"It's me, Chen Decheng. Last night, Wei Yao and I were drinking together, and he passed out. He's still asleep," Chen Decheng's voice came through.
Yu Longting sat me on a chair, "He called me several times without getting through, so I called him back."
"Last night, Wei Yao drank too much and kept regretting," Chen Decheng sighed, "I shouldn't have introduced you to Ye Jiqing. I guess it was then when he called. How are things on your end?"
I glanced out the car window and replied to Chen Decheng, "The issue has been resolved, Ye Jiqing is safe now, and I just arrived at Spring Wind Town. I'll be at the restaurant in a bit."
"You've been gone for these days, finally coming back?! That's great, I'll have the kitchen make some nice dishes right away to welcome you back. You've really been through a lot this time," Chen Decheng said very happily, "I've got some great news to tell you later."
"Decheng, make extra, my boyfriend is with me too," I replied with a lowered gaze, a smile unconsciously forming on my lips.
The car stopped in front of the restaurant, which was as busy as ever.
Xiao Li was bustling about, not noticing our car.
I got out of the car with the black cat and Yu Longting, and at that moment, the black cat woke up.
It stretched lazily in my arms and meowed.
Rongling was just about to get out of the car when he stiffened up, "Brother, oh brother!! Was that a cat's meow?"
"Yes, there's a cat meowing," Yu Longting said.
Rongling looked a bit scared, "Is it a stray cat? Quick, get rid of it!"
"No, your sister-in-law got a cat," Yu Longting replied.
Rongling turned his head stiffly to look at me, and his normally floppy hair stood up as if electrified.
"What the heck? Sister-in-law got a cat??"
In almost the blink of an eye, Rongling had disappeared without a trace.
I looked at Yu Longting, puzzled, "Are snakes still scared of cats?"
"Don't mind him, he's just crazy," Yu Longting said with clear disdain.
The black cat in my arms looked utterly bored, paying no mind to the fussing Rongling.
Yu Longting got into the driver's seat, "I'll go park the car."
"Okay," I said to him and went to find Xiao Li. Chapters first released on N()velFire.net
When Xiao Li turned around and saw me, her face lit up with joy, "Yuanyuan, you're back! Why do you look thinner?"
"Maybe I'm just tired, lost a little weight," I told Xiao Li.
Xiao Li frowned and pulled me aside seriously, "You're pregnant too! Have you heard of a pregnant woman losing weight instead of gaining? Be careful, your baby might become malnourished."
"Is it that serious?" I touched my stomach.
Last time in my dream, I saw Dumpling, round and fluffy, so cute.
Xiao Li nodded seriously and shouted towards the kitchen, "Bring a pot of black fish soup, a dish of pork with spinach, and a plate of stir-fried nuts. It's for Yuanyuan's welcome-back meal, make it a generous portion, the boss is treating."
The head chef in the kitchen called out, "Oh? Little Yuanyuan is back? Alright, I'll make it right away."
"How has my mom been these last few days?" I asked Xiao Li.
Xiao Li nodded, "Apart from not coming home the night before last, she's been good every day."
"She didn't come home the night before last?" I asked, surprised, putting down the black cat and rolling up my sleeves to help Xiao Li clean up a table left by customers.
Xiao Li paused in her wiping, looked at me and said, "It seems someone came asking for you to treat their child, you weren't here, so your aunt went instead."
"Treat a child..." I knew my mom had learned some tricks of the Yin Yang Life and Death Embroidery from my dad, but I was not aware that she could treat illnesses.
Xiao Li looked around, lowering her voice, "There was a woman who brought by a baby who wouldn't cry or smile, just stared with grey eyes, really creepy."
"That's autism," I said.
Xiao Li also said, "I told that woman it was autism, but..."
Seeing her raise my curiosity, I glared at her, "but Aunt said that the child's soul had been snatched."