Chapter 17 Indoors

The moment I opened the door, laughter greeted me. I immediately walked into the living room and saw the setting sun shining through the glass, its glare making me squint instinctively. Wang Rui was there, chatting with Wang Xin, and You Xiang was laughing along. The cream-colored curtains swayed gently in the breeze, creating a harmonious scene.

Wang Xin saw me first and immediately stood up, saying "hello" in simple English.

I just smiled, gestured for her to sit down, and went straight to Wang Rui. "Off work so early?" I asked.

"I skipped out because you were coming."

"Thanks, but I don't believe you."

I deliberately chose a seat next to You Xiang, who asked, "Is elder sister alright now?"

"Yeah, all rested up. How's work?"

"Just getting the hang of it."

I paused for a moment. "I heard from Mom that you guys are going back to Germany?"

"Still in the planning stages."

"Isn't Wang Xin used to it here?"

"It's mainly for the company. Wang Xin is a secondary consideration."

"Oh."

Just then, my mom walked in and asked You Xiang with a smile, "Is your dad coming home for dinner today?"

"I'm not sure. You should call him. He's been really busy lately."

"Then why are you off work so early?"

"We can't help," Wang Rui replied.

"What are you eating today?" My mom's eyes turned to Wang Xin as she asked.

Then she added humorously, "Butter bread?"

"That's for breakfast, Mom. Really," You Xiang said protectively.

Because of the language barrier, I just smiled at Wang Xin, who looked at us with a blank expression, probably knowing we were talking about her.

I sized up Wang Xin. She was a very beautiful girl with a great temperament, possessing the unique three-dimensional features of a European woman. Wang Rui paled in comparison. She exuded elegance in every gesture, the kind that was ingrained in her bones. I subconsciously looked at You Xiang, who, like me, had expressive eyes. Although his glasses hid his potentially dazzling gaze, his robust physique was a plus. He was a sunny young man full of righteousness. Their union seemed to radiate light. To some extent, an international relationship would have a sense of mystery and mutual exploration, as well as increased curiosity. That was my current thought.

You Xiang was lucky. He was born into a harmonious family with a cheerful older sister like Wang Rui. He must have developed a carefree personality in such an environment. As if on cue, laughter erupted again, and I snapped out of my thoughts. I didn't know when my mom had left. Wang Rui was amusing Wang Xin in English, and You Xiang was laughing heartily, showing his pearly white teeth. While they weren't paying attention, I quietly retreated from the living room.

In the kitchen, my mom was facing away from me, focused on washing vegetables. I walked over and looked at the food set aside. It looked like we were having steak and salad tonight. The high-quality steak must have just been taken out of the refrigerator, still radiating cold air. A bottle of imported salad dressing was on her left. I picked it up, looked at it, and put it down. Hearing the movement, she immediately turned off the tap.

Looking up at me, she asked, "Is steak okay for tonight?"

"Yeah, I like it, but can you chew it?" I asked teasingly.

"It gets stuck in my teeth."

"Trying to go all out for Wang Xin, huh?" I continued to tease her.

"That child has a good personality. Your father really likes her."

"Don't you like her?"

"Who wouldn't like a child like that? Besides, she's come all the way from so far away. We should treat her well." As my mom answered, she smiled brightly.

"You didn't treat Pei Shi Yu like that."

"Shi Yu is just a little unapproachable. Take the last time at the hospital, for example. As soon as I arrived, she gave me the boot. Even if Mom is full of enthusiasm, I can't unleash it."

Pei Shi Yu did have a way of holding herself aloof, creating an involuntary sense of distance. Perhaps it was a cultural difference that shaped her personality. Pei Shi Yu was a bit cautious, while Wang Xin appeared generous and poised without losing her feminine reserve.

"Don't favor one over the other."

"Don't try to stir things up. I'm telling the truth."

"If you say that about her, I'll tell Pei Shi Yu," I said, feigning seriousness.

"I'm telling the truth."

"So you like Wang Xin more?"

"They're the same in my heart, but in terms of interaction, I do like Wang Xin more. I can talk to her very easily, but with Shi Yu, I can only say polite things. I don't know how to communicate with her."

"Although your assessment is quite objective, don't make it too obvious. Someone like me was able to get together with her, so she's already lowered her standards."

"Yeah, sometimes I lie in bed and wonder how Shi Yu could have taken a liking to you..."

"What's wrong with me?"

"It's not that you're not good, but look at her background and look at your previous situation. It shows that Shi Yu is not at all snobbish. You have to perform well, to make Mom and Shi Yu proud."

"I only want to make Pei Shi Yu proud. You don't need it."

"Why?" My mom stopped what she was doing again.

I pointed in the direction of the living room and said, "Look at the atmosphere in your home, so harmonious. I'm embarrassed to participate. Besides, you already have a good son. Why gild the lily?"

"Why so discouraged? Am I being biased?"

"I wouldn't say biased, but do you think a stepson is the same as one you raised yourself?"

"The same! Don't let your imagination run wild. You're not a child anymore. Besides, you're not lacking in love. If you had stayed by my side since you were little, you might not have met Shi Yu. So you have to look at things from both sides, don't lean toward the pessimistic."

I didn't know why I suddenly said such sour things. Maybe it was only in front of her that I would deliberately say unpleasant things, because she was my mom, a mother who had been accepted in my heart. Compared to being in front of Lin Hai, I wouldn't care about these things, because the fatherly role he played had created too much distance, and the distance in my heart was something I couldn't catch up to even if I slowed down.

Laughter came from the living room again. I remembered that when You Xiang wasn't back, Wang Rui would mostly choose to chat with me, but now it seemed that she had forgotten my existence. Her penetrating laughter echoed throughout the house, but my mood was not infected. On the contrary, I felt out of place. Because of the language barrier, I didn't want to stay with them like an idiot. That would seem very clumsy.