"Xu Lin, can you make cured sausages?"
"Not a chance, that stuff's way too complicated," Xu Lin replied, ending his call as he returned to the dining room and noticed everyone had already started eating.
Scanning the table, he saw that the empty seat was conveniently left between Ji Yun and Chu Fengyi. His mom's intentions were, as always, too obvious.
"We just made a few simple dishes since it's a family meal. Don't be polite."
"It's fine, really," the girls replied with a wave of their hands.
Xu Lin glanced at the dishes on the table. They were indeed quite simple—aside from the sausages, there weren't any major meat dishes—but everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Over time, Xu Lin had picked up on everyone's food preferences. Ji Yun, Su Qingwan, and Chu Fengyi leaned towards lighter flavors—not that they disliked meat, but they weren't fond of overly greasy dishes. Qin Yunhe, Bai Xiaoxiao, and Chu Qingchan preferred heavier flavors and were absolute meat lovers.
As for President Ye, Liu Qinnuan, Jiang Zimeng, and Zhu Zhaoxue, he hadn't shared enough meals with them to gauge their preferences.
One thing they all had in common, though, was a shared love for spicy food—as long as their health allowed it. While their spice tolerance varied, they all seemed to enjoy it, especially Qin Yunhe, whose passion for spice was unmatched.
Xu Lin, too, was a spice lover. Without that fiery kick, he found his interest in food halved. He picked up a slice of cured sausage and popped it into his mouth, the dual sensations of numbing heat and spiciness exploding instantly.
"Local spices are definitely the real deal," he murmured.
Last year, his family had bought Sichuan-style sausages, supposedly made by Sichuan natives. But the flavor was average because the spices used were sourced locally. Spices weren't just about enhancing flavors—they were an integral part of the taste itself.
By the end of the meal, Xu Lin had polished off four bowls of rice, while the girls, in a rare feat, managed two each. The ten or so sausages they'd brought were also mostly devoured.
"That was satisfying," Xu Lin said, getting up to leave. But before he could escape, his mom caught him.
"Full? Great—then do the dishes!"
"Oh… okay."
"I'll help, Auntie," Ji Yun said, stacking up the plates and heading for the kitchen.
"No need, let him do it. You all just relax."
"It's fine, I'll do it."
Xu Lin snatched the dishes from her and headed to the sink, while his mom pulled Ji Yun and the others aside to chat. As Xu Lin did the dishes, he could hear the lively conversation outside. His mom had a knack for telling jokes, filling the room with laughter and a cheerful atmosphere.
Thankfully, no one was talking about him, leaving Xu Lin to reminisce. He recalled a certain year when he returned to his village and approached the small crossroads about ten meters away. From a distance, he spotted a row of small stools with a dozen elderly folks sitting on them, and the sight alone made him turn back in fear.
That incident contributed to the rumors about him being exceptionally shy and introverted. But the truth was, he wasn't quiet because he didn't want to talk—he just dreaded people overanalyzing everything he said. If he didn't greet them, he'd be labeled rude. If he did, he'd worry about saying the wrong thing.
Even a simple remark could be blown out of proportion. And if he managed to get through it unscathed, they'd still turn him into a topic of conversation. Why wouldn't he want to retreat early?
Thinking about the elderly folks reminded Xu Lin of his grandparents on both sides.
After finishing the dishes, Xu Lin came out and said to his mom, "How about I visit Grandpa, Grandma, and my other grandparents this weekend?"
"Sure, at least you've finally remembered they exist. Your dad and I visit them twice a week even with our busy schedules, and you? You just breeze through life!" Li Yuan glared at him.
"Haha, I've been genuinely busy, haven't I? Even if you call it running around aimlessly, I'm still busy!" Xu Lin replied with a sheepish laugh.
"Aren't you opening the store this weekend?"
"Who needs to babysit their store all day during opening? Once it's open, it's done. Hovering around just makes everyone tense," Xu Lin replied casually, his indifferent attitude making Li Yuan want to smack him. This son of hers was just as unserious as his father when it came to getting things done.
"Then take Ji Yun with you."
"Eh? Ji Yun, do you want to go?" Xu Lin turned to Ji Yun when he heard his mom's suggestion but immediately realized the implication. Was this supposed to be introducing a daughter-in-law to the elders?
"Should I… go?" Ji Yun hesitated, feeling awkward under Chu Fengyi's gaze. She couldn't bring herself to say yes immediately.
"Of course, you can go. Fengyi, you should go too," Li Yuan chimed in, pressing her advantage.
Chu Fengyi first pointed to herself in confusion, then, after a moment's hesitation, gave a reluctant nod with an air of faux indifference.
"We'll decide on the day. If everyone's free, we can all go," Xu Lin suggested.
"I'll come too!" Li Muxue raised her hand enthusiastically. She genuinely wanted to visit; it had been so many years since she'd left that she barely remembered the way back.
"Alright then," Li Yuan agreed, maintaining her trademark fairness. Xu Lin, her own son, was well aware of her approach.
Zhuo Yan watched all this unfold, feeling as though she were witnessing an ancient palace drama. Xu Lin was the emperor, his mother the empress dowager, and the other women were concubines. As for herself… was she a eunuch? No, a palace maid, perhaps!
"Um, you all carry on. I've got some work to do," Xu Lin said.
"Go ahead, go ahead."
Xu Lin quickly slipped away, having only intended to mention visiting his grandparents but inadvertently roping in a whole entourage. Knowing his grandmother's personality, though, he figured she'd be thrilled to see so many pretty girls.
After he left, the atmosphere in the living room grew a little awkward. But Li Yuan, ever the lively hostess, soon reignited the mood, chatting cheerfully with the girls and lifting everyone's spirits.
After a while, Zhuo Yan leaned over to Ji Yun and whispered,
"Hey, Ji Yun, you're in a dangerous spot."
"What danger?"
"I think Teacher Chu has a thing for Xu Lin."
"Zhuo Yan, have you been watching too many dramas?" Ji Yun's heart skipped a beat but she managed to maintain her composure, teasing Zhuo Yan with a smile.
"I'm serious! And don't forget about Senior Bai. She's another one to watch out for. Oh, and during that competition, all the girls cheering for Xu Lin? Yeah, keep an eye on them too."
"Zhuo Yan… You don't trust Xu Lin? Do you not trust me? Do you think I'm not good enough for him?" Ji Yun said, feigning exasperation while her confidence steadied.
"You're the most amazing girl in the world. Who wouldn't like you?"
"Well, there you go. Nothing to worry about." Ji Yun pinched her friend's cheek playfully.
"Wait, did you call your dad yet? You're not going back for lunch."
"Oh no! I forgot!"
"What's wrong?"
"I forgot to call my dad!"
"Use Auntie's phone," Ji Yun suggested.
Li Yuan glanced at her phone but was interrupted by an incoming call. She waved apologetically and said, "I'll take this call real quick."
"Use mine," Li Muxue offered, handing her phone to Zhuo Yan.
"Thanks, Cousin."
Zhuo Yan took the phone and headed toward the kitchen, leaving Liu Qinnuan, Li Muxue, and Chu Fengyi alone in the living room.
Li Muxue stood up to head to the bathroom but suddenly turned back to glance at the others.
"Excuse me… could you teach me how to use the toilet?"
"I'll help you," Liu Qinnuan offered, standing up. Li Muxue looked a little embarrassed by the situation.
"Thanks… I don't really know how to use it."
"It's no problem," Liu Qinnuan replied with a smile, leading her to the bathroom.
With that, the living room was left with only Ji Yun and Chu Fengyi.
"Sister Fengyi…"
"What is it?" Chu Fengyi had felt for a while now that Ji Yun wanted to say something to her.
"It's something I think Sister Chu might've already asked you about before, but I'm still curious—why did you change so quickly?"
"How am I supposed to answer that? Maybe… it's just a matter of first impressions?"
"I don't mean just about Xu Lin. I mean, you personally. It's normal to quickly like someone romantically, but…"
"Well, I won't lie to you, but whether you believe it or not is up to you. I've awakened memories of my past life."
"…" Ji Yun's eyes widened in shock at Chu Fengyi's words. She instinctively leaned back against the couch, as if trying to process what she just heard.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Sister Fengyi… actually, I think I also…"