"Heh, is that a compliment or an insult? Should she smile?"
"Come in, stop the nonsense."
Xiang Liang sounded a little impatient. After speaking, he turned and walked back into the kitchen.
Zhao Shuyao muttered to herself.
This Xiang Chengcheng looked so cute and well-behaved, exactly like a female companion for Xiang Liang. Normally, a brother should be good to his sister. Why was Xiang Liang, such a gentle person, so harsh to his own sister?
"Zhao Shuyao! Hello! My name is Xiang Chengcheng, the 'Cheng' from orange. If you don't mind, you can call me Chengzi, or Chengcheng, or even Xiangxiang. Whatever you like, any name is fine. Oh, right..."
As soon as Xiang Chengcheng opened her mouth, her words flowed out like a gushing river.
So cheerful!
Zhao Shuyao thought to herself, smiling and letting Xiang Chengcheng in.
After Xiang Chengcheng entered and sat down, she was still chattering away.
Zhao Shuyao took a sip of water, patiently listening to Xiang Chengcheng. She hadn't expected that while Xiang Liang was so taciturn, his sister would be such a chatterbox, able to talk about anything.
She could even chat about the origin of the fruits on the coffee table.
Xiang Liang spent half an hour cooking, and Zhao Shuyao listened for half an hour, almost falling asleep.
When Xiang Liang finished cooking, Zhao Shuyao was the first to stand up and head towards the kitchen. "I'm so hungry! I want to eat!"
Xiang Chengcheng also followed. "Wow, my favorite pork belly, Dongpo pork! Brother, I love you!"
Xiang Chengcheng took the rice that Xiang Liang was handing to Zhao Shuyao, sat down, and didn't stand on ceremony at all. It was as if she were in her own home, picking up dishes and meat, and started eating.
Zhao Shuyao watched Xiang Chengcheng for a moment, then refilled her own bowl of rice.
Xiang Liang's eyes seemed to convey an apology. Zhao Shuyao shook her head and sat down to eat.
Xiang Liang's cooking was delicious. Even Xiang Chengcheng, who talked more than rice, fell silent while eating.
"We don't talk while eating; it's our family's etiquette tradition. She's only quiet during meals," Xiang Liang said in a low voice.
"What about when she's sleeping?" Zhao Shuyao glanced at Xiang Chengcheng, who was indeed silent.
"She talks in her sleep."
Xiang Liang served Zhao Shuyao a dish, causing her to choke and cough a few times.
Talks in her sleep?
What a little chatterbox.
During her meal, Xiang Chengcheng seemed to bring silence to the world. Her eating was refined and elegant, no smacking of lips, not a sound, she was like a lady.
Xiang Chengcheng finished her meal slowly and gracefully. The moment she put down her chopsticks and left the table, the world became boisterous again.
Listening to Xiang Chengcheng's constant chatter, Zhao Shuyao felt her brain was about to explode.
Xiang Liang put down his chopsticks. "I'll take her home. You eat slowly. Leave the dishes for me to wash."
The man walked over, grabbed Xiang Chengcheng's arm, and started to lead her out. Xiang Chengcheng shouted in protest, but it was no use. She was still forcibly taken away by Xiang Liang.
The moment the door closed, the whole world seemed to fall silent.
Zhao Shuyao let out a sigh of relief. Finally, she could eat in peace. Her ears were finally clear!
When Xiang Liang returned, Zhao Shuyao had already washed the dishes.
"I'll do the housework from now on."
Xiang Liang saw the sparkling clean tableware and a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
"It's okay. I'm not a delicate girl. I did farm work when I was little. I'm just pretending to be weak. Washing dishes is something I can do. I'm not that disabled."
Zhao Shuyao brought out a plate of fruit and placed it in front of Xiang Liang. "Dr. Xiang, this is a reward for your cooking tonight. You must finish it!"
"Alright. I'll even drink the water from the fruit you washed."
"Don't be so dramatic!"
Zhao Shuyao went into the bathroom to shower. When she came out, she saw Xiang Liang standing on the balcony, smoking.
His phone, placed on the balcony, suddenly vibrated.
Zhao Shuyao picked it up, intending to give it to Xiang Liang, and then she saw the caller ID.
Although there was no contact name saved, Zhao Shuyao recognized the number immediately.
It was her sister Le Yanran's phone number.
Zhao Shuyao froze. It was already nine or ten o'clock at night. Why was her sister contacting Xiang Liang?
She was about to answer, but since it was Xiang Liang's phone, Zhao Shuyao still handed the phone to him.
Xiang Liang put out his cigarette butt before taking the phone. Seeing Le Yanran's number, his brow furrowed. However, seeing Zhao Shuyao in front of him, he reluctantly answered the call.
"Dr. Xiang! Your phone finally connected. I've been calling for a long time, but your phone was always unanswered. Were you busy? I just wanted to thank you, and why haven't you accepted my friend request on WeChat? Adding you on WeChat would make it easier to stay in touch..."
Le Yanran blurted out everything she wanted to say in one go.
She had been calling all day, but Xiang Liang's phone was always unattended.
Perhaps he was busy with surgery!
As expected, when she called at night, it was finally answered.
Le Yanran suppressed the excitement in her heart and chattered on.
Xiang Liang didn't listen carefully to what Le Yanran said after she finished. Out of consideration for Le Yanran being Zhao Shuyao's sister, he patiently listened.
"I have some matters to attend to. I'll hang up now."
*Click.*
Before Le Yanran could say anything else, she only heard the busy tone from the other end of the line.
Looking at her phone, Le Yanran felt a pang of disappointment.
Why was Dr. Xiang so cold?
It must be because he was too busy!
Never mind, she would take it slow. Haste makes waste.
She comforted herself this way.
"Why was my sister looking for you so late? Was it urgent? Did something happen at home?"
Zhao Shuyao's heart clenched.
Li Huiyun had always reported only good news and hidden bad news from home, never letting her worry about family matters. But the more Li Huiyun did this, the more worried she became about whether her family was doing well.
Normally, when they talked on the phone or WeChat, Li Huiyun would say she was doing well.
But how could they be doing well?
Her father had lost his job and his source of income. If it weren't for Xiang Liang, even their accommodation might have been a problem. Although they weren't so miserable as to be homeless, they might have had to rent a place to live. For her family, who was used to living in a villa, how could they endure that?
"Don't feel guilty. It wasn't your fault. Qin Yusheng fired your father. You shouldn't feel guilty, nor should you hold a grudge. Your future will be a brand new life."
The man's deep voice comforted her.
With his gentle, magnetic voice, Zhao Shuyao's heart skipped a beat.
When Xiang Liang reached out and pulled her into his embrace, it was also the first time she hadn't struggled.
He inhaled deeply, catching the rich fragrance from her hair, but it was just a brief moment.
He quickly let go, releasing Zhao Shuyao.
Before Zhao Shuyao could feel the warmth of the man's body, she was let go.
As the cold wind blew, it felt as if nothing had happened.
Zhao Shuyao's mind was in a daze.
"Get some good rest. Goodnight."
In the following days at work, the few female technicians in the office had a rare gentle attitude towards her. Not only did they not ignore her, but they even initiated conversations and greeted her. One of them even tried to probe her opinion.