Miss Forensics – Chapter 92

Volume One: First Scroll

New Year’s Eve

Our family doesn’t have a rule about making the new daughter-in-law do chores.

Only after hanging up the phone did Lin Yan snap out of her joyous and excited mood. With shampoo foam still in her hair, she leaned over the edge of the bathtub to look at her, her face flushed red from the steam.

“You just agreed for me like that? I haven’t even consented yet.”

She muttered.

“Lie down properly, don’t get water on your neck.” Song Yuhang pressed her down again, her fingertips weaving through her soft hair, gently massaging her scalp.

“The ugly daughter-in-law has to meet the in-laws sooner or later, doesn’t she?[ efn_note]丑媳妇早晚得见公婆 | chǒu xífù zǎowǎn dé jiàn gōngpó | A common Chinese saying meaning that one has to face an inevitable, often embarrassing or nerve-wracking, situation eventually. ‘Gongpo’ refers specifically to one’s husband’s parents.[/efn_note]”

Lin Yan bared her teeth. “Who’s ugly? Who’s ugly? Who’s ugly?”

Song Yuhang smiled, turning on the showerhead and letting the warm water rinse the foam from her hair.

Lin Yan closed her eyes contentedly, a hint of a smile gracing her lips. “Do I need to prepare anything?”

“Just bring your stomach and get ready to eat.”

In previous years, it was just her, Ji Jingxing, and Xiao Wei celebrating the New Year together, and Mother Song would still cook a huge feast that would last them until the second day of the Lunar New Year. Today, with the addition of Lin Yan, who knew how much more lavish it would be.

The thought of eating leftovers for several days straight made Song Yuhang’s scalp tingle.

Lin Yan tilted her head up. Whether it was the steam in the bathroom or something else, her dark pupils always seemed to be veiled by a layer of shimmering water.

It made her lose her usual sharpness, giving her the gentle softness of a small animal.

There were even water droplets clinging to her long eyelashes.

From Song Yuhang’s angle, the view was completely unobstructed.

“It just feels too fast, like it’s not real.”

She turned her head to look at her. “To be honest with you, I never used to think about being with someone or getting married.”

Song Yuhang finished rinsing the foam from her hair, applied conditioner, and continued to massage gently.

“So you planned to be alone forever?”

Lin Yan nodded, scooping up the flower petals floating on the water’s surface. The water quickly trickled away through the gaps between her fingers.

“A person like me, riddled with a thousand sores and a hundred holes¹, sometimes even I despise myself. How could I ever be worthy of another person’s complete and whole love?”

She carried the burden of a blood feud, a lifelong sentence of medication for Guillain-Barré syndrome², and the occasional flare-ups of her bipolar disorder³.

She was trapped in mire, and loving her required the courage to step into that mire.

Some were drawn to her beauty, others to her wealth, and all of them were scared away by the sharp thorns she erected all over her body.

Only Song Yuhang had seen the stars buried in the mire and had bravely, boldly approached her, gradually piecing her shattered heart back together.

The hands that were weaving through her hair, kneading her scalp, stopped.

A rustling sound followed.

Lin Yan looked up.

Song Yuhang had taken off her jacket and, wearing a white T-shirt, had slipped into the water. The thin-as-paper fabric faintly revealed the outline of her abs.

Lin Yan’s ears grew hot, and she hastily averted her gaze.

Song Yuhang knew that for someone like her, who lacked a sense of security and was filled with uncertainty, actions were more effective than words.

She wrapped a long arm around her, pulling her into an embrace.

Lin Yan fell into her arms, still clutching the rose petal in her palm.

Her heart pounded like a drum as the other woman held the nape of her neck.

“Still feel like it’s not real?”

“N-no—” she breathed raggedly, and the moment the word left her lips, her body was lifted.

The warm water was the best lubricant.

The sensation was so exquisite that it made Song Yuhang’s scalp tingle, and she let out a muffled groan.

She had always liked being the one on top.

Lin Yan held back from making a sound, her nails pinching the petal so hard it seemed to wilt.

Song Yuhang held her and pushed her against the side of the tub. “You are worthy. Don’t belittle yourself.”

She spoke right next to her ear, her touch finding a sensitive, vital spot. Lin Yan couldn’t move.

With every word she spoke, Song Yuhang’s movements grew fiercer.

Until the very end, with the corners of her eyes red, she couldn’t utter a single complete sentence, only whimpers.

The surface of the water rippled violently before slowly returning to calm.

Lin Yan’s long lashes were heavy with water vapor, and even her usually fair skin was flushed a deep red, as if she had just had a full-body sauna.

Song Yuhang buried her face in her neck and chuckled. “You still think it’s fast? I can’t wait to marry you.”

Lin Yan grabbed her hair, trying to push her up, grinding her teeth. But before she could make a move, she was lifted into the air.

Water from the tub spilled onto the floor. She casually grabbed a bathrobe from the rack nearby and wrapped her up in it.

Song Yuhang stepped barefoot onto the wooden floor, carrying her towards the upstairs bedroom.

Lin Yan had a strange, ominous feeling. “I have work tomorrow.”

Song Yuhang pushed open the bedroom door and gently placed her on the bed. “I’ll give you the day off.”

“Mmph… you’re abusing your power.”

“This is called caring for and showing consideration to a subordinate.”

Lin Yan wanted to resist, but the rest of her protest was completely annihilated between her lips and teeth.

---

The next afternoon, when Lin Yan woke up, the bed was already empty. Song Yuhang had left her a note:

I’ve already requested leave for you. The congee is in the pot, eat it while it’s hot.

Lin Yan sat up, rubbing her sore lower back, shoulders, and neck, and slowly got out of bed to wash up.

Just as she ladled the congee into a bowl and was walking towards the table, stirring it with a spoon, her phone rang.

Lin Yan answered it.

“Miss, the person you asked me to find has been located.”

Her heart tightened, and she placed the bowl on the table.

“How is he?”

“That prison doctor was paralyzed and bedridden a few years ago. His Alzheimer’s has gotten much worse now. He can’t even recognize people, let alone speak clearly.”

If anyone else had told her this, she would have definitely gone to verify it herself. But since it was him, she had always been confident in his work.

“Alright, I understand. Any leads on the whereabouts of Guo Xiaoguang?”

“No, not a trace.”

Lin Yan’s eyes darkened slightly, her voice turning colder. “Keep searching. I want to see him, dead or alive.”

“Yes, Miss.”

The person on the other end hung up quickly.

After finishing her meal, Lin Yan placed the bowl in the sink and hurried to the walk-in closet to change. She planned to go to the bureau in the afternoon, and in the evening, she had plans with Song Yuhang to go shopping for a gift for Mother Song.

In the Technical Investigation office.

“Lin Yan said to ask you all if you have plans for the annual leave. If not, I’m going to book the tickets.” During the lunch break, Song Yuhang came over, holding her phone.

Several heads turned away from their computer screens in unison. Fang Xin had thought Lin Yan was just talking, but who knew she was actually planning to treat them to an island trip? Her eyes immediately lit up like stars.

“Nope, nope, nope! Is Lin-jie coming too?” Duan Cheng was the first to zip over to her side, presenting his ID card and rubbing his hands in excitement.

I can see Lin-jie in a swimsuit again.

Song Yuhang and Fang Xin both looked up at the same time, giving him a chilling glare.

She then turned to Fang Xin. “This kid is too rowdy, let’s not have him go. Come on, Fang Xin, Old Zheng, your ID numbers.”

“I agree.”

“I agree too.”

Duan Cheng’s face fell into a miserable frown. “Captain Song, you can’t do this. It’s bad enough that Lin-jie bullies me, but now you’re bullying me too.”

Fang Xin grabbed his ear and pulled him away. “Have some sense! Go read your comic books!”

“Old Zheng, yours.” Song Yuhang finished entering Fang Xin’s ID number and turned her gaze to Zheng Chengrui.

Zheng Chengrui took off his headphones and recited a string of numbers. Duan Cheng pounced on him, wrapping an arm around his neck with a triumphant look.

“Why don’t you show us your ID card? I caught a glimpse of it the other day. Guess what, everyone? Old Zheng used to be super skinny, he’s like a completely different person now!”

Zheng Chengrui laughed and pushed him off. “Stop messing around. It’s at home. I just gained weight from the irregular work schedule after I started this job.”

Song Yuhang smiled and entered the numbers he recited. “That’s true. Obesity is an occupational hazard in our line of work. We really need to exercise more.”

As she spoke, she put her phone away, intending to leave. “Alright then, everyone, pack your things, get your swimsuits ready. See you at the airport on the first day of the Lunar New Year.”

Duan Cheng chased after her. “Captain Song, Captain Song, what about me!”

Fang Xin couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Serves him right, he never learns.

By the time Duan Cheng returned, satisfied, Song Yuhang was standing at the door, tapping on her phone, probably texting Lin Yan.

Fang Xin sidled over again with a file folder, winking suggestively. “For this island trip, Captain Song must have other plans, right?”

In the inner pocket of her jacket, close to her chest, was the receipt for the rings she had ordered. The pickup date was set for New Year’s Eve. She did indeed have a surprise planned for Lin Yan, so she smiled a little shyly.

“Yeah. What about you and Duan Cheng?”

She nudged her chin in his direction.

That rascal was still playing online games with Old Zheng, having a blast.

Fang Xin ground her teeth. “Forget it. I’m not holding out hope for him.”

“There’s a spark, but it’ll be a while before he gets it,” Song Yuhang said, shaking her phone. “Lin Yan said so. She also said this island trip is a chance for you two. She specially booked a king-sized bed for you.”

Fang Xin nearly choked on her own saliva, her face turning beet red. “No way, Captain Song, Lin-jie, that’s too—”

Too much!

Song Yuhang shrugged, indicating she was powerless. “I’m heading back to Criminal Investigation. I need to finish up and leave early today.”

Now it was Fang Xin’s turn to watch her retreating back with metaphorical tears streaming down her face⁴. Her reputation for being utterly whipped⁵ is now set in stone. Asking her is useless; I’d have better luck asking Lin-jie.

---

When Song Yuhang got off work in the afternoon and came out in a change of clothes, Lin Yan was already waiting for her at the entrance.

As usual, it was a flashy red sports car. The woman leaned against the car door with a hand in her pocket, smoking nonchalantly, drawing the gazes of passersby.

It was hard to imagine that when Song Yuhang first met her, she was French-kissing someone at the main gate of the Municipal Bureau while Song Yuhang was crouched nearby, fixing a car.

Now, she belonged completely to her.

Seeing her figure, Song Yuhang felt an inexplicable excitement, like hearing the bell to end class back in her school days. She was already middle-aged, yet she still bounced over like a child.

Lin Yan opened the car door for her. “What do you want to eat?”

“Anything is fine.” Song Yuhang closed the window, the tinted glass blocking all prying eyes.

She gently tilted her head and kissed the corner of her lips.

“Or, we could go home, and I’ll cook for you.”

Lin Yan shied away, her face slightly red. “No way. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re plotting. We’re eating out. After we eat, we’ll go buy clothes and a gift for Auntie.”

Song Yuhang fastened her seatbelt. “Alright, whatever you say.”

While they were eating and shopping, Ji Jingxing was also just leaving the Aichi Dental Hospital with Xiao Wei. Lin Ge walked them to the entrance.

Ji Jingxing turned to look at him on the steps. “Thank you again for squeezing us in⁶ today. I usually get home from work so late, most dental clinics are already closed.”

Lin Ge smiled. Dressed in a white coat and bathed in the evening sun, his face looked even more handsome.

“It’s no problem. I usually wait until there are no more patients before I leave anyway.” He gave a little wink, revealing a boyish, charming playfulness.

“If Miss Ji is satisfied with the service, you can come back often for your fillings. I’ll give you a 20% discount.”

Ji Jingxing laughed. “Not a bone-breaking discount⁷ this time?”

As soon as she said it, they both burst into laughter. Xiao Wei wriggled free from her mother’s hand, ran to his knee, and opened her palm to reveal a small, paper-folded heart.

“Uncle Lin, this is for you. Thank you, my tooth doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Lin Ge bent down, stroking her head, and took the paper heart, placing it in the pocket of his white coat.

“Thank you too, Xiao Wei, for being so good and obedient, and for cooperating with Uncle’s treatment. That’s why you got better so quickly. From now on, you have to listen to your mom and eat less candy, okay?”

Ji Weiyi clenched her little fists and nodded vigorously. She looked back every three steps as she left. “Goodbye, Uncle.”

Lin Ge waved to them. “Goodbye.”

On the way back, Xiao Wei skipped along, swinging her mother’s hand. “Mom, I think Uncle Lin is a really nice person.”

“Oh? How so?” Ji Jingxing looked at her with a smile.

“Umm…” Xiao Wei mumbled, counting on her fingers. “He loves to smile, and his smile is so warm. He’s very nice to Xiao Wei, and he’s very nice to Mom too. When he patted my head, his hand felt very big and strong, kind of like a dad.”

Ji Jingxing’s heart ached. Song Yichen had already passed away when she was born; all they had at home were cold, lifeless photographs.

How much must she miss her father to say something like that?

At the same time, her ears grew hot.

She crouched down, looked into her daughter’s eyes, and fixed her scarf. “Xiao Wei, Uncle Lin is nice, but he’s not your dad. You can’t say that in front of others, it will make Uncle feel awkward, understand?”

Xiao Wei nodded, not without a little disappointment. “I know, Mom. I won’t say things like that anymore.”

Only then did Ji Jingxing pat her head again, a smile spreading across her face. “Good girl.”

The two continued walking. Xiao Wei held her hand, looking up at her with wide, curious eyes, speaking with childhood innocence.

“Then Mom, Mom, I have one last question. Why can’t Uncle Lin be my dad? I want a dad, just like the other kids.”

Ji Jingxing felt both heartbroken and helpless. She pressed her hand to her forehead. “Xiao Wei…”

Xiao Wei giggled, covering her mouth with her gloved hand. “Mommy’s blushing! I have one very, very last question—”

Ji Jingxing deliberately put on a stern face. “Don’t say it.”

“I want to, I want to.” Xiao Wei raised her hand high, only showing such a lively and cute side in front of her mother.

“Then, what kind of person can be my dad?”

Ji Jingxing froze. In that instant, the face of Song Yichen flashed through her mind, followed even by Song Yuhang’s features, but they finally coalesced into a pair of smiling eyes.

The sunlight fell upon his white coat.

Ji Jingxing felt a complicated mix of emotions. She thought, perhaps Lin Yan was right. She really had been single for too long.

She wasn’t truly in love with Song Yuhang; she just loved the companionship and warmth she provided. But then again, who wouldn’t love companionship and warmth?

She prided herself on her integrity and refined elegance. At the company, she never gossiped and always kept her distance from the men who showed interest, thinking she could remain above the fray of the secular world. Who knew she would still fall into the mortal coil after all.

Her supposed unconventionality was, in fact, no more enlightened than Lin Yan’s.

Seeing that her mother wasn’t answering, Xiao Wei gently tugged on her sleeve.

Ji Jingxing crouched down and stroked her head. “It’s Mommy’s fault. I’m sorry that Xiao Wei has never felt a father’s love. Actually, Mommy doesn’t have many requirements for who could be Xiao Wei’s dad. I just hope that if there is such a person, he would be someone trustworthy and dependable, and he would have to be good to Xiao Wei, forever and ever.”

Xiao Wei was still young and didn’t quite understand the wry smile on her mother’s lips. She only saw that her mom was a little sad, so she cupped her face in her little hands and said in a sweet, childish voice, “Mommy, I was wrong. I’ll never mention Daddy again. It’s okay if I don’t have one, really. Things are great just the way they are. I’ll always be with Mommy.”

The two continued to walk, the streetlights stretching their shadows long behind them.

“But Mommy is very busy and can’t pick you up from school on time…”

“It’s okay! I’ll wait obediently at school for Mommy or Grandma to pick me up. I won’t run off.”

“But Xiao Wei still has to attend interest classes during winter and summer breaks…” Ji Jingxing’s voice filled with more and more self-blame.

“But all my classmates are so jealous of me! I know calligraphy, I can play the piano, I can dance, I can sing…”

As Xiao Wei spoke, she let go of her mother’s hand and skipped ahead, performing a children’s song she had just learned that day, looking like a true little angel under the streetlight.

---

As the end of the year approached, red lanterns were hung in streets and alleys, and the festive atmosphere grew stronger.

Song Yuhang and Lin Yan also enjoyed a few rare days of peace.

They went to work one after the other, came home to cook, went for a walk after dinner, curled up on the sofa to watch some TV, and then it was time for their routine exercise.

At first, Lin Yan, having just gotten a taste of it, thought it was fine. But after a while, she wanted nothing more than to kick her out of bed. Unfortunately, the other woman, having just started, was in high spirits, and they would inevitably go at it three to five times until both were exhausted.

She had no energy left to think about anything else and would just fall straight asleep.

One day, Song Yuhang woke up and started cutting out window decorations⁸. It was her first time doing this, and she stuck the crooked creations onto the window.

Lin Yan found them hideous⁹. “What is this?”

The other woman turned her head excitedly. “It’s a fish, can’t you tell?”

“…”

The corner of Lin Yan’s mouth twitched. She really couldn’t tell. It didn’t look like a fish, nor a dragon; it looked more like a centipede.

Not wanting to dampen her enthusiasm, Lin Yan silently tolerated her pasting such bizarrely shaped red paper onto her floor-to-ceiling windows.

“Does it look good?”

“…It looks good.”

“Let’s go, let’s go, time for work!” Fearing that she would ask the demonic question, “What part of it looks good?” Lin Yan dragged her out of the villa and stuffed her into the car.

On the day before New Year’s Eve, it was customary to have a team dinner after work.

The group sat in a private room at a hotpot restaurant, toasting each other, their laughter echoing endlessly. Lin Yan was also given a special exception to have a few more drinks.

When the clock struck midnight, their glasses clinked together, and everyone shouted in unison.

“Happy New Year!”

Bang—pop! Fireworks lit up the sky outside, tingeing the corners of everyone’s eyes with joy.

For Duan Cheng, this was his first year as an intern at the Jiangcheng Municipal Bureau, and it had been a year fraught with disasters.

Fortunately, he had pulled through.

For Fang Xin, this year she had met a cold-faced but warm-hearted superior and a cute “little brother.” Although the future was uncertain, at this moment, having everyone around her was the best possible outcome.

Zheng Chengrui looked at the brothers fooling around him and took the initiative to clink glasses with Duan Cheng. “Come on, I’ll drink to you first.”

A crisp clink of glass rang out. Duan Cheng was startled; he could have sworn he saw a glint of moisture behind his glasses, but when he tried to get a better look, it was gone.

He had no choice but to raise his glass and down it in one go. “Cheers.”

As for Lin Yan and Song Yuhang, their minds were already elsewhere¹⁰. Lin Yan was afraid she would drink too much and get a rash again, while Song Yuhang was anxious to get home and be affectionate with her.

After all, with so many people around, she was afraid Lin Yan would be too shy.

As soon as the dinner ended, the two called for a designated driver and headed straight home. Before getting in the car, they didn’t forget to remind the other three.

“Don’t forget, see you at the airport at noon on the first!”

“Okay.”

The group waved at them, watching as Lin Yan’s car disappeared around the street corner.

Back home, Song Yuhang leaned on the sofa to sober up, watching as she went in and out of the walk-in closet, flitting back and forth like a showy peacock¹¹.

One moment, she would pick up a dress.

“Does this look good?”

Song Yuhang let out a drunken hiccup and nodded. “Looks good.”

Lin Yan then picked up a trench coat. “Is this appropriate?”

Before she could answer, she buried herself back in the pile of clothes.

“No, no, this one is too plain. I should wear something brighter for the New Year.”

“This one won’t work either, it’s too revealing. I’m meeting the family, after all.”

“This one? This one is even worse. So tacky. It must be from a year ago.”

…

Song Yuhang pressed her forehead and chuckled, stumbling to her feet. She walked over and wrapped her arms around her waist, resting her head on her shoulder.

“You’re going to see my mom, not a beauty pageant. Just wear whatever. Besides…”

She let out another hiccup, nuzzling her neck again and again.

“Hic… I think… you look best… wearing nothing.”

“Get lost!” Lin Yan roared, swinging a clothes hanger at her.

The next morning, on a rare holiday with no work, Song Yuhang woke up early as usual.

Lin Yan lazily tugged at the corner of her clothes. “Where are you going?”

She turned and planted a kiss on her forehead. “To put up the couplets¹², and then go out to buy a few things. Aren’t we going to my place for dinner tonight?”

Lin Yan grumbled a little. Song Yuhang held her for a while longer, and only then did she let go, watching her get dressed and leave.

The person who said she was going out to buy things turned around and went straight to the diamond ring counter. It looked like the mall was getting ready to close; luckily, she had arrived early.

Song Yuhang silently congratulated herself, taking out the still-warm paper from her chest pocket and handing it to the sales associate.

“Hello, I’m here to pick up a custom-ordered ring.”

A small velvet box was handed to her. Song Yuhang opened it, her heart filled with joy, an irrepressible smile on her lips. She took out the slightly larger one and tried it on; it was a perfect fit.

She would give the smaller one to Lin Yan tomorrow when they arrived in Saipan and propose.

Song Yuhang took it off her right hand, carefully placed it back in the box, and tucked it into the pocket of her coat near her chest. After thanking the associate, she left quickly.

She still needed to go to the supermarket to buy a few things, lest Lin Yan suspect anything.

When she returned to the parking lot with bags full of gifts, a shadowy figure scurried away from her car.

She ran over to check, but the person was gone faster than a rabbit.

Lin Yan’s beloved red car had a long scratch mark on the door, made by a key.

“Sh#t, what a string of bad luck.” Song Yuhang placed the bags on the hood and pulled at the car door; it was locked.

She quietly breathed a sigh of relief, unlocked the car with the key fob, and leaned in to check if anything was missing from inside. Fortunately, everything was still there.

She backed out, picked up the gifts, and put them in the trunk, her heart weeping as she mentally calculated how she was going to explain this to Lin Yan.

That evening, Lin Yan dismissed the matter with a wave of her hand, on one condition: when she was on the bottom, she was not allowed to resist.

Song Yuhang was forced to sign the humiliating treaty¹³.

After all, they were going to meet the family, and the long scratch on the car door was still quite an eyesore.

Lin Yan called for someone to tow the car for repairs and simultaneously arranged for a replacement: a new, less flamboyant, and slightly more understated white Audi.

Song Yuhang watched in amazement as she changed cars as easily as changing clothes. That BMW M-series that had been wrecked at the bottom of the sea was worth at least a million.

Lin Yan raised an eyebrow, whistled, and walked over. She gently lifted her chin, looking down at her from her superior height in high heels.

“Happy? You’ve bagged yourself a sugar mama.”

Song Yuhang opened the car door for her and bowed. “After you, my sugar mama.”

When they arrived at the Song residence, Mother Song had already prepared two new pairs of slippers and placed them at the entrance, waiting for them.

They weren’t guest slippers, but the fluffy, warm cotton kind for winter.

Song Yuhang took them from the shoe rack for her. “Mom, we’re home.”

Hearing the commotion at the door, Mother Song wiped her hands on her apron and came out of the kitchen, momentarily stunned.

Her daughter, who had always been so proud and arrogant, was crouching down, gently rubbing another woman’s ankle. Her words were a complaint, but her tone was gentle.

“I told you not to wear high heels. Look, your feet are hurting again, aren’t they?”

Lin Yan stood there, lightly resting a hand on her shoulder for support, her face slightly red as she mumbled, “Isn’t it all to make a good impression on Auntie—”

Perhaps she had been standing there for some time, which finally brought the love-struck couple back to their senses.

Lin Yan shot up straight, a proper smile spreading across her face. “Hello, Auntie.”

Her face was still red, and she clearly didn’t dare to look at her, possessing a certain shyness of a new bride.

Her outfit today was also very endearing: a white turtleneck sweater paired with a camel-colored half-skirt, accentuating her long legs and slender waist, making her look graceful and elegant.

She also wore a long, dangling tassel earring, but only on one side, which was exquisite and fashionable without being overly complicated.

The white sweater made her already fair complexion appear as radiant as jade, and with the added blush, she looked even more stunningly beautiful.

Except for being too thin, the girl was a delight to look at.

Seeing Mother Song sizing her up, Lin Yan’s smile was about to freeze on her face. She felt that something was off, and when her gaze fell on her own handbag slung over Song Yuhang’s shoulder, she snatched it back.

“Hehehe…”

It’s a good thing these two kids are so close.

Mother Song chuckled. “Come, sit, sit. Look at me, I’m not even ready. There are sunflower seeds, peanuts, candy, and fruit on the table. Have some to tide you over.”

It was warm inside. Song Yuhang put down their things, took off her coat, removed her scarf, and went to wash her hands.

The moment she entered the kitchen, the aroma of braised meat hit her. The scent made her mouth water instantly.

“Mom, what delicious food are you making today?”

Mother Song shot her a look but still fished out a piece of cooked beef from the simmering pot of marinade, placed it on the cutting board, sliced it into small pieces, and put them in a bowl.

“Here, go let Yanyan have a taste. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back? Nothing is ready, and Mom hasn’t even changed. Dressed like this…”

For convenience while cooking, Mother Song had her silver hair wrapped in a kerchief and was wearing an old outfit with an apron.

Song Yuhang snickered, sneaking a piece for herself, and was so hot she yelped and grabbed her earlobe.

“Don’t worry, Mom. She won’t mind. Besides, Yanyan also bought you new clothes.”

“Didn’t I tell you not to buy anything? Disobedient again…”

Before Mother Song could start lecturing her, Song Yuhang had already slipped out with the bowl, quick as lightning.

She picked up a piece with chopsticks, blew on it to cool it down, and then held it out to Lin Yan. “Ah—have a taste. My mom’s braised beef¹⁴.”

“Mmm, delicious.”

The beef was stewed until it was tender and flavorful, with a subtle, perfectly balanced spiciness and a lingering aftertaste of spices.

Lin Yan squinted her eyes in contentment.

Song Yuhang handed the chopsticks to her. “You eat first then. I’ll go help in the kitchen so we can eat sooner.”

“Okay,” Lin Yan replied, also preparing to stand up.

“Maybe I should go too.”

“No, no. Our family doesn’t have a rule about making the new daughter-in-law do chores.”

Lin Yan’s face turned slightly red as she muttered, “Who’s the new daughter-in-law… We agreed I’d be on top tonight…”

Song Yuhang pinched her nose and ran off before she could finish.

“Just this once, I’ll let you.”

To prevent the cooking fumes from drifting into the living room, the kitchen door was closed again.

Lin Yan sat back down. Just as she picked up a piece of meat and brought it to her mouth, the doorbell rang.

She dabbed her lips with a tissue and ran to open the door. “Coming, coming!”

The door opened. Their eyes met.

The smile on Lin Yan’s face faded. They’re family, after all. Whoever is meant to come will come sooner or later.

Ji Jingxing stood there, holding her child, her eyes silently fixed on the slippers Lin Yan was wearing—the ones that belonged to Song Yuhang.

They were a pair she and Mother Song had bought together while shopping a couple of days ago. They had bought two pairs.

“Miss Lin, may we come in?”

Lin Yan pressed her lips together tightly and silently stepped aside, making way.

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LP: Re-translated on June 23, 2025

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