Grandma Su felt lonely. She looked at the helper that was wiping the table and said, “Why are you working as a helper here? You seem almost the age of a grandma now.”
Aunt Ji replied, “I have two sons. My eldest son is married and has children, I am a grandmother now.”
“What about your younger son?” Grandma Su asked.
“He’s not married yet,” Aunt Ji replied.
Grandma Su soon felt bored with Aunt Ji’s curt replies. She sighed and wheeled herself back into her room.
The room also felt empty as she picked up a photo on the table. It was a photo of her younger self and her husband.
She was sitting on a chair while her husband stood behind her. She felt as if she could see her younger self through the photo.
“I’m getting old,” Grandma Su said with a hint of melancholy in her voice. “Su Zhan is angry with me. He must be blaming me for what happened. But I just wanted him to have a child and ensure the Su has an heir. Am I wrong?”
No one responded as the young couple in the photo smiled at her.
She held onto the photo. “Is it time for me to meet you?”
“Sigh…”
Grandma Su sat in her room for a long time. Su Zhan returned home early that day. He came back just as Aunt Ji was done preparing dinner.
Grandma Su was very happy to see him back as she said, “Quickly wash your hands and let’s have dinner. I specially requested Aunt Ji to cook your favorite…”
Thud!
Su Zhan closed the door after him before she could even finish speaking.
Grandma Su froze.
Aunt Ji placed the dishes on the table and walked over. “Food is ready.”
Grandma Su lowered her eyes and wheeled herself to the table. “Get him to come to eat dinner.”
Aunt Ji knocked on Su Zhan’s door. “Mr. Su, dinner is ready.”
“One moment.”
Grandma Su sat in front of the table. She had no appetite as she stared at the mouthwatering dishes.
Aunt Ji walked over. “He’ll be over in a bit.”
Grandma Su waved her hands and said, “Ok.”
Su Zhan came out after a while. He was dressed casually in home wear. The shirt hung loosely on his shoulders as he had lost weight.
He sat himself in front of the table and began to eat.
Grandma Su felt much better when she saw him at the dinner table. She placed a piece of ribs on his plate. “This is your favorite.”
Su Zhan ate all the dishes except for the plate of pork ribs and the piece Grandma Su placed on his plate. He soon had his fill and left the dining room.
“Su Zhan…”
“Aunt Ji, my dirty clothes are in the bathroom. Please wash it for me.” Su Zhan cut Grandma Su off and instructed Aunt Ji.
Aunt Ji replied, “I’ll go get it now.”
Su Zhan instructed, “Don’t go into my room when I’m not around.”
“Understood,” Aunt Ji replied.
Su Zhan then shut himself in his room after Aunt Ji retrieved his dirty clothes. He hardly spoke to Grandma Su.
Grandma Su sat in front of the dining table and stared at the piece of pork ribs she had placed on Su Zhan’s plate. He didn’t eat it, not even the dish itself.
She closed her eyes and wheeled herself back into her room.
Over at another city, Shen Peichuan returned home after he was done with work. He found Sang Yu fast asleep on the sofa with the tv on and the remote in her hand.
Shen Peichuan walked over and took the remote away from her. He called out to her gently, “Sang Yu?”
Her eyelids fluttered as she opened her eyes and stared at him. “You’re back?”
“Yep, I’m back.” Shen Peichuan placed a hand on her forehead. “You didn’t fall sick again today, did you?”
Sang Yu sat herself up. “Help me buy tomorrow’s ticket. It’s about time I head back.”
Shen Peichuan said, “I’ll take you out for dinner and then we’ll go get you a mobile phone…”
“I get it, let’s go now.” Sang Yu wanted to head out for some fresh air after staying at home for the whole day.
Shen Peichuan asked, “Are you hungry?”
Sang Yu shook her head and said, “No, I’m just feeling cooped up at home.”
Shen Peichuan replied, “Sorry, I’ve been too busy…”
Sang Yu covered his mouth. “Stop apologizing. I’ve heard it way too many times. If you feel sorry then buy me some stuff today since I came all the way to visit you.”
Shen Peichuan said, “Ok.”
Sang Yu rolled her eyes. “You’re so boring.”
Shen Peichuan was speechless.
What’s wrong with me?
How am I boring?
“Sang Yu…”
“Ok, fine, you’re an interesting guy. Let’s go, I’m hungry.” Sang Yu dragged him out of the house.
They exited the building and got into the car. Shen Peichuan said, “My colleague recommended a restaurant today. He said the food there is good. I’ll take you there.”
“Whatever you say,” said Sang Yu.
They soon reached the restaurant. Just like how Sang Yu had bought Shen Peichuan dinner the first time, the restaurant wasn’t anything fancy.
Sang Yu thought he would have brought her to some romantic place for dinner since she came all the way to visit him.
Shen Peichuan also felt surprised when he saw the restaurant. The restaurant his colleague recommended was just slightly better than the street vendors.
“Um… Sang Yu…”
Sang Yu smiled. “This is fine. Let’s go.”
She couldn’t allow herself to have any expectations for Shen Peichuan since he was an emotionally insensitive man void of romantic cells.
