worried that Lu Yu's cold personality would wrong him, but now it seemed like a thousand-year-old piece of ice was finally being soaked and warmed up bit by bit by the warm stream water.
"Xiao Che," Song Wanzhi's voice became gentler, with a touch of elder's kindness and a subtle expectation, "Look, Lu Yu is busy with work, and it's not good for his health to always be out socializing. If you... if you can get him to come home for dinner more often, then ask him to come home more often. Home-cooked food is always cleaner and more palatable than food outside. Eating together is what makes it feel like home."
Lin Che raised his head and met Song Wanzhi's encouraging and hopeful gaze. He understood what Aunt Song meant. He thought for a moment and said softly, "Yes, I know, Mom. I... I'll try."
"That's right!" Song Wanzhi clapped her hands happily, as if she had accomplished something great. She then pulled Lin Che aside and rambled on about many health tips. Seeing it was getting late, she reluctantly let him go. She even personally walked him to the door and watched him get into the car.
"Drive slower! Remember to eat! Call mom anytime if you have any questions!" Song Wanzhi waved at the door.
"Got it. Please go in quickly. It's cold outside." Lin Che started the car and looked through the rearview mirror at Song Wanzhi's figure standing at the door watching him go. He didn't look away until he turned the corner and could no longer see her.
The car was filled with the faint scent of leather seats, along with a faint, chilly cedarwood note, Lu Yu's favorite. Lin Che's gaze fell on the exquisite thermos and gift box on the passenger seat.
He took out his phone and opened the chat box with Lu Yu. His fingertips hovered above the screen, hesitating for a moment.
Finally, he took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, and quickly typed the next line.
【Cat Lover Fish】: Aunt Song stewed bird's nest for me and also gave me a lot of supplements. ()
After sending the message successfully, Lin Che's fingertips paused on the screen, his heart pounding softly in his chest, and he added another sentence.
[Cat Loves Fish]: Mom said...the food at home is better for the stomach.
[Fish that loves to eat cats]: Are you...going home for dinner tonight?
The message was sent. Lin Che gripped the steering wheel, his fingertips slightly burning. He couldn't help but glance at the quiet phone screen, his heart beating gently like a restless little rabbit.
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