Meng Po Gave Her a Bowl of Soup (GL) - Chapter 15

Song Wanyue’s eyes were red and swollen, tears swirling in her eyes as she stared stubbornly and sadly at Zhang Hui.

For so long, not only had she avoided friends and family, but she also didn’t want to hear them speak such words.

She didn’t want to forget, and she couldn’t forget.

Zhang Hui saw the tears in her eyes and felt a pang in her heart. “Wanyue…”

She had known Wanyue since they were children.

It had been a long time since she had seen Wanyue cry like this.

Song Wanyue looked at her resolutely, her eyes brimming with tears. “Please don’t say such things in the future. Mingyu would be heartbroken if she heard them.”

Xu Ruying stayed outside, pressed against the cold hallway wall. Struggling to hold back her emotions, she trembled slightly, her fingers pressing against her lips. She tilted her head back, tears streaming uncontrollably.

Some things, hidden in this body for so long, had made Mingyu think she had forgotten about herself and the owner of this heart.

Her return had been for others, never for herself.

But Wanyue had always remembered her.

Always aching for her.

••••

Zhang Hui didn’t stay long before leaving Wanyue’s home.

Before she left, Wanyue, as before, saw her to the door. In the past, it had been her and Mingyu who would send her off, hugging and laughing like conjoined twins. Now, only Wanyue stood there, eyes red and head bowed in disappointment and sadness.

Zhang Hui was silent for a moment. “I’m sorry.”

She shouldn’t have doubted her friend.

She knew Wanyue so well.

Song Wanyue shivered slightly but said nothing, gently patting her back.

Zhang Hui, holding back her own sadness, said, “I’ll try to talk to Uncle and Auntie. You… take care of yourself.”

Though Wanyue said little today, every word was heavy. Zhang Hui knew that forgetting Mingyu in three or five years, or even in a lifetime, was unlikely.

Given this, she might as well give her more strength.

Wanyue alone… was so pitiful…

After sending Zhang Hui off.

Wanyue stood alone in the hallway for a long time.

She looked at the moonlight outside, reaching out. “Mingyu…”

— Even if you are a star, I will be the moon that orbits around you.

She had promised her never to let go.

When Wanyue returned to the house, she saw Huang Lan peeking outside. Huang Lan’s eyes were also red, indicating she had been crying secretly.

Seeing Wanyue return, Huang Lan quickly pulled her neck back.

“Auntie.”

Wanyue softly called out, and Huang Lan awkwardly stepped out. “Oh, did that child leave?”

Wanyue nodded and walked over, extending her arms to hug Huang Lan.

Huang Lan’s body trembled, going completely still.

Since her husband’s death, no one had held her like this except her daughter.

Wanyue carried a different fragrance from Mingyu—her hair scented with a subtle, pleasant fragrance unique to women.

Her body was soft, and the embrace conveyed a sense of melancholy.

“Auntie, you’re all I have left…”

After a long while, Wanyue’s trembling voice came out, muffled. Huang Lan relaxed a little, but her eyes were filled with tears. She slowly raised her arm and gently patted Wanyue’s shoulder, like a tender mother. “It’s alright, it’s alright…”

Huang Lan had overheard Wanyue and Zhang Hui’s argument and felt a pang of discomfort, believing she had hindered Wanyue’s happiness.

With her daughter gone, Huang Lan, an old woman, felt she might be causing distress to Wanyue’s friends.

Zhang Hui’s words made sense—given time, Wanyue would move on.

But what about her?

Where would she go from here?

Having lost all her relatives, Huang Lan felt, for a moment, as if the world was vast and she had no place to go or shoulder to rely on.

But now, Wanyue’s words pierced through Huang Lan’s frailty and indecision, and she couldn’t help but embrace Wanyue.

The two of them hugged quietly, maintaining their mutual reliance, without saying anything further, but understanding everything in their hearts.

••••

Perhaps it was the conversation between Zhang Hui and Wanyue that triggered it.

Or maybe it was the fatigue from recent days that overwhelmed her fragile body.

Xu Ruying fell ill. She felt very cold, shivering all over as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. She took medicine, wrapped herself in a blanket, and lay down for a while. Her temperature was normal.

As time passed, her body grew colder, and the sensation of that temperature slipping away inside her made Xu Ruying anxious. She struggled to get up and went to the kitchen to find ginger and brown sugar, hoping to make a warming drink.

Thinking of Wanyue and her words, Xu Ruying, distracted, accidentally cut her left hand. Bright red blood flowed, and the sharp pain made her gasp. She dropped the knife in panic and hastily wrapped her hand in a bunch of paper.

In the large room, there was no one to talk to.

In the chilling solitude, Xu Ruying sat on the sofa, recalling their once happy days.

When they had first moved out after a family argument, Mingyu was not an expert at cooking but was good enough, and with Wanyue around, even in difficult times, there was always hope.

After finishing work every day, Mingyu would rush home to cook for Wanyue. At first, she occasionally cut her hand.

Mingyu had endured hardship since childhood, and such injuries were minor for her; a simple bandage would suffice.

But Wanyue couldn’t bear it. When she saw Mingyu’s hand hurt, she was full of concern, fussing and blowing on it.

Xiao Mingyu’s face flushed red again and again. In the end, unable to resist, she pressed her lips to Wanyue’s rounded earlobe, gently blowing. “Do you know what your hands mean? If you continue like this… I won’t be able to control myself.”

Song Wanyue shrank her neck, her face reddening, looking at her with annoyance.

Just as Mingyu felt somewhat guilty and was about to push her away with an awkward smile, Wanyue embraced her waist, pressing against her, biting her lip with a soulful look in her eyes. “If you know they’re so important, why don’t you take better care of them?”

Xiao Mingyu: “…………”

Such seduction was deadly.

That day, that making love, the injured parts were lovingly cared for by Wanyue, and Mingyu could never forget that wonderful feeling.

Once so tender and affectionate.

Xiao Mingyu wished she could cut all ten fingers to be comforted by Wanyue.

And now…

In the dimness, Xu Ruying fell asleep alone.

She still felt cold, curled up under the blanket, and even while asleep, she could feel her body shivering.

In the blur, she saw that fiery red sea again. Looking down, she had turned into Mingyu.

“Are you alright?”

In Mingyu’s detached state, Xu Ruying, in a black cheongsam embroidered with bright red spider lilies, walked slowly towards her. The striking contrast between black and red created a surreal beauty, accentuating her powerful aura. Mingyu even saw a faint black aura surrounding her.

“You…”

Almost instinctively, Mingyu took a step back. Seeing her like this, Xu Ruying curved her lips into a smile and said, “A person who has died once is still afraid of me.”

Xiao Mingyu: “…”

Isn’t this a dream?

Why is she saying this?

Xiao Mingyu recalled the scene in her dream where Xu Ruying and Meng Po were making soup together. Her throat was dry. “Who are you really?”

Xu Ruying’s dark eyes stared at Xiao Mingyu for a long time before she slowly said, “I am a messenger from the underworld.”

Tears…

How can there be such a messenger?

“Blood is the bridge between us, wounding my body and hurting your soul.”

Her words were almost cold and ruthless. Xiao Mingyu couldn’t help but ask, “I once saw you making soup with Meng Po in a dream.”

Xu Ruying gazed at her. “Soup?” She smiled. “Do you think Meng Po’s soup is made for what reason? Who is Meng Po?”

Xiao Mingyu stared at her in shock.

“Ghosts have no tears, and humans are heartless. Meng Po is also heartless.” Xu Ruying observed Xiao Mingyu’s doubtful expression with indifference. “Don’t you believe it? I’ve been in the human world for decades, but I know that modern people are too complex; even tears taste like pig slop.”

••••

Xiao Mingyu: “Why are you telling me this?”

Xu Ruying’s right hand, which had been behind her back, suddenly lifted. Her pale, jade-like arm waved, and a swirling mist appeared. Gradually, the mist condensed into droplets that seemed to come alive in her palm, pulsating with sadness and desolation. She looked at Xiao Mingyu, her figure gradually retreating, merging into the fiery red background, leaving only the whispering words in the wind.

“These are the tears she shed for you.”

“I once thought that human feelings were shallow and the underworld heartless, that I was weary of the mortal realm. Now I realize that true emotions can move the heavens and earth.”

“Everything in the future is uncertain.”

••••

Waking up from the dream drenched in cold sweat.

Xu Ruying gasped for air, with the urgent ringing by her ear. Her head buzzed for a while before she managed to drag herself up from the sofa to open the door.

“I called your phone and you didn’t answer. You—”

As soon as Song Wanyue walked in, she noticed something was off with Xu Ruying. Her eyes were full of concern, and Xu Ruying looked weak and listless. She gave Wanyue a perfunctory smile, “I’m fine, just a bit tired. Don’t worry, it’s getting late. You should go rest.”

Wanyue didn’t move. She frowned and her dark eyes fixed on Xu Ruying’s pale face. “You’re really okay?”

Xu Ruying nodded. She looked into Wanyue’s eyes, trying to hold herself up and took a deep breath, forcing her voice to sound confident. “I’m fine, just need some rest.”

It was clear she was trying to get her guest to leave.

Though her soul was Mingyu’s, this body, when harsh, could still be intimidating.

Xu Ruying stared at Wanyue, hoping her gaze would make her leave. After a moment of eye contact, Song Wanyue softly said, “If you’re really okay, then show me a big jump. After that, I’ll go.”

Xu Ruying: “……………”