Chapter 471: A Strange Emotion
Lin Huanzhu had only asked out of idle curiosity. After seeing the look on Tang Yuanxiao’s face, she knew she’d asked something she shouldn’t have.
Just as she was about to change the subject and move past the question, she heard Tang Yuanxiao reply.
"I was."
Hearing those two words, it was Lin Huanzhu’s turn to be stunned.
In her mind, the question she had asked only had two possible answers.
One was "no," and the other was "I am," but never "I was."
"Oh." Lin Huanzhu didn’t quite understand what those two words implied, but she didn’t press the issue.
Fortunately, they had reached the fork in the road.
"This is my way. See you later."
Tang Yuanxiao nodded. "See you."
The two parted ways, heading in different directions.
When Tang Yuanxiao arrived at Mrs. Tang’s room, he unexpectedly ran into Lin Huanzhu’s aunt, Liao Jin.
Liao Jin seemed a bit down, and her eyes were red. She forced a smile when she saw Tang Yuanxiao.
"You’re here."
After briefly updating Tang Yuanxiao on Mrs. Tang’s condition, Liao Jin said her goodbyes. But after taking a couple of steps, she turned back.
"Oh, right. Have you eaten? I heard you like tangyuan."
Tang Yuanxiao was just taking off his hat, about to brush off the snow, when he froze for a moment at Liao Jin’s question.
’Tangyuan? Liao Jin is making tangyuan tonight, too?’
Tang Yuanxiao’s hesitation made Liao Jin mistakenly think he hadn’t eaten yet.
"Huanzhu brought you some tangyuan last time, and I remembered. I’ll have her bring you another bowl in a little while."
Liao Jin hadn’t paid much attention to Mrs. Tang or Tang Yuanxiao before. It was only when Lin Huanzhu told her about Tang Yuanxiao’s name that he stuck in her memory.
On this particular day, when Liao Jin ran into Tang Yuanxiao, his name struck a chord with her, and she felt a wave of emotion, which was why she had asked.
Lin Huanzhu had loved tangyuan ever since she was little. Knowing this, Liao Jin had prepared a large batch for this special night, starting at noon.
With this faint thought, Liao Jin turned and left, quickly disappearing around the corner.
Leaving Tang Yuanxiao reaching out dramatically. "No, I..."
He’d already eaten, and it was tangyuan with Lin Huanzhu, no less!
If Lin Huanzhu brought him another bowl, he wouldn’t be able to finish it, no matter how much he loved it.
Tang Yuanxiao thought about chasing after her to say he’d already eaten and didn’t need any, but after taking just two steps past Mrs. Tang’s room, he was called to a halt by his mother.
By the time he’d greeted his mother and come back out, Liao Jin was long gone. Even her office was empty.
He stood quietly for a moment. Recalling how Lin Huanzhu had insisted he not tell Liao Jin she’d already eaten, he furrowed his brow, then finally asked for directions and went to find Liao Jin’s home.
Liao Jin was a long-time employee of the nursing home and lived in the housing units assigned by her employer.
KNOCK KNOCK. Tang Yuanxiao knocked on the door.
"Coming!" Liao Jin’s voice rang out. When she opened the door and saw Tang Yuanxiao, her eyes lit up.
"You came yourself! Perfect, that saves Huanzhu a trip. Come on in and eat, it’s all ready."
Liao Jin enthusiastically welcomed Tang Yuanxiao inside. "Don’t worry about your mother, they ate a long time ago."
The explanation was on the tip of Tang Yuanxiao’s tongue when he caught sight of Lin Huanzhu inside.
Lin Huanzhu had an incredibly awkward and troubled expression on her face. In front of her were three bowls.
One of them was the same enamel bowl she had used to bring him tangyuan last time, and it was steaming hot.
With just one look, Tang Yuanxiao found himself ushered into the room.
"...I made you the same amount as last time. If it’s not enough, I can cook more."
Tang Yuanxiao: "..."
He was already full and didn’t want to eat.
But looking at Lin Huanzhu, thinking about how she’d acted earlier and what she’d said about the death anniversary, and then seeing Liao Jin’s forced smile, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
"Sit, sit down and eat." Liao Jin brought a chair for Tang Yuanxiao. "Huanzhu, entertain Tang Yuanxiao. Don’t just get glued to the spot when you see tangyuan."
Embarrassed and apologetic, Lin Huanzhu looked at Tang Yuanxiao. "Quick, sit. Look, if you can’t finish it, I’ll help you eat."
Tang Yuanxiao: "..."
They had eaten about the same amount earlier. If he was full, she must be even more so.
’She has a huge bowl in front of her already, and she still wants to help me eat? Does she think she has a second stomach?’
"Huanzhu, are you silly? You should be encouraging your guest to eat his fill, telling him there’s more if he’s still hungry. What kind of host says that?"
Liao Jin sat down and playfully smacked Lin Huanzhu on the head, her tone full of exasperation and disappointment.
Lin Huanzhu winced. "I was just worried about him getting too full."
As she spoke, she popped a tangyuan into her mouth, pretending it was the most delicious thing in the world.
Seeing Lin Huanzhu like this, Liao Jin lifted her spirits and ate one as well.
"Hurry and eat while it’s hot," she added, not forgetting to encourage Tang Yuanxiao.
Under Lin Huanzhu’s apologetic gaze, Tang Yuanxiao took a silent, deep breath and began to eat.
Tang Yuanxiao had no idea how he managed to finish that bowl of tangyuan... but it was the first time in his life that eating felt like a punishment.
After finishing, Tang Yuanxiao felt like he was stuffed all the way to his throat. The richness made him feel a little nauseous.
Lin Huanzhu looked about the same, but she kept smiling and eating cheerfully, which encouraged Liao Jin to finish her own bowl. Afterward, Liao Jin’s expression finally brightened a little.
"Auntie, I’ll walk Tang Yuanxiao out."
The moment Lin Huanzhu and Tang Yuanxiao stepped out the door, both of their expressions collapsed.
Lin Huanzhu covered her mouth, on the verge of throwing up.
"For the next three months... no, for the next *month*, I don’t want to even *think* about tangyuan!"
Lin Huanzhu said in a low voice, "My aunt has never made tangyuan before. I never would have guessed she’d make it this year."
’What a terrible miscalculation!’
Lin Huanzhu took a green tangerine from her bag. "Here, eat this. It’ll help."
She quickly peeled the tangerine and placed the segments in Tang Yuanxiao’s hand. "Hurry and eat. It’s sour. It’ll make you feel better."
Tang Yuanxiao held the tangerine in his hand, momentarily speechless.
Lin Huanzhu apologized in a low voice, "I’m so sorry. Today, I really..."
She ran a hand through her hair and asked Tang Yuanxiao, "Are you okay?"
Tang Yuanxiao ate a segment of the tangerine.
The cool, sweet-and-sour fruit made him feel much more comfortable.
"I’m fine."
he said quietly, offering the tangerine to Lin Huanzhu. "You have some too."
Lin Huanzhu breathed a sigh of relief and waved her hand. "I have another one."
They ate their tangerines as they walked downstairs, which made them feel much better.
"How did you run into my aunt? And what did you say? She came back and said you hadn’t eaten yet and that she was going to make some for me to bring over. I told her you had probably already eaten, and she gave me a few weird looks."
Tang Yuanxiao’s expression was difficult to describe. "I just hesitated for a second, and that was it."
"Seriously, thank you for today," Lin Huanzhu said as they reached the bottom of the stairs.
She made a fist-and-palm salute like an ancient warrior. "Tang Yuanxiao, you’re a true friend. I’ve decided: we’re friends now. If you ever need anything, just ask."
Tang Yuanxiao gave a helpless smile. "Don’t thank me. Hurry and get back inside, it’s cold out."
"It’s fine." Lin Huanzhu waved her hand dismissively. "I’ll walk you over."
"No need, it’s freezing. Go on back." Tang Yuanxiao stopped Lin Huanzhu from walking with him. "You’re a girl, don’t catch a cold."
Lin Huanzhu stared blankly at Tang Yuanxiao’s back as he strode away, a strange emotion flickering in her eyes.
’A girl... I’m a girl...’