Jiang Yu returned early. Lin Shuang had only half-finished cooking and quickly arranged the platter, then went back to her room just in case. Yu Shiqing removed his shirt and headed for the shower. With his right arm injured, everything took much longer, so he wanted to get things done early.
By the time he finished showering, nearly an hour had passed and the scent of bone soup cooked in Jiang Yu’s kitchen filled the living room. Yu Shiqing quietly walked to the kitchen doorway and saw Jiang Yu at the stove.
“Wait five more minutes,” Jiang Yu replied without turning around but recognizing him.
Yu appeared by his side. Jiang Yu frowned slightly from the grease and smoke. “You made all this?” Yu asked, pointing to a counter filled with dishes.
“It’s all prepped by Aunt Lin,” Jiang Yu explained.
“Thank you for your hard work,” Yu said.
“Just that?” Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow, hinting at more gratitude expected.
These days, Jiang Yu was always busy and rarely cooked but he had taken interest since meeting Yu and was now the only one who tasted Yu’s cooking.
Yu smiled: “How else do you want me to show thanks?”
Jiang Yu grabbed a bite of the pork stir-fry and said slowly, “You cooked this, and I eat it to help you. Is that gratitude?”
Yu teased: “Borrowing a flower to present to the Buddha is still fine, right?”
“No.” Jiang Yu tossed the spatula and looked at Yu: “So then you owe me something real.”
Yu nodded, tone casual: “Then repay me with yourself.”
“Oh?” Jiang Yu looked surprised. “What do you want?”
Jiang Yu’s eyes glittered: “First, you have to warm the bed.”
Yu: “I already do that.” Living together counted. Jiang Yu paused, then added: “You must obey me completely.”
Yu smiled: “Have I not been obedient enough?”
“What?” Jiang Yu dropped the spatula, stunned. He barely spoke when the door opened.
At the doorway, Lin Shuang stood. Yu stiffened mid-sentence. “Auntie, are you looking for Yu?” Jiang Yu asked.
“I came for my phone,” Lin Shuang said, surprised to hear their playful tone. She kept calm to avoid making them think she disapproved.
“You two keep going, I’ll just grab the phone and leave.”
Jiang Yu handed her the phone on the counter.
“Thanks,” she said, then looked at the food and stove in surprise. “Did you cook all this?”
“Yes,” Jiang Yu said. Lin Shuang glanced between him and Yu Shiqing, recalling they had lived together before. Perhaps Yu had been caring for him even then. She said quietly: “Thank you for doing this.”
These duties should have been hers as a mother she was relieved Yu was caring for Shiqing.
“I don’t mind,” Jiang Yu replied. He glanced at Yu, who mouthed: “I didn’t mean you.” Yu smiled softly.
Shuang smiled back and said: “I won’t disturb you. Enjoy your meal.” Yu handed her a tray with a portion of each dish. “Take this with you.” She denied needing it at first, then thanked them both twice before leaving.
Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu sat down and ate. An hour later, the bone soup was ready. Jiang Yu served Shiqing a bowl.
“Thank you,” Shiqing said, accepting the bowl.
“How’s the soup?” Yu asked.
“Very good,” Yu replied.
“Then from now on, this is your daily meal until you recover.” Yu said.
Shiqing lowered his eyes across the bowl and then at Yu: “Don’t I have a choice?” Drinking the same soup daily could feel like torture.
“No,” Yu answered firmly.
“I think there’s room for discussion,” Shiqing pressed.
Yu shook his head: “No.”
The clock ticked past seven when Ren Bai’s call came in. He was still at the office and had breaking news: “Huaze is making a move.”
Shiqing put the phone on speaker. Ji opened Weibo and saw a trending topic: #YuShiqing stepfather speaks out#. A marketing account had posted a video. It showed Gao Fan, Shiqing’s stepfather, speaking in a disheveled interview. He apologized to Lin Shuang for neglecting her and their daughter YuanYuan, and said he’d agree to divorce and give her his house and car if only he could see his daughter. He also accused Yu Shiqing of alienating them and hiding the child.
A reporter asked if Lin Shuang was Shiqing’s mother. Gao Fan confirmed and said, “I don’t aim to ride his fame, but since Shiqing is so successful and hasn’t contacted us. I’m out of options.” He also played an audio recording allegedly of Ren Bai telling him to speed up the divorce for convenience. “If you don’t believe me, bring out Ren Bai and I’ll confront him.”
Comments below were vicious:
- “Highlighting: 1. Shiqing’s mom was a full-time housewife living off stepfather. 2. She filed for divorce, likely for property. 3. She took daughter during recovery. 4. Shiqing’s mother filed as soon as he became famous. That’s a lot to unpack.”
- “I’m heartbroken as a fan this audio clearly is Ren Bai. The house has collapsed.”
- “How low can they go using a child to threaten property rights!”
Netizens now demanded Shiqing respond.
Meanwhile, at Huaze Building, Du Han sat in the conference room with others watching the scandal unfold on the screen. Under his control, negative posts flooded Weibo. Du Han smirked he ready at last to smear Yu’s reputation. He believed the audio gave them leverage: even if Gao Fan seemed unstable, they had Ren’s admissions Yu couldn’t refute.
Liu Ming stood up, and Du Han offered to buy dinner at “Full House” Japanese restaurant. Everyone cheered, but one employee paused: “President Liu, hold on Ren Bai has responded.”
Liu frowned. He took the tablet and read Ren’s response: a single line and a transfer record Yu’s entire pay from Doomsday Rescue, transferred not to Lin Shuang, but to Gao Fan.
Liu Ming’s face turned ashen.
