78: Chapter 78 Everyday Life and Distant Mountains

The aroma of braised pork wafted from the kitchen.

Liu Yanran stood in front of the stove, an apron tied around her waist, flipping ingredients with a spatula. Spareribs bubbled and simmered in the dark, savory sauce.

Her mother stood beside her, slicing ginger shreds; the knife hitting the cutting board made a rhythmic 'du du' sound.

"Your father has mentioned it several times, saying he misses your sweet and sour spareribs," her mother turned to look at her. "Yours are still the best."

Liu Yanran smiled faintly, her eyes never leaving the pot. "He just misses me, I suppose."

Her mother didn't reply, placing the sliced ginger shreds into a bowl. After a few seconds of silence, she suddenly spoke up:

"Yanran, how are things going with that Xiao Zhou? He transferred to the Magic City over half a year ago; has he settled down? You dated for two years, when are you bringing him back to let your parents see him?"

The spatula in Liu Yanran's hand paused.

The sauce continued to churn, steam rising, yet she seemed frozen for a couple of seconds.

"Mom," her voice was very calm, perhaps too deliberately so. "We already broke up."

The ginger shreds in her mother's hand dropped onto the edge of the bowl.

"Broke up? When did that happen?"

"Over two months ago."

The kitchen fell silent for an instant, leaving only the sound of the spareribs bubbling in the pot.

Her mother put down the knife, turned around, and her gaze settled on her daughter's profile. Liu Yanran didn't look back, just continued stirring the spareribs.

Her mother didn't press the issue. She gently reached out, patted her daughter's hand, and then turned to get a plate.

Liu Yanran lowered her eyes. The spatula scraped the bottom of the pot. The light reflecting on her face revealed no expression.

Half an hour later, dinner was served.

Four dishes and one soup: Sweet and Sour Spareribs, Braised Pork, Stir-fried Seasonal Vegetables, Steamed Fish, and Tomato and Egg Drop Soup.

Steam rose from the table laden with food.

Her father came in from the living room, sat down, immediately picked up a sparerib, chewed it thoughtfully, and his eyes narrowed. "Mmm, Yanran's cooking is still the best."

Liu Yanran sat down opposite him and curved the corner of her mouth. "Then eat more, Dad."

Her mother served her food, placing a piece of braised pork, a mouthful of greens, and a ladle of egg drop soup into her bowl.

Liu Yanran looked down and ate quietly.

Halfway through the meal, her father suddenly remembered something and looked up. "By the way, Yanran, how is work lately?"

Liu Yanran put down her chopsticks. "It's alright. I'm preparing for a big project recently, so I might be busy for a while."

Her father nodded, picked up a piece of fish. "Do a good job. But don't work too hard; make sure to rest."

"Mhm."

Outside the window, the setting sun was slowly sinking.

...

At Lin Wei's place.

Lin Wei was still hunched over her laptop, her brow slightly furrowed. On the screen were several newly taken clothing photos, whose brightness she was meticulously adjusting.

Su Qing lay on the other side of the bed, holding her phone up to her face, occasionally letting out the BGM from a short video.

Qiao Yichen glanced out the window; it was already dark. He looked down at his phone again—it was almost six o'clock.

"What do you two want for dinner tonight?" He looked up at the two women.

Lin Wei didn't lift her head, her eyes still glued to the screen. "Whatever."

Qiao Yichen then looked at Su Qing.

Su Qing thought for a moment, opened her mouth, then closed it, finally managing to squeeze out, "... I'm easy too."

Qiao Yichen looked at the two of them—one clinging to her laptop, the other lying motionless—and sighed.

He couldn't rely on them. He looked down, swiped open his phone, scrolled a few times, and ordered a Clay Pot Crab.

He placed the order, paid, and tossed his phone onto the coffee table.

Forty minutes later, the doorbell rang.

Qiao Yichen got up to open the door, took the two large bags from the delivery driver, and placed them on the dining table.

He then turned to the kitchen, took out a few bottles of drinks from the refrigerator, and set them on the table.

After finishing these tasks, he walked to the master bedroom door, resting his hand on the frame.

"The takeout is here. Come out and eat."

Lin Wei finally looked up, stretched, and put her laptop aside.

Su Qing also slowly sat up from the bed, rubbing her eyes.

The two of them shuffled over to the dining table.

Lin Wei looked down—a bright red Clay Pot Crab, the crabs piled high, with chicken feet and rice cakes submerged in the sauce, steam rising vigorously.

Her eyes immediately lit up, and she turned to Qiao Yichen. "It was definitely a wise choice to ask you to come over today."

Su Qing sat down next to her, glanced at Lin Wei. "Hurry up and eat. Even this can't keep your mouth shut?"

Lin Wei had already picked up her chopsticks and stuffed a piece of rice cake into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out.

Qiao Yichen sat down, poured himself a drink, and asked her, "How are the photos coming along?"

Lin Wei chewed, replying vaguely, "The photos are selected, still editing... Should be done later, then we can list them."

Qiao Yichen nodded and picked up his chopsticks too.

After eating for a while, he remembered something and looked at the two women. "We agreed to get together on the 2nd. Yanran is coming back tomorrow too. What do you two feel like eating?"

Lin Wei immediately put down her chopsticks and raised her hand high. "I heard there's a fantastic private kitchen by the lake. Let's go there!"

Su Qing glanced at her. "This meal is for me, why are you crashing the party?"

Lin Wei chuckled, lowered her hand, turned, and started shaking Su Qing's arm. "What's the difference between us? Please?"

Su Qing was shaken so much her body tilted, wearing a look of helplessness, but she finally nodded. "Fine."

Qiao Yichen watched them, smiled, and looked down to continue eating. "Okay, then it's settled—that place."

After dinner, Qiao Yichen got up to collect the takeout containers, tie them into a garbage bag, and place them by the door.

When he finished tidying up and returned to the living room, Lin Wei had already moved from the bedroom to the sofa, hugging her laptop, continuing to edit the photos she took that afternoon.

Su Qing also walked over with a water cup, sat down on the other end of the sofa, and leaned back against the cushions while looking at her phone.

The night outside was completely dark. The three occupied different corners, chatting intermittently.

After a while, Qiao Yichen suddenly spoke up. "By the way, you have a few days off. What are your plans?"

Lin Wei didn't lift her head, shrugging. "Just lying flat, I guess. What plans could I have?"

Su Qing thought for a moment. "There's still some business at the law firm; I might need to make a trip."

Qiao Yichen nodded, paused, and then said as if casually, "Yanran is coming back tomorrow too. I was thinking—if you two are free, why don't we all go to Mogan Mountain for a couple of days? Find a guesthouse, walk around the mountain, get a change of scenery."

Lin Wei's eyes lit up, finally pulling her gaze away from the screen. "Mogan Mountain?"

Su Qing also looked up. "Stay for two days?"

Lin Wei sat up straight, placed her laptop aside, her gaze circling Qiao Yichen before flicking toward Su Qing. The smile on her face gradually became meaningful.

"Oh—tomorrow Yanran is back, and then we all go to Mogan Mountain, stay for two days."

She deliberately stressed the words "stay for two days."

Qiao Yichen didn't respond, picking up his water cup and taking a sip.

Lin Wei burst out laughing, nudging Su Qing with her elbow. "Su Qing, did you get that? He's inviting Yanran to stay for two days, and we are—just tagging along."

Su Qing glanced at her, the corner of her mouth curving, but she didn't speak.

Qiao Yichen put down his cup, his tone helpless. "If you two are free, just come along. More people means more lively."

Lin Wei was delighted, her shoulders shaking with laughter. "The two of us going? Then where will you two sleep at night?"

Qiao Yichen didn't answer.

Lin Wei laughed even more unrestrainedly, leaning back on the sofa, winking at Su Qing. Su Qing reached out and tapped her, signaling her to calm down.

Lin Wei then restrained her laughter, waving her hand. "Alright, alright, I won't ask anymore."

Qiao Yichen nodded, leaning back against the sofa, seemingly calculating something in his mind.

After a few seconds, he spoke up. "Don't tell Yanran about this yet. Tomorrow at dinner, we'll talk to her in person. It's a rare holiday, and I want to give her a surprise."

Lin Wei's eyes brightened. She sat up straight immediately and made a zipper motion over her mouth with her fingers. "Don't worry, my mouth is the tightest."

Su Qing glanced at her, said nothing, but gave Qiao Yichen an 'OK' gesture.

Qiao Yichen smiled slightly, picked up his phone, swiped a couple of times, and turned the screen to show them. "The guesthouse is booked. We'll go the day after tomorrow and stay for two nights."

Lin Wei leaned over, staring at the photo of the courtyard on the screen for a moment. "Ooh, this environment looks really nice. The room is a loft too."

She paused, her gaze landing on the price column. "2600 a night?"

Qiao Yichen took back his phone. "Yeah, that's the holiday rate."

Lin Wei clicked her tongue, turned to look at Su Qing. "That's a bit expensive."

Su Qing finally spoke, her tone flat. "You're not the one paying."

Lin Wei choked up, let out a sound like "Hey," and was about to retort.

Qiao Yichen ignored their bickering, stood up, and picked up the garbage bag by the door. "Alright, I'm leaving now. You two rest early."

Lin Wei and Su Qing waved goodbye to him.

"Bye-bye—"

"See you tomorrow."