The silence in the kitchen was thick enough to cut with a knife. After her question, Gu Yichen was completely stunned, his defeat a physical weight in the room. He just stood there, speechless. Mei Lian sighed, the fire in her eyes dimming to a smolder of quiet resignation.
"Go sit down," she said, her voice dropping to a low, quiet command. "I'll make you some."
She didn't wait for him to respond. She turned back to the stove, adding more water to the pot. He moved on instinct, sliding onto a stool at the small kitchen island. He watched her, his mind a blank slate. He was a man accustomed to being obeyed, not told what to do.
She worked with a focused, quiet grace, her hands moving with a fluid precision he found himself watching. She added fresh vegetables, cracked an egg into the simmering broth, and seasoned it with a blend of sauces. The aroma filled the air around them. She then reached for a second bowl.
When she placed the steaming bowls in front of them, she didn't meet his gaze. She simply set them down and sat on the stool opposite him. "It's hot," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
They ate in silence. The only sounds were the gentle click of chopsticks against porcelain and the small, quiet sounds of their eating. The steam rose in a delicate cloud, and Gu Yichen could see the perfect arrangement of the noodles, the tender vegetables, and the pale, soft egg. It was simple, yet it looked exquisite.
He picked up his chopsticks, his hands trembling slightly. The first bite was a revelation. The broth was rich and savory, a perfect blend of flavors. He had eaten at the best restaurants in the city, but nothing tasted like this. He ate slowly, savoring every spoonful, the physical pain in his stomach beginning to subside with each bite.
Mei Lian ate with a quiet focus, her head slightly bowed. He stole a glance at her, watching the way her hair fell over her shoulders. The silence was no longer suffocating. It was a shared space, a small moment of peace in the chaos of their lives.
When he finished, he found a clean napkin and gently wiped his mouth. He looked at the empty bowl, then at Mei Lian, who was still eating. He had just received a gift he didn't deserve. He had always taken everything for granted, but this meal... this was something entirely different.
Mei Lian finished a moment later, her eyes still downcast. Without a word, she stood up and began to collect the empty bowls. As she reached for his, his hand shot out and stopped her, his fingers wrapping gently around her wrist. For the first time since their marriage, their skin made contact, a warm, solid connection.
"Thank you," he said, his voice low and raspy. The single word hung in the air between them, a fragile, new beginning. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with shock. And in that moment, he knew he couldn't let go.