Chapter 59: The Love-Brain Female Lead Awakens 2

The ingredients were quickly delivered to the dormitory entrance.

She forced herself to summon some energy and get moving.

The results of her verification were truly mind-boggling.

The dormitory lacked many things, but even if she had to use the back of a mirror as a cutting board and a fruit knife to chop vegetables, it couldn’t limit her performance.

Even though her hands and mind were slightly out of sync, by the time her roommates returned from class, the sweet and sour pork ribs and sautéed Chinese broccoli were already steaming hot and ready.

Sang Ruo stared blankly at the two dishes. If she told anyone this was her first time cooking, they certainly wouldn’t believe her. If she wasn’t some divinely gifted culinary genius, then the dream was real…

Thinking of everything Zhou Yan did in the dream, her heart ached with fury.

Mostly, she was angry at herself.

Thinking back on her first twenty years, everything had gone smoothly for Sang Ruo; she had whatever she wanted. How could she have been so blind as to hang herself from a crooked tree like Zhou Yan, even humbling herself so much! In the end, she had been left with nothing.

Yin Xiaoxin was the first to return to the dorm. She froze when she saw the unwashed electric cooker and the two large plates of food.

She pointed at the sweet and sour pork ribs and asked uncertainly, “Ruo Ruo, you made these?”

Sang Ruo snapped out of it and nodded.

“With an electric cooker?” Yin Xiaoxin was incredulous.

Sang Ruo nodded again. So what if it was an electric cooker? If it could heat up, it could cook.

“Can I try some?” Yin Xiaoxin asked.

Sang Ruo made a welcoming gesture. Yin Xiaoxin couldn’t wait to pop a fragrant rib into her mouth, letting out muffled cries of delight. “Oh my god, oh my god! This isn’t any worse than the third cafeteria. I think it’s even better! Ruo Ruo, you didn’t buy takeout from a big hotel just to trick me, did you?”

Sang Ruo smiled. Her mind was a mess of legalistic worries, and she really wasn’t in the mood for jokes.

She picked up the pot to go wash it, but Yin Xiaoxin stopped her. “Don’t move, let me do it.” Then, she pressed her hands together in a pleading gesture and said pitifully, “Just please share some of those ribs with me. Please, have mercy on your roommate who’s about to die of cravings.”

Amused, Sang Ruo said, “I planned to share them with you all anyway. I couldn’t possibly eat this much on my own.”

“Got it!” Yin Xiaoxin snatched the pot. “I’ll wash it in a bit.” She added, “I’ll tell Liu Liu and the others to bring back some rice. They went to pick up packages after class, so we didn’t walk back together.”

There were four people in the dorm. When the other two roommates heard Sang Ruo had cooked, they brought other things back to go with the rice. One brought a portion of oden with soup, and the other brought a box of braised snacks.

With four people and four dishes, it was a very hearty meal.

Of course, during the meal, Sang Ruo couldn’t escape the complaints of the other three, who grumbled that she had hidden such a skill for over a year.

Sang Ruo had a bitterness she couldn’t voice, so she simply said nothing.

Yin Xiaoxin found her own explanation: “But it makes sense. Looking at your fair, tender hands, you aren’t exactly the type to cook every day. It’s fine as a hobby, and we can enjoy the benefits once in a while.”

–

That night, Sang Ruo dreamed again.

She dreamed that she and Zhou Yan were arguing uncontrollably over whether the child was his, to the point of demanding a divorce.

Zhou Yan refused. Ultimately, the wealth he possessed now all came from the Sang family’s industries.

At the end of the argument, he said something in an extremely mocking tone that left Sang Ruo without even the strength to fight him.

He said, “Sang Ruo, what right do you have to make a scene with me? Don’t think I don’t know about you and Yi Chen’an.”

“What do you mean?”

Sang Ruo found it utterly absurd. Her and Yi Chen’an? They had absolutely nothing to do with each other!

“Heh, you dare say you have no relationship with Yi Chen’an? If there was nothing between you, why would he lead a team and drive through the night to search for you without rest when you were trapped in C City during that earthquake? If there was nothing between you, why would he help me without hesitation every time my business ran into trouble? If there was nothing between you, why has he remained unmarried to this day? If there was nothing between you, how could he know your preferences so well that every time we ate together, the dishes he ordered were exactly to your taste? Say it! What? Speechless now!” Zhou Yan’s expression was one of pure satisfaction as he spoke.

Sang Ruo processed Zhou Yan’s words in disbelief. “You’re saying that every time the company had trouble, Yi Chen’an was the one who helped?”

Zhou Yan snorted coldly. “Obviously. Isn’t that his usual trick for currying favor with you?”

“I…” Sang Ruo opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Only today did she realize, far too late, that she had never truly known the husband she shared a bed with, Zhou Yan.

And she knew even less about Yi Chen’an.

–

Sang Ruo woke up with a start. She checked her phone; it wasn’t even six o’clock yet.

Her forehead was covered in cold sweat, her heart felt uncomfortable, and a thick shroud of sadness enveloped her.

Why was Yi Chen’an in her dreams?

Yi Chen’an. Just from his name, one could tell he was from a different world than her.

Yi Chen’an was a peer of Sang Ruo’s father. They got along well and had frequent contact outside of business, eventually becoming friends.

This man was definitely considered young and successful. He was only eight years older than Sang Ruo, but the company he founded from scratch was already preparing for an IPO¹. He was quite famous in Qingyang, a city full of hidden talents. When Sang Ruo applied for university in Qingyang, her father had asked Yi Chen’an to look after her over the next few years.

But Sang Ruo’s relationship with him ended there.

Therefore, Zhou Yan’s sudden mention of him in the dream left her feeling shaken.

Thinking of the Yi Chen’an in her dream, Sang Ruo felt restless. After getting through her morning classes haphazardly, she declined Zhou Yan’s invitation to lunch and prepared to head straight back to the dorm.

Zhou Yan asked worriedly, “Babe, what’s wrong? You haven’t been yourself all day.”

Sang Ruo was distracted and brushed him off with a few perfunctory words before leaving.

Her head felt heavy. After thinking for a while, she actually took out her phone as if possessed and dialed the number belonging to Yi Chen’an in the corner of her contacts. The phone rang once, and she frantically hung up.

What was she trying to do? Call a busy man like Yi Chen’an because of a dream? What would she say if he answered? “Hello, Yi Chen’an, I dreamed about you last night, just calling to let you know”?

Sang Ruo laughed at herself; it was too nonsensical.

Her palm vibrated slightly as the phone in her hand rang. It was Yi Chen’an.

The moment Sang Ruo saw the name, her heart began to race with nerves. She waited a good while before picking up.

“Sang Ruo?” A cool, deep, and resonant voice came through the receiver.

“Yes, it’s me, Brother Yi.” Although her father and Yi Chen’an were peers, since Yi Chen’an wasn’t much older than Sang Ruo, her father didn’t want her calling him something that made him sound old, so he had her call him “Brother.”

“Did you just call me?” Along with his voice came the sound of pages turning. Clearly, he was busy.

It made her seem even more idle, as if she only had time to call people one by one.

Sang Ruo regretted her impulsiveness and answered guiltily, “It’s nothing, Brother Yi. I’m sorry, I dialed the wrong number just now.”

There was silence on the other end for a moment. Sang Ruo gripped her phone nervously. After a while, Yi Chen’an spoke. “Are you out of class?”

“Yes, it’s lunch break,” she said dryly.

“Mm.”

“?” Seeing the conversation stall, Sang Ruo said quickly, “Well, that’s all then. I’ll let you get back to work, Brother Yi.” She placed extra emphasis on the word “work.”

This time, he answered quickly: “Alright. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”

After hanging up, Sang Ruo let out a massive sigh of relief.

She really was sleep-deprived. How could a man like that have time to deal with a young girl? She began to doubt the contents of her dream again.

The teaching building was a bit far from the dormitory area, and combined with her slow pace, it took her about twenty minutes to reach the dorm. While she was still climbing the stairs, her phone rang again. It was Yi Chen’an. Sang Ruo wondered why he was calling back.

“Hello, Brother Yi, is something the matter?”

Instead of answering, he asked, “Are you busy right now?”

“Uh, no, I just got back to the dorm.”

“I brought something for you. Come out and get it, I’m at your school gate.” He paused before adding, “The east gate.”

“Oh… okay, I’ll be right there.”

Sang Ruo was puzzled. Had Old Sang sent the lychees to Yi Chen’an’s place? Regardless, she hurriedly dropped her backpack and rushed toward the east gate.

The school entrance was crowded at noon, but Sang Ruo still spotted that tall, standing figure at a single glance. Yi Chen’an stood in the shade of a tree by the sidewalk, truly and patiently waiting for someone. He wasn’t playing on his phone or doing anything else to kill time, nor was he looking around. He just stood there leisurely, watching the direction of the school gate.

Consequently, the moment Sang Ruo stepped out, he noticed her and strode toward her.

He was still dressed in formal wear; she had no idea where he had come from.

This man was habitually stern and serious, never one for jokes. Sang Ruo always felt very constrained in his presence.

As he drew near, Yi Chen’an handed the items in his hand to Sang Ruo.

It was a basket woven from reeds, with a ring of dried mugwort wrapped around the rim, filled with zongzi. It looked quite rustic and charming.

Only then did Sang Ruo remember that the Dragon Boat Festival was approaching.

“Thank you, Brother Yi.”

Yi Chen’an nodded. “Mhm. Go on back inside. I’m leaving.”

Not a single wasted word.

Sang Ruo cradled the basket and started walking back, but after a few steps, she couldn’t help but turn her head. Yi Chen’an was still standing there, rubbing his temples with his hand, his face showing signs of fatigue. Seemingly not expecting Sang Ruo to look back, he appeared slightly surprised, then immediately lowered his hand. “Hurry back.”

Unexpectedly, Sang Ruo jogged back to him. “Brother Yi, have you eaten yet?”

Yi Chen’an frowned. “You haven’t eaten yet?”

Sang Ruo flashed her trademark pleasing smile. “I just finished class and haven’t had the chance.”

“What do you want to eat?”

“Ah? Oh… anything is fine.”

Yi Chen’an didn’t speak.

Braving the pressure, Sang Ruo offered a weak suggestion: “How about… we go have some porridge? It’s quite hot out today.”

“Let’s go.”

That was an agreement. Sang Ruo breathed a sigh of relief. She followed closely behind him clutching the basket of zongzi, only speaking up when she realized he was heading to get his car. “There’s a place nearby, it’s not far. We can just walk.”

“Mhm.” Yi Chen’an took the heavy basket of zongzi from her and walked by Sang Ruo’s side, signaling for her to lead the way.

The two walked in silence, looking completely out of place amidst the noisy school entrance. Feeling a bit awkward, Sang Ruo searched for a topic. “Brother Yi, did you eat breakfast today?”

This was clearly not a good topic, as no one responded.

Sang Ruo’s gaze traveled from the man’s polished leather shoes, up his straight suit trousers, all the way to his face. Only then did Yi Chen’an speak: “I was in a hurry when I left this morning.”

“Oh.”

Sang Ruo’s heart sank a little further.

In her dreams, Yi Chen’an did not have a good ending.

Translator’s Notes