The warmth of everyday life

Granny's Soup House was packed. The proprietress greeted Yao Tao with particular warmth when she saw her.

Yao Tao chatted with the proprietress like an old friend. The woman wiped her hands and led her and He Zhen up to the little loft.

The tiny soup house was crowded shoulder to shoulder. A little corner upstairs sat right at the edge; a turn of the head offered a view of the bustling crowd eating noodles below.

There were plenty of students and plainly dressed workers among the customers. A group around the proprietress's age had gathered at one table, with a few bottles of alcohol on it-a rare sight here.

Apparently, this table was an exception.

"Old A-Tang, that's not fair! It's this packed and you're still saving seats for other people!"

"Would you save him a seat when your own daughter brought her boyfriend over?"

"Heh, I'm only teasing!"

"Hang on, wasn't your daughter studying abroad somewhere? She's back already?"

"Oh, get lost." Old A-Tang waved them off. "Quit running your mouths. This is little Tao!"

"Which little Tao?" the man asked with a chuckle.

"Old Li, three years away and you've forgotten little Tao!" Someone beside him laughed. "The girl who ate five bowls of noodles here at Old A-Tang's!"

The name little Tao rang no bells, but the mention of five bowls of noodles jogged his memory instantly.

"Well, damn, little Tao! You've really grown into a young woman. I haven't been back in three years-I deserve a penalty for that!" The man felt around in his shirt pocket. "Here, your uncle's made a bit of money. No skimping on your food allowance now. Go buy something you like!"

This is so embarrassing!

I'd only just lost my parents back then.

I thought I'd landed myself in some outrageous storyline, and the grief hit me all at once.

All I did was run away from home and, on my way out, beat up those asshole relatives trying to take over my house.

After all these years, they still treat me like a little beggar.

Boohoo, don't let this scare you, but I've got loads of money in my pockets. The money I squeezed out of Qin Zhen alone could fund an orphanage if I stacked it all up!

Unless Qin Zhen's gone, of course. That's another story!

Oh God, I'm getting sidetracked!

It's over! He Zhen's looking at me differently now!!!

He doesn't think I'm a bottomless pit, does he?

"Not at all," Yao Tao immediately tried to salvage things. "I have a really small appetite."

"All right, Old Li, what nonsense are you spouting?" Old A-Tang was sharp. One look at the person Yao Tao had brought and she understood. She pushed through the crowd so Yao Tao could take He Zhen upstairs. "Don't listen to his nonsense. He's drunk. Our little Tao eats like a bird!"

He Zhen thought it was rather nice. The place was full of everyday warmth, with the feel of a big family.

"Exactly, nonsense! Three years on the road have scrambled your brains!" The person beside Old Li tugged his ear.

"I deserve that, I do!" Old Li looked from He Zhen to Yao Tao and waved his hands repeatedly. "Honestly, this memory of mine!"

As they went upstairs, the others kept calling out to Yao Tao for a while.

Yao Tao answered them, inwardly tying herself in knots.

Come on, why didn't Auntie Tang tell me just now? Boohoo, if I'd known they were here, I wouldn't have come!

They're digging up every last embarrassing detail!

God, please don't let them strip me completely bare!!!

Leave me a little dignity.

He Zhen listened to her easy exchanges with them. It was rare to see Yao Tao so red in the face.

This Yao Tao was a little different from her usual self. She still maintained her reserve, but around familiar people, her true nature seemed to gain the upper hand.

She felt a little more real.

He Zhen didn't interrupt, just listened to the conversation between upstairs and downstairs.

"All right, enough! You've embarrassed little Tao so much even her neck's gone red!"

"Haha, normally, if you got the girl worked up, she'd punch you to teach you a lesson!"

The man with alcohol-flushed cheeks was clearly drunk.

*!*

I told you drinking only causes trouble!

"Don't listen to them. Our little Tao is such a good girl." Old A-Tang planted her hands on her hips. "Behave yourselves or get out. So many people are waiting, and all you do is make me bend the rules for you."

"Oh dear, oh dear!" The tipsy man slapped himself twice. "Bah, bah, bah! Your uncle just runs his mouth too much. Our little Tao doesn't hit people!"

"That's right. I don't fight." Yao Tao nodded vigorously, then explained to He Zhen with a perfectly straight face, "That's Uncle Zhu. He loves talking nonsense when he's drunk. Don't believe him."

I've got to keep this persona intact. Revealing my true nature won't do me any good.

Who knows, I might need to throw a tantrum someday!

Yao Tao was already thinking about the future.

He Zhen had known Yao Tao's true nature for a while. He'd known ever since the day she beat up Zhong Shengtai.

He realized he didn't seem to have any particular preference for sweet, quiet girls. Where had Yao Tao gotten that idea?

Was it... the version of him in the book?

Thinking about it, that version of him seemed... pretty messed up in the head, too.

He Zhen grew a little uncomfortable. To think he could get tangled up in a four-way romance with Qin Zhen, Guan Xingchen, and Fu Xin, and stubbornly refuse to back down. He was starting not to understand himself.

Old A-Tang thought He Zhen wasn't used to the cramped seating. "Whatever you want to eat, it's on me! Eat as much as you like. There's plenty!"

"I want spicy tossed noodles and a steamed bun!" Yao Tao placed her order. "What about you, He Zhen?"

He Zhen examined the old-fashioned menu. The greasy sheet still had oil stains on it. Without a change in expression, he pointed to a bowl of noodles. "Tonkotsu ramen."

"Add a couple more greens!" Yao Tao added for him.

"Sure!" Old A-Tang shouted downstairs, "One spicy tossed noodles, one tonkotsu ramen, and one custard bun!"

"Got it!" came the reply from below.

Old A-Tang headed downstairs with a smile. "Enjoy your meal with your classmate! I've got work to do!"

"Okay!" Yao Tao said.

"Do you know the people here well?" He Zhen genuinely wanted to know.

He wanted to understand Yao Tao.

"Pretty well." Yao Tao didn't evade the question.

It's just that things were really complicated back then.

On my first day meeting them, I not only ate five extra-large bowls of their noodles, I also guzzled half a case of their cola.

Then I hugged one of their chairs and started bawling.

At my age, too.

Thinking back, it's pretty embarrassing how I was as desperate as an actual little kid.

I even refused to leave and stayed at Auntie Tang's house for three days.

I can't bring myself to talk about it!

There really are more good people than bad in this world.

If Big Qiao and Little Qiao hadn't called me, I could've kept wallowing forever.

He Zhen quietly made a note of Big Qiao and Little Qiao, wondering what their relationship with Yao Tao was.

"It's a little noisy, but the noodles are really good." When He Zhen fell silent, Yao Tao felt she'd killed the conversation, so she hurried to start another topic.

He Zhen had wanted to keep listening. He felt rather shameless, secretly listening to a girl's innermost thoughts.

"It's not that noisy. It's lively." He Zhen didn't dislike this kind of noise. On the contrary, he rather enjoyed the bustling atmosphere.

Boohoo, he really isn't fussy!

Oh, how can someone look so good even while waiting for food?

How can someone look like a painting just sitting there?

My fingers are itching. Boohoo, I want to take a picture.

"Go ahead if you want to take a picture." Watching Yao Tao swipe her fingers across her phone screen and hearing her return to the idea over and over, He Zhen couldn't resist bringing it up himself.

"Huh?" Yao Tao looked up with feigned surprise. "A picture of what?"

Hold it in. Don't pick up your phone!

I'm already enough of a creep. I can't get any creepier!

Sneaky pictures are fine!

Taking them openly is not!

He Zhen: ...???

What kind of guiding principle was that?

Who on earth had taught her morals?