Chapter 103 — A Breakfast

On one side, Xu Shixi was facing an unprecedented predicament; on the other, Su Yishu was forced to care for a young man who had aided her several times.

Yishu walked out of Tang Dai’s house, circled to the emergency exit, and climbed the stairs back to her apartment upstairs. The corridor was filled with a gust of wind, yet she couldn't tell whether it swept down from above or surged up from below. Upwards was the top floor, but downward seemed like a bottomless pit, no end in sight.

From the egg box on the refrigerator door, Yishu took out a preserved egg and placed it in the sink, washing off the yellow clay coating. She then retrieved pre-cut meat strips from the lower fridge compartment, letting them thaw in a water-filled bowl. She scooped out rice from the rice cooker, and together with the sliced preserved egg and lean meat, placed them into the stew pot, adding water to simmer.

While the porridge cooked, Yishu went to the bathroom for a quick wash. It seemed as if something vital was locked in some cell of her mind, yet try as she might, she couldn’t recall it.

Leaning against the bar, she watched the porridge bubbling with milky froth, battering the clear lid, stubbornly and futilely repeating the motion. She turned the heat to its lowest, waiting for the final few minutes until the flavors melded.

Even making a simple bowl of preserved egg and lean meat porridge, the intricate steps were a test of patience and care. But Yishu cared little about such things. She had her own way with cooking—simply put, if it tasted good, it spoke for the cook’s skill and standard.

The aroma escaping from the pot stirred her long-suppressed hunger like a sudden flood, unstoppable. She opened the fridge, took out the bag of toast with a few slices left, then settled cross-legged on the carpet in front of the coffee table.

The toast was already somewhat dry and hard. She quickly stopped chewing and checked the production date printed on the bag. With two days left before expiration, it had likely dried early because she hadn't sealed the bag tightly during storage.

After two bites, she put the toast back into the bag and drank a glass of warm water to wash it down.

Yishu thought about Xu Shixi, who had been in Rong City for quite some time. Though the feverish period of romance had passed, young couples separated too long inevitably felt lonely.

She took out her phone and dialed his number. Compared to the sluggish back-and-forth of messaging, she found a direct call far more straightforward.

Xu Shixi, sleepless through the night, had just risen and was brooding at his desk. Yishu’s call brought him joy tinged with melancholy. Tang Dai’s words from last night had left him unsettled.

Two people, unseen for days, sat in silence at either end of the line, the electric current pulsing through their hearts. With time, topics became scarce. When first getting acquainted, conversation could roam through clothing, food, shelter, work, hobbies, experiences, dreams, plans—real or imagined, enough for days and nights. Gradually, things settled into calm—a natural course for human connection.

Yishu’s love for Xu Shixi was pure, simply love. The cloying lines of romance dramas could not be forced upon her.

—Are you all right?

Such a foolish opening. She regretted it the moment she spoke. How could he be all right? If he were, he wouldn’t be away on business for so many days.

—I’m fine. How about you? Double Eleven is over; you should rest well. No need to push yourself so hard at work. Remember, you still have me.

Xu Shixi looked out at the gloomy sky, feeling as if a mountain pressed down on him, suffocating. Pinching the acupoints at his brow and temples, he searched for even a sliver of clarity. But now, it seemed unnecessary; hearing Yishu’s voice was like sunlight, air, and water, giving him life.

—I know I have you, but...

Yishu stopped halfway.

—But what?

Xu Shixi asked.

But I don’t want to lose myself. I want to walk with you through every corner of life while I’m clear-headed. I don’t want to be someone who, having lost the ability to live, survives under your shade, drawing sustenance from you.

—But it pains me to see you struggle. You care for me, so of course I care for you.

Yishu spoke the words buried in her heart.

—With those words, nothing else matters.

Xu Shixi suddenly felt enlightened, as if a beam of golden light pierced the heavy clouds.

—Shixi, if you ever face an insurmountable difficulty, you must tell me. I may not be able to help, but I can offer advice, or at least be a listener.

Yishu heard the chill in his words, sensing he was hiding something from her. Even the best actor, in front of those who know him well, cannot conceal everything.

—No, you’re overthinking.

Xu Shixi denied it, his tone faltering.

—How could there be nothing? Clearly there’s something. Are you trying to make me worry?

The more she listened, the more uneasy she felt.

—It’s about the Happy City project. Don’t worry, I’m working on a solution.

Xu Shixi, unwilling to play games with words, simply stated the issue succinctly.

—Is it serious?

Yishu panicked. Though she knew little about construction, projects worth hundreds of millions could not afford even minor errors.

—See? There’s no need to worry. I said it’s fine. Don’t you trust me? Just some small problems—once I sort them out, I’ll be back in a few days. Are you missing me too much?

Xu Shixi deliberately steered the conversation towards a lighter tone to ease Yishu’s anxiety.

—I really do miss you. Shixi, come back soon.

Life without you seems drained of color. I truly miss the days when you were here; it feels as if only with you by my side do I have motivation and passion for anything.

Xu Shixi listened, his eyes brimming with tears. He lifted his head, forcing them back. How could he not miss her? To long for someone was both happiness and hardship. Yet he still thanked fate for letting him meet her among the vast crowds.

Ten minutes after hanging up, Yishu caught a faint smell of burning food from the kitchen. She tossed aside her phone and rushed to cut the power on the induction cooker. Hurriedly, she snatched up the pot lid, forgetting to check the temperature of its handle, now far beyond what human skin could tolerate. She dropped it uncontrollably, but fortunately, her left hand caught it in mid-air, preventing it from shattering.

Her fingers, clutching her earlobe, transferred some of the heat; then she cooled her hand under running water. A familiar scene flashed in her mind—he had held her hand in just that way, full of tension, care, and tenderness. A gesture that spoke volumes.

Yishu turned off the tap; her hand no longer hurt. This time, there was no burn.

She took a porcelain bowl and spoon from the cupboard, ladled all the porridge into the bowl. Only the bottom was slightly scorched, but it didn’t affect the flavor.

“Why did you take so long?” Tang Chao waited as if flowers had bloomed and faded.

“Cooking porridge takes time,” Yishu set the bowl on the bedside table. “Get up and drink it yourself.”

“I can’t get up.” Tang Chao feigned a severe cold, hoping to be spoiled. “Feed me.”

“If you’re so ill you can’t get up, I’ll call an ambulance and send you to the hospital. Otherwise, if something happens, I’ll be the prime suspect.” Her tightly closed lips twitched, showing an expression not to be trifled with.

“All right, all right, don’t be angry.” He propped himself up on the bed, “I was just joking, not as serious as you make it out to be. I’ll eat it myself, okay?”

Hearing his sincere apology, the frustration in Yishu’s chest dissipated.

“Yishu, this tastes incredible,” Tang Chao said as he ate, his face shining with starlight. “Can you always cook for me?”

“Just for today, not forever.”

“Then I’ll never recover from this illness,” he pouted, “so you’ll have to take care of me for life.”

“Who would rather stay sick forever just to eat someone else’s cooking?” Yishu’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you feverish and confused?”

“I’m exactly that kind of person,” he replied, “After all, we know each other. You should know my character—I’m someone who’ll stop at nothing to get what I want.”

Her pearl-like eyes met his diamond gaze; his words sounded dramatic, but she sensed not a hint of malice in him.

If Xu Shixi hadn’t come first, would she, under Tang Chao’s persistent advances, become his captive?

The answer remained uncertain.

Yishu quickly dispelled such thoughts. She felt that even entertaining them was a kind of betrayal.