92: Chapter 92 Hot Pot

Coming out of the supermarket, the car trunk was packed to the brim.

Driving back to Lin Wei's house, after parking the car, a few people carried large and small bags upstairs.

When they entered, Zhou Zhou and Xiao Chen were still busy. Zhou Zhou was squatting on the floor packing, and Xiao Chen was sitting in front of the computer, typing. Seeing them carrying large and small bags, Xiao Chen's eyes lit up: "Wow, you bought so much!"

Lin Wei put the bags on the floor and clapped her hands: "Hot pot tonight, you two join us too. You can rest after you finish this bit of work."

Zhou Zhou stood up, tape still sticking to her hands, a little embarrassed: "Oh, that's too much trouble..."

"What's there to be troubled about?" Lin Wei waved her hand, "You two have worked hard these past few days, it's a good chance to have some fun together."

Xiao Chen had already jumped up and came over to look at the contents of the bags: "Wow, fatty beef! Shrimp paste! And strawberries!"

Zhou Zhou also smiled shyly and no longer declined.

It was still early, just past four o'clock.

Lin Wei changed into her loungewear, rolled up her sleeves, and walked towards Zhou Zhou: "Come on, come on, I'll help you pack, let's get it done quickly so you can rest."

Zhou Zhou quickly waved her hands: "No, no, Sister Weiwei, we can do it ourselves. You must be tired from just coming back."

"Tired of what? I wasn't the one driving."

Lin Wei had already squatted down, skillfully picked up the tape, and started sealing boxes. "Quick, quick, let's do it together."

Seeing that she had already started, Zhou Zhou said no more and squatted down to continue working.

Su Qing and Liu Yanran carried the ingredients into the kitchen. Su Qing turned on the faucet to wash vegetables, while Liu Yanran took a knife and started cutting corn.

Only Qiao Yichen was left in the living room, standing there, looking at the two busy in the kitchen, then at the few people squatting on the floor packing. He suddenly realized he didn't seem to have anything to do.

He walked to the kitchen doorway: "Need any help?"

Su Qing didn't turn her head: "No need, the kitchen is too small."

He walked over to Lin Wei again: "Then what can I do?"

Lin Wei looked up at him, seeing him standing there awkwardly, and couldn't help but laugh: "What are you, a big man, doing standing here? You've been driving all this way, go lie down and rest in my room for a bit, I'll call you when it's time."

Qiao Yichen was stunned for a moment: "Wouldn't that be inappropriate...?"

"What's inappropriate about it?" Lin Wei stood up and pushed him towards the room, "Go on, go on, don't get in the way here."

Qiao Yichen was pushed to the door of the room and looked back. Liu Yanran happened to peek out from the kitchen and smiled at him: "Go get some sleep, we'll call you when it's ready."

He nodded and pushed the door open to enter.

Lin Wei's room was much tidier than the last time he visited. The bed was neatly made, and there were a few magazines and a small table lamp on the bedside table.

Qiao Yichen took off his jacket and draped it over the chair back, then sat down on the edge of the bed. The fatigue finally washed over him—he had driven all the way and then spent over an hour shopping at the supermarket; now his whole body relaxed.

He fell backward, lying in the quilt.

He could vaguely smell a faint floral scent on the pillow.

Qiao Yichen closed his eyes.

His consciousness gradually blurred, and the last thing he heard seemed to be Lin Wei shouting something, then he was swallowed by silence.

By the time Liu Yanran came to wake Qiao Yichen, it was already six in the evening.

"Wake up, it's time to eat," she gently nudged him.

Qiao Yichen groggily opened his eyes. The room was dim, and he felt a momentary daze.

Recognizing Liu Yanran, he finally came to his senses, sat up, and stretched, his bones cracking a few times.

"Still groggy from sleep?" Liu Yanran asked with a smile, seeing his appearance.

"...Sort of." He rubbed his eyes and followed her out.

The living room was steaming, the pot on the induction cooker was bubbling, the tomato soup base was bright red, and the aroma wafted directly into their noses.

The small dining table was pushed to the center of the living room, densely covered with ingredients—piles of fatty beef rolls and lamb rolls, neatly arranged shrimp paste, tripe, and luncheon meat, vegetables washed and placed in baskets, and a few boxes of meatballs and tofu.

A few people were standing around the table. Lin Wei held chopsticks, eagerly staring at the soup in the pot; Zhou Zhou and Xiao Chen squeezed beside her, whispering something; Su Qing leaned against the table, holding several sets of bowls and chopsticks.

Seeing Qiao Yichen approach, Su Qing handed him a set of bowls and chopsticks.

"We were just waiting for you," she said.

Qiao Yichen took them and naturally stood next to Liu Yanran.

As soon as Lin Wei saw everyone was present, she immediately raised her chopsticks: "Come on, come on, let's eat! Get whatever you want, I'm not going to be polite!"

No sooner had she spoken than she had already picked up a box of fatty beef and poured half of it into the pot with a splash. Stirred by the meat, the soup base boiled even more vigorously.

Zhou Zhou and Xiao Chen also added ingredients, tripe, shrimp paste, and luncheon meat all falling into the pot. Su Qing leisurely put a few slices of cabbage and tofu into the pot, her movements as calm as ever.

Liu Yanran picked up two slices of fatty beef, swished them in the pot, and after they changed color, she took them out and placed them in Qiao Yichen's bowl.

Qiao Yichen looked down at it, then looked up at her.

She didn't speak, just smiled, and then picked up another slice for herself.

The hot pot steamed upwards, filling the entire house with its aroma. A few people gathered around the table, chopsticks rising and falling, things in the pot were fished out as soon as they were cooked, and then someone quickly put in new ones.

Lin Wei, her mouth full of meat, mumbled indistinctly: "Delicious, delicious!"

Zhou Zhou nodded in agreement, while Xiao Chen was already scooping up the second batch of shrimp paste.

Su Qing slowly bit into a piece of cabbage, watching the others scramble for food, a rare smile appearing on her face.

Outside the window, the sky had completely darkened, leaving only the table full of dishes and the lively chatter of a few people.

It was almost seven o'clock after they finished the hot pot.

Lin Wei glanced at the time and waved to Zhou Zhou and Xiao Chen: "Alright, alright, you two head back now, it'll be too late for the subway soon."

Zhou Zhou stood up: "Sister Weiwei, let me wash the dishes for you before I go..."

"Wash what? Just go quickly." Lin Wei pushed her towards the door, "You have work tomorrow, go back early and rest. You've worked hard these past few days, I'll give you compensatory leave after the holiday."

After seeing them off, Lin Wei turned back. In the living room, Su Qing had already started collecting dishes, Liu Yanran was carrying several dirty plates towards the kitchen, and Qiao Yichen was bending over to wipe the table.

"Oh, you've all started working?" Lin Wei rolled up her sleeves and walked over, "Come on, come on, give it to me."

The four of them had a clear division of labor. Lin Wei and Liu Yanran washed dishes in the kitchen, the sound of running water and clinking dishes mixing together. Su Qing mopped the floor outside, and Qiao Yichen tied up the garbage bag and carried it to the door.

Lin Wei, while rinsing a bowl, sighed with emotion, "It hasn't been this lively in a long time."

"Let's do it again next time," Liu Yanran said, taking the washed bowls to dry them.

"Absolutely," Lin Wei shook the water from her hands.

By the time the kitchen and living room were clean, it was almost half past seven.

The few of them lounged on the sofa for a while. Qiao Yichen glanced at his phone, then stood up: "It's about time, isn't it? We have work tomorrow, let's go."

In the underground garage, the three got into the car.

Qiao Yichen first dropped Su Qing off at home. The car stopped at her community entrance, and Su Qing glanced at the two of them before getting out: "Let me know when you arrive."

Liu Yanran nodded: "Get some sleep."

The car door closed, and after watching Su Qing enter the community, the car restarted.

Only the two of them were left in the car.

Qiao Yichen glanced at the navigation, then at Liu Yanran: "Are you tired?"

Liu Yanran leaned back in the passenger seat and shook her head: "I'm fine."

He didn't speak again, reaching out to hold her hand. She didn't pull away, just gently squeezed back.

The car drove into Liu Yanran's residential complex and parked in the underground garage. The two carried their luggage upstairs together, opened the door, and entered the house.

Qiao Yichen followed her in, casually closing the door. Then—he started taking off his jacket.

Liu Yanran turned to look at him, her gaze falling on his hands unbuttoning, and asked knowingly: "Not going back?"

Qiao Yichen tossed his jacket onto the sofa and said seriously: "This is my home."

Liu Yanran's lips curved slightly, but she didn't speak.

Qiao Yichen walked towards the master bedroom, unbuttoning his shirt, and suddenly turned back at the bathroom door: "Do you want me to run a bath for you?"

Liu Yanran looked at him, the corners of her eyes gently lifting: "Alright."

He pushed the door open, and soon the sound of rushing water could be heard.

Liu Yanran tidied up outside for a while. She opened her suitcase, took out the clothes she had changed out of these past few days, put them in the laundry basket, and then took out clean pajamas from the wardrobe, holding them in her arms.

The bathroom door opened. Qiao Yichen walked out, wiping his hair, his bathrobe loosely tied, still carrying the warm mist of water.

The two passed each other at the door—she went in, he came out.

Another half an hour passed, and the bathroom door opened.

Liu Yanran walked out wrapped in a bathrobe, her hair tied up, revealing a section of her fair nape. She walked to the dressing table and slowly applied her skincare products.

Qiao Yichen leaned against the headboard, staring at her unblinkingly.

Liu Yanran glanced at him in the mirror: "What are you looking at?"

"Looking at you."

She didn't speak, but the movements of her hands quickened a bit.

When she finally finished, she lifted the quilt and lay down, and Qiao Yichen immediately reached out and pulled her into his arms.

"Third time's the charm," he whispered into her ear, his voice low, "I can't let you off this time."

Liu Yanran looked up at him, the smile in her eyes still lingering, before he flipped over and pressed her down.

This time, it was more intense than that night at the B&B. No worries, no barriers, only each other. Her voice went from suppressed to unrestrained, finally melting completely into the night.

Long after, everything returned to peace.