Re-engraving the Spring - Chapter 51

The Chi family villa had been occupied for a longer period of time and the dining room had a more family atmosphere.

Chi Lanyan was very particular about life; Auntie Su would change the bouquets of flowers on the table every day.

When Chi Qiu came home today, Auntie Su specially used the gardenia that Chi Qiu liked. Due to the strong aroma of gardenia, it was not necessary to put a lot on the table. Auntie Su changed to a smaller round vase and inserted the three gardenias just taken from the front yard into the small mouth of the vase.

Chi Qiu was attracted by the gardenia fragrance as soon as he sat down: “The gardenia at home blooms really well.”

“I know you like it.” Chi Lanyan was arranging the dishes that Chi Qiu loved according to the clock positioning method, and the fish with scallion and oil that Lu Ming liked was placed in front of Lu Ming by her intentionally.

After that, Chi Lanyan personally brought out the last bowl of hot soup from the back kitchen, and sat down with a smile. She looked at the vacant seat beside her: “Su jie, go to the study and call him.”

This ‘him’ referred to Lin Yuming.

Chi Qiu hurriedly said, “Uncle Lin has something to do at the school. He has already gone out, so we don’t have to wait for him to eat.”

Chi Lanyan’s hand holding the chopsticks paused, showing an extremely impatient expression, but it disappeared in a flash. In front of Chi Qiu and Lu Ming, she quickly restrained herself, and only said to them, “Hurry up and eat, the food is getting cold.”

During the meal, the whole table was relatively quiet. Usually Chi Lanyan asked a question, and Lu Ming answered a sentence. Chi Qiu in order to liven up the atmosphere between the two, from time to time would say something; it was quite harmonious.

With Chi Lanyan around, Chi Qiu’s bowl was never short of food, and he didn’t need anyone else to serve him. But Chi Lanyan did not dip her chopsticks into the fish with scallion and oil.

In the meantime, Lu Ming asked Chi Qiu: “Want to eat fish?”

Chi Lanyan was taken aback and said, “Xiao Qiu doesn’t like to eat fish.”

Lu Ming was puzzled, but he responded quickly: “Sorry, I don’t know.”

Chi Lanyan thought that Lu Ming didn’t care about Chi Qiu and was in a bad mood. She told Lu Ming again and again: “Xiao Qiu once got a fishbone stuck in his throat and since then, he doesn’t like eating fish very much. Besides, even if Xiao Qiu eats fish, someone has to carefully pick out the fishbones, not just asking him casually.”

Lu Ming had a good temper and completely accepted Chi Lanyan’s criticism: “Got it, Mom, I’ll pay attention in the future.”

Chi Lanyan was a person who took things as they come. She understood that her tone was heavy and explained. “I know that many blind people are able to eat fish by themselves, and you may think I’m exaggerating, but Xiao Qiu’s case is special, he was born blind, so he is a little overprotected by me. There are many things that you still need to pay more attention to.”

Chi Qiu held his chopsticks and just swallowed a mouthful of beef: “Mom, I’m eating fish now.” He was afraid that Chi Lanyan would continue to nag Lu Ming so he said defensively, “Especially the fish with scallions and oil, I love it.”

Chi Lanyan opened her mouth, but she didn’t say anything. Chi Qiu then continued, “There are not many bones in that dish. Lu Ming always helps me pick them clean every time.”

But Chi Lanyan really couldn’t imagine Lu Ming picking fishbone for Chi Qiu.

Chi Qiu was afraid that Chi Lanyan would not believe it, so he hesitated for a while, and then said embarrassedly, “He will feed it to my mouth after he has picked it, so he is very careful.”

Chi Lanyan: “?”

This meal was a big shock to Chi Lanyan, and with it, her attitude towards Lu Ming was much better. She even wanted them to stay overnight, privately wanting to observe again to see if the truth was as Chi Qiu said.

Chi Qiu saw through Chi Lanyan’s mind and took the initiative to refuse her ‘good intention’.

After the meal, the three of them sat in the living room chatting when Chi Lanyan’s secretary brought in a document. Chi Lanyan, who juggled both family and work, was a very busy person. While she was being upset, she obediently took the secretary’s documents and said, “You really know how to choose your time.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment from Mrs. Chi.” The female secretary Lin Lan smiled generously. She handed the cake in her hand to Auntie Su, and invited Chi Lanyan to the study.

Lin Lan had been working with Chi Lanyan for more than ten years and was considered an old acquaintance of the Chi family. Knowing that Chi Qiu was at home, on her way here, she bought a whole strawberry cake, not too sweet, which Chi Qiu loved to eat.

And with cake, how could there be one less black coffee?

Chi Qiu, who had limited tolerance for sugar content, had always had black coffee whenever he ate cake at home. Auntie Su didn’t ask Chi Qiu, she took the cake and went to the kitchen to prepare it.

She cut the cake into pieces, and then brewed two cups of black coffee without adding a little sugar, and put it in front of the two.

Lu Ming calmly picked up his coffee and took a sip: “…” He put it down silently.

He couldn’t drink it, it was too bitter.

Just when he was reluctant to touch the cup of coffee again, Chi Qiu thoughtfully asked, “Lu Ming, do you want to go to my room?” After getting Lu Ming’s permission, he said to Auntie Su, “Auntie Su, help me change the coffee to juice.”

“Young Master, do you want juice to go with cake?” Auntie Su thought to herself, how sweet that would be…

“Well, I suddenly want to eat like this today.” He told Lu Ming, “Auntie Su made a delicious juice, why don’t you try it too?”

So, Lu Ming successfully got rid of that cup of black coffee.

Chi Qiu’s room was relatively spacious. Perhaps because Chi Lanyan was afraid of Chi Qiu’s stumbling, everything was arranged neatly.

The Braille books that fell on the floor before the meal had not been cleaned up, Lu Ming went over to pick up the books and help Chi Qiu put them back into the bookshelves. What caught the eye was a neat row of books. The Braille books aside, the rest were all publications.

Lu Ming had seen these publications, and he knew that Chi Qiu had published many manuscripts.

He even read every one of them carefully.

Thinking that Lu Ming was curious, Chi Qiu called him, ‘Lu Ming’. In the bedroom he was familiar with, he walked forward with ease and reached out to touch Lu Ming’s arm.

Lu Ming asked Chi Qiu to hold his arm and turned slightly sideways to see Chi Qiu touching the several books and magazines in front of him.

Chi Qiu, according to the order of placement, pulled out his favorite one: “When I was bored, I would write some fairy tales and submit them. Every time it was published, the other party would send me a sample issue. I didn’t realize that I had saved so much.”

Lu Ming looked at the thick row of publications and said, “There are indeed many.”

Chi Qiu handed the weekly magazine to Lu Ming, and his knuckles pressed slightly: “If you don’t mind, would you like to take a look?”

The question was this, but if Lu Ming refused, Chi Qiu would definitely be disappointed. He hoped that he could understand Lu Ming better, and he also hoped that Lu Ming could know more about himself.

Chi Qiu hoped that one day, he would be able to share all his secrets to Lu Ming without reservation.

Of course, Lu Ming took the publication in his hand.

For the next time, the room was quiet except for the sound of flipping papers.

Lu Ming sat in front of Chi Qiu’s desk, flipping through every word that Chi Qiu had written, page by page. Chi Qiu sat beside him and sipped the greasy juice, sweet to the heart1when someone says ‘sweet to the heart’ it means being happy with you, like a piece of candy that tastes sweet to the heart. Basically, the sweetest thing..

Lu Ming looked up, the photo frame on the desk was facing him.

In the photo, Chi Qiu was very young, looking only eight or nine years old. He was obediently standing on the left side of the chair where Chi Lanyan was sitting, showing a cheerful smile. The young Chi Xia was sitting in Chi Lanyan’s arms, her big beautiful eyes looking at her brother happily. She reached out and happily grabbed Chi Qiu’s finger.

In this photo, even Chi Lanyan was not as serious as usual. She wore light makeup and had a gentle smile. Her husband, Lin Yuming, on the right, stood straight and put his hand on her shoulder with a slight smile.

It looked like a happy family of four.

Lu Ming remembered that the information from the investigation said that the Chi family’s relationship was not harmonious, but he never heard Chi Qiu say in front of him that Lin Yuming and Chi Xia were not close with him. On the contrary, whenever Chi Lanyan talked about Chi Xia, Chi Qiu would also chatter about a few things from his childhood.

Lu Ming asked: “You and your stepfather, and your sister, is the relationship good now?”

“…”

Chi Qiu noticed Lu Ming’s gaze, and never thought that Lu Ming would ask such a question. He remembered that he had told Lu Ming about his family’s situation ten years ago and was afraid that when Lu Ming saw Lin Yuming, he would be upset and would not be able to get along well.

He hesitated and lied: “Uncle Lin is still okay with me now, and so is Xiao Xia. There was a bit of conflict before, but it was quickly resolved.” He said evasively: “It’s just that Xiao Xia and I are now grown up and have our own friends, so we don’t really get to play together.”

With such an unrealistic answer, Lu Ming could only express his understanding.

Chi Qiu asked, “You…Did you see the photo on my desk?”

“En.”

“It was taken when I was 10 years old. Xiao Xia in the photo was only 7 years old, she was especially sticky to me.”

Lu Ming fixed his eyes on Chi Qiu in the photo: “I thought you were only 8 years old.”

“Maybe it’s because of my height. I haven’t been tall since I was a child, I look smaller than my peers.” Even now, Chi Qiu’s height was only 173.

Compared to Lu Ming’s height, Chi Qiu, when standing next to him, was really a small person. In addition, Chi Qiu was thin. If Lu Ming wanted to pick him up, it would be easy and effortless.

Fortunately, Chi Qiu had gained some weight now and looked healthier.

Chi Qiu guessed: “I heard Auntie Su say that my biological father doesn’t seem to be very tall. Maybe I inherited his height?”

Chi Lanyan was tall, and Chi Xia was very similar to her.

Chi Qiu blinked: “He left us before I was born because of his own business. From what Auntie Su said, he probably didn’t even know I existed.”