TNSFC – Chapter 50

Gu Shanxue thought, if this was an illusion, it must be a beautiful one.

But the touch in her arms was soft, warmth and fragrance continuously emanating from the other person, telling Gu Shanxue this was no illusion.

She subconsciously wrapped her arms around Que Yining’s waist, pressing her closer.

Que Yining tilted her head up slightly to look at her, waving a hand in front of her face and said, “Were you scared? Were you surprised by me?”

Gu Shanxue composed her astonished expression, nodded, and replied, “Indeed. I thought Ningning had knocked something over, but I didn’t expect to see a person.”

Gu Shanxue hadn’t considered a burglar, because the security in her residential complex was excellent. The glass was bulletproof, and the door could only be opened with a special key; any other method would trigger an alarm. Awakened by the noise, she initially thought Ningning had knocked something over, but when she turned on the light, she saw Que Yining.

She raised her hand, gently ruffled Que Yining’s hair, and asked softly, “Why did you suddenly come? Weren’t you at your family home?”

“To celebrate the New Year with you. I knew you’d definitely be alone, so I rushed over to spend it with you.”

Que Yining didn’t get off her, still pressed close against her body, speaking as if it were a matter of course.

Gu Shanxue had her suspicions, but when Que Yining admitted it, her feelings were different.

Rarely flustered, she didn’t know how to respond. Her lips parted slightly, and she managed a dry word of thanks.

“What are you thanking me for? It makes us sound so distant. I did call and knock when I first came in, you know, but you didn’t answer.”

Que Yining explained her direct entry, smiling as she looked into Gu Shanxue’s eyes.

Gu Shanxue’s eyes showed a hint of apology as she said, “My phone was off before I went to bed, so I didn’t get the call.”

“Anyway, I’m already in. Guess what I brought for you?”

Que Yining stopped clinging to Gu Shanxue and instead stood beside her, holding her hand and asking in a cute, coquettish way.

“You brought something for me?”

Gu Shanxue’s expression control faltered for a moment. She didn’t know what kind of face to make, a somewhat bewildered joy, the curve of her lips a little stiff.

“Of course! Guess what it is. There’s a reward if you get it right.”

Que Yining’s smile was as sweet as honey, gladdening the heart of anyone who saw it.

She wasn’t, of course, doing something cliché like presenting herself as a New Year’s gift to Gu Shanxue; they hadn’t reached that stage yet.

Gu Shanxue turned on the living room light, looked at the box in the living room for nearly a minute, then shook her head at Que Yining. “I can’t guess.”

Que Yining let go of her hand, scampered over to the box, and opened it.

“Didn’t expect this, did you! It’s food! Even if you guess wrong, there’s a reward: my Que Yining brand hot pot! Let’s consider it our New Year’s Eve dinner for two!”

Inside the box were things Que Yining had someone prepare: a pot, ingredients, vegetables, meat, all neatly packaged.

Que Yining bent down, taking things out of the box and placing them on Gu Shanxue’s table.

As she took them out, she muttered, “I remember you prefer milder flavors and don’t eat much spicy food, so I got a split pot. The soup bases are specially made and timed, so they’ll definitely be fresh. I had someone marinate this beef; it’s bound to be delicious!”

Que Yining had planned to spend New Year’s with Gu Shanxue beforehand and had also thought about what gift to give her.

Without much hesitation, Que Yining decided to treat Gu Shanxue to a hot pot meal.

There were no calculations involved; Que Yining felt for her. She knew how Gu Shanxue would feel in that environment, what it would be like to eat alone. Nothing is more comforting than a meaningful meal.

The cool-toned light shone on Que Yining, and in Gu Shanxue’s eyes, it blurred into a warm hue.

The tip of her nose tingled, and she unconsciously looked upwards.

The complex emotions revealed in her eyes were indescribable, surpassing thousands of words.

Que Yining muttered to herself for a while, then, noticing no movement behind her, saw Gu Shanxue standing in the shadows.

She was against the light, so Que Yining couldn’t see her expression clearly, but she sensed Gu Shanxue’s mood and walked over to take her hand.

“Why are you just standing there looking dazed? Come help me. You can choose your own dipping sauce. Oh, and please don’t blame me for making you eat hot pot at one or two in the morning and gain weight.”

Que Yining indeed wanted to surprise and move Gu Shanxue, but she didn’t want to make her sad. She wanted to make her happy, so naturally, she wouldn’t deliberately create a dramatic atmosphere, trying instead to foster a relaxed and cheerful one.

A lump formed in Gu Shanxue’s throat. She shook her head and said, “I won’t. It’s a wonderful surprise.”

Her voice was very soft, her dark eyes like a calm sea, concealing the turbulence deep within.

“Okay, here are the chopsticks. I’ll go wash this pot again.”

Que Yining went into the kitchen, washed the split pot, placed it on the table, plugged it in, and pressed the switch.

Half red chili oil, half bone broth. Que Yining hadn’t just ordered it from a hotel; the flavor was slightly different from a hot pot restaurant’s, even more delicious.

The table was laden with dishes—many varieties, but not large portions. This was Que Yining’s instruction, as there were only two of them, and this would be enough for one meal.

Above the dining table, the light shone directly down.

White steam continuously drifted upwards, melting into the night.

The broth in the pot soon boiled, bubbling merrily.

Those bubbles burst and tumbled in the pot, carrying a rich aroma that lingered around their noses.

“It smells so good! I deliberately didn’t eat much tonight, so I’m starving. Shanxue, go ahead and eat.”

Que Yining sniffed the aroma and urged Gu Shanxue to eat.

The night was quiet all around, cold air constantly seeping in. Gu Shanxue looked at Que Yining’s smiling face, somewhat hazy through the steam, and felt a fire ignite in her heart.

The red beef tumbled in the pot several times and changed color. Que Yining picked it up, took a bite—scalding, numbing, tender, savory, and spicy. She exhaled, gesturing excitedly at Gu Shanxue.

“Shanxue, this is delicious! This is delicious! Eat this!”

“Okay.”

Gu Shanxue saw she had burned her mouth, poured Que Yining some orange juice, and told her to sip it to cool down and not to choke.

Ningning also smelled the aroma, circling restlessly by the table leg, letting out longing meows. But cats couldn’t eat these things, so Ningning was unanimously ignored. It meowed a couple more times, flicked its tail, and lay down on the sofa.

Que Yining and Gu Shanxue chatted while they ate, talking about all sorts of things. Que Yining mentioned what she liked to eat and what she disliked.

“I absolutely, positively hate bitter melon. I’ll never like bitter melon in my life.”

Que Yining said this while eating, her face crinkling up as she mimicked her expression when eating bitter melon, making Gu Shanxue unable to hold back a smile.

“You’re still laughing!”

“I’m not laughing. I don’t like bitter melon either.”

Gu Shanxue kept a straight face, her expression sincere.

Que Yining’s face was flushed red from the steam. She smiled and picked up food for Gu Shanxue. The atmosphere was cheerful and harmonious, the hot pot steaming, filled with the warmth of everyday life.

For Chinese people, dining sometimes carries a special emotional significance. They imbue their feelings into the food and utensils, the intended meaning far surpassing the meal itself, whether it’s a grand festival or a simple encounter.

Gu Shanxue gazed at Que Yining, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. Unfortunately, Que Yining was looking down at that moment, and when she looked up, she missed that gentle glance.

This hot pot meal lasted for an hour and a half. Both of them ate until their stomachs were round. They sat on their chairs, looked at each other, and after a moment, both unconsciously started laughing.

“I feel like I smell like hot pot now.”

Que Yining sniffed her hair. To come see Gu Shanxue, she had touched up her makeup and sprayed perfume before leaving. Now, she smelled entirely of hot pot, and her makeup had probably smudged a bit.

Gu Shanxue wanted to speak, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she burped.

When had Gu Shanxue ever been so impolite in front of someone? Flustered and annoyed, she quickly covered her lips, her earlobes flushing a deep red.

“Hahahahaha, Shanxue, you’re so cute!”

Que Yining was almost laughing hard enough to bang the table, her eyes tearing up with laughter. She was still praising Gu Shanxue, not mocking her; she genuinely thought Gu Shanxue’s reaction just now was adorable.

Gu Shanxue didn’t think her reaction was cute at all. A little annoyed with herself, she stood up to clear the table.

Que Yining helped her clean up, throwing away the trash. Gu Shanxue poured out the hot pot broth and soaked the pot in hot water, preparing to wash the dishes.

By the time everything was tidied up, it was already three o’clock in the morning.

Outside the window, the night was still dark and heavy. The dark clouds had dispersed at some point, and bright moonlight fell upon the branches.

Gu Shanxue: “I’ll go tidy up the guest room for you.”

Que Yining shook her head and said, “No need. I came specifically to accompany you, and I have to go back now. If my parents don’t see me tomorrow, they’ll probably ask questions.”

Although she really wanted to stay with Gu Shanxue, Que Yining thought it wouldn’t be possible for them to sleep in the same room. So, she decided to go back to the old family house to observe Que Linyang and Que Chuling.

Que Zixi was not within her scope of observation. Based on her experience, Que Zixi had no connection whatsoever to the original owner’s past or her experiences. Moreover, after graduating, Que Zixi pursued a career she liked, wasn’t involved in business, and wouldn’t have any conflicting interests in the future.

Gu Shanxue frowned. “But it’s so late…”

“It’s okay, it’s not that late. I’m leaving now.”

Que Yining picked up her bag and waved at Gu Shanxue.

Gu Shanxue’s house key was still in her hand. Since Gu Shanxue hadn’t asked for it, she kept it.

Gu Shanxue: “Then remember to send me a message when you arrive.”

Que Yining: “No problem. Bye-bye.”

Que Yining’s farewell was swift. After saying goodbye to Gu Shanxue, she closed Gu Shanxue’s door.

The door made a soft sound, as if waking from a dream.

Gu Shanxue looked at the closed door, her gaze lowered.

Ningning, curled up in a ball on the sofa with its eyes half-closed, jumped down upon hearing the sound and stretched languidly.

It sauntered around Gu Shanxue’s feet. Gu Shanxue bent down and picked it up.

Her sleepiness had vanished when the guest arrived. The warmth from before had also dissipated with the guest’s departure, leaving behind a cold emptiness.

If not for the lingering scent, everything that had just happened would have seemed like her illusion.

She couldn’t quite describe the feeling. Stroking Ningning’s fur, she let out a soft sigh.

The cruelest thing in the world is to give and then take away. If Que Yining hadn’t left so quickly tonight, perhaps the profound emotion stirred in Gu Shanxue’s heart wouldn’t have lingered so long, fermenting within her and eventually turning into a future obsession.

But Que Yining didn’t know.

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