PSMD – Chapter 164

Considering that Le Yu’s relationship with her college girlfriend, Dong Yu, wasn’t very stable yet, they didn’t invite her, but everyone else who should be there was.

Dinner was set for 7 PM. Before heading home, they stopped by a nearby market to buy lots of groceries.

Shen Ningruo still wasn’t very good at cooking, but besides Qiu Yang, Yue Chu and Le Yu were also skilled cooks. So, the two of them arrived early to join Qiu Yang in the kitchen.

But Yao Yao and Shen Ningruo weren’t idle either; they were busy preparing fruits and drinks in the living room.

Pingzi the cat stayed on his climbing frame. It was his first time seeing so many people in the house, but it didn’t stop him from sleeping or eating.

Wen Yuan drove over at 6:30 PM. He walked around outside for a bit before coming in with large bags and ringing the doorbell.

He knew he was about to meet his sister’s good friends, and to make a good impression, the bags he carried were full of gifts.

Shen Ningruo opened the door for him.

As soon as Wen Yuan saw her, he nervously called out, “Hello, Sister-in-law.”

Although she was the one who told Wen Yuan to call her that, Shen Ningruo regretted it a little now.

Because Yao Yao was right there.

Yao Yao heard Wen Yuan’s greeting and immediately started teasing, “Wow! Shen Ningruo! It’s confirmed!”

Shen Ningruo couldn’t be bothered to argue with her about it. She smiled at Wen Yuan, “Why did you buy so many things? Come in, but you need to change your shoes this time.”

“Okay, okay,” Wen Yuan nodded obediently.

Yao Yao asked, “So you’re Yangyang’s younger brother? Nice to meet you, I’m Yao Yao.”

“Hello, Sister Yao Yao,” Wen Yuan nodded again, looking like a younger sibling.

“Your sister is in the kitchen now. Are you a picky eater?” Shen Ningruo asked again.

Wen Yuan walked towards the living room with them, answering, “Not picky at all, I eat everything. That’s why I grew so tall.”

He placed the bags on the sofa. “Sister-in-law, this is my first time meeting my sisters, and I didn’t know what everyone likes, so I bought these small gifts. I hope you like them.”

Shen Ningruo and Yao Yao were regulars in Yuncheng’s luxury shopping scene and immediately spotted the embossed logos on the bags.

If these were considered “small” gifts, what would a big gift be?

There was movement from the kitchen at that moment. Qiu Yang opened the kitchen door and saw Wen Yuan standing in the living room. She smiled and walked over, “Xiao Yuan, you’re here.”

“Sis,” Wen Yuan showed his obedient smile again.

Qiu Yang saw the bags on the sofa. “…”

She didn’t even need to think; these must be from Wen Yuan. This reminded her of how Wen Yuan had previously said he wanted to buy her a commercial property for a photography exhibition.

Shen Ningruo and Yao Yao continued preparing the fruit platter. Qiu Yang felt a bit awkward. She knew why Wen Yuan bought these expensive items, but she couldn’t quite accept them.

If these things were cheap, it would be fine, but they were all internationally renowned brands.

Wen Yuan saw her hesitation and spoke first, “Sis, I won’t do this again.”

He looked a little pitiful. “Really, really, really.”

Shen Ningruo, who was nearby, tugged at Qiu Yang’s apron with her free hand. “Xiao Yang, don’t scold Xiao Yuan. He meant well. If you really feel bad about it, just let him come over for dinner often over the next many years. I don’t believe he can eat it all back in fifty years.”

This was the solution Auntie Mingfen and Auntie Qiong came up with when they felt the gifts she and Qiu Yang gave were too expensive.

Yao Yao added, “Yeah, Yangyang, on such a happy day, look at your brother, he looks like a rabbit with his ears drooping. From now on, every time he comes, I’ll also contribute and buy him some good things. Let’s see if he can grow even taller.”

With Shen Ningruo and Yao Yao both persuading her, what else could Qiu Yang say?

She had never had much money growing up. The first time she felt truly financially free was after graduation. She had always been quite frugal and thrifty. Going to Xicheng and booking a tour group but not following the tour was already the most wasteful thing Qiu Yang had done in years.

Wen Yuan’s money was his own, and the cost of these gifts was nothing to him, but Qiu Yang’s mindset remained the same; she didn’t want Wen Yuan to spend effort on such things.

“Don’t let there be a next time,” Qiu Yang looked at Wen Yuan’s sincere expression. “If there is, you’ll see how I deal with you.”

Wen Yuan immediately raised his hand to swear, “Okay, there definitely won’t be a next time. Even if there is, I’ll definitely ask for your permission first, Sis.”

“Xiao Yuan, go wash your hands. Don’t just stand there, come help peel the pomelo,” Yao Yao helped Wen Yuan out.

Wen Yuan immediately grinned, “Okay, I’ll go now.”

After Wen Yuan went into the bathroom, Qiu Yang sighed.

Shen Ningruo knew what she was thinking, so she pulled her hand. “Xiao Yang, it’s okay.”

“Mm,” Qiu Yang replied.

Wen Yuan came out of the bathroom and sat across from Shen Ningruo and Yao Yao.

When Yao Yao said “peel the pomelo,” she didn’t just mean the outer skin, but also the inner membrane, leaving only the flesh on the plate, with no seeds. He was a bit clumsy at first, but he learned from Shen Ningruo and Yao Yao and quickly got the hang of it.

Qiu Yang had returned to the kitchen and was chatting with Yue Chu and Le Yu about their university days.

The two sides of the kitchen door were two different worlds, but both worlds were full of happiness.

Yao Yao was very talkative, and Shen Ningruo picked out some past events with Qiu Yang to share. Wen Yuan’s eyes were bright, listening very attentively.

Seven o’clock arrived, but they didn’t eat right away.

Because they still needed to take photos, Qiu Yang had already set up the tripod and placed the camera on it, finding the spot with the best lighting in the living room.

Pingzi didn’t expect to be scooped up while sleeping on his climbing frame. He was held by Shen Ningruo, looking confused and bewildered.

What were these humans doing?!

Qiu Yang set a five-second timer. As soon as she pressed the shutter, she quickly ran back to the group and looked at the camera with everyone else.

They took a total of six photos, striking six different poses, and Pingzi was held by each of the six people in turn.

Soon the photos were taken, and Pingzi was gently placed back on the ground. He let out a “meow” to express his dissatisfaction.

Qiu Yang stroked his head. “What are you angry about? It’s not like I’m not feeding you.”

She sighed. “You eat and drink for free in my house, and you’re not even willing to ‘work’ a little. Do you want to lose weight again?”

Pingzi understood.

No, he didn’t.

So he immediately wagged his tail and rubbed against Qiu Yang’s palm.

Shen Ningruo, watching all this from the side, “…”

“He really understands, doesn’t he?”

“Maybe he only understands the words ‘lose weight’,” Qiu Yang rubbed Pingzi’s head.

Le Yu poured drinks at the dinner table. “Xiao Qiu Yang! Xiao Shen! Come eat!”

Well.

As the hosts, they were being rushed.

Shen Ningruo first went back to the kitchen, brought out Pingzi’s dinner, and set it down before joining Qiu Yang at the table.

Three people worked on this dinner, making eight dishes and one soup. It looked very appetizing.

Wen Yuan was a guy, and Qiu Yang didn’t know how much he ate, so she gave him a large bowl filled with rice. He was surprised when he saw his bowl.

“Don’t force yourself if you can’t finish it,” Qiu Yang told him.

Wen Yuan nodded. “I know, Sis.”

Shen Ningruo was the first to raise her glass. “For tonight’s big meal, first, I want to thank Chef Qiu Yang, Chef Yue Chu, and Chef Le Yu. Thank you to the three chefs.”

“Secondly, I want to thank Chef Qiu Yang again, who is also my girlfriend. Besides Yao Yao Ling, everyone else here has a connection to her. That is to say, without Chef Qiu Yang, we wouldn’t be gathered here today.”

Yao Yao lightly tapped the table. “In this kind of setting, you’re using my embarrassing nickname.”

Le Yu caught the essence of that nickname. “Sister Yao Yao, being a ‘0’ is great, how is that embarrassing?”

She looked at Yue Chu. “Sister Chu, wouldn’t you agree? I bet you’re a fierce ‘1’.”

“Yes,” Yue Chu raised an eyebrow at Yao Yao.

Yao Yao’s arrogant demeanor immediately vanished.

Wen Yuan, as the only male and the only straight person there, was initially confused when he heard Shen Ningruo say “Yao Yao Ling,” but now he understood what it meant and laughed along with everyone.

Shen Ningruo cleared her throat, reclaiming the spotlight. “I’m not being biased here, everyone, don’t you think what I said makes a lot of sense?”

“Yes.”

“It makes a lot of sense.”

“Mm-hmm, right.”

After receiving unanimous agreement, Shen Ningruo concluded, “Then, I wish everyone a Happy New Year in advance!”

Everyone raised their glasses. They were all filled with drinks, no one was drinking alcohol.

After all, they had to work tomorrow.

Qiu Yang kept a smile on her lips. Yue Chu handed the “microphone” to her. “Does Chef Qiu Yang have anything to say?”

“Yes,” Qiu Yang suddenly felt a little tipsy, even though she hadn’t had any alcohol.

Le Yu picked up some food. “Please speak.”

Qiu Yang’s eyes suddenly turned a little red. She first took a breath, then spoke in a steady voice, “I never thought I would see a scene like this today. I used to be busy with studying, working part-time, and making money, and I didn’t socialize much. It’s only gotten better in recent years.”

“But seeing such a warm scene right before my eyes, I feel a bit dazed, and at the same time, very grateful.”

“Grateful that everyone was so good to me back then. Otherwise, with my slow-to-warm-up personality, I might have missed out on the friendships with Senior Yue Chu, Senior Le Yu, and Sister Yao Yao, the love with Ruoruo, and the family bond with Xiao Yuan.”

Everyone except Qiu Yang listened very carefully. Le Yu even stopped eating.

Shen Ningruo’s nose also stung as she listened.

She recalled when she wasn’t very familiar with Qiu Yang, she thought Qiu Yang was a child who had grown up surrounded by love, which was why she was somewhat unable to withstand the blow when Tao Sixian treated her that way.

But the truth was clearly not like that.

Qiu Yang’s life was much, much harder than she had imagined, and it had nothing to do with happiness.

But her Xiao Yang had grown up so well.

Through so many thorns over these twenty-five years, Qiu Yang seemed to carry wound after wound.

But Qiu Yang had relied on herself every step of the way and appeared before her in an upright manner.

When Shen Ningruo first saw that photo of Tao Sixian and Qiu Yang, she felt she saw the warmth and light in Qiu Yang.

And now she had obtained that warmth and received that light.

Qiu Yang would walk hand in hand with her for a lifetime.

She was very content.

Qiu Yang’s eyes got even redder as she spoke. “Since I was little, I’ve always envied classmates who were surrounded by love. Now I’ve become one of them, and I’m very happy.”

“That’s enough talk. I’m starting at my new company tomorrow.”

“Cheers!”

She didn’t want to make the happy atmosphere too emotional, so she quickly ended her speech.

No one present was foolish; they naturally knew her intention and also drank their beverages.

Wen Yuan put down his glass, looked at Qiu Yang, and seemed hesitant to speak.

Qiu Yang asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong?”

“Sis.”

“I, your brother, will definitely be a good brother.”

Wen Yuan raised his hand to swear again.

Qiu Yang pulled his hand down. “I know.”

“You’re the only family I have. Of course, you have to be a good one.”

Shen Ningruo wasn’t having it. “Am I not?”

The others also protested. “Are we not?”

Qiu Yang covered her mouth and laughed. “Sorry, sorry, I was wrong.”

“You are all my family.”

Shen Ningruo raised an eyebrow again. “No, I’m different.”

“I’m your family and your lover.”

“Mm!”

【End of Main Story】