135. Candlelight Dinner

An Ran and Lin Li turned their heads at the same time, only to see not too far from them, Ling Lin was looking at them with a face full of anger.

Lin Li glanced at An Ran, and inquired, “Who is she, you know her?”

An Ran nodded, “Former colleague.” She looked at Ling Lin with a frown.

Ling Lin walked over to them, appeared to be in a rage, stood in front of An Ran, with a sharp tone she said, “Gu An Ran, was that right, was what you made Brother Yi Cheng do right!”

An Ran instinctively leaned back. Ling Lin had sprayed perfume all over herself, the fragrance was making her unwell. She frowned even more, and said, “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Are you acting stupid with me.” Ling Lin took a step forward, glowered at her, the expression in her eyes seemed to swallow her whole. She denounced, “Our Ling Family is the way it is now because of you!” Dad said that Brother Yi Cheng was the one who framed him and exposed him, she knew it must be this woman, if not for this woman inciting Yi Cheng, Yi Cheng definitely wouldn't have ignored the two families' past relation, and purposely exposed dad, and the Ling Family wouldn't be like this now, all her friends were purposely avoiding her and shunning her, scared that she would come to them for help.

An Ran's lips tightened, then stuffly said, “I didn't.” There was a burst of tumbling in the stomach, felt like it was coming up. An Ran got up, wanting to go to the washroom, but was blocked by Ling Lin.

“Where do you think you're going?” Ling Lin blocked her from leaving, and viciously said, “Today we will make it clear, what is your intention, what did our Ling Family do wrong to you, why did you harm our Ling Family!”

An Ran was truly unwell, she could feel the food that was just in her stomach come up to her throat, if she doesn't go now, she really can't guarantee that she could hold it down!

Lin Li could see that An Ran was unwell. One look at Ling Lin and she could see that she was unwilling to give up, so she quickly got up and went around the table, said, “Hey, what's wrong with this woman, what kind of person just walks up to people and starts yelling at them?”

“Who are you, what does my business have anything to do with you!” Ling Lin stared at her with wide eyes, her face was full of disdain.

An Ran covered her mouth. She wanted to push Ling Lin out of the way but couldn't, instead while she was shoving her she couldn't hold it in anymore, and everything came out and spilled all over Ling Lin.

*Retching*…. Everything she had this evening, at lunch, landed upon Ling Lin.

Ling Lin had been wearing a chiffon dress, the muslin was elegant. The skirt was not too long, didn't even go past the knee, and right now in this tragedy, it got on the skirt, even her thighs were covered in An Ran's dirty vomit. There were even some things had not been digested yet, it was still in its original form, looking at it made people turn back around, disgusted.

At this time it seemed as if everything had stopped. The three women did not speak, the noisy restaurant became quiet immediately, leaving only the restaurant's acoustic music behind, faintly broadcasting a gentle tune.

The very first person who reacted was Lin Li, upon seeing Ling Lin covered in vomit, and seeing that furious expression turn into horror, she suddenly had an urge to laugh.

An Ran was still very unwell, only a little bit better compared to before. She looked at Ling Lin in front of her, then looked at the filth on her body, she at the moment did not know what she should say.

Ling Lin started to tremble, both hands tightly clasped, the sour smell mixed with her perfume quickly combined into a disgusting smell. Right now, she was so p.i.s.sed she really wanted to hit someone.

Lin Li couldn't hold it anymore, and let out a m.u.f.fled laugh, “Haha….”

Ling Lin turned to glare at her, she was about to come to blows with her.

Lin Li coughed and restrained a smile. One could see that she wanted to laugh but wanted to put on a straight face.

However, all of this infuriated Ling Lin even more, she put all the blame on An Ran. She viciously turned her head, and furiously looked at her, almost gnas.h.i.+ng her teeth, “Gu An Ran!”

An Ran looked at her. At that moment she had forgotten the morning sickness, seeing her clothes and her exposed thigh, she really did not know what she should say, could only look at her and unnaturally raise her head to gesture something, forced a smile and said, “S-sorry, your perfume was too pungent, I wanted to go to the washroom, but you blocked me, so…”

“It's still my fault?!” Ling Lin said that sentence with every word bitten down.

An Ran smiled apologetically, she instinctively wanted to retreat.

Lin Li looked at the embarra.s.sed Ling Lin, couldn't help but ask, “Um, you really don't plan to go to the washroom first?” Because she had been holding back her laugh, her voice had become a little strange.

Ling Lin glared at her viciously. She saw her own sorry state, she had been biting her own teeth out of anger. Finally she turned around but before leaving she still remembered to glare at An Ran, “Just wait for me.” That voice was forced through her clenched teeth. She turned around to walk away, looked at the waitress watching. Her eyes were firing with anger, she snarled, “What are you looking at!” She was swearing up and down as she headed towards the washroom.

After she left, Lin Li really did laugh out loud, “Hahahah… An Zi, this move was heartless, did you see her appearance, really killed me.”

An Ran also found it funny. She looked at her and grudgingly said, “You're still laughing.” Her mouth, because of the vomit, had become unwell, she grabbed the gla.s.s of water on the table and rinsed her mouth. She looked at the food that was almost done, grabbed her bag from the chair, then looked at Lin Li and asked, “Wanna go?” Of course, she wasn't going to wait for Ling Lin to return.

“Duh, otherwise you'll vomit on that wild woman again when she comes back, that'll really make laugh until my stomach aches, stomach cramp!” Lin Li said as she grabbed her bag and walked with An Ran, “Let's walk around the mall.”

“Sure.” An Ran nodded, she also wanted to go to the mall and buy some s.h.i.+rts for Su Yi Cheng, she saw that some of his were somewhat creased.

The two strolled around the mall hand in hand. When they pa.s.sed the maternity store Lin Li insisted on dragging An Ran inside to buy some products, said that she wanted to give a present to her adopted son.

The two finally decided on buying two maternity dresses and a newborn gift bag, and left the shop. It so happened that the children's clothing store was right beside the maternity shop.

Lin Li had an unknown impulse, and dragged An Ran inside, said that she wanted to buy clothes.

An Ran thought that she had wanted to buy clothes for the baby in her stomach. She pulled her aside and said, “These clothes are for 4-5 year olds, why on earth are you buying clothes here, you'll have to wait a few years if you want your adopted son to wear these, why are you so anxious.”

Lin Li glared at her, and said, “Who said your baby is my only adopted son.” After she said that she allowed no other explanation and pulled her inside.

An Ran looked at her oddly, sensing something out of character, or maybe she had missed something this past month. She stood at the entrance, suddenly stopping there.

Lin Li saw that she wasn't walking, and looked at her puzzled, asked, “What's wrong, why aren't you coming in?”

An Ran looked at her strangely, not saying anything after a while.

Lin Li started to feel worry from her look, “What's wrong?” She unconsciously pulled on her clothes, rubbed her face, examining herself to see if something had been on it.

“Speak, what have you been doing lately.” An Ran questioned. Looking at her appearance, she absolutely sure there was something she didn't know.

Lin Li's face flashed an unnatural expression, not looking at her, and only said, “What do you mean, let's go, let's go inside and take a look, children's clothes are so cute.” She simply pulled An Ran into the store.

She selected a few clothing for a 6-7 year old boy, and muttered, “Should buy something a little bigger, boys grow very quickly, they'll grow out of it in no time.”

An Ran grabbed the pair of clothes from her hands, and said, “What child is growing fast, where did this little child come from!”

“Aiya, I'm overflowing with maternal love okay, it's someone else's child, I found them pitiful, the father isn't very affectionate.” Lin Li said and grabbed it back, and said that she is going to the counter to pay.

Seeming as if she made a connection, An Ran pulled her, stared at her, and asked,” Lin Li, are you hiding something from me?”

Lin Li looked at her, and just said, “Why would I hide something from you.”

She looked at the clothes in her hands, An Ran slowly started to say, “Lin Li, I know that Cheng Xiang had hurt you deeply, but I never thought that you would turn out this way and not take responsibility for yourself.” She calculated in her head, she and Cheng Xiang had separated for almost 4 months, and recently she seemed to be in a good mood, if there was a man, she would wish that she'd seize her own happiness, but if she is doing this to avoid facing something, and wronging herself, this is not something she wanted to see. She had been wronged in love for nearly 10 years, if she was still wronging herself, then she is causing herself heartache.

Lin Li was silent. She turned to her, and forced a smile, “You think I have the ability to love someone else?” She grasped on the clothes in her hand, very strongly!

“Lin Li.” An Ran looked at her with worry, but she wasn't sure what she should say to console her. She had been through it with her from the beginning to the end, she clearly understood the pain, but she knew that pain takes time, it's not something that only needs a few months to recover.

A while later, Lin Li looked at her, shook her head, had a faint smile on her lips, and just said, “I'm okay.”

An Ran nodded. She didn't know what else to say, she could say something, but instead she returned a faint smile.

Because she was not a.s.sured to let her go home alone, Lin Li sent An Ran back to her home. When they got to the gate, Su Yi Cheng came out from the security's office, wearing home clothes, his hair looked like it had been washed, loose.

Seeing An Ran and Lin Li come over, he smiled at them and headed towards them. An Ran was surprised, but happy, and quickly let go of Lin Li's hand and walked over to him, “Why did you come home so early?” It was only 9 o'clock now, and not only was he home, he had already changed and washed up.

“Today wasn't as busy.” Su Yi Cheng gently said, reached out to stroke her head, brus.h.i.+ng away the bangs that the wind had messed up.

“Tsk tsk tsk….” Lin Li walked over to the couple as she clicked her tongue. She saw that An Ran had ignored her friend, and complained, “Leaving your sister behind when you have a man.” One look at Su Yi Cheng and she threw herself at him, too smitten to have character.

An Ran stuck out her tongue somewhat embarra.s.sed. Actually to call An Ran and Su Yi Cheng a married couple, every night even though they slept on the same bed, but Su Yi Cheng had been very busy during this period of time and they didn't get to see each other much. He's already gone when she wakes up, and she falls asleep before he even gets home, she felt like it had been a long time since she's seen him. Tonight was a rare night that he came home early, when they go up later they can have time to talk.

Su Yi Cheng also smiled and looked at Lin Li, “Do you want to come up to sit for a bit?”

Lin Li waved her head, her face full of disdain, “I'm not interested in becoming a wobbly third wheel.”

“Then do you want us to send you back?” Su Yi Cheng asked politely. He simply felt that it was inappropriate to let a woman go home alone at night.

“No need, I'm not that delicate.” Lin Li said casually. “Just go back to your own intimacy, I'm leaving.” She turned around, then suddenly remembered something, and turned back to look at Su Yi Cheng, “Oh right, let me tell you even though you're busy you better still take care of your wife, why does it look like An Ran is skinnier now than when she wasn't pregnant ah.”

Su Yi Cheng nodded his head in shame, and said, “Yes, it was because I didn't take care of An Ran, I will be careful from now on.”

Lin Li then nodded, and did not forget to threaten, “If you bully An Ran, I, Lin Li, will not let you get off, even if you were deputy mayor or the city mayor.”

“Yes.” Su Yi Cheng forced a laugh, somewhat embarra.s.sed. He was this big, and also had been let go countless times when things were bad, yet this is the first time that a woman said that she wouldn't let him off.

“Alright alright, Yi Cheng wouldn't bully me okay, rest a.s.sured.” An Ran was truly helpless because of Lin Li, but she was still moved by everything that she did for herself.

“You, little An Ran, turn your elbow out, I'm trying to help you!” Lin Li shouted resentfully at An Ran. This chit was so ungrateful!

An Ran chuckled, “Okay okay, if Su Yi Cheng bullies me, I won't go find my mom or dad, I'll head straight to you Lin Li, the two of us will come over and beat him up okay?”

Lin Li nodded, and affirmed, “Yes, you must, if you dare bully one of us, there will no pardon!”

Su Yi Cheng standing at the side could only rub his nose helplessly.

Seeing Lin Li off, after making sure that she got on the car, An Ran then followed Su Yi Cheng and headed to the apartment block. Su Yi Cheng was considerate and carried her bag for her, one hand holding her bag while the other held her hand.

While they were waiting for the elevator An Ran innocently fiddled with his hand. She then remembered something, raised her head to look at him, and said, “Hey, do you think after two years you will still hold my hand like this?”

Su Yi Cheng glanced at her, smiled, and nodded a.s.suredly, “Of course, definitely.” Don't even say two years, after 10, 20 years everything will be the same. He was not an unfaithful man, he is determined to hold the same hand for a lifetime.

An Ran looked at him, wrinkled her nose at him, and said, “Lies, you won't even hold my hand!” Her tone was like it had already happened, it was certain.

Su Yi Cheng raised his eyebrows, and asked, “Why?” She can't see into the future, even if she could, then she should see that he'll always hold her hand, why does she think the opposite!

An Ran looked at him, then looked down on her stomach, and pointed at it, “Look here, in two years, this little one will be walking, at that time she will squeeze in between us, holding onto each of our hands!”

Hearing that, Su Yi Chang laughed out loud. He squeezed her hand, and said, “No, I won't let her stand between us, I will still be holding your hand, and she will stand on the other side.”

“Ho, won't she feel like her mother doesn't love her.” An Ran protested.

When the elevator arrived, Su Yi Cheng laughed, and pulled her inside, “Doesn't matter, I will tell her that you love her, only mother is jealous of her, and wants daddy to hold her hand.”

“I am not jealous.” An Ran pouted as a way to defend herself. Why would she be jealous of her own daughter!

Su Yi Cheng laughed out loud. Her lips were balled up so cutely, so he took the opportunity to pull her into his embrace, and pecked her on the lips.

An Ran was surprised by his move, and quickly pushed him off. Her cheeks were burning red. They're still in the elevator, and there's a camera, they could have been seen by the security guard monitoring, if it really was seen, she'd be embarra.s.sed to death!

Su Yi Cheng knew that she was embarra.s.sed, and just suppressed a chuckle, not too aggravate her. He doesn't want others to see her tempting bashful appearance.

The two entered their apartment. An Ran tiredly changed her shoes and went to lie down on the sofa, Su Yi Cheng couldn't help but shake his head as he put his stuff beside the sofa, then pulled on An Ran's hands, “Come, eat with me.”

Hearing that, An Ran was surprised, she looked at him, and frowned, “You haven't eaten yet?” She looked at the time, it was after 9, he washed up, washed his hair, changed his clothes, and even waited for her downstairs, yet he hadn't eaten yet!

Su Yi Cheng laughed, doesn't explain, and just led her to the counter.

It was only when An Ran approached it that she discovered that the counter had long been set up with cutlery, plates, toast, goblets, milk and red wine, and even candlesticks, with red candles on top. An Ran was speechless, looked at it blankly for a while, then turned around with a puzzled look, “This, this is?”

Su Yi Cheng smiled and helped her up to the red stool chair, “Originally I wanted to go out to dinner with you, but when I got home I happened to b.u.mp into Auntie Zhang leaving, and found out that you already went out with Lin Li for dinner, and even forgot your cellphone on the counter.” He spoke as he went into the kitchen. He started up the stove again, and continued to heat up the half-cooked steak in the pan, and continued to speak, “Since I couldn't get a date with you, I decided to might as well go to the supermarket and get these things ready. I thought of waiting for you to come home, and we can have a candlelight dinner.”

An Ran listened, and watched his back as he was busy in the kitchen. She wanted to cry and laugh. She wanted to laugh because she felt so blessed, that she had such a man who spoiled her so much, and wanted to cry because she was moved, that this man had obviously been so busy, but still wanted to take out the time and do all of this for her. Sometimes she couldn't help but ask herself how in the world she got this lucky, how can there be such a man who'd do this much for her.

Because An Ran was pregnant, she couldn't eat things that were raw, so he cooked the steak until it was well done, then raised the pan and transferred the steak into the dish, sprinkled some tomato sauce that he had prepared himself, delivered the steak to An Ran, then turned around to get his part, and poured himself a cup of red wine, while giving An Ran some milk. After everything was done, he then looked at An Ran, and laughed as he said, Wait, there's still something else. He turned and grabbed the lighter placed on the counter, then lit up each candle stick. After all of them were lit, he moved over to the light switch, and dimmed down the lights in the house. The flickering of the candles on the counter seemed like the ones at the restaurant, and music was turned on, the atmosphere was exactly like a restaurant.

“You….” An Ran smiled, somewhat speechless.

Su Yi Cheng also smiled, and asked, “Does it feel similar?”

“Yes, yes.” An Ran nodded. Very powerfully, to that point that tears came out, she was moved, it was happiness.

Su Yi Cheng couldn't help but laugh and shake his head. He pampered, “Fool.” Then reached out to wipe her tears, and grabbed a rose from underneath the counter, and gave it to her, said, “There's no point in buying a bouquet, so I just bought one. We can feel the mood, right?”

An Ran nodded, smiling and crying, she accepted it, lowered her head to smell the rose, and tightened her lips, and softly said, “Su Yi Cheng, why are you so good to me?” She'll be spoiled.

Su Yi Cheng reached out to take her hand, and brought it up to his lips and kissed it, then softly said, “You are my wife, if I'm not good to you who will I be good to?”

An Ran chuckled, the expression on her face was joyous and happy.

Su Yi Cheng released her hand, stroke her face, and wiped her tears away, “Alright, will you eat it while it's hot with me?” He did this for her, every day he saw her throw up everything she ate and did not see her any meatier, although he was busy, he was still inevitably worried.

An Ran nodded, “Okay.” She grabbed the cutlery and sliced the steak, and happily ate the candlelit meal that he had specially prepared for her.

The couple ate and talked, they were very happy and cheerful. They would grab their cup of wine and cup of milk and did a cheer, and even fed each other like intimate couples. Just when the two were having a good time, the phone in the living room rang at this time, a little abrupt.

An Ran turned to go pick it up, but was stopped by Su Yi Cheng.

“I'll go.” He put down the knife and fork in his hand and left the kitchen to pick up the phone. “h.e.l.lo?”

An Ran did not know who had called, and what had been said, but she saw Su Yi Cheng frown with displeasure.

---END OF CHAPTER---