You Must Marry Me! - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Yan Yiyun held her phone, feeling a little uneasy.

She had just asked Qi Zhen whether she’d eaten, mainly out of politeness. After all, it was already this late, so she figured Qi Zhen must have had dinner by now.

To her surprise, Qi Zhen replied, “Why don’t we eat a little more together?”

Yan Yiyun received that message while she was happily gnawing on the soy-braised chicken that Auntie Li had made. Auntie Li had gotten up early that morning to go to the market and buy the freshest young hen. She’d gone home, opened the pickled vegetables jar, chopped the chicken into small pieces, and slow-cooked it with the pickles for three hours. When the lid was finally lifted, the delicious aroma filled the whole house, making Yan Yiyun so hungry that she ran into the kitchen and grabbed a piece to taste.

When it was time to eat, Yan Yiyun naturally couldn’t wait to scoop some rice, pile the braised chicken high on top, and start eating. Auntie Li laughed and scolded, “I made so many dishes, and you’re only eating this one, you little glutton.”

She had just eaten half a bowl when she saw Qi Zhen say she wanted yellow croaker noodles. Without thinking, she immediately replied that she’d take her!

After sending the message, Yan Yiyun froze and stared at her half-eaten braised chicken rice, unsure what to do.

Auntie Li gave her a glance and immediately knew what she was thinking.

She turned and went into the kitchen, came back with a food container, and helped pack some braised chicken and stewed pork with tofu for her. “Want to go hang out, huh? Take it with you and eat it with your friend.”

Yan Mama said helplessly, “Li Jie, you’re spoiling her. Who eats half a meal and runs out?”

Yan Yiyun took the lunch bag Auntie Li handed her, hugged her mom’s arm, and said sweetly, “Aiya~ taking it to eat later still counts as eating! You guys enjoy dinner, I’m off!”

She sat in the car hugging the food box, thinking she was being a bit silly.

How should she explain it to Qi Zhen later?

“I ran out in the middle of dinner, but Auntie Li’s braised chicken was so good I couldn’t leave it, so I brought some to share?”

That just sounded dumb.

Yan Yiyun’s home wasn’t far from Qi Zhen’s, and the short drive didn’t give her much time to think before she arrived at the gate of Qi Zhen’s community.

Qi Zhen was already waiting at the entrance. Yan Yiyun rolled down the window and waved at her. Qi Zhen opened the car door and got in, immediately noticing the lunch bag in her hand and asking curiously, “What’s that?”

Weren’t they going to get yellow croaker noodles?

Why did Yan Yiyun bring a lunchbox? Could it be one of those century-old hidden alley noodle shops that didn’t even provide utensils?

Yan Yiyun’s brain spun fast, but she still couldn’t come up with a good excuse, so she told the truth: “Auntie Li’s braised chicken and stewed pork with tofu. I brought it for you to try.”

Qi Zhen smiled and asked, “Tastes good?”

She must’ve liked it so much she wanted to share it. Honestly, Qi Zhen really liked that about her. Yan Yiyun would think of her when she had something tasty—it felt warm and genuine, so much better than pulling pranks like before.

“Super delicious!”

Yan Yiyun nodded eagerly like a pecking chick, then began describing the flavors to Qi Zhen, nearly opening the lid right there for her to taste.

“The chicken is super tender, soaked with the flavor of the pickled vegetables, very savory but not too salty. And the tofu—it’s amazing. It absorbs whatever it’s cooked with. Auntie Li added green chili this time, so it’s got a special flavor.”

Qi Zhen was getting curious from her vivid description. “Then I’ll definitely try it later.”

Yan Yiyun really wanted to open the box right now so Qi Zhen could try it while it was hot, but thankfully the noodle shop wasn’t far, and the food box was still warm when they got there.

The yellow croaker noodle shop had been around for many years. When Yan Yiyun was little, her family used to bring her here. The shop didn’t have a printed menu—just wooden plaques on the wall with all the dishes written on them. You just pointed at the one you wanted.

After returning home, she often had breakfast there and had gotten familiar with the owner. Seeing her, the owner greeted cheerfully, “Xiao Yun’s here again? What are you having today?”

The plump lady boss noticed her lunchbox and chuckled, “Brought your own food, huh? You don’t think my stuff’s good enough?”

“No, no, I just brought something from home for a friend to try.”

Yan Yiyun quickly explained. The shop only served noodles, so customers often brought their own side dishes. Still, it was her first time doing it.

She ordered two bowls of signature yellow croaker noodles, both with extra fish topping, and found a table. Then she opened the lunchbox for Qi Zhen to see.

Inside were braised chicken on one side and stewed pork with tofu on the other. The rich aroma immediately made Qi Zhen’s appetite surge.

Just then, the yellow croaker noodles were served. The steaming hot noodles were topped with pieces of yellow croaker. Yan Yiyun had ordered extra toppings, so the bowl was filled to the brim with the delicious fish.

Qi Zhen took a bite—the soft noodles were soaked in the rich sauce of the braised fish, and the savory flavor burst on her tongue. One sip of the umami-rich broth settled warmly in her stomach, making her feel instantly better.

Qi Zhen wasn’t usually a fan of noodles. She ate them mainly because of her weak stomach. Most of the time, they were bland and boring, but this was a rare treat.

“It’s delicious,” she said after a few bites, then tried Auntie Li’s braised chicken. To her surprise, the chicken was just as good as the noodles—full of tangy, spicy pickled flavor and so tender it melted in her mouth. “The chicken your aunt made is really good too.”

Yan Yiyun had only taken a couple of bites of noodles before she started picking at the yellow croaker. She’d already eaten half a bowl of rice earlier and probably couldn’t finish this big bowl. Still, it was too delicious to waste.

She nodded as she chewed. “I’ll be sure to thank her for you.”

Qi Zhen added, “And thank you, too.”

Yan Yiyun paused. “Why thank me?”

Qi Zhen looked at her and gave a soft smile. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t get to taste Auntie Li’s cooking.”

“Fair point,” Yan Yiyun accepted the logic and nodded earnestly. “You should thank me.”

Qi Zhen chuckled. “Not going to be polite with me at all?”

“Why would I be polite with you?” Yan Yiyun grinned, eyes twinkling as she happily ate the fish and chicken. In her heart, she was calculating, If she really wants to thank me, she should make me another tamagoyaki.

She’d only been back for two weeks, and her appetite was already spoiled by Auntie Li. But Qi Zhen’s tamagoyaki was also incredibly tasty—soft and full of flavor.

Ever since she had it once, she’d been craving it every day. But Qi Zhen wasn’t Auntie Li. She wouldn’t just cook because of one request. In fact, even talking to Qi Zhen took careful thought—not wanting to be annoying.

But now, things were different!

Since Qi Zhen remembered who she was, Yan Yiyun had clearly felt a shift in Qi Zhen’s attitude. Last night’s dinner had gone well, and now they were having lunch and afternoon tea together. At the very least, they were friends now.

Yan Yiyun thought of the “marriage certificate” she still kept in her bag like a talisman. Whether it was valid or not, to her, it was a beautiful memory.

She didn’t know if Qi Zhen liked boys or girls. Looking at Qi Zhen, she often wondered if Qi Zhen even liked humans at all.

Qi Zhen seemed distant from everyone—not in the same way as her. Yan Yiyun just didn’t see the need to interact with everyone, but she still maintained good relationships where it mattered.

Qi Zhen, on the other hand, gave the impression that every person in the world was just a label to her—no real difference, no meaningful connection.

It made Yan Yiyun feel troubled. How do you deal with someone who doesn’t seem interested in humans?

She looked at Qi Zhen, who was still eating her noodles, and fell into deep thought. Could Qi Zhen’s only joy in life be eating delicious food?

Yan Yiyun usually ate a lot, but today she was too preoccupied to enjoy her meal.

For the first time in her twenty-plus years, she was deeply interested in someone. And that someone happened to be the girl who once protected her as a child—the one she’d thought about for so long.

It had to be fate, right?

Weren’t she and Qi Zhen technically childhood sweethearts?

Then why didn’t she understand what Qi Zhen was thinking at all?

She stared at Qi Zhen so intently that even the delicious yellow croaker noodles lost their appeal.

What she felt now wasn’t just that vague nostalgia of seeing an old friend from childhood. Now that she saw the real Qi Zhen—a vivid, emotional, smiling, and teasing version—she wanted to know even more.

Qi Zhen eventually noticed the stare and felt a bit weird. “You’re not eating? The noodles will get soggy.”

Yan Yiyun jumped, startled. If Qi Zhen knew what she’d just been thinking, she’d definitely be freaked out!

“I’m eating.” Yan Yiyun took a couple of bites, then noticed Qi Zhen had almost finished her bowl and said worriedly, “Don’t eat too much. Your stomach might hurt again.”

Qi Zhen felt a warmth in her chest and smiled. “I know my limits. I’m just full—no more, no less.”

These noodles really were tasty—the firm texture, the tender fish, the savory sauce—Qi Zhen had meant to eat less, but before she knew it, she’d eaten a bit too much.

She was surprised that Yan Yiyun had noticed.

But looking at Yan Yiyun’s bowl, there wasn’t much eaten.

Last night, she’d clearly eaten more than Qi Zhen. Why was she eating so little today? Was she feeling unwell?

Yan Yiyun took a few more bites, then put down her chopsticks and said:

“I’m done. I already had half a bowl of rice at home—kinda full now.”

Qi Zhen was surprised. When she’d invited her, she assumed Yan Yiyun hadn’t eaten yet. But she’d already had half a bowl of rice?

Half a bowl?

Did she actually stop eating halfway just to come out?

Qi Zhen fell silent for a while, then asked, “So you’d already eaten at home?”

Yan Yiyun, oblivious, replied innocently, “Just a little bit.”

Qi Zhen felt a soft spot in her heart collapse—Yan Yiyun had stopped eating halfway just because of her.

Qi Zhen could tell that Yan Yiyun truly loved food. Auntie Li had even made her favorite dishes today, and she still packed them up to share.

She’d actually run out in the middle of dinner—just to be with her.

Qi Zhen lowered her head, feeling her eyes grow hot.

It had been a long time since anyone had treated her so sincerely.

Ever since that accident, everything in her life had changed. Everything felt calculated. Warmth slowly disappeared, leaving behind a suffocating emptiness.

But Yan Yiyun was so genuine, so passionate…

She might not even realize what she was doing—but precisely because she didn’t realize it, it touched Qi Zhen even more.

Why are you so gentle?

Qi Zhen sighed quietly in her heart. That flicker of emotion she thought she could suppress—how could she, when it was only growing stronger?