She closed her eyes in sheer embarrassment.
The tips of Pei Tinglan's ears also turned a suspicious shade of red.
Lu Xiuying, however, didn't notice the awkwardness between the two young people at all. The more she thought about it, the more convinced she was that she hadn't made a mistake.
“Yes, yes, yes, that's you.”
“Back when I used to pick Yao Yao up from school, she'd play your songs in the car every single day. I even said back then, this young man sings so beautifully, and he's so handsome too.”
Cen Qihang nodded beside her.
“He really is handsome.”
“Even more handsome than on TV.”
Pei Tinglan: “...”
He had received countless compliments in his life.
Praising his stage presence, his singing, his looks, his talent, and his skill.
But hearing such a simple, sincere “handsome” from a pair of ordinary parents he was meeting for the first time left him feeling a bit lost for words.
He stiffened for two seconds before murmuring softly.
“...Thank you.”
“You can just call me by my name. No need for 'Mr. Pei'.”
“Alright, then I'll call you Xiao Pei.” The smile in Lu Xiuying's eyes grew even more pronounced. They were both such good kids.
Listening from the side, Zhu Lingxi also subconsciously sat up a bit straighter.
Lu Xiuying turned to look at her, her eyes filled with fondness.
“Lingxi is beautiful too.”
“Your hair is so black and long, and you have such a lovely face. You look just like a little girl who stepped out of a painting.”
Zhu Lingxi wasn't used to being complimented so directly.
A faint blush crept onto her cheeks. Lowering her head, she held the fruit tea and said softly, “You are beautiful too, Auntie.”
Lu Xiuying was taken aback, then burst into a wide, delighted grin.
“Oh, what a sweet-tongued child.”
Cen Qihang teased from the side.
“Didn't you say you were going to make sweet and sour pork? If you keep chatting, we'll never get to eat.”
Only then did Lu Xiuying remember her actual task.
“Right!”
“Yao Yao mentioned you wanted to eat sweet and sour pork, right?”
She looked at Zhu Lingxi.
Zhu Lingxi nodded immediately.
“Yes.”
“Xiao Yao said that the sweet and sour pork Auntie makes is the absolute best.”
Lu Xiuying had already turned to go back to the kitchen, but she stopped dead in tracks upon hearing this.
She looked back at Cen Yao.
Feeling a bit self-conscious under her mother's gaze, Cen Yao rubbed her nose.
“It really is.”
“Yours is the best.”
Lu Xiuying's eyes instantly crinkled with joy.
It was a kind of happiness unique to mothers, one that required absolutely no concealment.
“Good, good, good.”
“Since Lingxi wants to eat it, Auntie will make it for you today.”
“Sweet and sour pork, cola chicken wings, braised spare ribs, a quick stir-fry of green vegetables, and some soup... Oh right, we have shrimp at home, I'll make braised prawns too.”
Cen Yao quickly said, “Mom, you don't need to make so much. We won't be able to finish it all.”
“If we can't finish it, we'll eat it tomorrow.”
Lu Xiuying had already entered the kitchen.
“This is the first time you've brought friends home. There's no way we're only making one dish.”
Cen Qihang also followed her inside with a smile.
“I'll help you wash the vegetables.”
“Get those ribs out, I'll blanch them first.”
“Sure. Have you chopped the celery?”
“Half of it.”
Soon, the sounds of washing and chopping vegetables, along with the clatter of spatulas, echoed from the kitchen.
Before long, hot oil hit the pan, and the aroma of green onions, ginger, and garlic drifted out.
Smelling the aroma, Zhu Lingxi couldn't help but glance toward the kitchen several times.
Cen Yao found this amusing.
“Hungry?”
Zhu Lingxi nodded honestly.
“Yes.”
“Although the food in the dungeons is edible, it always feels... different from this.”
Cen Yao understood what she meant.
No matter how exquisite the food in the dungeons was, it always carried an indescribable coldness and artificiality.
But home-cooked meals were different.
The steam rising from the pots, the aroma of oil smoke mixed with seasonings, and the sound of her parents chatting while cooking all made one feel grounded.
This was what it truly felt like to be alive.
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