Chapter Thirty-Five: Braised Pork Ribs

Under the acerbic gaze and enthusiastic farewell of the sales assistant, Ye Yan left with Chen Duo, and before departing, he casually purchased the pink princess dress in the window—a dress worth an ordinary person’s annual salary.

Afterward, he took Chen Duo to a buffet hotpot, bought milk tea, went to a private cinema for a movie, and then on to the amusement park.

Ye Yan originally wanted to take Chen Duo on some exciting rides to heighten the experience—roller coasters, pendulum rides, things like that.

But as soon as they entered the amusement park, the girl clung to the carousel and refused to let go...

Not only did she compete with the children for the rides, but she stayed seated for an entire hour, leaving Ye Yan utterly helpless.

He felt as though standing under the sun would peel his skin right off, but the worst part was, he couldn’t leave. If he left, Chen Duo would likely struggle to readjust.

So Ye Yan was forced to stand there, watching family after family depart with their children.

He stood like a fool, silently enduring.

Though for those with unusual abilities, mastering their energy meant the heat and cold of the outside world hardly mattered.

But standing for two hours was still infuriating.

Even the uncle selling popsicles nearby couldn’t bear it; carrying his foam box, he approached Ye Yan to offer, “Hey, handsome, your friend will be at it for a while longer. Want to buy a couple cans of Cola?”

“Please call me ‘pretty boy.’”

Ye Yan raised his head, his face ashen, his gaze tinged with longing and faint sorrow.

“All right, pretty boy,” the popsicle vendor agreed readily.

Ye Yan obligingly bought two cans, leaned against the railing, biting the straw and sipping continuously.

An hour went by.

Another hour passed.

Yet another hour slipped away.

Until dusk fell, the gates of the amusement park were about to close, a pile of empty cola cans clustered around Ye Yan’s feet, the vendor’s foam box nearly emptied—finally, Chen Duo emerged.

“Teacher... I’m hungry.”

Her first words upon coming out were just that.

Ye Yan was stunned, and so was the popsicle vendor beside him—he never expected Chen Duo to call Ye Yan ‘teacher.’

The information was overwhelming.

The uncle drew in a sharp breath.

Ye Yan didn’t notice his reaction; his gaze lingered on Chen Duo, uncertain.

This Chen Duo before him was the same person as the one he knew before they left, yet somehow different.

The changes were intangible.

But Ye Yan saw light in her eyes.

That light was enchanting.

And it was the first time in her life that Chen Duo had openly voiced her own need, even if it was as simple as saying she was hungry.

Even that was enough to astonish.

Ye Yan was shaken by her words; his heart flooded with shock, but even more so with an incomparable excitement.

His hands trembled.

Ye Yan’s lips moved twice before he managed to ask,

“What do you want to eat?”

“Ribs…”

After a moment’s hesitation, Chen Duo spoke her wish. Then, quickly, she added, “Could they be braised ribs?”

“Why braised?”

Chen Duo mustered her courage: “Just now, the child sitting next to me said her mother’s braised ribs were delicious. I don’t have a mother, but I still want to try braised ribs… even just once.”

As she spoke, her voice grew faint, like a child who had done something wrong, head bowed, nervously twisting her clothes.

Ye Yan’s heart ached.

It was a dull, oppressive pain, suffocating, impossible to express in words.

Her request was so small.

So small as to be almost invisible.

Yet when it came from her lips, it sounded like the hardest, most insurmountable challenge in the world.

Even if it was just one meal of braised ribs.

Just one meal...

Ye Yan truly couldn’t understand.

What had happened to the world?

It wasn’t meant to be like this.

It shouldn’t be like this.

Unconsciously, Ye Yan’s eyes grew moist, his voice roughened,

“All right…”

In Chen Duo’s hopeful gaze, Ye Yan smiled softly and agreed.

“Come, let’s go home. Teacher will make the braised ribs you want to eat.”

He ruffled her small head, tousling her silky black hair, then took Chen Duo’s hand and slowly disappeared into the crowd.

Leaving the vendor dazed and alone.

A moment later, the uncle recovered from his shock.

Watching the throng, he sighed,

“A student-teacher romance, and at this age—tsk, young people these days, always pushing the limits.”

…

…

On the way home, Ye Yan took Chen Duo to a nearby supermarket, bought fresh ribs and vegetables, and picked up some household necessities.

Simple things.

Yet Ye Yan could feel the change within Chen Duo; she began to speak more, and occasionally, a smile would flicker across her face.

Compared to the withdrawn, emotionless girl she once was, now she was more human—more human than ever, no longer just a tool.

Ye Yan made braised ribs, a whole pot full. Ordinary braised ribs, just a simple homemade recipe.

But Chen Duo ate them with tears streaming down her face, sobbing aloud. Ye Yan was thrown into confusion by her sudden crying, thinking perhaps he’d cooked the ribs so badly it made her cry.

Yet Chen Duo devoured the entire pot, not leaving a single rib.

Ye Yan was baffled.

He couldn’t understand what had gotten into her.

Ever since she returned from an afternoon on the carousel, she seemed transformed, a completely different person from before.

Ye Yan was at a loss.

He wanted to comfort and guide Chen Duo, but unexpectedly, after dinner, she silently ran off to take a bath.

He wasn’t given the chance.

Left alone in the kitchen, washing dishes, Ye Yan felt uneasy. He quickly pulled out his phone, intending to consult Liao Zhong.

After all, the more perspectives, the better. Three cobblers make a master strategist, as the saying goes.

Liao Zhong was always reliable.

Ye Yan swiftly sent a voice message to Lao Liao, detailing everything—the events, the emotional shifts in Chen Duo, every reaction.

Then, he waited anxiously.

Ten minutes passed.

No reply.

Twenty minutes passed.

Still nothing.

Half an hour went by.

Still no reply.

Almost forty minutes in, Ye Yan’s phone vibrated—a message had arrived.

Restless with worry, Ye Yan grabbed his phone and unlocked it.

He saw—

Juice Princess had sent a new message.