Chapter 10

Pei Shuchen came in carrying a yellow enamel basin with floral patterns, a white ladle hanging off the side. Inside was half a basin of silver ear fungus and pear soup. As he entered, the sweet aroma drifted in with him.

Seeing this, Su Yuwei quickly stood up and walked over, reaching out to take the basin while smiling.

“That was fast. Sorry to trouble you again, and thank you.”

“No need to be polite,”

Pei Shuchen replied softly, then gently avoided her hand as she reached for the soup. Looking down at her, he said:

“I’ll do it. Be careful, it’s hot.”

His voice was low and pleasant, and when his dark eyes looked at her, there was an inexplicable intensity to them.

Su Yuwei’s heart skipped strangely…

She felt like she was developing the same issue as her dad and brother Su Yunxiang—an awkward discomfort around strangers.

In modern terms, it was… social anxiety.

Yes, her social anxiety was flaring up. She instinctively rubbed her nose and stepped aside, watching as Pei Shuchen placed the basin on the small table.

“All done. Come have some.”

He turned to her and said gently. Su Yuwei smiled, walked over, and feeling a little awkward, habitually asked:

“Have you eaten? Want to have some too?”

It was meant as a polite gesture, and Pei Shuchen didn’t think much of it. Still, he didn’t leave. Instead, he leaned against the bed frame beside the corridor and said:

“You all go ahead. The basin and ladle belong to the dining car—I’ll return them when you’re done.”

“……”

Su Yuwei felt a bit embarrassed, maintaining a polite smile as she replied:

“Then why not sit by the bed for a bit? Standing like that must be tiring.”

Pei Shuchen nodded noncommittally. Su Yuwei turned to fetch a tin mug to scoop the soup, and suddenly heard him speak again.

“Pei Shuchen. That’s my name.”

Su Yuwei paused for a moment, then turned and replied:

“I know. I heard your aunt call you earlier.”

Realizing that he’d introduced himself, it wouldn’t be right if she didn’t say something too, so she added:

“I’m Su Yuwei. That’s my brother, Su Yunxiang, and my dad over there.”

“Yuwei…”

Pei Shuchen softly repeated her name, like a murmur. Then he suddenly smiled and looked at her, saying:

“Okay. I’ll remember that.”

Su Yuwei: “……”

That weird feeling was creeping up on her again…

Luckily, before she could grow too uncomfortable, Pei Shuchen looked away, smiling as he nodded politely to her father and brother.

The typically socially anxious father-son duo: “……”

After finishing the soup, Pei Shuchen not only returned the basin to the dining car, but also took out their trash on the way.

Once he was gone, Su Yunxiang sneakily pulled Su Yuwei aside and said:

“Sis, I feel like something’s off. Why’s he being so… nice to us?”

He stepped back a bit, hands on her shoulders, muttering:

“Our Su family is pretty good-looking…”

“Su Yunxiang!”

Su Yuwei instantly caught his meaning and, for some reason, got a bit annoyed. She slapped his hand away:

“Don’t go imagining nonsense. I saved his sister—of course he’s going to be nice. And don’t forget what we’re here for!”

“Oh, right.”

Su Yunxiang nodded, then sat down on the sleeper bed. After a moment of thought, he muttered:

“That guy looks pretty refined—his clothes and demeanor aren’t like regular folks. He probably wouldn’t be interested in someone like us. I mean, even if you’re divorced, it still counts as second marriage. Plus, with a kid and all—”

“Dad!”

Su Yuwei couldn’t take it anymore and called out to their father.

Smack! — A loud slap rang out.

Father Su raised his hand and smacked Su Yunxiang hard on the head, scolding him under his breath:

“You little brat, how can you talk about your sister like that?”

He gave him another slap across the mouth and continued grumbling:

“My daughter, even if she’s divorced or remarried and has a child, she’s still the best. It’s not her fault things turned out this way. Who are they to look down on her? And even if she never remarries, your mother and I will take care of her. Don’t you dare say things to hurt her again!”

Su Yunxiang: “……”

Wait, what did I even say…

Grimacing, he rubbed his sore head and glared at his sister, who was grinning smugly at him.

He couldn’t help but chuckle in frustration—what a tattletale…

Fine, fine. She’s my little sister. Gotta spoil her. What else can I do—take another slap?

“Sigh…”

Su Yunxiang sighed dramatically, then shrugged and said:

“Alright, I was wrong.”

Father Su rolled his eyes and held out his hand:

“Don’t apologize to me. Go apologize to your sister.”

“Sis, I’m sorry…”

Su Yunxiang immediately turned to Su Yuwei with puppy eyes and said with a cheeky grin:

“Don’t worry, sis. I’ll help earn money to support you too.”

Su Yuwei suddenly felt a bit touched. Afraid he’d notice, she raised her chin proudly and replied with a huff:

“Alright, I’ll forgive you this time. But don’t do it again, got it?”

“Got it!”

Su Yunxiang agreed quickly, then began heaping praise on her:

“My sister’s the best—kind, gentle, generous, and beautiful. That bastard Pang Chuan didn’t know what he had…”

By the end, he had worked himself into a fury again, vowing silently that when they arrived, he’d definitely give that scumbag a good beating.

When Comrade Zhao Fang returned, it was already the middle of the night. She was holding a few bags of local specialties gifted by Pei’s family.

“Oh, right, Yuwei…”

She placed the gifts on the small table, then sat down on the bed where Father Su was sleeping. She leaned over to wake Su Yuwei and reminded her:

“We’ll be arriving tomorrow afternoon. Try to give Xiaojing one more acupuncture session before then—to help her recover.”

When her daughter didn’t respond, she gently nudged her arm, speaking happily:

“Yuwei, take this seriously. I’ve already made arrangements. They even invited us to visit them in Yanjing after we’re done here.”

Su Yuwei yawned, half-asleep, and mumbled:

“Got it, Mom. Let’s sleep.”

Zhao Fang looked at the cramped bed, now completely occupied, and fell into a silent despair.

If she’d just listened to Su’s mother earlier and asked for two bunks, she wouldn’t be stuck now.

Tch. Pride really does get you nowhere…

The next morning, the corridor outside was already bustling with voices. Su Yuwei slept in a bit longer until Zhao Fang woke her up.

“Yuwei, come on, time to wake up.”