Inviting Him Home for Dinner

When An Zhiwu woke up the next day, she patted her burning-hot face.

In all her life! She had actually had a sex dream!

Could it be that Song Yihe's reaction to receiving her gift yesterday had been so lukewarm that what she thought about by day had entered her dreams at night?

An Zhiwu, you really are a pervert!

She hadn't been home since An Zhiheng was discharged from the hospital.

An Zhiwu decided to go home that weekend.

She called Mother An first.

Then An Zhiwu got up, got herself ready, and took a taxi home.

On the way, it suddenly occurred to her that she should buy a car to get around. Not having one really was inconvenient.

Once her wallet was a little fatter, she would go buy one.

When she got home, Mother An was still out buying groceries.

An Zhiheng was tapping away at the computer in the study.

When he saw An Zhiwu, he scoffed.

An Zhiwu's temper flared at once. She raised a hand and smacked him on the back. "What's with that attitude? You still owe me money, you know. When are you paying me back? Is that any way to treat your sugar daddy?"

An Zhiheng shot her a sidelong glance. "Soon. I'll pay you back, principal and interest, in no time."

"That's more like it."

Seeing her expression, An Zhiheng smiled. "I went back to the hospital for a checkup the day before yesterday."

An Zhiwu was drinking juice she had taken from the fridge. "And?"

"And Dr. Song said I'm recovering pretty well."

Song Yihe hadn't mentioned that to her.

"So?"

An Zhiheng turned around and stared at her. "So, when did Dr. Song return to the country?"

"Cough... cough." An Zhiwu choked on her juice and started coughing. Then she asked An Zhiheng in a low voice, "Mom didn't go with you to the checkup, did she?"

"Scared now, are you?"

An Zhiwu brought her face close to An Zhiheng's. "If I find out you tattled to Mom, you know what'll happen."

An Zhiheng pushed her forehead away with disdain. "You think I'm like you? You've been running to tattle whenever you couldn't beat me in a fight since we were kids. Anyway, what's going on between you and that doctor?"

Judging by his tone, Mother An probably didn't know yet. An Zhiwu immediately relaxed.

Then An Zhiwu looked at An Zhiheng with a perfectly serious expression. "If you promise to keep it a secret for me, I'll tell you."

"Tell me or don't. I don't care."

"I'm living at Song Yihe's house now."

"What?!" When An Zhiheng heard that, he shot up from his chair, nearly hitting An Zhiwu's chin. "How did you end up living at his house?"

"Why are you so worked up?" An Zhiwu did feel a little guilty, after all, and said awkwardly, "A pipe burst in the place I was renting, and the landlord just happened to be Song Yihe. I had nowhere to stay, so I had no choice but to live at his house."

"Nowhere to stay? Couldn't you come home?"

"It's not like you don't know I have to livestream and go take photos for clients. Living at home would be so inconvenient."

An Zhiheng snorted through his nose. "Living at home is inconvenient, but living in a strange man's house is convenient?"

At that moment, An Zhiwu thought An Zhiheng looked just like an old father who had caught his daughter dating too young.

Fine, she admitted that when she had agreed to live at Song Yihe's house, she really had been just a teensy billion bits selfish.

After all, as the saying went, the pavilion closest to the water catches the moonlight first.

"What strange man? He's my boyfriend now!"

An Zhiheng's brows knotted into the shape of the character 川. "An Zhiwu, how can you be so easy to fool? Even if you're boyfriend and girlfriend, you can't move in together right away."

"Oh, I know. I know what I'm doing. I live on the third floor, and he lives on the second. Nothing's going on between us."

Seeing that he couldn't talk her out of it, An Zhiheng said nothing more.

He simply felt that he had to meet this "future brother-in-law" of his in person. Otherwise, someone as brainless as An Zhiwu would surely be gnawed on until not even her bones were left.

While the two of them were talking, they heard the door open, followed by Mother An's voice. "An'an, I bought the little yellow croakers you like today. I'll fry them for you at lunch."

An Zhiwu called back in acknowledgment, then gave An Zhiheng a look that said, If you dare tell Mom, you're dead.

An Zhiwu wasn't against telling her family she had a boyfriend, but when she thought of what Tang Jingwen had said, perhaps Song Yihe's family wouldn't accept her at all.

She wasn't the kind of little wife who would swallow grievances to fit into a wealthy family.

If Song Yihe's family didn't like her or looked down on her family,

She would pat her butt and leave at once. She would never tolerate anyone looking down on her family or her parents.

Not even Song Yihe's family!

An Zhiheng pretended not to see her look.

An Zhiwu went into the kitchen to help Mother An pick over the vegetables, but Mother An pushed her out. "No need, no need. You're not in good health right now. Just go and wait for the food."

Then she called toward the study, "An Zhiheng, come out and help. All you ever do is play games."

An Zhiheng resigned himself to going into the kitchen. Oh well, a good man doesn't fight with women.

Since An Zhiwu had come home, Mother An showed off her cooking skills and made four dishes and a soup.

At the dining table.

Mother An pushed the beef and potato stew in front of An Zhiwu. "An'an, eat more. These are all your favorites."

"Okay. Your cooking is so delicious, Mom."

Mother An beamed at the compliment. "Then when are you going to invite Dr. Song over for a meal? We said last time that we'd treat him to a meal to thank him, but we haven't had the chance to meet him yet."

An Zhiwu paused. "I don't know if he's back yet. I'll send him a message and ask in a little while."

As soon as she said that, she saw An Zhiheng looking at her with contempt.

Mother An was an impatient person. As soon as she heard that, she said, "Then ask him now."

"Huh? Now?"

"Yes. Didn't you say you'd message him and ask? Send him a message now."

An Zhiwu swallowed. "I'll send it after I finish eating."

Only then was Mother An satisfied. "All right. Ask him to come over for lunch tomorrow."

"Mom, doctors don't really get weekends. He might have surgery and not have time to come for a meal."

Mother An heard that and said, "I see. Ask him first in a little while. Don't think you can just gloss over it. Tell me after you've sent the message."

"..."

After the meal, An Zhiwu hid in her room, took out her phone, and sent Song Yihe a message.

An Zhiwu: [I came home today, so I won't be going back to Yihe Garden tonight. My mom asked me to ask if you're free tomorrow. She wants you to come over for a meal.]

After sending the message, An Zhiwu silently prayed: I hope Song Yihe isn't free tomorrow.

After all, she was worried that Song Yihe might let something slip. If Mother An found out they were living under the same roof, she might start urging them to get married.

Song Yihe: [Sure.]

When An Zhiwu received that message, she wanted to cry but had no tears.

An Zhiwu: [My mom still doesn't know we're dating, much less that I'm living at your house. A while ago, I even lied to her and said you'd gone abroad, so whatever you do, don't let anything slip tomorrow.]

Song Yihe: [...]