Forty-eight: Roses and Greens

"What are you laughing at?" Chen Wanjun asked.

Chen Tianyu shook his head. "It's nothing. I still have work to do, so I'll be leaving now."

With that, he turned and left the hospital room.

Wanjun wanted to say something more, but seeing Tianyu leave, she could only fall silent. She knew her past actions had chilled her brother’s heart. Perhaps, from now on, she could no longer order him around or act spoiled in front of him.

But Chen Tianyu didn't dwell on it. All he wanted was to return Su Wan's tricycle. At the hospital entrance, he took off his white coat and tossed it onto the tricycle, then rode it, following his subordinate's lead to Su Wan's current residence.

As evening approached, the streets were crowded with workers heading home from their shifts. Chen Tianyu rode along, the warm breeze brushing past his ears. Passing a flower shop, he couldn't help but stop.

The shop assistant immediately seized the opportunity and greeted him enthusiastically, "Sir, would you like a bouquet? We just got fresh roses in—they’re perfect for giving to a lady."

He had only intended to take a look, but under the assistant's suggestion, he found himself buying a bouquet almost against his will.

Holding the flowers in one hand and pushing the tricycle with the other, he hurried into the neighborhood. He imagined what it would be like to see Su Wan again, but as he arrived at her building, he saw her coming downstairs, arm in arm with an unfamiliar man.

The man was carrying a grocery basket, and the two were discussing what to make for dinner. Su Wan was full of joy, skipping as she walked, her smile radiant. Every now and then, she leaned her head against the man, completely oblivious to Chen Tianyu’s presence nearby.

It was Jiang Mochen, standing by, who noticed him and looked over warily.

"Chen Tianyu?"

"What are you doing here?" Su Wan eyed him with suspicion.

Chen Tianyu tightened his grip on the flowers, suddenly remembering that Su Wan was married.

"I found your tricycle," he said, getting off the tricycle.

Su Wan’s eyes lit up at the sight of her vehicle. "Hey! I thought I’d have to shell out money for a new one again!"

"Thank you!" She happily circled the tricycle. "Come on up and have dinner at my place—my husband’s cooking is delicious."

Chen Tianyu was about to refuse when he felt a hostile gaze. Turning, he saw Jiang Mochen looking at him with a complicated expression.

His eyes were calm and resolute, his presence commanding, exuding a strength that seemed to shake one’s core.

A chill ran down Chen Tianyu’s spine. He couldn't help but wonder—this man was just a country bumpkin, so how could he possess such an overwhelming aura?

He frowned, but nodded in agreement. "Alright, I’ll take you up on your offer."

At that moment, Chen Tianyu clearly sensed the man's hostility. Narrowing his eyes, he handed the bouquet over. "For you—thanks for saving my sister."

Su Wan accepted the flowers with a cheerful laugh. "They smell wonderful!"

Chen Tianyu felt a trace of pride and couldn’t help glancing at Jiang Mochen out of the corner of his eye.

Jiang Mochen's face remained impassive, though his gaze grew deeper.

The three of them headed to the market.

It was bustling, filled with workers just off their shifts. The fishmonger deftly slammed a knife onto a fish, then quickly scraped the scales, sending water flying everywhere. Chen Tianyu recoiled as though seeing a ghost, only to accidentally bump into a woman’s crab stall behind him.

The basket overturned, and the crabs scuttled everywhere.

"Oh dear, young man, what are you doing?" the woman shrieked, dropping to the ground to chase after her crabs.

"Sorry," Chen Tianyu apologized, crouching down to help her.

The crabs moved fast, and a few were still missing by the time they finished. Chen Tianyu had no choice but to pay for the loss. Looking up, he happened to see Su Wan tiptoeing to kiss the man on the cheek.

The man, icy as ever, instantly turned red and awkwardly averted his gaze, focusing on picking out vegetables.

Chen Tianyu didn’t know what had come over him—he only felt as though a sharp pain had stabbed his chest.

"Young man! Young man!" the woman’s voice rang out again.

Chen Tianyu turned. The woman, unable to hold back, scolded, "Do you have something against me? First you topple my stall, now you’re crushing my crabs!"

Only then did he realize the crab in his hand had been squeezed to pieces.

Left with no choice, he paid for another crab.

He walked over and glanced at the man’s grocery basket. "Done shopping?"

Su Wan grinned. "All set! But I’m not sure what you like to eat."

Chen Tianyu smiled. "I’m easy—nothing in particular."

Su Wan frowned. "How can you say that? Pick something!"

So Chen Tianyu said, "Well, chicken soup then."

"Great! Let’s get a chicken!" Su Wan laughed, pulling Jiang Mochen along.

Groceries bought, they all headed to Su Wan’s home.

Upon entering, Chen Tianyu cast a critical eye over the place. To him, the apartment was too small, poorly laid out, and the furniture was nothing special.

He changed into slippers and followed them into the living room.

The decor was especially warm and cozy. A cheap pot of daisies sat on the dining table, the tablecloth was far from luxurious. Chen Tianyu curled his lip in disdain, yet an inexplicable sourness welled up within him.

While Jiang Mochen cooked, Su Wan stayed nearby to help.

With a cup in his hand, Chen Tianyu surveyed their home, and the life they shared. For the first time in his life, he found the sound of laughter grating.

Dinner was soon ready, and the three sat at the table together.

Jiang Mochen served rice to them both. Chen Tianyu couldn’t help but mock, "I never expected your husband could cook—so domesticated!"

"What does he do for a living?"

When Su Wan was with Wang Luo before, he’d always lived off her, waiting for Su Wan’s grandfather to pull strings and find him a job. So, seeing Jiang Mochen, Chen Tianyu automatically assumed he was like Wang Luo, living off Su Wan.

But Su Wan only smiled at his words. "He is, isn’t he? I think my husband is wonderful."

"Men who can cook are so much more attractive than others."

She was excited and wouldn’t stop, "Sometimes I envy myself for being able to marry a man like him."

Just then, Jiang Mochen placed a bowl of soup by Chen Tianyu’s hand, and Su Wan’s voice rang out again, "Try it—my husband’s chicken soup is amazing."

Chen Tianyu was silent. He hadn’t eaten a bite, yet he already felt full.

Lowering his head, he picked up the bowl. He wanted to see for himself if the soup was really that good.

The first sip wasn’t stunning, but it was fresh and flavorful. The chicken soup was laced with the subtle taste of goji berries and contained yam; the more he drank, the more he appreciated its delicate taste.

He tried a chopstickful of greens. The blanched vegetables were crisp and tender, tossed in garlic oil and sesame oil, bursting with flavor at every bite.

All his life, Chen Tianyu had believed cooking was a woman’s job. If a man wore an apron and did women’s work, it meant he was useless.

But today, after eating Jiang Mochen’s meal, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of defeat.