Chapter 126 The Deceased Husband
Su Hang froze for a moment, his gaze falling on the two children in disbelief.
They are about the same age, but they are definitely not twins because they look completely different.
Are these all Song Xinran's children?
Is Song Xinran pregnant?
But she looked so young, about the same age as him.
Su Hang still remembers the first time he came to Songji to film and met Song Xinran. He thought the owner of Songji was a man in his forties or fifties, but she turned out to be surprisingly young. She was also the store manager and chef.
Su Hang felt that he was doing quite well among his peers. Many of his college classmates did not work in their major fields, and even those who did rarely had the opportunity to stand out on television programs.
However, Su Hang knew that his family had helped him get to where he was today, but Song Xinran was completely different. Su Hang had become familiar with the staff at Song's Restaurant after visiting many times, especially Pang Ru and Zou Xiaoguang, who were originally his fans and now told him everything.
Zou Xiaoguang once said that Song Xinran's career had no family support whatsoever; she only had one older sister, who was the most successful person in that small village.
Despite her successful career in the city, she did not forget her neighbors in the village and was still willing to help Zou Xiaoguang.
Whenever Zou Xiaoguang talked about Song Xinran, he was always incredibly grateful, but he didn't mention her often. He only briefly talked about Song Xinran's family and didn't touch on her love life at all.
Su Hang had always assumed that Song Xinran was single. After all, he had been eating at Song Ji's restaurant frequently since filming a program there, but he had never met Song Xinran's husband or boyfriend, and the restaurant staff had never mentioned it either.
It was only then that Su Hang realized that Song Xinran was not single; she even had a child.
It felt as if something had struck him hard in the heart, a resounding "thud" that echoed and made his body tremble slightly.
The two children were unaware of the impact their appearance had on Su Hang. Fu Fu grabbed Song Yu's hand and ran to Su Hang, looking up at him with wide eyes and a joyful expression.
"Brother Su Hang! You're Brother Su Hang, right?" Fu Fu asked in a clear voice.
Su Hang forced a professional smile: "It's me."
"Wow!" the little girl exclaimed in surprise, and quickly said to Song Yu, "It really is Brother Su Hang from the Food Detective! His smile is exactly the same as on TV! He's a big star!"
"Big star!" Fu Fu muttered, staring intently at Su Hang, her gaze fixed on him.
Su Hang rarely saw such an outgoing little girl. He bent down slightly, tried to compose himself, and asked in a coaxing tone, "What's your name, little girl?"
"My name is Fufu, and my full name is Yang Sifu!" Fufu didn't forget to introduce her good friend, pulling Song Yu in front of her. "His name is Song Yu, and we all like you very much, Brother Su Hang!"
Upon hearing the name Song Yu, Su Hang's heart skipped a beat. She shared the same surname as Song Xinran; this must be her child.
He looked at Song Yu and noticed that his facial features, especially his eyebrows and eyes, were somewhat similar to Song Xinran's; he was quite handsome.
The child was a little shy and didn't stare at him like Fufu did, but he politely met his eyes and obediently said, "Brother Su Hang, I've watched your show 'Food Detective,' and I really like 'Food Detective' and I like you too."
Su Hang's still-unsettled heart felt as if it had been stabbed, and the corners of his lips involuntarily turned up: "The little boy's name is Song Yu, right? Your mother..."
"Brother Su Hang, can I hug you?" Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Fu Fu's excited voice, the little girl's eyes shining brightly.
Su Hang squatted down, opened his arms, and said with a smile, "Come on."
Fufu immediately threw herself into his arms, her short arms tightly wrapped around his neck, a happy smile on her face.
Even at this moment, she didn't forget her good friend and reached out to Song Yu, saying, "Come on over too."
Song Yu lowered her eyes shyly and shook her head slightly: "I'm going to see my mother."
He ran away as if fleeing with a slightly flushed face. He liked Su Hang very much because Su Hang hosted the food detective show and interviewed his mother, making his mother appear on TV as well.
Song Yu didn't watch TV often before, but ever since this incident, he would stay at Fu Fu's house and watch TV with Fu Fu after finishing his homework.
Fu Fu would always cup her face in her hands and say, "Brother Su Hang is so handsome."
Then he turned to comfort Song Yu: "Song Yu, when you grow up, you'll definitely be as handsome as Brother Su Hang!"
Song Yu didn't have such thoughts yet. He watched TV simply and without commenting on who was good-looking, unlike Fu Fu. He felt that most people on TV looked similar, not in terms of appearance, but in terms of the feeling they gave off.
Song Yu had just come out of Fu Fu's house after watching TV, and then the people on TV appeared in real life. His heart was pounding, and he felt that the world was so wonderful.
Fu Fu hugged Su Hang tightly, her face full of happiness: "Brother Su Hang smells so good."
Su Hang was a little embarrassed.
Fu Fu twitched her nose, then suddenly opened her eyes wide and let go of Su Hang's neck: "It smells so good! What delicious food is Aunt Song making?"
She rushed into the kitchen, her small figure resembling a tiny cannonball.
The two children went into the kitchen, and their voices, though muffled, were still clear. Fufu was asking Aunt Song what she was doing.
Song Xinran answered patiently, her voice carrying a faint smile.
Su Hang stood up, awkwardly scratched his hair, and suddenly said, "So Manager Song is married and has a child."
He spoke as if it were a casual remark, oblivious to the change in the atmosphere, as everyone had quieted down considerably. His mind was still filled with Song Yu's image, and he finally asked, "And what about her husband…?"
Everyone fell silent, and the atmosphere became even quieter. Su Hang also realized that his words might have been a bit inappropriate.
But why is it inappropriate? If a child comes to a restaurant, wouldn't it be reasonable to associate that with the child's father, Song Xinran's husband?
unless……
Is Song Xinran's husband divorced from her, working away from home, or too busy with work to take care of the children, which is why he has never appeared?
So, people don't really want to mention this person?
Thinking about all this, Su Hang couldn't help but frown.
Zou Xiaoguang lowered his voice and answered in an almost breathless tone, "The store manager's husband has passed away."
Su Hang was slightly taken aback.
Zou Xiaoguang: "Don't mention this to the store manager, I'm afraid she'll be upset."
Su Hang's already unsettled heart pounded even harder: "Is she still thinking about her deceased husband?"
Zou Xiaoguang frowned, finding the term "deceased husband" rather strange. However, Su Hang was a cultured host, so he figured that was probably how city people addressed him.
Before he could say anything, Song Xinran had already come out of the kitchen.
Zou Xiaoguang quickly gave Su Hang a wink.
Su Hang's expression was strange and somewhat melancholy, but he wisely kept quiet.
Song Xinran was holding a freshly made garlic-flavored pork belly, with Fufu and Song Yu on either side of her, each holding a small piece of crispy pork and eating it with relish.
Fufu said, "Aunt Song, I love you so much!"
Every time Fufu comes to Song Ji, she gets a little something to eat. Fufu absolutely loves this place.
Song Xinran placed the garlic-flavored pork belly on the table and joked, "Does Fufu love me more than what I make?"
Fu Fu replied without hesitation: "I love them all!"
Pang Ru teased her, "How many people does Fu Fu love in her heart? She just said she liked me last time."
Fu Fu opened her arms wide: "There can be many people."
Pang Ru: "Tsk tsk tsk, Fu Fu is so greedy."
Turning to look at Song Yu, he saw that Song Yu was very familiar with the store's employees. He would greet everyone every time he came to the store, and everyone liked him very much.
Song Yu and Fu Fu have very different personalities. He is quieter. At first, he would sit in the corner reading or playing at Song's house. Later, when he went to Fu Fu's house, he would only come to eat.
Pang Ru found it amazing that Song Yu and Fu Fu, who were so different, were such good friends and the two children had never had any conflicts.
But adults just love teasing kids, so they deliberately asked Song Yu, "Does Xiao Yu have someone she likes?"
Song Yu said, "I love my mom."
Song Xinran smiled slightly.
"Besides Mom?"
Song Yu: "And all the older brothers, sisters and uncles in the store, and Fufu, and Su Hang."
Because Su Hang was a new employee today, and it was the first time Song Yu had seen him in real life or at the store, he specifically mentioned his name.
Fu Fu then realized she had forgotten something and immediately confessed, "Brother Su Hang, I love you too!"
"Song Yu, can I borrow your notebook for a moment? Brother Su Hang, please sign it for me!"
Song Yu immediately put down his schoolbag, took out a new notebook and pencil for Fu Fu, and Fu Fu immediately handed them to Su Hang, looking at him expectantly.
Su Hang certainly wouldn't let the child down; he signed her autograph and wrote a message: "Study hard and make progress every day."
Fufu happily hugged the notebook, looking at it with his big eyes, reluctant to put it down.
Song Yu took out another extracurricular book, opened the cover, and handed it to Su Hang, along with a freshly sharpened pencil: "Brother Su Hang, here's mine too."
Song Xinran immediately recognized it as Song Yu's favorite book recently. He cherished the book and would wash his hands thoroughly before each reading and neatly tidy the corners of the book. He would never scribble or draw on it.
Giving this book to Su Hang shows that she really likes him.
Su Hang also wrote the same words on the first page of the book, but added at the end, "Grow up happily."
"Thank you, Brother Su Hang." Song Yu carefully put the book away in his schoolbag.
After this, the two children seemed to have become quite familiar with Su Hang, and they kept talking to him. Fu Fu almost clung to Su Hang, while Song Yu leaned slightly against Song Xinran. He was also curious about the TV station, and Fu Fu asked a question, and he asked a question in return. The two children were quite fair to each other.
However, Song Xinran noticed that Su Hang seemed a little off. Although his movements, voice and tone were no different from usual, his body language seemed a bit restrained. She thought it might be because the two children were too outgoing and made Su Hang feel reserved.
"Fufu, Xiaoyu, let Su Hang take a rest. He's worked all day and came to the restaurant for a meal," Song Xinran gently reminded him.
Both children are very well-behaved.
Fufu said, "Brother Suhang, eat your food. You're tired from work, so eat more and you'll feel better after a nap."
Song Yu nodded, and very cleverly poured Su Hang a glass of water, pushing it in front of him.
Su Hang smiled slightly: "Thank you."
He picked up the water and drank it, not knowing exactly who he was thanking.
"Try the garlic-flavored pork belly, it's the dish you ordered," Song Xinran said.
Su Hang paused for a second, glanced at her quickly before returning his gaze to the dishes, as if that glance had been unintentional.
The freshly made garlic-infused pork belly is steaming hot, not too hot, but warm enough to make you feel its warmth. The pork belly is sliced into paper-thin pieces, giving it a translucent texture. It is topped with a layer of garlic sauce, and the combination of bright green scallions and fresh red chili oil creates a beautiful contrast of red, white, and green that is very appetizing.
Su Hang felt that the complex emotions he had been experiencing earlier seemed to dissipate a lot when he saw this dish; the garlic-infused pork belly on the table looked really delicious.
That's probably what foodies are like...
He tasted a piece and found it to have a rich and complex texture and an excellent flavor. Boiled pork inevitably has some off-flavors, but this garlic-infused pork seemed to have only the aroma of meat left, and the taste was pure meat flavor.
Su Hang couldn't resist eating several pieces.
And then that was it.
For the first few bites, everyone let him have his way, since Su Hang had ordered the food. But after that, everyone had to eat as much as they could.
Food truly has the power to heal the soul. Even though Su Hang didn't get his fill, his complicated feelings were soothed, and no one noticed anything amiss when he left.
After Su Hang left, Fu Fu didn't want to leave and chased after Song Xinran, asking, "Aunt Song, will Brother Su Hang come again tomorrow?"
Song Xinran smiled and said, "Fufu likes Brother Su Hang so much?"
Fu Fu said shyly, "He's good-looking."
Song Yu looked at her expectantly, eager to know Su Hang's itinerary for tomorrow.
Song Xinran asked, "Is it because Su Hang is good-looking that Xiao Yu is also like this?"
Song Yu shook her head: "Because Su Hang is very capable, Food Detective is a great show, and Su Hang knows a lot of poetry and is very cultured."
Song Xinran found out that her child was Mu Zhi.
She said, "I don't know either. Brother Su Hang just comes over for meals sometimes."
Fufu said, "Aunt Song must tell me next time you come over."
Song Xinran agreed.
However, Su Hang didn't come to Song Ji's for a long time afterward; he used to come almost every week.
Song Xinran didn't take it to heart. In business, you shouldn't be too curious about your customers' private lives, and you shouldn't get too familiar with them. There's a sense of distance in consumption.
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