Having face
When Song Yuhang returned from the detention center, it was already past 6 p.m. At first glance, she saw Mother Song wandering outside the police station entrance, holding a thermos flask. She hurriedly approached her, pulling her into a sheltered spot and rubbing her frozen hands.
“Mom, why are you here?”
Seeing that it was her, Mother Song smiled and handed her the thermos flask. “It’s Laba Festival1 today. I made some porridge in the afternoon and brought it for you guys.”
Not “you” but “you guys.”
Song Yuhang was momentarily startled, and Mother Song reached into her bag and took out several lunchboxes, stacking them in her hands.
“For the insomnia incident last time, please thank Yanyan for me. I originally thought it wouldn’t be easy to contact a doctor so soon, but who would have known he came to visit today. I didn’t even leave the building. He prescribed some Chinese medicine for me, all pre-packaged and ready to use. He also gave me his business card, asking me to find time to go to their hospital for a proper examination and therapy.”
Song Yuhang held the thermos flask in one hand and the lunchboxes in her arms, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
It was remarkable that Lin Yan remembered this incident despite their recent quarrel. Most likely, the one who could provide home visits was her own private doctor.
Now that she had brought the items, Mother Song was ready to leave. She reached into her pocket and took out a small cloth bag, pulling out a few large bills from a pile of loose change.
“I thought to myself, we can’t just take advantage of others for nothing. Take this and give it to Yanyan.”
As the trembling hand was extended towards her, reddened by the cold wind, Song Yuhang felt a pang of pity and pushed it back gently.
“Mom, you keep this money for yourself. Even if I give it to her, she won’t accept it.”
Not only would she not accept it, she might even unleash a barrage of punches on her.
Just the thought of that scene made Song Yuhang’s teeth ache.
Mother Song looked at the mixed expression of sweetness and fear on her daughter’s face, as if she knew Lin Yan’s character inside out, and she was completely bewildered.
“What… What does this mean? Why?”
It was too cold outside, so Song Yuhang urged her to come inside. “It doesn’t mean anything. It’s just that when money gets involved, things become awkward.”
“Mom, come in and have a seat. Let me pour you a warm glass of water before you leave.”
“Oh, it’s better if I don’t sit. It’s not suitable for family members to enter your workplace…”
Mother Song declined, but Song Yuhang firmly held her hand and pushed open the glass door of the lobby, lifting the thick curtain. A wave of warmth greeted them.
“What’s wrong with that? Come to my office and have a seat.”
The two of them walked along the corridor, occasionally greeted by people who nodded at Song Yuhang, and she responded to each one.
“Who is this?”
A curious colleague asked.
Song Yuhang tightened her grip on her mother’s shoulder. “This is my mom.”
“So it’s Auntie. Since she came all the way here, Captain Song should take her around properly.”
The one speaking was the newly promoted deputy team leader, formerly a key member of the business team and considered Song Yuhang’s confidant.
Song Yuhang smiled. “Indeed, it’s her first time here. Have you all eaten? Want some food?”
She shook the lunchboxes in her hand, clearly packed by her mother.
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Xue Rui quickly declined, “No, thank you. We’ve already eaten.”
He took two steps but was stopped.
“Where’s Forensic Doctor Lin?”
Xue Rui shook his head. He was also in his early thirties, with a round face and a slight mustache. He had a sturdy build.
“I don’t know. She’s probably still in the pathology laboratory. I haven’t seen her come out.”
“Alright, got it. Go back to your work. Inform me promptly if there are any new leads.”
“Okay.” Xue Rui saluted and left.
It was only after Mother Song and the others left that she spoke up. “Is Yanyan always this busy?”
On the way to her office, they happened to pass by the laboratory, so Song Yuhang had taken a look outside with her team.
“She’s as busy as me. I do physical labor, while she handles all the technical work. There aren’t many people in the Technical Investigation Division now, so most of the workload falls on her.”
Through the bulletproof glass door, they could see Lin Yan in a light blue uniform with a white lab coat on top. She wore gloves and hadn’t stopped manipulating test tubes and instruments.
Everyone is rushing to meet deadlines, so she’s probably staying in the lab after finishing the autopsy.
Mother Song sighed, “It’s really not easy.”
Song Yuhang knew that she hadn’t slept well last night and had been busy all day. Her heart softened, and she tapped on the glass of the lab.
Lin Yan turned around, looked around, and then focused her gaze on Song Yuhang.
They spoke informally, with some distance between them and the glass acting as a sound barrier. Lin Yan furrowed her brows.
After thinking for a moment, she exhaled onto the glass and used her fingertip to draw in the condensation: Come out, let’s have a meal.
Lin Yan understood and smiled, her eyes crinkling. She saw Mother Song standing beside Song Yuhang and waved her hand slightly as a greeting.
Song Yuhang wrote again: Office, waiting, for you.
Lin Yan nodded, indicating for them to go ahead and that she would join them soon. She needed to finish the task at hand quickly.
In the office, Mother Song watched Song Yuhang carefully take out a bowl from the insulated container and pour the porridge into it. She covered the remaining porridge to keep it warm, afraid it would turn cold.
The dishes remained untouched, they were just drinking porridge, waiting for Lin Yan.
There’s truly no one who knows a daughter better than her mother. From childhood to adulthood, Song Yuhang never caused her any worries. She followed a routine, graduated, and started working. She didn’t have any particularly close friends around her age; they had all gotten married and had children. She remained single, let alone developing the kind of relationship where she would bring someone home. There was something special between her and Lin Yan, but Mother Song couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
However, she couldn’t pinpoint what made it special. After all, such a thing didn’t exist in her understanding. She just had a vague feeling that their relationship had become overly close.
Song Yuhang brewed a cup of tea for her mother and sat down, sipping her porridge while looking at some materials.
Mother Song set down her teacup, observed Song Yuhang, hesitated for a while, and finally spoke up, “Yuhang, you and Yanyan…”
Before she could finish her sentence, a knocking sound interrupted them. Song Yuhang put down her bowl and hurriedly went to open the door.
When she saw Lin Yan, her voice involuntarily rose with a hint of joy.
“Why are you so late? Haven’t had dinner yet?”
“I didn’t have time to eat.” With Mother Song present, Lin Yan adopted a well-behaved and obedient daughter-in-law demeanor, greeting her before slightly awkwardly taking a seat beside Song Yuhang.
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Mother Song had stopped halfway through her sentence and had to swallow her words. “It’s good that you’re here. Let’s eat quickly. I made Laba Congee today. I don’t know if it suits your taste.”
Song Yuhang poured the remaining porridge from the insulated container into a bowl for Lin Yan and scooped some from her own bowl to add to it.
She knew that Lin Yan preferred light and watery foods like this.
At Lin Yan’s home, even during Laba Festival or other festive occasions, they would hire a chef to cook. The table would be adorned with tablecloths, and the dishes would be presented exquisitely. It was a lively but somewhat cold atmosphere, where one could hear a pin drop at the dining table. Even the sound of utensils clinking together was considered a fault.
Moreover, she was not close to her family, and the number of times she returned home after living independently was extremely limited.
If she lived alone, the chef wouldn’t bother making Laba Congee unless she specifically requested it. But generally speaking, Lin Yan didn’t pay much attention to festive occasions.
Therefore, Laba Congee, this kind of food, only existed in gourmet TV shows. At first glance, it seemed a bit novel. Lin Yan held the bowl, took a spoonful, and paused for three seconds.
Mother Song anxiously awaited her feedback.
Suddenly, she burst into laughter, her eyebrows and eyes curved. She didn’t laugh often, and even when she did, it was usually a cold, disdainful, mocking laugh. It was rare to see her genuinely smiling from the bottom of her heart, as if the ice and snow had melted away. In that moment, even Song Yuhang found herself a bit infatuated.
“Mmm, it’s delicious. Thank you, Auntie. I’ve never had Laba Congee before, but it’s really tasty. The glutinous rice makes the porridge fragrant and sweet, and there are peanuts, longan, lotus seeds, and shredded dates in it…”
Mother Song couldn’t stop smiling, and Song Yuhang had been tired of eating it since she was little. Besides, she always ate quickly, like a starving ghost reincarnated. How could she express these things?
The elderly also enjoy receiving praise, and upon hearing that it was Lin Yan’s first time eating Laba Congee, it was somewhat bittersweet.
What kind of life did this child lead in the Lin family?
“Alright, alright, as long as you like it. Eat quickly, eat quickly, it’ll cool down soon. Auntie doesn’t have any other special skills, just decent cooking—”
Mother Song said, then glanced at Song Yuhang.
“Of course, someone can’t appreciate good food. If you like it, come to our house on weekends when you’re free and taste Auntie’s cooking.”
Can they stop belittling her in front of Lin Yan every time? Doesn’t she have any face?
Song Yuhang protested with a prolonged voice, “Mom—when did I not appreciate your cooking? I always praise your dishes, don’t I?”
“Praise? Last time, the leftovers in the refrigerator went bad. You came back after your night shift and didn’t check properly before eating. Did you forget about the diarrhea the next day? In your eyes, there’s no difference between shark fin and radish.”
“That’s because I was hungry…” Song Yuhang’s voice grew softer as she spoke.
Lin Yan couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Song Yuhang peeled another clove of sweet garlic and put it in her bowl, saying, “Try this, my mom marinated it. It’s especially delicious!”
She intentionally emphasized the last four words, and the two of them giggled, their gazes glued to each other.
Mother Song sitting there suddenly felt like an outsider, yet there was a strange sense of familiarity.
Whether it was Song Yuhang’s cautiousness towards Lin Yan or the occasional shy glances exchanged between them, it resembled a newlywed couple.
This feeling was all too familiar to her.
Back then, she and her late husband were like this.
Mother Song was startled, and coincidentally, someone came in to deliver documents, so she put down her teacup and stood up.
“Well, you two are busy. I’ll head back first.”
Song Yuhang quickly stood up, “Mom, let me walk you out.”
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Lin Yan also put down her bowl and stood up, “Auntie, it’s cold outside. We’ll take you back in a while.”
Listen, this conversation is happening at a certain rhythm.
Mother Song forced a smile, “No need, no need. You two are busy, hurry up and eat. Eating cold food in winter is bad for the stomach. It’s just a short walk, I’ll take the bus back myself.”
After saying that, she picked up her bag from the couch and hurriedly walked out.
Lin Yan, holding a spoon, poked Song Yuhang and felt a bit sorry.
“You’re just letting her go back alone like that?”
Song Yuhang smiled and picked up a piece of braised meat with her chopsticks, offering it to Lin Yan. “My mom is still quite strong, and it’s just a short distance. Besides…”
Lin Yan had something in mind, and she implied it.
“We can do more than just talk about certain things.”
Lin Yan bit her lip. “Aren’t you afraid that Auntie won’t be able to handle it?”
Song Yuhang reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind Lin Yan’s ear. “Compared to my father’s and brother’s death, what am I considered? I think what she’s more worried about now is what will happen if I don’t have children in the future?”
