Su Man drove back to the hospital. The SUV pulled into the parking lot; the afternoon sun blazed overhead, its light glaring off the hood of the car in a white, blinding haze.

She scrunched her brow, irritably slapped the sun visor down — a sharp crack — then pulled out the key and prepared to get out.

She stopped.

If she went straight up like this, her parents would definitely ask:

“Why are you back so early?”

“How was the ceremony?”

“Did you see Li Li?”

“Did you take any photos for him? Send them over so we can see.”

Things like that…

And if she answered, “I don’t know — by the time I got there, it had been over for ages.”

Her parents would certainly follow up with: “It ended that quickly? Didn’t Li Li tell you the time? Have you two had another falling-out?”

If she kept trying to explain—

Kept trying to explain—

It would only get more and more humiliating.

Either way, she had made a fool of herself today. She had taken the day off especially, and in the end she had neither attended the ceremony as promised nor stayed at her father’s bedside like a dutiful daughter.

She had accomplished nothing — like a complete fool.

What a mess…

Su Man plugged the key back in. Her mood was wretched beyond words. She bit down on her lip and, on an impulse, drove home instead.

Not that there was anything to do at home either. When she thought about it, what had she even taken today off for? How had she managed to feel like such a failure?

And actually, if she thought back honestly, she had always been something of a failure.

In school, her grades were never as good as Li Li’s. She had no talent for singing or dancing whatsoever. She had never managed to make many friends in the social circles her family moved in — her parents were always worried she’d be used by people with ulterior motives. Her grandfather had consoled her, saying everyone had their own gifts and her time would come. She had wanted to pursue a career she was truly suited for, so she had braced herself for all the hardship that came with becoming a detective — only to be diverted by her parents before even reaching the first hurdle, rerouted into traffic work instead…

There was a joke online about someone being dealt a good hand and then playing it terribly. Su Man felt she was exactly the kind of person people described that way — no matter what came into her hands, it always ended up in a mess.

Li Li had always called her hopeless. He also said that aside from him, no one would dare marry someone as foolish as her.

She had once found those words endearing. Now they were beginning to leave a bitter taste…

*Looking for someone in Pekalongan today*

Lost in her thoughts, a warmth began to prick at her eyes.

But she was not the sort given to easy tears. At a red light, she quietly rubbed her eyes, then drove on.

……

When she got home, Auntie Zhang had already left, and her mother wasn’t there either. Lu Yuwen came out of the kitchen, mildly surprised to see her back.

“All done?” He was holding a plate and setting it on the dining table. “Have you eaten? I made pasta — would you like to try some?”

Su Man only then realized she hadn’t had lunch. She touched her stomach — she was actually a little hungry.

And Lu Yuwen’s pasta smelled like it might be rather good…

She felt tempted, but also hesitant. Lu Yuwen was the guest — she was the one who ought to be hosting him. How could she turn around and eat his food…

If Su Ma found out, she’d definitely get a scolding.

Lu Yuwen seemed to read her thoughts. He stood by the dining table, smiled gently, and said, “I made more than I need. Eating alone isn’t much fun — eat with me.”

*Eat with me.*

He said it openly and naturally. Su Man’s mood quickly settled, and she let go of the tangled emotions she’d been wrestling with. She nodded and said, “Alright then. Thank you for the trouble.”

Lu Yuwen smiled, went back to the kitchen, and brought out another set of utensils.

……

The tablecloth was an elegant pale green, setting off the white porcelain plates, the tomato-red pasta, the clear glass cups and silver cutlery — the entire arrangement looked like something from an advertisement, impeccably refined.

Lu Yuwen also sprinkled some sort of herb on top of the food, making everything — visually and aromatically — instantly captivating.

Su Man marveled: “This is incredible…”

She thought for a moment, then looked up at Lu Yuwen with a sheepish expression. “It should really be us taking you out for a meal, yet here we’ve had you cooking for us… Next time, let me treat you. Whatever you want to eat.”

—