Xiu Gou's Taming Record

Chapter 146 An Encounter

Yu Heng glanced at his phone; it was time to go.

He stood up from the sofa: "Mom, I'm leaving."

Liu Jianfen was holding and rocking Xiao Hui when she heard this and turned around: "The car is here?"

"Okay, almost there," Yu Heng said, bending down to put on his shoes. "I'll be back next week."

"Wait a minute." Liu Jianfen shoved the child into Zhou Wanyi's arms. "I'll pack some things for you."

"No need." Yu Heng tied his shoelaces. "The school has everything."

"What do you mean, what do you mean?" Liu Jianfen was already heading towards the kitchen. "You're renting a place, you need to cook, right? I'll get you some peanut oil, it's homemade, much better than what you buy outside."

Yu Heng sighed as he heard the sounds of rummaging through drawers and cabinets coming from the kitchen.

Zhou Wanyi stood in the middle of the living room holding her child. Xiao Hui squirmed in her arms and grabbed her hair with his little hands.

"Mom, really, there's no need." Yu Heng walked to the kitchen door. "I don't cook much; I mostly order takeout."

"Takeout is so expensive." Liu Jianfen picked up a five-liter oil can and went to rummage through the refrigerator. "I still have some braised beef I made yesterday. Take it home and eat it."

Yu Heng watched as she packed the beef into a plastic bag and then went to get a bag to put the oil in.

"And these eggs, free-range eggs, very nutritious." Liu Jianfen stuffed another carton of eggs into the bag.

"Mom," Yu Heng reached out to stop her, "I can't carry that many."

"Why can't you carry it?" Liu Jianfen glared at him. "Taking a car isn't like walking."

"The eggs will break if the car bumps around." Yu Heng took the eggs out and put them back in the refrigerator. "Don't use the oil either, I don't have room for it."

"You silly child," Liu Jianfen frowned.

Zhou Wanyi said softly, "Mom, if Xiaoheng thinks it's too heavy, then don't let him carry it."

Liu Jianfen glanced at Zhou Wanyi, then at Yu Heng, and finally relented: "How about bringing some chestnuts? I roasted some yesterday."

As she spoke, she took out a paper bag from the cupboard, which contained roasted chestnuts.

"Okay, take this one," he said.

The chestnuts in Ancheng are actually no worse than those in neighboring Anxi. The reason why Anxi chestnuts are famous is simply because they were so poor that they had nothing else to offer and relied on chestnuts to make money.

He walked to the door carrying the bag, where Zhou Wanyi stood holding the child.

"Sister-in-law, I'm leaving," Yu Heng said.

Zhou Wanyi looked up at him, then quickly looked away: "Okay, be careful on the road."

Yu Heng's heart stirred slightly. Ever since what happened that morning, she had been like this, not daring to look him in the eye.

As they reached the elevator, Yu Heng added, "I'll be back next weekend."

"Okay, it's getting colder lately, so be careful not to catch a cold," Liu Jianfen instructed. Zhou Wanyi added, "Next time you're coming back, give me a call in advance."

The elevator doors opened, and Yu Heng stepped inside: "I'm leaving, Mom."

"Okay, send a message when you arrive." Liu Jianfen waved her hand.

The door closed, and Liu Jianfen turned around to see Zhou Wanyi still standing there, staring blankly at the elevator door.

"Wanyi," Liu Jianfen called out, "Go back and pack your things. Put the cooked food in the refrigerator; we'll eat it tonight."

"Okay, okay." Zhou Wanyi came to her senses and carried the child home.

Liu Jianfen watched her retreating figure, pondering to herself.

That kid said he'd be back next week.

Why are you coming back so often...?

She shook her head, deciding not to think about it anymore; her children and grandchildren would have their own blessings.

Once inside, Zhou Wanyi tidied up the things on the table and carried the child inside.

She glanced at the floor and blushed again; the floor hadn't been mopped yet.

-

When the car stopped at the entrance of the residential area, there were already two people sitting in the back seat.

Yu Heng opened the car door and bent down to peek inside.

The person sitting by the left window was a girl, and her profile looked somewhat familiar.

Ning Yutong?

She's back too?

Sitting in the middle was a middle-aged man wearing glasses. Yu Heng said to the man, "Sir, would you mind switching seats with me? My friend is over there."

The man looked up at him, then glanced at Ning Yutong on his left.

He said "oh" and readily moved to the right.

Carpooling allows passengers to sit on either side, but nobody wants to sit in the middle.

Yu Heng thanked him, sat in the middle seat, the door closed, and the driver started the car.

Ning Yutong had obviously noticed him too. After meeting his gaze for a second, she quickly looked away and continued looking out the window.

The car drove out of the residential area and turned onto the main road.

Ning Yutong finally moved. She pulled down the zipper of her down jacket, revealing the neckline of a light gray sweater underneath.

Then she took out her earphones from her small bag and put them in her ears.

Yu Heng raised an eyebrow but didn't initiate a conversation.

He closed his eyes, intending to take a nap.

Ning Yutong next to me had a very faint fragrance, a scent that seemed somewhat familiar.

That day at the movie theater felt a bit like that day in the escape room; it was as if I'd smelled both before.

Yu Heng opened his eyes and glanced at her.

She was looking down at her phone, the light from the screen reflecting on her face, her long eyelashes casting soft shadows under her eyelids.

My fingers were swiping across the screen, I don't know what I was looking at.

After watching for a while, she locked her phone, put it back in her bag, crossed her arms, and continued looking out the window.

Yu Heng turned his head and spoke first: "You came back on Saturday?"

Ning Yutong turned her face, glanced at him, then quickly looked away and hummed in agreement.

"Going home for something?" Yu Heng asked.

"Get some warm clothes." Ning Yutong's voice was flat and even. "It's getting colder."

It's only been a short while since I confessed my feelings and was rejected, so sitting together like this now is definitely awkward.

But he didn't feel uncomfortable at all. He had refused, and that was that. He had said everything he needed to say, and if they met again, they would just be acquaintances. Yu Heng looked at the bag in his hand, thought for a moment, and then opened it.

He nudged Ning Yutong with his elbow: "Want some?"

Ning Yutong turned her head, glanced at the shiny chestnuts in the bag, and then looked up at Yu Heng.

She pursed her lips, hesitated for a few seconds, and then reached into the bag and took two out.

"Thank you." Her voice was still flat, revealing no emotion.

Yu Heng watched as she peeled the chestnut and put it in her mouth.

After a while, he nudged Ning Yutong's arm again: "Get a few more."

Ning Yutong shook her head: "That's enough."

"Take it." Yu Heng didn't pull his hand back. "I can't finish it all by myself."

Ning Yutong glanced at him and then reached out and took three more.

The car was quiet, with only the slight sound of the middle-aged man next to me scrolling through short videos.

Yu Heng chewed on chestnuts while glancing at Ning Yutong out of the corner of his eye.

He suddenly realized that Ning Yutong's quiet, silent demeanor was more endearing than her usual deliberate attempts at being coquettish...

How should I put it, more authentic?

Her cheeks puffed out slightly, and a tiny crumb of chestnut clung to the corner of her mouth.

He reached out and wiped the corner of her mouth with his fingertip.

Ning Yutong froze, standing there motionless, her eyes wide as she stared at him.

"I got some," Yu Heng said naturally, withdrawing his hand and flicking the crumbs off his fingertips.

Ning Yutong's face turned red at a visible speed.

She quickly turned her head to look out the window, her neck flushed pink.

Yu Heng smiled inwardly; it was indeed hard not to be attracted to her.

To be honest, I didn't intentionally keep her hanging on, or even deliberately avoid her before, but what happened just now was deliberate.

Anyway, he had refused outright and made his point clear beforehand.

What if something else happens afterward?

Does that mean I didn't get a heads-up beforehand?