Su Shui held Mimi, tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep.
“Seriously!”
With a whoosh, he sat up, frustratedly grabbing his hair.
“I can still try!”
He climbed out of bed, racking his brains for ways to apologize to Lin Ning.
“Kneeling to apologize? Lin Ning’s totally immune to that now~” Su Shui stroked his chin, truly stuck for new apology poses.
“Meow~”
Mimi padded to his feet, gently nuzzling them.
“That’s it! She’ll love seeing Mimi~”
Su Shui slapped his forehead. “Perfect!”
He scooped her up to dash out, then paused.
“Just bringing a cat is like showing up empty-handed. I’ll still get punished~”
For survival, Su Shui decided to pull out all his cooking skills for a love-filled lunch for Lin Ning.
Love was the key.
He fried an egg, shaping it into a heart with chopsticks.
Carefully placing it on golden fried rice, his heart-shaped egg fried rice was done~
“My wife loves meat, but it can’t be all meat~”
Su Shui chopped veggies, making two veggie balls.
He added bright red sweet and sour pork, showcasing his fiery love~
Finally, he wrote a tiny apology note, turning it into a spring-loaded flag on the lunchbox lid.
He packed Mimi and the lunchbox in a bag. When Lin Ning opened it, she’d see cute Mimi first. Then, opening the lunchbox, a flag popping up with “I’m sorry” would greet her.
The plan was flawless, the cooking easy. Only flaw? Su Shui’s handwriting was hideously ugly.
“Done!” He tucked the bag under his arm, grinning as he ran out.
“Wife, this time I’ll have you forgiving me in minutes~”
Driving his beat-up van, Su Shui hummed toward Lin Ning’s company.
...
...
“Lin Ning’s not here? Where’d she go?”
Su Shui leaned on the reception desk, Mimi snoozing in his hat, lunchbox in hand.
“President Lin went out to eat~” The young receptionist smiled politely. This ordinary guy in a junky van was Lin Ning’s husband—she dared not be rude.
“Got it, thanks~”
He walked out without asking where.
Skilled as ever, Su Shui headed straight for the alley.
“She’s still not tired of this place after all this time~”
He recalled their first date...
Back then, they were in high school. Yep, poster kids for teenage romance. Good kids, don’t copy them~
...
...
“First date~ so nervous?”
The night before, Su Shui was gaming late with Zhu Chang.
“No way~ A date’s just like our usual hangouts~” He spoke carelessly, fingers flying on the controls.
Meanwhile, Lin Ning was a nervous wreck.
“How’s this?” She yanked dress after dress from her closet, none satisfying her.
“Ahhh~ Why am I nervous over that jerk!”
Pouting, she straddled the giant pillow Su Shui gave her, punching it.
“Whatever, sleep!”
Lights out, but excitement kept her awake.
“Stupid Su Shui! Ruining my sleep—I’ll beat you tomorrow!”
One boy slept like a log. One girl tossed and turned. A quiet night passed.
Next morning, Lin Ning arrived prettily dressed at the park.
After ages of waiting, no Su Shui.
“That guy… forgot, didn’t he~”
Her sun umbrella slowly crumpled in her grip. “Him!”
She marched to Su Shui’s house.
Su Shui snored soundly. His alarm? Turned off by his sister.
“Ugh, weekend and he forgot to silence the alarm again!”
Su Qing held a spatula, watching him sleep.
Ding dong~ Ding dong~
Doorbell rang. Su Qing jogged to open it—Lin Ning stood there, clutching a twisted umbrella.
Squeak~
Su Qing smiled, slowly closing the door as if she hadn’t seen her.
“Hold it!” Lin Ning blocked the door, shoving inside.
“Oh, Sister Ning~” Su Qing feigned surprise. “When’d you get here?”
“Just now.” Lin Ning shot her a look. “Where’s your brother?”
“My brother…” Su Qing waved vaguely. “Not home~”
“Not home?!”
Lin Ning darted past her into the bedroom.
“Gotcha! Still asleep!”
She yanked Su Shui up by the ear.
“Ow! Ow ow ow!”
Su Shui wailed awake, meeting Lin Ning’s furious glare.
“Easy~ easy~ my ear’s coming off~”
“You’ve gotten bold~ standing me up?!”
“No! The alarm didn’t ring! The alarm!”
“Alarm?”
Lin Ning grabbed the clock. “Where’s the time set?!”
“Huh?”
Su Shui stared blankly at it. Su Qing quietly slipped away.
...
...
“Hehe, Xiao Ning, try this~”
Su Shui fawned close, holding a sun umbrella over her, grilled sausage in his other hand.
“Ah~” Lin Ning opened her mouth.
Su Shui gently placed the sausage inside. Watching her lips close around it, his heart skipped a beat.
“H-here, you hold it~”
Lin Ning blinked at his suddenly flushed, averted face.
“What’s wrong?”
“N-nothing!”
...
...
Happy hours fly. They strolled all day, sunset painting the sky.
“Su Shui, I’m hungry~”
“Me too! I know a super tasty spot!”
He took her hand, weaving through alleys to a tiny hole-in-the-wall joint.
“This place!”
Lin Ning eyed the shabby shop, hesitating.
“Come on, hurry in~”
Su Shui pulled her inside.
“Boss! Shredded potatoes, sweet and sour pork, potato and green bean stew~”
He shouted without glancing at the menu.
Dishes arrived fast. Lin Ning stared, unsure where to start.
“Go on, Missy, taste it!”
Su Shui stuffed shredded potatoes into her mouth.
“Well?!”
Flavors exploded—sour, spicy—sweat beading on her nose.
“Delicious!”
“Told you~ I never lie~”
In half an hour, Lin Ning devoured everything.
From then on, she visited whenever free.
