In the kitchen, Su Yue’s heart was also constantly uneasy.
She wasn’t sure what Su Minghua would talk about with Chen Ziming, but seeing them get along so amicably, she wasn’t as nervous anymore.
After washing the fruit, she specifically cut a small fruit platter for Chen Ziming and placed it in front of him separately.
Jiang Ling’s smile carried a hint of disdain as she looked at Chen Ziming and said self-deprecatingly, “Ziming, you’re still the impressive one. My husband and I haven’t eaten fruit platters cut by her in a long time.”
“Mom,” Su Yue called out to her, her brows furrowed in displeasure.
Chen Ziming couldn’t help but lower his gaze and smile before replying to Jiang Ling, “It’s because of your excellent upbringing, especially Director Su. She’s well-known in our department for being considerate and thoughtful.”
Su Yue, holding a fork, instinctively tightened her grip but said nothing further. Instead, she picked up a piece of fruit with the fork and handed it to him, whispering,
“Eat quickly, don’t talk so much.”
His eyes crinkled with a smile. As he took the fruit fork, he tilted his head and glanced at her, obediently replying, “Okay.”
“Ziming, even though Yueyue is sensible, you can’t let her take care of everything. As a man, you need to take responsibility, be tolerant, and take care of your girlfriend. Understand?”
Su Minghua suddenly spoke, clearly responding to what he had just said.
Su Yue looked over in surprise, noticing that Su Minghua’s expression was slightly serious, like a true father unwilling to see his daughter suffer.
Realizing he was acting again, Su Yue found it quite amusing.
Su Minghua was still the same, fond of pretense and putting on a facade. Even after how he had treated her before, in front of outsiders, he still had to put on a show of fatherly love and filial piety.
Jiang Ling, however, tutted and nudged Su Minghua, “Just spoil your daughter then.”
For a moment, a harmonious and warm family atmosphere filled the entire room.
The feeling from the hospital that day returned to Su Yue, making her feel a little lost and greedy.
She hadn’t caught the subtle implications in Chen Ziming and Su Minghua’s conversation, nor had she perceived Su Minghua’s deeply hidden anger and unwillingness.
Naturally, she was even less aware that Su Minghua’s true target was no longer simply her, but to leverage the Chen family’s influence to achieve a higher social status.
The dinner was prepared by an hourly worker. Before that, Su Yue took Chen Ziming to her bedroom.
Everything was arranged as it used to be. Even though she hardly ever stayed there, Jiang Ling diligently cleaned it every day.
After all, it was the place where her youthful memories were buried. Su Yue felt quite moved when she saw the room’s furnishings.
Especially the desk. It was carefully chosen by Jiang Ling, made from very good wood, designed to prevent hunching and nearsightedness, and had plenty of storage space.
Chen Ziming also noticed the desk almost immediately. His dark eyes flickered, but he said nothing more.
Instead, a smile appeared on Su Yue’s face. Holding his hand, she walked over and began to introduce it,
“When I was in the ninth grade, we moved into this house. Every time I came home for the holidays, I would do my homework at this desk.”
It was during the summer of her second year of high school that she began staying at Li Niannian’s place long-term. Before that, this desk had held all her girlish sentiments.
Chen Ziming certainly remembered.
Back then, she wasn’t good at math. Every weekend when she returned home, she would present him with the problems she had accumulated throughout the week.
In the evening, he would have voice calls with her, explaining them to her bit by bit.
Later, she became increasingly dependent on him. The photos she sent were no longer just about schoolwork, but also included many life updates.
Among them was her desk, filled with items.
The Su Yue of her middle school years always liked to buy various cute items, decorating this desk with a full-blown girlish style.
During his university years, Chen Ziming had longed countless times to reach through the screen and be by her side.
To personally touch that fluffy little stuffed animal, to write a few words with that pink pen with white spots.
But ultimately, he wanted to tell her his true identity face-to-face.
If he had done so back then, she would have been by his side long ago.
But Chen Ziming had no regrets.
If they had met and revealed themselves then, it would have greatly affected her studies.
He would rather endure the torment and pain of longing than sacrifice her bright future for a fleeting emotional need.
He didn’t want her to be a caged bird, accompanying him in indulgence.
He wanted her to be a warrior, walking alongside him, equals, with souls that resonated with each other.