Fang Xiaoning smiled as she bend over to inhale the aroma of the noodles in front of her, with a satisfactory face, she stood straight to admire her work while humming to the melodious noise made by the birds hanging out by the restaurant's patio, she then turned to face the window only to find the handsome stranger gone. She had caught him staring at her earlier and instead of scolding him like she normally would, she decided to remain silent, instantly dropping her eyes when they suddenly connected their gazes.
"Where is he?" Xiaoning softly said while peeking through the window to catch sight of him,
"Who are we looking for?" Xiao Ai who had been watching her for some time now suddenly asked, causing her to jump back in a startle,
"Ah!! Xiao Ai, I told you to stop sneaking up on me," Xiaoning yelled,
"Why were you so startled? is there someone there, let me see?" Xiao Ai said, immediately trying to push Xiaoning away from the window,
"No one is there," Xiaoning said too quickly causing Xiao Ai to narrow her eyes at her,
"Really, miss I've been your best friend for a while now, which means I know a lie when I hear one," Xiao Ai said while tiptoeing,
"I-I'm not lying," Xiaoning retorted,
"Then why won't you let me see it, what are you hiding?" Xiao Ai said as she continue trying to get past her,
"Will you both quit goofing around?" Li Rang muttered under his breath as he walk past them towards the fridge to grab a bottle of water,
"Hey, Xiaoning hurry up, will you? old Gong is waiting," Dachuan said, immediately causing them to cease their bickering.
"The dan dan noodles is here," Xiaoning called out, rushing forward to place the bowl on the ancestral table standing in the middle of the room, sighing as silence filled the room, Xiaoning stretch forth her hand, lightly tracing the picture frame on the table before moving to light up the incense she was holding, slowing paying her respect as she stared at the photograph of the slightly older man on the table in front of her before standing to move to the side as she watches the others pay their respects,
"Dad! see, today I made your favorite again, dan dan noodles, and you know what, Li Rang actually said I'm g-getting good at m-making it," Xiaoning sniffles as she felt Xiao Ai's hand lightly weeping off the tears she didn't even realize was now rolling down her cheeks,
"Old Gong, why did you leave so soon? I-I haven't even repaid my debts yet, B-but don't worry, I promise as long as I'm alive I will make sure nothing will ever have to Xiaoning and the restaurant." Dachuan shakenly whispered, roughly tugging at his hair before moving to stand beside Li Rang who was staring at the photography in silence.
They all stood in silence for a while before deciding to go grab a drink at the bridge nearby as per Old Gong's tradition, after tidying up and closing the noodles restaurant, they all are headed to the bridge.
"This is so beautiful," Xiaoning cheerfully said, pointing towards the sky, causing her and Xiao Ai to both burst into laughter as they lightly inhale the night breeze while waiting for Li Rang who had gone to get the drinks,
"Dachuan, there's something I've always been curious about, how did Li Rang meet uncle Gong?" Xiao Ai asked,
"Why are you curious about that?"
"Just tell me," Xiao Ai snapped,
"Ummm, it was around eight years ago, although we've known him longer than that, it's complicated, you probably know that he was once a gangster with the tattoos on his body, but let's just old Gong saved him," Dachuan replied,
"So he's trying to become a priest to redeem himself," Xiao Ai said,
"Hmm," Li Rang who was now listening to their conversation answered before handing them the drinks,
"And... me, I was the hungry fat boy with no family," Dachuan breathed out before proceeding to chug down his drink,
"What about you," Li Rang asked, directing the question towards Xiaoning,
"Me," Xiaoning said, smiling softly,
"He saved me too," she breathed out before allowing her thoughts to take over.
That winter, December 5th, just like every other winter day in London, she had cheerfully woken up and dressed up in a winter outfit, receiving birthday calls from her parents while drinking her morning coffee before grabbing her lab coat and umbrella as she left for college just like how every newly turned twenty-one years old would do especially if they were in a situation where they had everything they needed.
Not knowing her life was about to change forever, she was out celebrating with her friends after her classes ended for the day when she suddenly received a call from her dad's assistant informing her of her parent's death. Being the only child of her parents, the only life she knew was a life filled with happiness and pleasure, but fate had another arrangement for her as her life immediately came crashing down. On returning home for the funeral, she was immediately swept off her feet by problems she didn't even realize existed, while she was busy mourning her parents, her father's trusted assistant ran away with all his properties, leaving her to fund for herself with no help resulting in her dream of becoming a medical doctor quickly going down the drain.
Until that fateful night, she had coincidentally found herself in front of a small noodles restaurant, with no hope or the will to continue living, she decided to time to end her life.
"Miss, miss! please wait," she suddenly heard a voice which turned out to be the noodles restaurant owner's voice called out after her as she step out of the restaurant,
"Yes," she answered,
"You didn't finish the noodles, is it not up to your taste?" the noodles restaurant owner asked,
"It's nothing like that sir, your noodles is very delicious, I just have somewhere to be," Xiaoning replied,
"Then why don't you finish your noodles before you leave," the man said gently.
"Pulling herself out of her thoughts,
"I could have said no," Xiaoning whispered softly,
"Why didn't you?" Li Rang asked,
"I guess... I saw my father in him," she answered while staring down at her feet,
"Guys, enough with the sad stuff, we should..." Xiao Ai who was trying to cheer up the group was suddenly interrupted by the sound of her phone ringing, instantly picking it up as she saw her mom's face flash through the screen,
"Hello, mom why are you calling? I'm hanging out with Xiaoning,"
"Hey, Xiao Ai, your father is around, you have to hurry home right now, he looks pissed," Xiao Ai's mom whispered to the phone while sneaking a peek at her husband who had a frown etched on his face as he continued to wait for her arrival,
"What! why are you just calling now, he's going to kill me," Xiao Ai yelled before abruptly hanging up,
"Guys, I have to go, my dad is back," Xiao Ai said, before running off,
"Goodnight," Xiaoning yelled after her. The trio stood by the bridge for a while, staring at the glowing restaurant sign from the distance before also deciding it was late, and then proceeded to head back to the restaurant for the night.