"Xiao Feng said there were some matters to attend to at the subsidiary in H City, so I hitched a ride. Open the door quickly and let me inspect!"
With the person already at the door, it was impossible to ask her to stay in a hotel. Shi Xinxin could only nervously clutch the key and step forward to open the door.
The moment the door opened, the scene inside was even more terrifying than Tang Tang had imagined. She walked around the house, and on the kitchen stove, a touch of her hand brought up dust.
Without a doubt, Shi Xinxin wouldn't be cooking in such a place. She turned to look at Shi Xinxin, saying nothing.
Shi Xinxin lowered her head, "How was I supposed to know you'd come so quickly? I was planning to clean, but there wasn't enough time. There's so much work today..."
Shi Xinxin mumbled softly, her tone full of grievance. Expecting Tang Tang to scold her any second, she could only endure it.
But to her surprise, Tang Tang hugged her in the next moment. "Why are you so foolish? Why would you come to such a strange city alone for a man and live like this?"
Shi Xinxin hugged Tang Tang, realizing this was what a true friend was. Her inspection wasn't to criticize her, but to see if she was taking care of herself. She gently embraced the person in front of her, and for the first time in over a month, she felt a sense of warmth.
"I'm fine, really. The service here is excellent. Ordering takeout at least ensures I don't have to eat dinner as a late-night snack," Shi Xinxin joked.
"But is it worth it? Don't tell me you're studying here. Everyone knows that this kind of work teaches you nothing but how to run errands faster," Tang Tang interrupted Shi Xinxin's excuse directly.
Shi Xinxin took a deep breath. Besides this one reason, she really couldn't find any other excuse to conceal her true purpose for being here.
"When you left, you told me you wanted to change your environment and forget him, to live a better life. But it seems you haven't achieved any of that," Tang Tang stated her current situation with a single, sharp remark.
Shi Xinxin's tears could no longer be held back. She squatted on the ground and began to cry. Tang Tang, feeling pained, pulled her into her arms and patted her shoulder, saying nothing.
She regretted speaking so harshly just now, but it was an undeniable fact. Shi Xinxin simply couldn't forget that man.
"It's okay, it's okay. I'm here now, and I'll be with you. Stop crying," Tang Tang continued to hold Shi Xinxin, gently patting her back, hoping to offer some comfort.
After so long, Shi Xinxin still couldn't escape the torment in her heart, and to be living such a miserable life under this high-pressure job, Tang Tang felt heartache for her.
Seeing the person in her arms slowly stop crying, she quickly changed the subject. "Don't be so sad. You can't just cry when you see me."
She found some tissues and wiped away Shi Xinxin's tears. "Have you eaten?"
Shi Xinxin shook her head. "Perfect. Why don't you go take a bath first? I just learned a new dish, and I'll be practicing on you today."
"No way." Shi Xinxin looked at the cheerful Tang Tang in front of her. It was indeed difficult to remain sad. Moreover, the thought of Tang Tang, a young lady who usually didn't lift a finger in the kitchen, making her dinner was even more distressing than crying.
She couldn't refuse to eat, and she'd have to give five-star praise afterward. Then she wouldn't even dare to cry. Should she consider drinking herself full of water while showering?
She was lost in thought when Tang Tang urged her, dragging her up from the ground and into the bathroom. "Make the water a little warmer. Come out smelling nice and clean, and I'll take care of the rest."
After giving the instructions, Tang Tang turned and went into the kitchen.
The kitchen was small and not complicated. It was evident that it wasn't used much, so there wasn't much grease, only a layer of dust. Tang Tang, without even unpacking her luggage, grabbed a rag and started cleaning the kitchen.
After wiping away the dust and a simple clean-up, she rummaged through drawers and cabinets to find ingredients. To her surprise, the refrigerator contained nothing but milk and toast.
She took the key from Shi Xinxin's bag and decisively went to the supermarket downstairs, buying some simple vegetables, noodles, and eggs. When Shi Xinxin emerged from the bathroom, a fragrant aroma wafted from the kitchen.
"Come out quickly and try my cooking." Shi Xinxin meekly pulled up a chair at the dining table and opened the lid. In front of her was a bowl of steaming Yangchun noodles, garnished with tender green scallions, making her feel warm and cozy.
A perfectly soft-boiled egg sat in the center. Shi Xinxin's heart melted instantly, and tears welled up again. Seeing this, Tang Tang quickly tilted her head up.
"No crying, no crying! One tear, one egg. I only have one egg here, and you've made me owe you for all the tears you've shed so far."
Although Tang Tang intended to make Shi Xinxin stop crying, hearing Tang Tang's concern made her unable to hold back. She didn't know why, but she just couldn't stop missing Sheng Chenjin. No amount of work could make her completely forget that man who had brought her to this state.
Now, only Tang Tang could indulge her and care for her like this. Anyone else would have ignored her if they saw her in such a state of self-neglect.
After Shi Xinxin calmed down, Tang Tang sat beside her and chatted idly, talking about her trip to Dali with Xiao Feng. She watched Shi Xinxin meticulously finish the entire bowl of noodles.
Full and satisfied, Tang Tang went to wash up, and Shi Xinxin went to do the dishes. Upon entering the kitchen, she found that the dusty kitchen had been thoroughly cleaned by Tang Tang. The trash can contained remnants of food, and for a moment, Shi Xinxin felt a sense of home.
Yet, for some reason, the first thing that came to her mind was the incident with Sheng Chenjin in the apartment that day. She took a deep breath, quickly washed the dishes, and then opened Tang Tang's suitcase to help her pack.
When Tang Tang came out, the two of them playfully went to the bedroom to rest, sleeping together like they did when they were children. Despite being exhausted during the day, Shi Xinxin still couldn't fall asleep.
She knew that Tang Tang and Xiao Feng were now officially a couple and that Tang Tang had found someone who loved her. Shi Xinxin was genuinely happy for her good friend finding her own happiness.
However, seeing herself in this state after coming to H City and having to worry about her, Shi Xinxin felt deeply apologetic towards Tang Tang.
Meanwhile, Tang Tang also couldn't fall asleep until very late. Her heart was filled with unquenchable anger towards Sheng Chenjin. Why wouldn't he give Shi Xinxin a proper explanation? Why did he have to hurt Shi Xinxin?