In the evening, Ruan Zhiyin was cooking soup in the kitchen.
After Grandpa died, Uncle Liu and Ma Chen declined Ruan Zhiyin's proposal to continue living in the old house, and both returned to their hometown.
After returning, the two often sent some local chestnut red dates to Ruan Zhiyin. In the first two days, I also sent a few pieces of wild ginseng, saying that Ruan Zhiyin was able to replenish her body well, which made her laugh and cry.
After wrapping the glutinous rice, red dates and the shelled chestnuts into the chicken belly, Ruan Zhiyin washed the ginseng sent by Uncle Liu, poured water into the pot, added a spoon of salt, and boiled the soup over a low heat.
Cheng Yuelin sat leisurely in the living room watching TV, occasionally raising his eyelids to glance at the kitchen.
A few minutes later, Ruan Zhiyin came out of the kitchen and saw a comedy on TV, which was the same director as the one he watched last time.
She poured two glasses of water, walked to the sofa and sat down, and asked casually, "Do you like this director's movies?"
"It's okay, I've seen a few famous ones."
The man took the warm water she poured, and hooked the corner of his lower lip very lightly.
Ruan Zhiyin frowned slightly: "But how do I remember, you didn't seem to like movies like "Nancheng Happy Events" when you were in high school."
"Nancheng Happy Events" is the movie that got Cheng Yuelin's "boring" evaluation.
That weekend, she took Qin Xiang to the movies, and when she came out, she met Qian Fan who left alone.
You must know that Qian Fan and Cheng Yuelin are sticking together all the time, so that he can leave Qian Fan behind, he must really feel that the film is boring and he is too lazy to watch it.
Hearing her words, Cheng Yuelin's eyes paused for a while, then he withdrew his gaze, and said lazily: "Oh, I didn't like it at the time, but now it's okay to look at it."
When she said that back then, she didn't think she invited Qin Jue to go to the movies together.
As a result, he remembered the number of the two movie tickets, and took Qian Fan to the cinema, only to find that the one watching the movie with her was actually a child.
After all, I was saying the day before that going to the cinema to watch movies on weekends is too boring. When the show was over, she felt ashamed to be seen by her, so she had to drive Qian Fan away first.
Hearing his explanation, Ruan Zhiyin didn't bother anymore, and instead asked, "Do you and Uncle know each other?"
Cheng Yuelin nodded lightly: "Well, that's it, what's wrong?"
"I'm not very familiar with the government. I want to ask my uncle to come back to help me. Do you think he will agree?"
Although the Lin family had almost solved it, Ruan Zhiyin was busy with the project in Beicheng, and many facts were lacking.
She knew that Ji Yijun had worked for the Ruan family before her father died, and now the other party only had some private investments, so she could be considered free, so she thought of asking him to come back and help.
"Why, you want me to give you an idea?" Cheng Yuelin looked sideways at her with a lazy smile in his eyes.
Ruan Zhiyin nodded, and said after a while, "Ginseng chicken soup is stewed in the kitchen."
Knowing that he likes to drink soup, she has something to ask for, which is also a good thing.
Cheng Yuelin shook her head leisurely and helplessly, she really regarded herself as a foodie.
"Actually, the old man is gone, and he is so idle. If you show your sincerity, you should not refuse. Ji Yijun's only concern is that you will think too much."
In detail, Ji Yijun is still a decent elder, otherwise he would not have driven Yang Xue and the others out of Landbridge.
If she could keep the burden on people smaller, she wouldn't need him to remind her.
Smelling the lingering aroma wafting from the kitchen, Cheng Yuelin looked at her with a light smile, and said in a calm voice, "But this chicken soup is just right. You can bring some to the company tomorrow."
After he finished speaking, he glanced at her, and couldn't help but reminded: "Oh, now I asked Bai Bo to buy a microwave and put it in the office."
So, if you are afraid that he is hungry, you can often bring him some soup and water in the future.
After speaking casually, Cheng Yuelin saw that Ruan Zhiyin suddenly frowned, and his expression was slightly hesitant.
After a pause, he slowly put down his arm resting on the sofa, frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Are you... busy tomorrow?" she said tentatively.
Cheng Yuelin didn't answer, and said lightly, "Are you okay?"
Ruan Zhiyin shook her head lightly: "It's nothing, if you're busy, you don't have to pick me up tomorrow."
Seeing that Cheng Yuelin seemed to be avoiding her, he looked straight at her with inquiring eyes, and his thin lips moved: "Did you go shopping with someone?"
"No." After speaking, Ruan Zhiyin saw that he was still asking, she narrowed her eyes and lowered her voice, "Yes... I'm going to visit the tomb."
Tomorrow is the anniversary of the death of Ruan Shengwen and his wife.
Every year in Landbridge, Ruan Zhiyin would put aside her work and go to Xishan to visit her parents’ graves.
In the past, he was with his grandfather, and Lin Cheng would pretend to pass by, but now she is the only one left.
Ruan Zhiyin had an idea for a moment, but it was quickly ignored. It seems that she has no position to ask Cheng Yuelin to accompany her to visit the grave.
Thinking of this, a bit of disappointment rose in the bottom of my heart.
I suppressed my emotions, and was about to get up when a man's calm voice suddenly came from behind—
"Well, I see, I'll accompany you."
Ruan Zhiyin's eyes widened and she looked back at him.
Cheng Yuelin smirked, his eyebrows lightened, "I just thought about it, it's the same if I keep the chicken soup at home."
When the words fell, she reluctantly patted her head, her eyes were as deep as ink, and she slowly said: "I have something to do in the future, don't hide it, understand?"
Ruan Zhiyin was slightly startled, and replied with a smile, "Yes."
—
On Thursday, the two were not at work.
The driver came to pick them up early in the morning and drove to the cemetery.
Ruan Shengwen and his wife have been dead for more than ten years, and they are buried together in the Xishan old cemetery in the south of the city.
Bentley stopped at the entrance of the cemetery at the foot of the mountain. Cheng Yuelin took a bunch of hibiscus flowers from the trunk and walked slowly up the mountain with Ruan Zhiyin.
The sun was not too strong in the early morning. There was a drizzle just yesterday. There was a dense mist of water in the wind, and I could smell the fresh earthy smell.
Halfway up the mountain, the two met a family of three who led their children to visit the grave together, and passed them by.
Xu Shi was too tired to walk, and the innocent child was flirting with his parents with a tender face.
Ruan Zhiyin stopped silently as she watched the backs of several people gradually disappearing, her expression stunned.
She came back to her senses after she had gone a little further, shook her head and chuckled, "I used to think that others have parents who love them so much, and I am very envious."
She was less than four years old when she was abducted and lost. Ruan Zhiyin's impression of her parents was extremely hazy.
I just remember that there seems to be a person who looks like a mother, with a very gentle voice.
In the orphanage, in order to share the pressure of the dean, the older children have to learn to take care of the new younger siblings quickly, and mature quickly.
Until she returned to Ruan's house, she couldn't see her parents again, let alone act like a spoiled child with them.
In Ruan Zhiyin's limited memory, she had never experienced the days of being held in the palm of her hand.
But she has seen the room that her parents bought her, and everything in it is full of care.
Ruan Shengwen and his wife must love her very much, so they insisted on looking for her for so many years. In order not to make her sad when she comes back, she didn't even think about having another child.
Cheng Yuelin stared at her wistful eyes, took her hand, and lightly smiled to reassure: "You don't have to envy others, you have it too."
Ruan Zhiyin was stunned for a while, then heaved a sigh of relief, lowered her eyes and nodded, "Yes, I have it too."
Although Ruan Shengwen and his wife are gone, Ruan Zhiyin believes that if they are still there, they will love her unconditionally like other parents.
Finally came to the familiar tombstone.
The two faces in the photo are very young.
The man is gentle and upright, yet handsome. The woman's brows and eyes were smiling, gentle and pleasant, and her facial features were somewhat similar to Ruan Zhiyin.
Ruan Zhiyin put down the hibiscus flower in her arms, silently took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped off the dust left on the tombstone.
Cheng Yuelin stood tall and stood quietly beside her. Silently stood for a while, knowing that she might have something to say, and walked a little further away, leaving the space to her.
As soon as the man left, there was an instant emptiness around him.
In fact, Ruan Zhiyin didn't have much to say. In the past, every time she came here, she would simply say, "You're doing well, don't worry."
After thinking about what happened recently, Ruan Zhiyin explained softly, "Dad, Mom. Grandpa passed away last month and was buried with grandma."
"The old house was empty, and I gave Uncle Liu and Mother Chen a sum of money to let them both go back to their hometown and retire well."
"The man just now is called Cheng Yuelin. It's my high school classmate. I'm now... married. In short, I'm doing well, you don't have to worry."
After saying this, it seemed like there was nothing else to say. After a silent pause for a while, she finally added: "Well, after next year, I should be able to... come and visit you with him."
After slowly touching the photo on the tombstone, Ruan Zhiyin finally stood up and walked towards the man not far away.
Cheng Yuelin looked down at her expression, and seeing that she was calm, he asked with a sigh of relief, "Are you done?"
"Yeah." Ruan Zhiyin nodded.
"Okay, let's go then." As soon as the man finished speaking, he glanced at the bouquet in her arms, frowned, and said lightly, "Why did you take two more bouquets?"
She ordered four bunches of hibiscus today. Cheng Yuelin originally thought it was for Ruan Shengwen and his wife, but only two bunches were left in front of the tombstone.
Ruan Zhiyin didn't answer, she looked at him with a smile, and shouted, "Cheng Yuelin."
"Ok?"
"Let's go to another place."
—
Ten minutes later, the two circled the cemetery and stood in front of the tombstone on the other side.
They were all familiar with the names on the tombstones.
It is Cheng Yuelin's father, Cheng Fengsheng.
Strictly speaking, Father Cheng is a somewhat conceited person. He has a precise and unique vision for doing business.
Cheng Fengsheng suffered only one setback in his life, but was directly sentenced to more than ten years in prison.
In the third year of his imprisonment, he finally couldn't bear the fact that his family wealth was dissipated by others, and he committed suicide in prison.
These are all outsiders' comments on Cheng Fengsheng.
For Cheng Yuelin, although the relationship with his father is somewhat tense, Cheng Fengsheng is still a good father who loves his son deeply but is not good at words.
In Ruan Zhiyin's eyes, the impression of Cheng Fengsheng still remained in the scene where the other party was standing in the school office, holding her hand and saying thanks, she was a kind elder.
She still remembered how she felt when she heard that Cheng Jin was in prison.
Glancing at the silent man beside her, Ruan Zhiyin put down the two bouquets of flowers in her arms.
After a pause, she said, "I thought, I'm coming over, and I should accompany you to see Uncle Cheng."
Cheng Yuelin never mentioned his father to her, but Ruan Zhiyin knew Cheng Fengsheng's position in his heart.
These years, he should not have been easy.
Since Cheng Yuelin was willing to accompany her to visit the grave, she also wanted to do something for him. At least show him that she's actually willing to... be his family.
Both of them are alone.
Seeing her leaning over to clear the weeds by the tomb, Cheng Yuelin, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly said, "Ruan 嘤嘤."
Ruan Zhiyin looked up at him: "What's wrong?"
"Can you... give me a hug for a while."
The man's voice was hoarse.
Ruan Zhiyin was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "Yes."
Cheng Yuelin smiled, grabbed her arm, took her into his arms, and put his chin on her neck.
The arm that fell on his waist was very strong. After a long time, Ruan Zhiyin heard the man's muffled voice—
"Ruan 嘤嘤, we just make do with it, isn't it good?"
Before she could discern the strange emotions flashing in her heart, Ruan Zhiyin had already heard her answer in a low voice.
"Well, yes... it's good."
—
On Friday, Ruan Zhiyin didn't ask the driver to turn around to pick her up because Cheng Yuelin had an evening party.
When she was about to get off work, she simply asked Ye Yanchu to go shopping in the mall together.
The two had just finished visiting a women's clothing store, and Ye Yanchu, who was not in high spirits, sighed dejectedly and confided to Ruan Zhiyin about her recent predicament.
"Yinyin, my aunt really wants to introduce me to a blind date. It's too scary."
Ye Yanchu's aunt was a teacher in the university. She was always keen on connecting young people to be a matchmaker. She even inquired about Ruan Zhiyin, and she gave up after hearing that she had a marriage contract.
Looking at Ye Yanchu with a sad face, Ruan Zhiyin smiled: "If that's the case, why don't you fall in love yourself?"
"But... I can't fall in love." Ye Yanchu sighed again, then paused, "I think I'm afraid of falling in love, let alone getting married."
Ruan Zhiyin frowned slightly, surprised: "Why, isn't the relationship between Uncle Ye and Auntie very good?"
She had always thought that only someone with a lack of emotion like her would be afraid to establish too close connections with people.
However, Ye Yanchu's family is very happy. Father Ye and Mother Ye are more in love than Jin Jian, and their relationship is not generally harmonious.
Of course he loves his only daughter.
"Probably because they have a good relationship, so they are more afraid."
Ye Yanchu's voice was dull: "Yinyin, don't mention buying lottery tickets, since I was a child, I haven't even come across a bottle of beverages."
"You said that a man like my dad can't find a second person with a lantern. How could I meet him through shit? And I'm always afraid of that kind of tentative start."
"After trying, if the other party is not as good as my dad, with my dad as an example, I will definitely not be able to accept it, so..."
Seeing her hesitating to speak, Ruan Zhiyin raised her eyebrows slightly: "So what?"
"So it's very possible that I'm going to die alone."
Ye Yan ended the topic resignedly at the beginning, only to realize that the two had walked into a men's clothing store.
She glanced at Ruan Zhiyin in confusion: "Why are we shopping for men's clothing?"
When Ruan Zhiyin heard the words, her face was slightly startled.
Yes, why did you enter the men's clothing store
She lowered her eyes and thought about it, as if she thought that the coat placed at the door was very suitable for Cheng Yuelin, so she walked in unknowingly.
When she realized this, Ruan Zhiyin was stunned.
Because of Zhao Bing's words, she knew that there was probably a reason why Cheng Yuelin was willing to get along with her all the time.
If possible, Ruan Zhiyin is also willing to continue her current life and treat Cheng Yuelin as family.
Cheng Yuelin helped her a lot, and she also began to accept Cheng Yuelin as her family.
When this thought was formed, it seemed that a rope began to connect the two of them silently.
When cooking, take into account his dislike of ginger.
When shopping, he will notice what suits him.
Ruan Zhiyin has yet to clarify this subtle feeling.
—
At nine o'clock in the evening, Ruan Zhiyin and Ye Yanchu finished shopping and took a taxi back to the villa.
After pressing his fingerprints and locking the door, the surroundings were still dark, and the huge villa was quiet and empty.
Obviously, Cheng Yuelin has not returned yet.
After the two lived together, this was the first time Cheng Yuelin had entertained so late, and Ruan Zhiyin was not used to it for a while.
She turned on the light, put down the shopping bag in her hand, changed her shoes, walked to the sofa and sat down, not in a hurry to go back to the room.
After thinking for a while, he took out the notebook again, sat back in the living room, and checked the documents sent by Kang Yu at night.
I don't know how long it has been since I finished my work.
However, Cheng Yuelin has not returned.
He was hesitating whether to call him or not, when a knock on the door suddenly sounded in the silence.
Ruan Zhiyin closed the notebook and walked to the door to open the door.
Under the dim door light, Bai Bo supported Cheng Yuelin.
The man leaned on Bai Bo's arm, his eyes were blurred, his body was unstable, and his body smelled of alcohol.
Seeing Ruan Zhiyin frowning in displeasure, Bai Bo said quickly, "Ma'am, I'm sorry, Mr. Cheng drank too much at night, and he's not very awake right now."
Ruan Zhiyin hummed softly, nodded politely, and helped Cheng Yuelin from Bai Bo's hand: "I'm sorry, Bai Bo, it's getting late, hurry back."
Bai Bo glanced at the drunk boss, heaved a sigh of relief, and then said goodbye and left.
After closing the door, Ruan Zhiyin led Cheng Yuelin upstairs.
This was the first time she saw Cheng Yuelin drunk like this, and the smell of alcohol on her body was very offensive.
Frankly speaking, just after seeing Cheng Yuelin being supported by Bai Bo, drunk and unconscious, she realized that she didn't like him drinking like this.
I don't know why such a mentality of restraining others appeared.
Ruan Zhiyin reluctantly carried the person into the room.
Just as he was about to help him onto the bed, the drunk man seemed to suddenly be a little awake, and his arm around him wanted to find support and wrapped around her waist.
Ruan Zhiyin was unprepared, her feet staggered, and the next second, the two fell on the bed together.
Deeply sinking into the soft bed, the warm palms were still clasped at the waist, reaching the skin through the light cloth.
The two were close to each other, the distance was too close, and the ambiguous posture made Ruan Zhiyin's figure suddenly tense.
She raised her eyes to meet Cheng Yuelin's gaze, but saw that his drunken eyes were slightly drunk, his eyelids were drooping, and his blurred peach blossom eyes seemed to be covered with mist.
The cold and white complexion was dyed red, and it faded a little cold, and it seemed to be a lot smoother. The two eyebrows were straight, the thin lips moved, and she could feel the warm breath spraying on her forehead.
The man's smooth outline was hidden in the dim light, his broken hair pressed against his eyebrows, and his sullen eyes looked at her quietly.
After being stunned for a while, Ruan Zhiyin stretched out her hand unexpectedly, and gently stroked his cool thin lips with her fingertips, which was incredibly soft to the touch.
After realizing what she had done, she jerked her fingertips back and broke free from the other's weak arm.
After standing up in a panic, she looked at the person lying there quietly, sighed in annoyance, and turned to leave the room.
After a while, in the silent darkness, the man's figure moved slightly and slowly opened his eyes.
Staring at the direction she hurriedly left, she shook her head and laughed, her eyes unpredictable.
—
A minute later, Ruan Zhiyin returned to the room, but her thoughts remained on the scene just now.
I don't know if she was too guilty. After she was annoyed, she suddenly recalled the righteous accusation made by the other party when she ran into Cheng Yuelin taking a bath last time.
In an instant, the man's condescending voice sounded in his mind—
"Ruan Zhiyin, I didn't see it, you really have bad intentions towards me?"
Why did you... get interested
Ruan Zhiyin helped her forehead helplessly, sat on the bed in a daze, and pondered quietly for a while.
Then, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Resignedly, he picked up his mobile phone and sent a message in the WeChat group—
"You guys say, if I find out that I like Cheng Yuelin and go after him, will I have a chance to succeed?"