Chapter 21 A Heartfelt Dinner

The next afternoon, Lu Er cheerfully followed Aunt Wang down to the community market.

“Why did you decide to go grocery shopping with me today?” Aunt Wang teased with a smile. “Is it because Xiao Mo is coming home for dinner?”

Lu Er’s face flushed slightly under the mask. “I was just bored and had nothing to do.”

Aunt Wang smiled knowingly and didn’t press further.

Lu Er carefully picked out the ingredients, asking about each item: “Is this fresh?”

After two hours of shopping, everything he bought was what Song Jingmo liked.

Back at home, he joined Aunt Wang in the kitchen, bustling about with her.

Watching Lu Er’s serious expression, Aunt Wang couldn’t help but sigh: “If the lady of the house saw you like this, she’d be so pleased.”

By 5:30 PM, all the dishes were ready.

Lu Er excitedly took out his phone and snapped several photos of the ingredients on the counter. After selecting the best ones, he sent them to Song Jingmo:

“I prepared all of this myself.”

He even added a sticker of a little cat looking for praise.

A few minutes later, his phone vibrated. Song Jingmo replied:

“Great. I’ll be off work in about half an hour.”

Lu Er’s lips curved into a smile as he quickly typed back:

“No rush. Drive slowly and be careful.”

After sending the message, Lu Er hummed happily while helping Aunt Wang cook the dishes.

The aroma of sweet-and-sour ribs filled the kitchen, the bubbling sounds from the pots acting like a lively accompaniment.

At exactly six, Lu Er picked up his phone, and the smile on his face froze.

“Emergency surgery. Not coming back.”

Those few words hit him like a bucket of cold water.

“Xiao Er, the dishes are ready, you can…”

Aunt Wang came out of the kitchen carrying the last dish. Seeing Lu Er’s expression, her voice trailed off. “What’s wrong?”

Lu Er’s voice was low: “He’s not coming back.”

Aunt Wang sighed and comforted him: “Doctors’ work is like this. When they’re busy, they can’t think of anything else. Let’s eat first, then I’ll take the food to Mr. Song. It’s your first time cooking after all.”

At the dining table, Lu Er pushed his rice around absentmindedly.

Aunt Wang remarked indirectly, “Being a doctor is tough. If you ever want someone to eat with you or celebrate holidays together, don’t marry a medical professional—you’d argue all the time.”

Lu Er swallowed his food. “My future spouse will definitely be a rich lady, the kind who waits at home obediently until I finish work.”

Aunt Wang gave him a knowing look but said no more.

After they finished, Aunt Wang picked up the pre-packed dishes: “I’ll take them to Xiao Mo. He’ll be hungry after the surgery.”

“I’ll go.” Lu Er stood up. “I have nothing else to do anyway.”

Aunt Wang laughed: “Okay, remember to dress warmly; it’s chilly tonight.”

By the time Lu Er reached the hospital with the food boxes, it was past eight in the evening. He found Song Jingmo’s office empty.

A passing nurse told him that Dr. Song was still in surgery. More than ten patients had been brought in from a construction site accident, eight of them impaled by steel rods.

Lu Er waited in the office until ten, but the surgery room remained closed.

At eleven, Bai Zhi called: “Tomorrow’s ad shoot is important. You must rest and stay in good shape. Come back as soon as you can.”

Looking at the still-quiet surgery room, Lu Er hesitated, then left the hospital.

At three in the morning, Song Jingmo finally dragged his exhausted body out of the surgery room.

Nine continuous hours of high tension had soaked his scrub with sweat, and his fingers trembled slightly from holding the same position for so long.

“Dr. Song, Mr. Lu came looking for you,” a nurse said, catching up. “He waited a long time but has already left.”

Song Jingmo paused for a moment, then hurried toward the office. He opened the door—still empty.

Picking up his phone, he saw Lu Er’s message:

“The food is in the thermal box. I know you have work tomorrow, so I went home first.”

A trace of warmth appeared on Song Jingmo’s tired face.

Opening the thermal box, he found the food neatly arranged.

As he carried the box to the microwave, he ran into Yin Siyao, who had just finished surgery.

“Smells amazing!” Yin Siyao leaned over. “What’s so delicious? I’m starving—let me try some!”

Instinctively, Song Jingmo moved the box closer to himself. “No.”

Yin Siyao froze. “Really? So stingy? I’ve eaten plenty from you before!”

“Not tonight.”

Looking at the packaging, Yin Siyao noticed it didn’t seem like takeout.

He teased: “Which little beauty sent this loving meal, so precious?”

Just then, Leng Keyan walked over carrying two takeout bags. “Teacher Song, I ordered you some food. Since you have a heartfelt dinner already, I’ll reluctantly help you eat one portion to avoid wasting it.”

Leng Keyan glanced at the thermal bag in front of Song Jingmo: “Isn’t this the one uncle often uses?”

Song Jingmo hummed.

“Why did uncle give it to you, not me?”

Yin Siyao interjected: “Looks like the nephew still can’t beat the childhood friend.”

“Yin, I’m already upset. Can you eat my food without stabbing me in the back?”

“All right, all right. Don’t be mad, Xiao Yan. I’ll cook something tasty for you when I have time.”

Yin Siyao smiled and coaxed him gently, “Forget that heartless uncle of yours and eat.”

Leng Keyan said: “You’re the heartless one; you’re not allowed to insult my uncle.”

Even if Yin Siyao was a teacher, he couldn’t do that.

Song Jingmo returned home at four in the morning. After a shower, he lay in bed but couldn’t sleep.

He took out his phone and scrolled through the day’s chat with Lu Er, stopping at the message: “No rush. Drive slowly and be careful.”

Hesitating for a moment, he typed:

“The food was delicious. Thank you for your effort.”

Lu Er woke at 6:30 AM and saw the message, delighted:

“I really am a genius! I learn so fast, even Aunt Wang praised me.”

He assumed Song Jingmo was asleep, but the reply came instantly:

“Hmm, you’ve always been amazing.”

Lu Er was puzzled:

“Why are you up so early? Not sleeping more?”

“Okay, I’ll sleep now.”

“Good night.”

“Good morning.”

Setting down his phone, Song Jingmo finally felt sleepy.

Lu Er smiled at the last message on the screen: “Good morning.”

Bai Zhi walked over with an iPad. “After the ad shoot, we’re flying straight to Paris Fashion Week. The tickets are booked.”

“How long will we be there?”

“About half a month. You’ve always wanted to travel in France. This time, you can enjoy yourself for a few days.”

Lu Er: “I suddenly don’t want to. I’ll come back after work.”

Jiang Qingyan: “But don’t you hate City A and love traveling abroad?”

“I changed my mind. Can’t I?”

Bai Zhi: “I’m counting on you to eat properly. You decide.”

“This time you’re collaborating with Li Xinghua. Control your temper and don’t cause trouble again.”

“If it weren’t for her stirring up a CP last time, I wouldn’t have started a war on Weibo either.”