Yu Ting was somewhat surprised by her father's comment. She looked at Lin Yan, whose appearance conveyed a sense of pity.
Her hair, smoothly draped over her shoulders was held back by a simple hair clip. Her skin was fair, her looks were average at best, slightly enhanced by makeup. She had made an attempt to make herself appealing by mirroring Yu Ting's mother who was dressed in a qipao, by donning a green Tang suit with buttons fastened to the top and a skirt reaching down to her ankles.
She was adorned with such finesse, by a closer examination, one could catch a whiff of a gentle fragrance.
Those who knew of Lin Yan's plight knew that she was there to help Yu Ting inform her parents of her faked suicide attempt by consuming sleeping pills.
But to those unaware, she could easily be mistaken as a soon-to-be daughter-in-law visiting her in-laws for the first time.
As she weighed all this, Yu Ting was nonchalantly eating her rice. She looked up at her father's kind and gentle expression with a lighthearted smile, "We truly don't have any spare bowls and chopsticks." After a pause, she added, "As soon as I finish eating, I'll wash mine and let her use it."
?
From the way she spoke, it was clear that Yu Ting was resolute in her decision. Her father was taken aback, ready to respond, but was interrupted by his wife, who wasn't too pleased. "Eat your rice." She chided, serving another portion of vegetables into his bowl.
"I've tasted it. It's not bad."
Silenced by his wife's warning, Yu Ting's father could only grumble to himself quietly.
Lin Yan, whose last hope was dashed, was at a loss. She glared at Yu Ting in annoyance.
What was happening? Hadn't she been ever so obedient to her in the past?
Why had things changed so drastically?
Utterly unbothered by Lin Yan's evident discomfort, Yu Ting continued to enjoy her meal in peace, showing no intent to make her a set of eating utensils. She simply glanced at her father, then at Lin Yan, and leisurely raised an eyebrow.
She then shifted her gaze at the wall clock.
"Then wait for me. I will wash the utensils for you once I'm done eating."
As she said that, she dramatically slowed her eating pace.
Lin Yan: ...
Out of the four people present, three were enjoying their meal, leaving her awkwardly on the side.
Ka.
Lin Yan rose from her chair so abruptly that it slid back slightly.
"In that case, Uncle and Aunty, I'll have to leave now. Since Beibei (Yu Ting's nickname) didn't invite me for a meal, I won't insist. I will find a place to eat." Lin Yan slightly leaned towards Yu Ting's parents, expressing her decision with a pleasant smile.
"Who said you were not invited?" Yu Ting retorted instantly. Her nonchalance made her seem unapproachable, the flicker of coldness in her gaze rendered Lin Yan somewhat uneasy.
"It is not that we don't have enough bowls and chopsticks, we were just not expecting you. Wait for me to finish eating, I'll wash just for you. Don't rush."
The atmosphere turned tense and awkward. Lin Yan looked at Yu Ting, not understanding her intent.
What was she trying to do?
Wait for her to finish eating?
How long was that going to take considering her current pace of eating?
However, Yu Ting looked earnest, with no signs of mockery.
"That's fine, I'd rather step outside and find a place to eat. It seems like a hassle to eat here. As long as Uncle and Aunty are happy, it's fine by me. I..."
"Well then, goodbye. I'm sorry, I won't be able to walk you out as I have to eat now. The door is that way." Cutting Lin Yan short, Yu Ting pointed towards the door with the corner of her eyes.
Lin Yan was taken aback again, hands clenched in front of her.
"I should leave then, Uncle and Aunty. Goodbye." With her refined demeanor intact, Lin Yan bid farewell to Yu Ting's parents. She then turned to Yu Ting and said gently, "I'll leave now, Beibei. I'll come to visit you another day."
This woman sure knows how to endure.
Yu Ting paused to consider this, putting down her chopsticks. She propped her face with one hand and stared at Lin Yan, drawing conclusions.
No wonder the original host was manipulated by her.
However, this time she has me to deal with.
Yu Ting responded very directly, "Sure, whenever I have time, I'll ask you to come then."
"Otherwise I might be busy studying since the semester is about to start. I want to review and re-establish the professional courses I took last academic year." Yu Ting added further, her expression innocent.
To justify her actions.
"Okay, that's true. You did have a habit of sleeping during classes and missed out on the learning. Don't worry, it isn't too late to start now. Keep it up, and if you need any help, approach me, I will share everything I know." Lin Yan replied, her hands clenched, a some blood veins emerging in her eyes.
She had introduced herself as a close friend to Yu Ting's parents, but now it seemed as if Lin Yan was making a futile attempt to get her attention.
Did she really think she was worth all this?
Just because she had a good life, was that everything?
In response, Yu Ting maintained her position, propping her face and tapping the table with her other hand.
In her eyes, Lin Yan's actions and expressions strongly resonated desperation.
Did she really not learn anything in class because she slept through them?
"That won't be necessary, Nanchen said he could teach me." Yu Ting replied, not showing any change in her demeanour. As soon as she mentioned 'Nanchen', her tone turned notably affectionate.
"Enough, can we put an end to all this unnecessary chatter?" Yu Ting's mother who had been silent until then, interjected, sounding somewhat serious. Her gaze at Lin Yan appeared different now.
After all, one's child is simply irreplaceable.
"Aunty is right. Well then, Uncle and Aunty, I should depart now. Goodbye, see you another day." Recognizing the circumstance, Lin Yan declared her decision to leave, still maintaining her ladylike decorum.
Once Lin Yan had left, Yu Ting picked up her chopsticks and continued eating. She then proceeded to serve her parents some more food from the dishes she had cooked.
Ah...
She had been doing this throughout her previous lifetime, every time she was called up by the teacher for misbehaving, she would go home and act cute and innocent to avoid punishment.
"Dad, Mum, try some of this, what do you think?" Yu Ting called out to her parents affectionately, her voice now toned down compared to when she had previously addressed Lin Yan. This was a pleasant and cheerful voice which contrasted starkly with her previous tone.
"When did you learn to cook?" Yu Ting's mother tasted a little more. The meal was surprisingly okay, nothing like the bitter burnt food she was expecting.
Looking at the dishes on the table, all having great colors and tastes, Yu Ting's mother's gaze towards her daughter softened.
She wasn't entirely a lost cause after all.
"So, you really don't want Lu Nanchen to teach at your university?"