Watching her daughter eat, Sun Rongfangâs face was all smiles as she asked, "Do you need to go back to the hospital to work today?"
"No, Iâm off today," Xie Wanying replied.
"After you finish eating, take a good nap. Iâll make lunch for you. What do you want to eat? Tell me, and Iâll go to the market to buy groceries later." Sun Rongfang was eager, already prepared to be the head chef for her daughter in the Capital.
Wu Lixuan heard this and remembered something important, saying, "Godmother, as discussed last night, let Dr. Cao make a seafood rice dish with fish for you."
Is Senior Cao going to cook for her mom? Xie Wanying couldnât help but turn her head.
Receiving her gaze, Cao Yong calmly nodded, indicating: Yes.
Senior Cao is a great cook. Xie Wanying thought to herself, no problem.
Her mom, unlike her, hadnât tasted the handsome young manâs cooking. Sun Rongfang said, "He can make fried rice, thatâs fine, but just fried rice isnât enough to fill us up. Iâll fry some dishes when the time comes."
The others could tell that Mother Xie had experienced someone messing up fried rice before, so she was preemptively planning other dishes to save the day.
Mom. Xie Wanying wondered if she should remind her mother that Senior Cao was very skilled at cooking.
Her childhood friend on the opposite side signaled subtly: No need to say.
Looking back at Senior Caoâs very composed expression, it seemed he wanted to give her mom a surprise. Xie Wanying held her tongue.
Sun Rongfang and her daughter talked about other things: "In a few days, after your brother gets his shots, weâll visit your Aunt Min and Teacher Zhuang."
"Okay." Xie Wanying agreed to her motherâs request to visit the elders.
"Also, I received notice from your elder cousin that their family is coming up here since they know weâre here and want to meet."
Her cousin and his wife are coming. It must be that they found time before the new year to come to the Capital for a follow-up appointment. Xie Wanying mentally counted the days since her cousin was discharged.
Just then, Shim Youhuan returned from a round outside and heard this, saying, "Yes, your cousin is coming for a follow-up. Itâs scheduled for next week."
"Mom, this is Dr. Shim, the cardiologist who performed the interventional surgery on my cousin," Xie Wanying introduced to her mother.
Another lifesaver for the family. Sun Rongfang hurriedly got up to shake the doctorâs hand and express her gratitude.
"No need to thank me. Weâll come over to your place for lunch," Shim Youhuan said as he winked at Junior Cao, having overheard outside that someone was planning to make a special seafood fried rice dish to honor the elders.
"In that case," Sun Rongfang decisively decided, cutting half of the braised duck she brought to have for lunch and inviting her daughterâs other teachers to join them.
Three days later
On her day off, Xie Wanying took the afternoon to go grocery shopping with her mom at the local market.
Standing in front of a fish stall, Sun Rongfang carefully selected ingredients, telling her daughter, "Dr. Cao will come for dinner tonight as well. Heâs good at cooking fish, so let him do it."
Her momâs words were a confession that her culinary skills were completely outclassed by Senior Caoâs five-star cooking.
Receiving her daughterâs gaze, Sun Rongfang blushed, saying, "I never imagined he could cook. He doesnât look like someone who can cook at all."
Senior Caoâs appearance is quite deceptive, capable of making people think heâs a privileged gentleman who doesnât lift a finger. In reality, his household skills surpass hers.
Facts need to be stated as they are, as Sun Rongfang praised, "Dr. Caoâs seafood fried rice was really delicious. How is he so good at cooking? Did someone in his family teach him?"