Redemption from the Abyss: The School Beauty Insists on Pulling Me Out of the Mire

A few minutes later, Lin Wanyi helped Su Qinghe lie down and then came out of the room.

In the living room, Xie Wang saw Lin Wanyi come out and immediately stood up straight.

"Aunt."

Xie Wang stepped forward, holding a medicine box in his hand:

"This is fever reducer. I just checked the time, and it's almost time for the second dose. Take two pills with warm water."

"And this anti-inflammatory medicine is for after meals. We have to wait until she eats something to line her stomach before feeding her."

Lin Wanyi took the medicine box and looked at the faint red blood vessels under the boy's eyes. Her jealousy dissipated considerably.

This kid truly cherishes Qinghe dearly.

"Okay, got it."

Lin Wanyi nodded, her tone softening considerably:

"You've worked hard, go back and rest, I'll take care of things here."

"Of course."

Xie Wang smiled.

"Auntie, I'm right next door. Just call me if you need anything."

After saying that, he politely bowed slightly, turned around, opened the door, and left room 1601.

【kitchen】

No sooner had Xie Wang left than Lin Wanyi rolled up her sleeves and went into the kitchen.

Uncle Zhong, who was preparing ingredients in the kitchen, almost dropped his cleaver in fright when he saw this scene.

"Madam... what's wrong?"

"Uncle Chung, give me the apron."

Lin Wanyi took the apron and tied it on, then examined the ingredients on the cutting board with a serious expression:

"I'll cook for her myself tonight. Qinghe is sick, and I want to make her a nutritious meal."

Uncle Zhong's lips twitched twice, and cold sweat dripped down his forehead.

He recalled the kitchen accident from many years ago and tentatively offered his advice:

"Madam, let Wang Ma do this kind of rough work... or I can do it myself. Your hands are for signing contracts, you can't handle manual labor."

"Don't worry, I've read the tutorial. How could it be difficult for me if I just follow it?"

Lin Wanyi confidently picked up a fish:

"Just make a steamed fish, and then... braised pork ribs. Simple."

Uncle Zhong looked at the fish, hesitated, and finally could only step aside helplessly, ready to put out the fire at any time.

……

[Next door 1602]

Xie Wang returned home, washed his face, changed into his pajamas, and went into the kitchen.

He took an old hen out of the refrigerator, and also grabbed a handful of cordyceps flowers, red dates, and goji berries.

Place the clay pot on the fire, bring it to a boil over high heat, skim off the foam, then reduce to low heat and simmer.

Before long, the rich aroma of chicken soup began to fill the room.

"Meow~"

A sweet, cloying voice suddenly came from beside my feet.

The rice ball, which was originally fast asleep on the living room sofa, woke up as soon as it smelled the aroma.

It trotted into the kitchen with lazy yet eager little steps, rubbing its round head against his trouser leg.

Seeing that Xie Wang didn't react, the little guy got anxious. It kicked with its two hind legs, pawed at Xie Wang's legs with its front paws, stood up, and made a gurgling sound in its throat.

Hey human, give me a taste!

"Go away, stop causing trouble."

Xie Wang looked down at the gluttonous creature at his feet and gently nudged it aside with his toe:

"This pot is for that gluttonous neighbor to nourish himself; it's all the essence, there's none for you."

The rice ball seemed to understand, letting out a pitiful "woof," and then stubbornly circled around Xie Wang, its tail swishing back and forth.

Helpless, Xie Wang took a cat treat from the refrigerator, tore a small opening in it, and handed it to the cat.

"Alright, take this to tide you over. I'll bring the soup over later, and the rest of the chicken breast is yours."

Watching the rice ball contentedly munching on cat treats, Xie Wang smiled and shook his head, then looked back at the pot of boiling chicken soup.

The soup is golden in color, with oil droplets shimmering slightly on the surface.

"That's about it."

He muttered to himself, preparing to taste the saltiness.

Just then, my phone, which was on the counter, vibrated.

It was a WeChat message from Su Qinghe.

[Y: That dream I just had... my heart is still pounding. Every time I close my eyes, all I see is rain and blood. It scared me to death.]

Xie Wang looked at the message and was about to reply with "Don't be afraid".

Immediately afterwards, the next message popped up, and the tone changed abruptly:

[Y: But now there's something even more terrifying than a nightmare... SOS!!!]

[Y: My mom went into the kitchen...]

[Y: She said she was going to make braised pork ribs, but I just peeked at it and there was that dark, mushy thing...]

[Y: ...I want to eat your...cat head.jpg]

Looking at the message on the screen, Xie Wang couldn't help but laugh out loud.

He wiped his hands and replied:

[X: Wait a minute, I'm simmering chicken soup and two light side dishes. I'll be there in twenty minutes.]

……

【1601 Restaurant】

Twenty minutes later.

There were three plates of... indescribable objects on the dining table.

The steamed fish stared unblinkingly at the ceiling, its skin tattered and covered with a strange layer of salt.

The braised pork ribs were so black they looked like they'd just been dug out of a coal mine, and they smelled burnt.

There was also a bowl of "vegetable and tofu soup," but the tofu was crumbled into pieces, and the vegetable leaves were withered and yellow.

Su Qinghe sat at the dining table, looking at the table full of maternal love, swallowed hard, and felt that this was even more terrifying than the nightmare she had just had.

Lin Wanyi sat opposite, took off her apron, looked at her masterpiece, and felt a little embarrassed.

"Well... the presentation is a bit lacking."

She forced herself to save face, picked up a dark-colored piece of pork rib, and placed it in Su Qinghe's bowl:

"But the taste should be alright, right? After all, the steps were all done according to the recipe. Want to try it?"

Su Qinghe looked at the piece of pork rib and picked up his chopsticks with a look of grim determination.

At this critical moment—

"Thump, thump, thump."

A desperate knocking sounded at the door.

Su Qinghe's eyes lit up instantly, as if he had heard heavenly music.

Uncle Zhong went over and opened the door.

Outside the door, Xie Wang was carrying a huge tray.

On the tray was a bubbling casserole, with two tempting side dishes beside it: a plate of bright green stir-fried bok choy and a plate of smooth and tender steamed eggs with shrimp.

The rich and delicious aroma of chicken soup instantly masked the burnt smell that had been lingering in the room.

"Auntie, Qinghe."

Xie Wang walked in with a smile, looking completely at ease, as if he hadn't seen the pile of culinary disaster on the table at all.

"I was making chicken soup, but my hands were shaking and I made too much. I couldn't finish it all by myself, and I was thinking it would be a waste to throw it away, so I brought it over... to mooch a meal?"

Lin Wanyi looked at the pot of delicious-looking chicken soup in Xie Wang's hand, then at the plate of charcoal-black pork ribs on her own table, and her face turned red.

But she was such a clever person that she immediately seized the opportunity.

"Cough... Okay."

Lin Wanyi subtly pushed the plate of ribs aside, revealing an elegant smile:

"Perfect timing, I might have made a slight mistake with these dishes. Let's eat them together."

"Uncle Chung, please bring another set of bowls and chopsticks."

Five minutes later.

The atmosphere at the dinner table underwent a dramatic change.

Su Qinghe took a sip of the delicious chicken soup and was so moved that he almost cried. He secretly kicked Xie Wang under the table.

Xie Wang gave her a "low-key" look, then proactively served Lin Wanyi a bowl of soup:

"Auntie, please try this. It has some cordyceps flowers in it, which is good for replenishing qi."

Lin Wanyi took a bite.

It's fresh, fragrant, and rich, and not greasy at all.

She looked at the eighteen-year-old boy in front of her.

She can cook, take care of people, is perceptive, and knows how to save face for elders at crucial moments.

"good."

Lin Wanyi put down her spoon and finally gave the highest praise:

"He did a much better job than me. From now on, I can rest assured about the food in Qinghe... well, I can eat with peace of mind."

"Mom—" Su Qinghe said, drawing out the last syllable somewhat embarrassedly.

"What? Did I say something wrong?" Lin Wanyi smiled and glared at her, then picked up a piece of the spare ribs she had made and took a bite:

"Pah, it really is bitter. Okay, none of you should eat this."

"No, Auntie!"

Xie Wang, however, picked up a piece of the dark-colored spare ribs with his chopsticks and took a bite without changing his expression:

"Auntie, this is called the 'Maillard reaction,' and I love the crispy texture!"

"Pfft."

Su Qinghe couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Lin Wanyi was amused and jokingly scolded:

"Alright, stop flattering me."

After finishing the meal.

Xie Wang, with great foresight, got up to clear the dishes, but Lin Wanyi stopped him.

"Just leave it there, Uncle Zhong will take it." Lin Wanyi looked at him, her eyes filled with the loving kindness of an elder.

"You must be tired too, go home and rest early."

"Okay, Auntie, Qinghe, you should get some rest."

"Click".

Xie Wang left room 1601 and gently closed the door behind him.

He took out his keys and opened the door to room 1602 next door.

Today, Teacher Su couldn't be with him, and a feeling of emptiness welled up inside him.

"Meow~"

In the darkness, two small, green light bulbs lit up.

Before Xie Wang could even turn on the light, a furry thing pounced at his feet.

It's rice balls.

The little guy missed out on the chicken soup and is now looking pitiful as he rubs his tail against his trouser leg.

Xie Wang squatted down and scooped the kitten into his arms.

"So you know what loneliness is?"