Qin Ran was calm at first, acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary. But as they approached Yu Shuman's home, her nerves began to fray. By the time they reached the door, her legs were trembling.
She followed Yu Shuman into the elevator, up to the 9th floor, and through the corridor until they stopped in front of the door.
The apartment complex wasn't old, but they had lived there for many years. Yu Shuman's mother bought the apartment after divorcing her husband. It was the same apartment Yu Shuman once considered selling.
Yu Shuman stood at the door, dragging her suitcase as she fished out her keys. But before she could open the door, it swung open from the inside.
"Mom!" she exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes!" came the warm reply.
Hearing the gentle voice, Qin Ran immediately straightened up, standing even more rigidly than during her military training in university. The mother and daughter exchanged a few words before Yu Shuman remembered Qin Ran and pulled her forward. Qin Ran, so nervous she nearly tripped over her own feet, could barely move.
Yu Shuman introduced her, "Mom, this is my junior I mentioned. She'll be staying with us for a few days, and then she'll head back to Beijing with me." Qin Ran found herself face-to-face with the woman before her.
Three years of illness had aged her more than her peers. Her hair was streaked with white, and wrinkles creased her face. She bore a strong resemblance to Yu Shuman—unsurprising, as Yu Shuman was her daughter. With a gentle smile, Yu's mother looked exceedingly kind.
Qin Ran swallowed nervously before offering a greeting, "A-Auntie, hello. I'm Shuman's junior. Thank you for having me."
"Don't mention it. You're Shuman's good friend, so I'm delighted to have you here. Don't worry about the mess; I've only just returned from the staff dormitory and haven't had much time to clean. I tidied up a bit these past few days, but it's still quite cluttered."
"It's no trouble at all. Thank you for letting me stay," Qin Ran replied as Yu's mother welcomed them inside. Qin Ran was ushered to the sofa, where she sat rigidly, not daring to look around.
Yu's mother said, "You two sit for a bit. I'll have lunch ready soon. It's just something simple; I'll make something nicer for dinner."
Qin Ran wanted to help but was held down by Yu Shuman, who handed her an orange from the coffee table.
"Here, eat this. I'll get you some water."
Qin Ran could only sit there, clutching the orange, her back straight as a rod. With Yu Shuman and her mother out of sight, she finally allowed herself to glance around. Despite knowing Yu Shuman for three years, she had never visited her home—this was her first time.
The Yu household was simply decorated. The living room floor was tiled, the walls painted white with baseboards. The soft furnishings prioritized comfort, reflecting Yu's mother's taste. The sofa Qin Ran sat on wasn't plush, but firm, likely more suited for older people. It would be comfortable for lounging, though. The TV sat on a stand, with a set-top box beneath it—not the modern smart TV but one bought years ago.
A lace cloth draped over the TV, likely to prevent dust. The overhead light was a plain square fixture with a small floral pattern in the middle.
Yu Shuman found the drinks by the fridge near the kitchen. Inside, she could hear the sounds of cooking, and the aroma of stir-fried peppers and meat wafted out, making Qin Ran think that might be the dish.
"Mom, did you buy drinks? I don't see any in the fridge."
"It's winter. I didn't put them in the fridge. They're on the dining table. Grab one for your junior."
This was Yu Shuman's home—a simple, unadorned place filled with warmth and the essence of family.
As Qin Ran reflected on this, Yu Shuman handed her an orange juice, placing it on the coffee table before sitting beside her. The sofa dipped slightly when she sat, then bounced back up. Yu Shuman looked at her and said, "Don't be so formal. Make yourself at home..."
Yu Shuman caught herself mid-sentence, realizing her mistake: Make yourself at home? Qin Ran didn't have a home. She had been an orphan from a young age, with no place to truly call home—only a series of temporary shelters.
"Anyway, think of this as your home!"
Qin Ran didn't mind the slip. She just smiled and said, "Okay."
Before long, Yu's mother had finished preparing lunch. With the heater on in the room, Qin Ran began to feel warm in her thick coat. When Yu's mother announced that lunch was ready, Qin Ran quickly removed her jacket and stepped forward to help set the table.
Yu's mother exclaimed, "You're such a polite guest! But you should sit down and let your senior and I handle this."
Unsure how to respond, Qin Ran pretended not to hear and continued helping to set the table. Once all the dishes were on the table, Yu's mother called the two girls to sit. The TV, still playing an old drama, served as background noise.
A glance at the table revealed that Yu's mother must have spent the entire morning shopping and cooking. A steamed bass sat at the center, perfectly cooked and fragrant—a sure sign it was fresh and bought that morning. There was also salt and pepper shrimp, a dish not easy to make at home, requiring a lot of oil. Yu's mother had also bought roast duck from the market, accompanied by three vegetable dishes and stir-fried peppers with meat, plus a winter melon and pork rib soup.
The soup was clear, the winter melon soft, floating atop the ribs, with green onion scattered on top.
Yu's mother had three small bowls beside her. She ladled soup into one and placed it in front of Qin Ran, gently reminding her, "Have some soup to warm up first, then enjoy the dishes. And drink some orange juice. I don't care for it, but I bought it for you girls. You're only here for a few days, so drink up before it goes bad."
Qin Ran quickly took the bowl. Yu Shuman handed her a spoon, and she thanked her before sipping the soup. The bowl was filled not just with soup but with a meaty rib, a few chunks of winter melon, and some green onion. Qin Ran took a sip of the soup, then a bite of the rib.
There was no doubt that Yu's mother had started cooking early in the morning. By lunchtime, the pork had become tender, falling apart with a bite—utterly comforting. Though Yu's mother's cooking was simple, not up to the standards of the chef hired by Assistant Wu, there was something about it that made Qin Ran think it was the best meal she'd ever had.
Seeing Qin Ran enjoying the food brought a smile to Yu's mother's face. She served Yu Shuman a bowl of soup, then herself. After the soup, she placed two bottles of orange juice in front of Qin Ran and Yu Shuman, not taking any for herself.
Qin Ran wanted to say something, but being a first-time guest, she didn't want to overstep. Yu Shuman, however, had no such reservations. "Mom, don't be like that. Join us and have some juice."
Unable to refuse, Yu's mother grabbed a bottle for herself, and they all began to eat.
Throughout the meal, Yu's mother chatted non-stop—a trait she had clearly passed on to Yu Shuman.
"Oh, by the way, your name is Qin Ran, right? May I call you Xiao Ran? It feels strange for me to call you by your title."
Qin Ran put down her chopsticks. "Of course, Auntie, you can call me whatever you like."
"You're such a polite child! But keep eating, don't stop. We'll chat while we eat."
As she spoke, Yu's mother placed a piece of fish on Qin Ran's plate. "Do you like fish? Shuman didn't tell me if you had any dietary restrictions, so I bought a bit of everything—fish, shrimp, and duck. If there's anything you don't eat, just let me know, and I won't buy it next time."
"I eat everything, Auntie… I can help myself."
Qin Ran said she could manage, but Yu's mother continued to serve her, even adding a shrimp to her plate. "Try the shrimp. Shuman used to love this dish. It's the one thing I can make well. If you like it, have more; if not, don't force yourself. But really, treat this place as your home. Even after Shuman graduates, if you're ever back in this city, you must come by for a meal!"
"Mom!" Yu Shuman protested, "Why would I stop contacting her? We've been friends since high school!"
Though it had only been three years, Qin Ran mentally corrected. Still, she didn't show any reaction outwardly, feeling a bit overwhelmed by Yu's mother's warmth—she was even more welcoming than Yu Shuman.
"Alright, blame me for misspeaking. But that's what I meant—if you're ever back in this city, come visit me! As long as I'm home, there'll always be a meal waiting for you."
With all the noise and chatter, the meal was anything but quiet. Yet Qin Ran found herself unexpectedly enjoying the atmosphere. In her past and present lives, aside from her time with Yu Shuman, she mostly ate alone, facing a large, empty house with no one to talk to.
Qin Ran realized she liked this kind of family—the warmth of Yu Shuman and her mother, their hospitality so overwhelming that she couldn't bring herself to refuse. She ate the shrimp Yu's mother served her and looked up to see the expectant expressions on both Yu Shuman and her mother's faces. Yu's mother cautiously asked, "How is it? Do you like it?"
"It's delicious."
This, Qin Ran thought, must be the taste of home. She felt a moment of surreal happiness.