Meng Po Gave Her a Bowl of Soup (GL) - Chapter 17

Wanyue’s gentleness was enough to heal everything.

As the second month was drawing to a close, Xu Ruying’s mindset gradually began to change.

She had returned with strong feelings of resentment, guilt, and a desire to make amends. She had been determined to do something for Wanyue. But now, through their gradual interactions, those emotions had transformed into a sense of peace.

She gradually accepted the reality that her former self was gone.

And the remaining time, less than a year, no longer felt like a countdown to death for Xu Ruying. Instead, it had become a precious gift of time, one she simply wanted to spend by Wanyue’s side.

She wanted to use this last year to love and care for her.

Even if Wanyue didn’t know who she really was.

With less than a month left before summer vacation, and having missed quite a few classes, Song Wanyue was spending more and more time at school. Being busy didn’t bother her much, but the only thing she couldn’t stop worrying about was Huang Lan.

After spending so much time with her, Huang Lan had come to understand her temperament and smiled warmly, saying, “Don’t worry about me. If anything happens, I’ll just go next door to find Xiao Xu.”

When Wanyue returned home in the evening, she saw that Xu Ruying was indeed at home.

She had changed into a long white dress for lounging at home, wasn’t wearing any makeup, her skin was so flawless it looked almost translucent, and her hair was tied up. Both she and Huang Lan were sitting on the sofa, very close to each other, whispering about something.

As Wanyue got closer, she saw what it was.

A few days ago, she had bought Huang Lan a new iPad. The old one had made playing games difficult, so Song Wanyue bought her the latest model. But after buying it, she got busy with work and kept forgetting to teach her how to use it.

When they saw her come in, both looked up briefly but said nothing, quickly going back to their discussion.

Xu Ruying was very patient, holding the iPad in her right hand while navigating the interface with her left. “I’ve installed it here for you. It’s very simple; just tap it to see.”

Huang Lan, wearing reading glasses, was learning attentively, the two of them sitting very close together.

Song Wanyue watched them in a daze.

For so long, she and Huang Lan had leaned on each other to get through the hardest times.

Huang Lan wasn’t as reserved around her anymore; the two of them really were living depending on each other.

But now, seeing the two of them like this, Song Wanyue realized that some things, no matter how hard she tried, she could never replace.

And some secrets weren’t hers alone to know anymore.

“Are you hungry?”

Seeing that Huang Lan was absorbed in what she was doing, Xu Ruying stood up from the sofa and smiled at Wanyue. “I made your favorite sweet and sour ribs tonight, and some lotus root soup. You’ve been busy lately, haven’t you? I was worried you might get too stressed.”

Song Wanyue looked into her eyes. “Are you left-handed?”

Xu Ruying stiffened and turned to face her.

Casually, Wanyue took off her coat and spoke as if it was just normal conversation. Xu Ruying carefully considered her words. “I was when I was a child, but my parents forced me to change. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, I just noticed you’ve been using your left hand to operate the iPad and sometimes to cook. So it was because you were forced to change. That makes sense.”

Though Wanyue’s words seemed casual, Xu Ruying broke out in a cold sweat.

She stared intensely into Wanyue’s eyes, her heart pounding.

Did she… know?

—If someone finds out that you are Xiao Mingyu, your soul will scatter into reincarnation, with no way to reverse it.

“I was just asking.”

Seeing the fear in her eyes, Song Wanyue couldn’t help but gently explain, “Let’s eat. You must be hungry too, right?”

—Don’t be afraid, Mingyu.

Xu Ruying ate dinner with a lot of unease.

She kept observing Song Wanyue, checking for any unusual behavior, but Wanyue acted just like she always did. She even fussed over Huang Lan, “Auntie, you can only play for 3 hours a day at most, or you’ll get tired.”

Huang Lan, who seemed like an internet-addicted elderly lady, was thoroughly enjoying herself. “I won’t. I don’t have to do any fieldwork anymore or get up early, so how could I get tired?”

Xu Ruying secretly watched the two of them.

Such conversations had often taken place between her and Huang Lan in the past, leaving her feeling helpless and frustrated.

Today, she wondered how Wanyue would handle it.

Wanyue put down her chopsticks. “Of course you’ll get tired. I can hear you snoring from my room at night.”

Huang Lan’s hand trembled, and she looked up at Wanyue. “Really?”

Wanyue nodded seriously, looking into her eyes. “Really.”

Xu Ruying: “…………”

How could that be?

The house’s soundproofing, which she had personally overseen, was excellent.

Huang Lan pondered this for a moment before sighing, “Then I’ll play just a couple more games after dinner and go to bed. I never seem to win… Sigh…”

It seemed this old lady had a bit of a competitive streak too.

After dinner, Song Wanyue quietly pulled Xu Ruying into the study. “Let’s play with Auntie for a bit.”

Xu Ruying was puzzled. “What?”

Song Wanyue explained, “The old lady always waits in a specific room for opponents.”

Xu Ruying responded, “But I heard her use voice chat. Won’t she recognize us?”

Song Wanyue looked at her as if she were an idiot. “Ever heard of a voice changer?”

Xu Ruying: “…………”

Seriously.

How had she not noticed before how cunning her Wanyue could be?

••••

Huang Lan was in a foul mood that night. She had just learned how to use her new iPad and wanted to enjoy a good game, but she kept getting paired with lousy teammates. Worst of all, she encountered a couple pretending they didn’t know each other, only to team up against her. And then they had the audacity to send her a highly insulting pig emoji as they left.

She was so angry she almost had a hypertension episode. But with her formidable learning ability, Huang Lan spent a good 10 minutes figuring out how to send that pig emoji back.

Just as she did, two people joined the game room. They chatted casually after entering.

Huang Lan, hearing they were both women, felt relieved. At least they wouldn’t gang up on her like the couple earlier.

The first few rounds went smoothly.

Playing cards, especially *Fight the Landlord,* was a piece of cake for the former Xiao Mingyu, now Xu Ruying. She was highly sensitive to numbers and had an exceptional memory for cards.

She glanced up at Song Wanyue across from her.

Wanyue, looking relaxed, poured herself a cup of milk tea and casually applied a face mask.

She turned off the voice chat for a moment. “The old lady’s pretty good; she remembers most of the cards.”

Xu Ruying also turned off the voice chat and looked at her. “Since when are you so good at remembering cards?”

She remembered that Wanyue wasn’t good at this kind of thing.

Wanyue shot her a disdainful look. “I got a membership that comes with a card hint system. Do you think I’d really use my brain to remember cards like you?”

So stupid.

She radiated an air of golden superiority.

Xu Ruying hiccuped, wondering how Wanyue knew she was counting cards.

Song Wanyue, as if she could read her mind, raised her chin proudly and looked at her with a challenging gaze, “I just know you’re counting cards.”

Xu Ruying: “………”

Forget it.

Xu Ruying decided not to argue with a little woman. She focused on the game, trying to keep the old lady happy.

After winning a few rounds, Huang Lan, with support from both sides, was indeed in high spirits. She turned on the voice chat and excitedly said, “I’m almost 70 years old, and I’m still better than you young folks.”

Song Wanyue smirked and sent an emoji.

—*Flowers.JPG*

—*Applause.JPG*

Xu Ruying smiled, playing along, “Exactly, Auntie. You’re the best card player I know.”

This comment made Huang Lan so happy she nearly lost her dentures. But then, the room’s laughter faded.

Song Wanyue, holding her phone, was silent for a moment. She turned to Xu Ruying, “Is that true?”

Xu Ruying didn’t immediately understand, “What’s true?”

Song Wanyue clarified, “Is Auntie the most impressive woman you’ve met?”

Xu Ruying bit her tongue, “I meant she’s the best at playing cards.”

Seriously?

Miss Song, what are you up to?

Why do your eyes look like they’re burning with two flames?

Xu Ruying truly hadn’t expected this.

The mother-in-law versus daughter-in-law drama that didn’t happen when she was alive was now suddenly unfolding before her.

Huang Lan and Wanyue started clashing, and within a few rounds, whether they were teamed up as farmers or playing separately as landlord, Song Wanyue and Huang Lan were at odds.

The once harmonious teammates, who had exchanged flowers and applause, were no more.

In just a few seconds, Miss Song received a series of explosive *Dynamite.JPG* from the other side.

And it was no surprise that Auntie Huang also received a string of *Poop.JPG*.

Stuck in the middle, Xu Ruying: “……”

She swore to the heavens.

She had been nothing but fair.

She had tried to resolve this matter in a “rational, civilized, and peaceful” manner.

But it just so happened that in those rounds, she and Wanyue were always assigned as farmers to play against Huang Lan, the landlord.

Naturally, she had to follow the rules of the game and couldn’t be too biased. But even a few lenient moves couldn’t satisfy Miss Song’s fiercely burning competitive spirit.

After 5 rounds, Huang Lan couldn’t help but question, “Are you two teaming up to trick an old lady like me?”

Xu Ruying couldn’t bear to look at the poor old lady. She took off her headset and thought about getting Huang Lan some cherry tomatoes to cool her down.

Meanwhile, Song Wanyue removed her face mask, using the voice changer to cheerfully say, “She said I’m the most impressive woman in the world.”

Huang Lan felt like a mouthful of blood was stuck in her throat, burning with anger. She had just escaped a pair of conniving couples, only to encounter these two.

When Xu Ruying came back with the fruit, Huang Lan was still “arguing” with Song Wanyue.

Huang Lan: “You two are no good, bullying an old lady.”

Song Wanyue: “La la la.”

Huang Lan: “You shameless wife!”

*A pile of poop.JPG*

Song Wanyue responded with an image of a dancing fairy in a pink dress.

Xu Ruying, silently watching from the sidelines: “…………”

When Huang Lan saw Xu Ruying come in, she angrily complained to her, “See how thick-skinned young people are these days? Two girls ganging up to trick an old lady like me, and one of them even shamelessly flaunts her affection! No respect for elders! Shameless wife! Ugh, I’m so mad.”

In her fury, she forgot to turn off the microphone.

On the other end, Song Wanyue listened with great interest.

Xu Ruying smiled along, “Auntie, calm down and have some fruit.”

Huang Lan accepted it, “You tell me, is she in the wrong?”

Xu Ruying, thinking of Wanyue’s smug expression, couldn’t help but chuckle, “She’s… kind of cute, don’t you think?”

What?

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Huang Lan stared intently at Xu Ruying for a long while before angrily crushing the cherry tomato in her hand. “Is the person on the other side Wanyue???!!! You two little brats, are you making fun of this old lady???!!!”

Xu Ruying: “……”

Song Wanyue, who had just logged off after watching from the sidelines: “………………”