Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: A Call from Father

When I placed the beautifully presented menstrual detox soup in front of her, Lin Feifei’s eyes lit up, and her face revealed a look of genuine amazement.

"It’s ready. Hurry up and taste it—budget-friendly Michelin-star cuisine has arrived."

Lin Feifei smiled, took out her phone, and began taking various photos of the soup. While snapping pictures, she said excitedly, "You’ve really impressed me. Who knew you could turn a simple menstrual health soup into something a Michelin chef would serve?"

My heart soared like a thousand fireworks exploding at once. Her demeanor was natural, not just empty flattery. Having my cooking receive such high praise gave me a profound sense of accomplishment.

Lin Feifei looked at me with burning eyes and asked, "By the way, what is the name of this soup?"

Without thinking much, I blurted out, "No-More-Cramps-When-Auntie-Visits Water."

"..."

Lin Feifei fell silent for a few seconds, gave me a look of utter speechlessness, and said, "Could you be any less classy? Come up with a better name, quickly."

I dropped my playful grin and said, "Let’s call it Womb-Warming Detox Soup, then. Drink it for two or three days, and it’ll ensure your cycle flows smoothly and help keep you healthy."

Lin Feifei sighed. "I have to drink it for two or three days? It’s a pity I don't know how to make it."

"I can tell you the recipe; it’s actually very simple..."

Lin Feifei looked up, cast me a meaningful glance, and curled her lips. "I thought you were going to say you’d make it for me every day. I guess I thought too much."

My heart skipped a beat, and I stared at her in complete shock. Her words had completely derailed my train of thought; my brain felt like it had gone into standby mode, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond.

Lin Feifei burst into laughter, wearing a cunning smile. "Finally, I’ve left you speechless? Great, I’ve finally gotten my revenge."

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I felt a secret sense of relief, yet deep down, there was a tinge of regret.

***

Lin Feifei put down her phone after taking the photos, cradled the bowl, and took a small sip. A look of pure satisfaction immediately washed over her.

"Wow! This is so delicious!"

After a few more sips, and having asked for her permission, I lit a cigarette and took a long, satisfying drag.

Lin Feifei held the bowl with both hands, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks. She gazed at me intensely, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Did you treat your ex-wife like this, too?"

I paused, slowly brought the cigarette to my lips, took a shallow puff, and held the smoke for a long time before letting it drift out. It was as if the memories of the past were swirling away with the smoke.

I nodded heavily and let out a soft, "Yes."

A faint smile touched Lin Feifei’s lips. As she parted them, her tone carried a hint of charm. "I am becoming more and more certain that your ex-wife will regret this one day."

I gave a dry laugh. Looking at the quietly burning cigarette between my fingers, I said bitterly, "Whether she regrets it or not is no longer my concern. From now on, she can walk her path, and I will walk mine. Let’s just wish each other well."

She stared at me, her eyes locked onto mine, her lips curved into a beautiful arc that made it hard to look away.

"You were together for so long. She accompanied you through your entire youth. Can you really let that go?"

I offered a self-deprecating smile. "I finally let the girl who accompanied me through my youth become someone else’s. It’s all in the past now. One cannot live in memories forever; one must look forward to the future."

Lin Feifei slurped a few more spoonfuls of soup, blinked playfully, and asked with a smile, "Then, what is the girl you are looking forward to like?"

I fell into deep thought. After a while, I weighed my words carefully. "The 'her' I’m looking forward to doesn't need to be stunningly beautiful; just a bit cute will do. She doesn't need a perfect figure, just slim is fine. I hope she is understanding, someone who can offer words of encouragement when I’m feeling down, helping me shake off the dust so I can carry on. Most importantly, I hope she is willing to give me time to work hard. Although I have no car or house here now, I will do my absolute best to fulfill my responsibilities and provide a stable life for her and our future children."

Lin Feifei gazed at me, her eyes burning like leaping flames. She gave me an encouraging look and said, "I believe you can definitely do it. Your ex-wife will have her day of regret. In love, you don't meet everyone who will treat you with sincerity. If you do find that person, you must cherish them. She just hasn't figured out what is truly important to her yet."

Amidst our conversation, I lit another cigarette. Watching it burn silently, I said thoughtfully, "Our lives are actually like these cigarettes—filled with countless departures. When fate brings us together, cherish it; when fate ends, let it drift away with the wind."

***

Lin Feifei pondered my words, her lips curving into a smile. "I didn't expect you to be so open-minded. If it were me, I don't think I’d be able to move on so easily."

I smiled. "Perhaps after experiencing enough setbacks, one eventually understands. Looking back in a few years, these things won't even seem like a big deal."

No sooner had I finished speaking than my phone rang. When I pulled it out and saw "Dad" on the screen, my heart sank.

My relationship with my father had never been good. Every time I returned home for the Spring Festival, he would find excuses to scold me for not measuring up to others, as if in his eyes, I was nothing more than a failure.

Sure enough, as soon as I answered, he started berating me.

"Yu Bin! What have you been doing out there? You divorced Kuang Li, so why didn't you tell the family? Kuang Li is such a good girl; our family wasn't good enough for her to begin with, and you didn't even know how to cherish her..."

He ranted on and on. I listened to him calmly. This scene had played out countless times in my thirty years of life; I was already used to it.

He sounded drunk, interspersing his scolding with ugly insults. Yet, I remained unmoved. I listened to him vent until he was finished, then spoke slowly.

"She only told you we divorced, but she must not have mentioned that she cheated first, right? And was caught in bed by me."

A deathly silence fell over the line. I sneered inwardly. Kuang Li had played the victim and pushed all the blame for the divorce onto me—something I hadn't expected.

After about a dozen seconds, my father’s gravelly voice returned. "Her family refuses to return the bride price, and they even want the house we just bought. Tell me, what are you going to do about this?"

I froze. Kuang Li and I had registered our marriage and lived together for a long time. When we divorced, I hadn't planned on asking for the bride price back. After all, the woman who had walked through my entire youth was already gone, and getting the money back meant nothing to me. But the fact that she was now eyeing the house back in my hometown—that was something I could not tolerate.