RMM -Chapter 313 An Uncharacteristic Lian Yunfen

This day was like countless other perfectly ordinary days—the sun rose from the east as usual, and the trees downstairs were still lush and green. It was an entirely unremarkable day.

Yet it was on this very day that something rather unusual happened—something that left Su Ruo furious, yet at the same time unsure whether to laugh or cry.

One could only say that eccentrics appear every year, but this year there seemed to be especially many.

In the afternoon, before Xi Yuechen had gotten off work, Su Ruo was thinking about what to cook for dinner when the doorbell rang.

Who could it be at this hour?

Feeling puzzled, Su Ruo opened the door, only to see Lian Yunfen and Chen Xue standing there. Her confusion deepened—how had these two ended up together?

Speaking of which, Li Lichen’s wife was named Chen Xue. Ever since Su Ruo and Xi Yuechen had visited their home, the two women had gotten along quite well. They found each other agreeable, and whenever they had free time, they would drop by to chat for a while. They interacted often, and Chen Xue was the person Su Ruo was closest to here.

Chen Xue also didn’t particularly like Lian Yunfen, so there was usually very little interaction between them. For these two to come together now was truly strange.

“What’s going on with you two?” Su Ruo asked the pair standing at the door.

“Su Ruo, little sister, we’re here to invite you to come make dumplings with us!”

The one who spoke first was Lian Yunfen. Her attitude was completely different from the perfunctory manner she’d had a few days earlier—now she was so enthusiastic it was almost excessive, as if she and Su Ruo were the closest of friends.

“Make dumplings?” Su Ruo raised an eyebrow.

“Yes,” Chen Xue chimed in. “Xiao Lian came to find me and said we should make dumplings for dinner. The men work hard all day, so we should treat them a bit.”

Though Chen Xue was smiling as she spoke, there was a hint of helplessness in that smile. It was obvious this hadn’t been her idea.

“I just happened to buy some fresh meat and vegetables,” Lian Yunfen said cheerfully. “My man said at noon that he wanted to eat dumplings. Then I thought—what’s the fun of eating alone? It’s better if everyone gets together. Dumplings taste best when it’s lively, after all. The three of us haven’t sat down together properly in a long time, so we can take this chance to get together.”

She smiled with great sincerity, her attitude so earnest it was as if she were a completely different person.

But Su Ruo found it suspicious. Had this woman been possessed or something? Why would she suddenly want to make dumplings together—and even provide the ingredients herself? With her personality, where she felt it was a loss if she didn’t take advantage of others, she was actually willing to contribute food from her own home?

When something is abnormal, there must be something fishy. Su Ruo felt uneasy. She couldn’t quite figure out what Lian Yunfen was up to, but it was impossible that this was just a spur-of-the-moment idea. Even if she wanted things to be lively, under normal circumstances she would never be the one to supply the ingredients. There had to be something going on.

“But I’ve already started preparing dinner,” Su Ruo said. “Besides, my chief might not feel like eating dumplings today.”

Instinctively, she wanted to refuse. First, the whole thing felt too strange—better to have fewer troubles than more. No matter what Lian Yunfen was planning, if she didn’t go, how could it involve her? Second, she simply didn’t want to join in. Even if Lian Yunfen had no ulterior motives, Su Ruo still didn’t want to sit at the same table and eat with her. What kind of ‘liveliness’ was there to enjoy? She’d much rather have a quiet, simple dinner at home with her chief.

But her refusal didn’t succeed. Once Lian Yunfen made up her mind, she never gave up easily—if anything, she became more persistent. She immediately reached out and grabbed Su Ruo’s hand.

“Oh, Su Ruo, little sister, please give Chen Xue and me some face. We’ve already taken everything over to Chen Xue’s place. If you don’t come now, what are we supposed to do? If Regiment Commander Xi doesn’t like dumplings, he can eat something else—we’re not only making dumplings. Come on, let’s go.”

Lian Yunfen’s resolute attitude left Su Ruo helpless. Why didn’t this woman know when to stop? Did she really need someone to turn cold and scold her before she’d be satisfied?

“How about you two go ahead?” Su Ruo smiled calmly and continued refusing. “I still have my son, so it’s really inconvenient. When there’s another chance, I’ll host something at home and invite you both.”

If Chen Xue had come alone to invite her, Su Ruo might actually have gone. But with Lian Yunfen added to the mix, she truly didn’t want to force herself.

Hearing Su Ruo refuse again and again, Lian Yunfen’s expression darkened. She lowered her head and spoke softly, “Everything’s already prepared. Can’t you give me a little face? We’re neighbors—when there are difficulties, we should help each other. I just wanted to take this chance to liven things up and strengthen our relationship. You don’t even want that? I’ve benefited a lot from you in the past, so I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you…”

Her voice was hoarse, and combined with the disappointed look on her face, she really did look rather pitiful. Su Ruo hadn’t reacted yet when Chen Xue’s heart softened first.

“Little sister,” Chen Xue said to Su Ruo, “why don’t you just bring Xi Zi over to my place? Everything’s already prepared anyway. You can look after the child once you’re here—we’ll handle the dumplings.”

Su Ruo nearly spat blood when she heard that. Well then—she was being forced onto the stage.

When she’d refused Lian Yunfen earlier, she had also indirectly refused Chen Xue, since the two of them had come together. She’d felt a bit guilty about that and had planned to go over the next day to apologize and explain. Chen Xue would surely understand. But now, Chen Xue was actually helping Lian Yunfen persuade her—and in such a considerate way. How could Su Ruo still refuse?

If she refused again, she’d seem overly pretentious. And besides, she really couldn’t refuse Chen Xue’s face.

Su Ruo and Chen Xue had always gotten along well, and Li Lichen was Xi Yuechen’s political commissar. This was not a favor she could brush aside.

“Alright then,” Su Ruo sighed inwardly. “You go ahead first. I’ll get Xi Zi and call my chief to let him know.”

Feeling utterly gloomy, she nodded in agreement. Forget it—it was just a meal of dumplings. It couldn’t possibly turn into a鸿门宴, right?

Lian Yunfen didn’t have that kind of ability. Besides, Su Ruo hadn’t really offended her. At most, she just didn’t like her and didn’t associate with her. There was no reason for her to deliberately scheme against her.

Thinking optimistically, Su Ruo turned to go inside, but Lian Yunfen hurriedly spoke again.

“No need. If you call now, they’ll be too busy to answer anyway. You can tell him later when they get off work. Let’s hurry over first.”

Su Ruo thought about it and realized that was true. When Xi Yuechen got busy, he rarely paid attention to his phone. It was better not to disturb him right now.

Still, she glanced sideways at Lian Yunfen, feeling that this woman was acting very strangely today.

Caught by Su Ruo’s gaze, Lian Yunfen looked awkward and let out a dry laugh.

“Xiao Lian, should we head over first?” Chen Xue asked when she saw Su Ruo go into the bedroom.

“Let’s wait,” Lian Yunfen shook her head. “We should go together. Su Ruo still has to carry the child—it’s better if we all go at once.”

Chen Xue thought that made sense. Waiting a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt.

Su Ruo quickly dressed Xi Zi, put on a coat herself, and carried him out of the bedroom. Seeing that Lian Yunfen and Chen Xue were still there, she didn’t find it strange.

“Let’s go, then,” she said with a smile as she reached the door.

After arriving at the Li household, Chen Xue and Lian Yunfen went straight into the kitchen to get busy. Su Ruo felt embarrassed just holding Xi Zi and waiting to eat once they were done. She glanced at Xi Zi, who was wide awake, and put him down on a small bed in the living room. There was a blanket on it—probably used by Chen Xue and Li Lichen when they rested there.

However, Su Ruo didn’t use that blanket. To be honest, she really didn’t want Xi Zi using someone else’s bedding. She had deliberately brought one of Xi Zi’s own small blankets, and now she used it to cover him.

She washed her hands in the bathroom and then went into the kitchen as well. Lian Yunfen already didn’t like her much—if she really stood aside and didn’t help today, who knew how she’d talk about her later?

After some time passed, before Su Ruo had the chance to call Xi Yuechen, she realized she needed to change Xi Zi’s diaper—only to discover that she hadn’t brought one with her.

Great. She had to go home again.

“Sister Chen Xue, Sister Fen, you two keep wrapping dumplings. I’ll head home for a bit,” Su Ruo called into the kitchen.

“No!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Lian Yunfen shouted, her face pale and startled.

Chen Xue was also shocked. Su Ruo was just going home—why was Lian Yunfen reacting so strongly?

Su Ruo raised an eyebrow. What did her going home have to do with Lian Yunfen? Was she not even allowed to go home now?

“What? Sister Fen, did you hear wrong?” Su Ruo said with a smile. “I said I’m going back to my home, not yours.”

She had felt all along that Lian Yunfen was acting abnormally today. Sure enough, there was a problem.

But why wouldn’t she let her go home?

“Well… I mean, why go home at this time? We’re almost done here anyway. Can’t we go back together later?” Lian Yunfen forced a stiff smile as she explained.

“I didn’t bring a diaper for my son. I need to go back and get one,” Su Ruo said firmly.

If you won’t let me go, then I definitely will. She wanted to see exactly what was going on.

“Oh, that?” Lian Yunfen relaxed a little. “Doesn’t Chen Xue have one here? Just find one for her. Running back and forth just for a diaper is so tiring.”

But even under normal circumstances—let alone now—Su Ruo would never casually use someone else’s diaper for her son.

“I don’t have any diapers here,” Chen Xue said right on cue. She was telling the truth—her child was already grown.

“Then just use something else to make do for now,” Lian Yunfen hurriedly said. “We’ll be done wrapping dumplings soon. Let the child be uncomfortable for a bit.”

She was determined not to let Su Ruo go home today.

Su Ruo curled her lips into a smile. “Sorry. I dote on my son and don’t like letting him suffer even the slightest grievance. You two keep busy—I’m going back now.”

With that, Su Ruo turned and left. She went to the small bed in the living room, picked up Xi Zi, wrapped him loosely in his small blanket, and headed for the door.

“Su Ruo, listen to me first! I have diapers at my place—I’ll go get one for you!” Lian Yunfen rushed out of the kitchen, shouting urgently.

But Su Ruo ignored her. In two steps she reached the door, turned back, and smiled at Lian Yunfen.

“Sister Fen, just focus on wrapping your dumplings. Why are you making such a fuss just because I’m going home?”

With that, she opened the door and left, leaving behind a frantic Lian Yunfen. Before she could even figure out what to do next, the door opened again.

It was Li Lichen.

The moment Lian Yunfen saw him, her face completely changed. She didn’t even have time to ask anything—she cried out “Oh no!” and dashed straight out the door.

Li Lichen was completely baffled. Why was everyone rushing around in such a hurry?