Chapter 121: Chapter 82: Fang Youqing’s Worry
The conversation during the rest of the meal was much more casual. No longer centered on the child, they chatted about school matters and Fang Youqing’s work.
She had graduated from a top-tier university and gone to work in R&D at a cosmetics company. After having her child, she quit to raise him and start her own business. Now, she was thriving.
It was no exaggeration to call her a strong, independent woman.
After the meal, Fang Youning helped clear the table. Aunt Liu looked after the child, leaving the two sisters with the task of washing the dishes.
"You didn’t let Chen Yuan pay for all this, did you?" Fang Youqing asked.
"Don’t worry, I paid for it all."
"Okay, good."
"You shouldn’t stay in here. Go keep Chen Yuan company, otherwise he might feel a bit out of place."
"Mm."
Fang Youning went to the living room, where the three of them started playing with the child together.
Ever since Chen Yuan had arrived, her little nephew no longer wanted to play with Aunt Liu. He stayed right by Chen Yuan’s side, taking out all his little cars and Ultraman toys.
"Let’s make them fight and see who’s stronger."
Zhao Wen Cheng held Ultraman Tiga and handed Chen Yuan a small monster.
"Are you ready?" Chen Yuan asked.
"I’m ready! We can start."
Chen Yuan took the little monster and crashed it into the Ultraman figure.
"Your Ultraman is dead."
Zhao Wen Cheng was clearly dumbfounded. How could the invincible Ultraman possibly lose?
"You’re the monster. You’re not as fast as me. You have to be slower."
"My monster came here on a motorcycle, so he’s faster than you."
Zhao Wen Cheng found a toy plane. "My Ultraman came in an airplane, so he’s faster than you. You can’t beat me."
Chen Yuan picked up a toy gun. "My monster shot at you. The plane crashed, Ultraman fell to his death, and the insurance company won’t even pay out."
Zhao Wen Cheng froze. This wasn’t how they usually played with Ultraman.
Fang Youning, sitting nearby with her legs curled up, couldn’t quite see the appeal. She didn’t understand why Chen Yuan was having so much fun playing with him.
’How boring can you get?’
’Will I have to learn these kinds of games in the future just to have something in common to talk about with Chen Yuan?’
’But...’
’It’s all so childish.’
Her little nephew tossed the Ultraman aside and tugged on Chen Yuan’s clothes.
"Uncle, let’s go play outside."
Fang Youning glanced at her watch. It was about time for their daily walk.
"Let’s go. Auntie will take you out to play."
"I’ll go with you," Aunt Liu said, getting up.
"Mm-hm."
Zhao Wen Cheng didn’t seem very interested in the two of them. He grabbed Chen Yuan’s hand, wanting to go out and play with him.
Even though Chen Yuan had made his great hero, Ultraman Tiga, crash and burn, he still wanted to go play outside with him.
"Be a good boy. Uncle is busy and can’t go play outside with you. Just go with your auntie," Fang Youqing called out from the kitchen.
Her words carried a hidden meaning: she wanted Chen Yuan to stay.
"I want to play with Uncle..."
"Uncle is staying to make you something delicious. Listen to Mommy and go play with your auntie, or Mommy will get angry."
Seeing Fang Youqing put on a stern face, the little boy relented, but he still tugged at the corner of Chen Yuan’s shirt, wanting him to come out and play.
"Zhao Wen Cheng, if you don’t want to go out, then you can just stay home. From now on, you’re not going out at all," Fang Youqing said, her voice stern.
"I’ll go play with Auntie..."
Fang Youning and Aunt Liu put on their jackets, grabbed a small pail and shovel, and headed out.
Only Chen Yuan and Fang Youqing were left in the house, which made Chen Yuan a little uncomfortable.
But he knew why she had asked him to stay.
Fang Youqing took out all the ingredients they had bought.
Seeing this, Chen Yuan stood up and walked toward the kitchen.
"I’ll teach you how to make the Spleen-Strengthening and Qi-Boosting Soup. You can give it to him daily, just like water."
"Just tell me what to do."
"One apple, half a carrot, two ten-centimeter sections of Chinese yam, and six jujubes. For the remaining medicinal herbs, just add 10 grams of each. Put everything together and boil it."
"I’ll get on it right now."
Fang Youqing took out the necessary ingredients, washed them, then got out a cutting board and started chopping everything.
"You can chop them a bit smaller. It’s more effective when you boil them."
"Okay."
Fang Youqing’s knife skills were excellent; you could tell she cooked often.
The rhythmic sound of her knife on the cutting board filled the kitchen, and her chest bounced in time with each chop.
Chen Yuan felt too awkward to stare, so he only stole a few glances before looking away. Just then, Fang Youqing finished chopping everything.
Tucking her hair back, Fang Youqing looked at Chen Yuan. "The rest of the medicinal herbs, 10 grams of each, right?"
Chen Yuan nodded. "If you don’t have a gram scale, just use a small pinch."
"I bought one when I was making baby food and pastries for him, but I have to find it. I don’t know where I put it."
Fang Youqing crouched down, opened a drawer under the kitchen counter, and rummaged for a while without finding it.
’Where did I put it? Did I put it on top of the cabinet?’
Muttering to herself, Fang Youqing habitually tucked her hair back, went to the living room to get a plastic chair, and placed it below the cabinet.
"Sister Qing, that chair doesn’t look very sturdy. Let me get up there and look."
"It’s fine. I’ve used it to get things down before."
She placed one foot on the chair and stepped right up. Her movements were clean and efficient, without a hint of hesitation.
She opened the upper cabinet door. Inside was the duct for the range hood, and the remaining space was filled with miscellaneous items. It was a bit of a mess, which was to be expected.
Chen Yuan’s attention was fixed on the chair, afraid she would lose her footing and fall.
But from the looks of it, she seemed quite steady.
He subconsciously looked up at Fang Youqing.
Fang Youqing had a tall, slender figure. The yoga pants hugged her long, straight legs, and her pert bottom was like a rolling hill, forming a beautiful curve.