Su Qing shook her head, said nothing more, and walked out.
Just then, the door next to her creaked—Yuan Hua had woken up. Rubbing her bleary eyes and dressed in a moon-white silk pajama set, she yawned and stepped out.
Glancing up, she spotted Su Qing sitting outside and suddenly let out a startled shriek. "Su Qing, are you going on a date today? You're dressed up so beautifully!"
Su Qing chuckled awkwardly. "Who would I be dating? You? And look who's talking—you were the one dolled up like a temptress yesterday, no wonder Chris was completely smitten."
Yuan Hua rubbed her eyes. "Do you think I'd scare Chris off looking like this?"She pointed at her bird's nest of bedhead and her bare, unwashed face.
"Sister Yuan Hua, this is your deadliest charm. The real you is the most adorable—just look at you, a lazy, delicate little female Homo sapiens. Who says you'd scare Chris away? I bet he'd be utterly intoxicated by your tenderness, lost in your embrace,"Su Qing teased with a grin.
"Tsk tsk,"Yuan Hua clicked her tongue repeatedly. "Look at Su Qing now—she's really changed. She's become so eloquent. Is this the same Su Qing from the office who was silent, stiff, and dull? Now she not only talks well but also dresses up, and not just that—she's even become so amusing!"
Just then, Shu Tong brought out two plates of pancakes and set them on the table, along with two small bowls of milk sprinkled with a few types of cereal, placing them in front of her and Yuan Hua.
Yuan Hua showered Shu Tong with praise. "Our Shu Tong is so outstanding—gentle, considerate, and such a good cook. Whoever takes Shu Tong home is truly unearthing a treasure. I wonder who'll be lucky enough to have that fortune?"
Her gaze lingered on Shu Tong's face before shifting to Su Qing's, her eyes brimming with meaning.
"Shu Tong, what kind of pancake is this today? It looks delicious."
Yuan Hua reached out with her slender fingers, tore off a piece, and chewed.
"This is called a 'bird's nest.' Doesn't it look like a little bird's home?"
Yuan Hua examined it closely—it really did resemble a nest. "See how the Daucus carota var. sativus shreds and potato shreds are mixed with flour and fried into little round cakes? They're like the twigs of a nest, and the round egg in the middle is like a little sun. Even birds have a warm home."
Su Qing pretended not to understand, keeping her head down as she ate the potato-and-egg pancake in silence. Shu Tong, too, quietly munched on his cereal and milk.
Yuan Hua laughed out loud. "You two are hilarious, just stuffing your faces. Did you even hear what I said?"
Su Qing lowered her head further, still silent, her cheeks flushing.
"Fine, no need to pretend. Honestly, I've seen it for a while—Shu Tong here has a thing for you. I just didn't say anything. In fact, I overheard your conversation in the kitchen earlier from my room."
"I know Su Qing has reservations—probably thinks she's older than you and has a child. But I can tell Shu Tong genuinely likes you. None of that is a real obstacle. The biggest hurdle is Su Qing herself—she needs to hurry up and get divorced. That'll give Shu Tong the legitimacy to pursue you openly."
"We're all grown Homo sapiens. No need for convoluted games. We're not that young anymore, and we don't have time to waste. If you like each other, be together. Live a simple life or have a passionate, unforgettable romance."
"Didn't Su Qing say her biggest regret in life was never experiencing a grand love? Never knowing how it feels to be in love? Well, it's not too late. Just cut out whatever's draining your life and time, and start fresh. Give yourself—and Shu Tong—a chance. No more dithering. Don't let your best years slip away."
"Sister Yuan Hua, thank you. If you can keep persuading Su Qing, I'll be endlessly grateful. I promise that before her divorce, I'll just be a close friend. But after she's divorced, I want her to officially give me the title of boyfriend so I can take care of her openly."Shu Tong's bright eyes locked onto Su Qing's as he spoke.
"What more is there to say, Su Qing? Such a treasure of a boy, waiting for you with all his heart—how can you not cherish that?"
"Su Qing, the first thing you do when you get back is divorce that scumbag. Like I said, don't overthink it. As for the child, let things take their course. An unhappy marriage is the worst thing for a child, and a man like that won't bring any positive influence anyway."
Su Qing looked up, her eyes shifting between Yuan Hua and Shu Tong. Shu Tong gave her an encouraging look, while Yuan Hua gave her a thumbs-up. "Go for it—for your happiness."Yet Su Qing's face remained clouded with hesitation and unease.
With Yuan Hua having laid everything out, the awkwardness between them dissipated. They returned to their usual cheerful dynamic.