The lotus root soup on the stove was bubbling, and the fragrance of pork ribs and lotus roots lingered in the room.
Tang Yin sat on the stool in the kitchen and waited for the soup while looking at the small box in her hand.
She had found this box from the corner when she was looking for the soup bowl. Inside were wishes that the three of them had made together on Fu Li’s birthday when they were living together.
The papers in the box were already yellow. Tang Yin opened the note at the top. She had written it herself.
“I hope that in ten years, I can have my own house and become the best manager.”
The second one was Liu Xingchuan’s.
“I hope to become a Best Actor. To be famous and rich, and live the life I want.”
The last paper was crumpled tightly, afraid that someone would see it. It was Fu Li’s.
“I hope that ty will always be happy and healthy.”
Looking at the abbreviation of those two words, Tang Yin’s heart clenched. At that time, Fu Li did not even dare to write her name because she was his best brother’s girlfriend.
Pfft. The soup in the pot gradually boiled and overflowed, scattering on the flames. Tang Yin’s attention was finally pulled back.
Tang Yin stood up and poured the pork rib soup into the thermal box. The corn porridge at the side was almost done. Tang Yin sprinkled a layer of white sugar on the surface of the corn porridge. Tang Yin still remembered that Fu Li liked to eat sweet things.
After pouring the corn porridge into the thermos box, Tang Yin looked at the time and was about to send it to Fu Li when the phone rang.
It was a phone number that Tang Yin was very familiar with. It was the phone number that Liu Xingchuan had stopped using for many years.
Sometimes, Tang Yin really hated this bone-deep habit of hers. Even though so many years had passed, the first thing she thought of when she saw this number was Liu Xingchuan.
“What’s the matter?” Tang Yin pressed the answer button.
“Ah Yin.” Liu Xingchuan’s voice had an ancient love. He called out again, “Ah Yin.”
“Liu Xingchuan, don’t call me that. It’s disgusting.” Tang Yin could not deny that Liu Xingchuan, the man who had occupied her entire youth, had left an indelible mark in her life.
However, ever since Liu Xingchuan betrayed her five years ago, she had already carved a huge red cross on Liu Xingchuan in her heart.
“I’m sorry, Tang Yin. I’m sorry.” Liu Xingchuan seemed to have drunk wine, and his words had a heavy breathing sound. “But I’m so happy today. I’ve finally gotten rid of her. I’ve regained my freedom. Will you be happy for me?”
“If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.” Tang Yin looked at the steaming corn porridge and said coldly.
“Ah Yin, can you come to me tonight?” Liu Xingchuan hugged the divorce agreement in his hand. “I have something to tell you.”
“No.” Tang Yin hung up the phone.
When she rushed to the hospital, the food was still steaming. Tang Yin took out the food.
Smelling the mellow fragrance, Fu Li, who had his eyes closed, could not help but open them. “It smells so good. I haven’t drank your soup in a long time.”
“Sit up and eat.” Tang Yin tidied the pillow behind Fu Li and tucked him in.
However, when the soup bowl was delivered to Fu Li, he did not reach out to take it for a long time. Tang Yin looked up and saw Fu Li leaning on the bed calmly. “I have a fever. I don’t have any strength in my body and can’t move.”
Tang Yin was amused by Fu Li’s shameless appearance. “I’ll feed you, alright?”
With that, Tang Yin scooped some porridge with white sugar and fed it to Fu Li. Fu Li opened his mouth and ate the entire spoonful.
“It’s so sweet,” Fu Li swallowed a mouthful of hot porridge and said to Tang Yin.
“Do you want to drink pork ribs soup?”
“Okay.”
Fu Li looked at Tang Yin taking care of him little by little in front of him and was extremely happy.
From the first time they met in the Zhizi Garden until now, for nearly ten years, he had always been a bystander, watching Tang Yin and Liu Xingchuan fall in love and Liu Xingchuan possess all of Tang Yin’s gentleness.
He had never dreamed that such a day would come. If this was a dream, he hoped that he would never wake up.
“I’m full.” Fu Li had almost finished the food in the entire thermal box. He finally stopped Tang Yin’s feeding behavior, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
“Then take a rest.” Tang Yin stood up and packed her things.
“Then will you be here when I wake up?” Fu Li took advantage of his illness and asked Tang Yin for benefits without restraint.
“Yes, I’ll guard you here.” Tang Yin nodded.
Fu Li looked at Tang Yin, who was guarding by the bed, and closed his eyes peacefully.
When the moon was high in the sky, Fu Li suddenly woke up from his dream.
“Are you okay?” Tang Yin’s voice came from beside him. Fu Li subconsciously grabbed her arm.
“Ah Yin.”
“Mm, I’m here,” Tang Yin replied.
“Ah Yin, don’t go. Stay with me.” Fu Li could not forget the panic of being left in his sleep.
“Okay.”
Fu Li grabbed Tang Yin’s hand and did not let go. Tang Yin sat by the bed and lowered her head, thinking about something.
The house maintained an almost strange silence until a ringtone broke the silence.
Tang Yin took out her phone and took a look, then her eyebrows suddenly furrowed.
Although she quickly switched off her phone, she was clearly uneasy.
Fu Li laughed at himself, then removed the hand on Tang Yin’s arm. “Go.”
“Fu Li, I do have something to settle with him.” Tang Yin’s eyes were apologetic. “Rest for a while first. I’ll guard the night later.”
“Okay.” Fu Li’s expression looked extremely normal. No one could tell if he was happy or angry.
Tang Yin poured a glass of water for Fu Li before leaving in a hurry.
After confirming that Tang Yin had really left, Fu Li suddenly removed the syringe in his hand and did not care about the blood flowing backwards.
“Is he that good?” Fu Li lay on the bed dizzily. The desolation in his heart was even more suffocating than in his dream.
Tang Yin arrived at the entrance of the hotel according to the address Liu Xingchuan had given her and pressed the doorbell.
Soon, someone opened the door.
“You, why did you end up like this?” Tang Yin frowned slightly when she saw Liu Xingchuan’s dispirited expression.
“Ah-Tang Yin, come in,” Liu Xingchuan said and brought Tang Yin into the house. There were bottles of wine on the table, and the house was filled with the smell of alcohol.
“Sit.” Liu Xingchuan removed the things on the sofa and made room for Tang Yin.
Tang Yin sat on the sofa. “You said you wanted to tell me the truth back then. Tell me, what truth?”
Liu Xingchuan had changed from her most intimate lover to a devil with a fatal blow overnight. It had always been a knot in Tang Yin’s heart that she could not resolve for a long time. This was also the reason why Tang Yin immediately appeared when Liu Xingchuan called out.
“I never thought of betraying you…”
