Cheng Yu’s mouth curled into a smile, nodding. Song’s mother knew the three of them had an extraordinary relationship, not like outsiders, and wanted Cheng Yu to help mediate between Song Li and Liu Yi to avoid any awkwardness when Fu Xiaotang arrived later. She said with a smile, “Yi is upset. I’ve just brought up the children’s sadness. Yu, you came at the right time. You young folks are good at talking; help me persuade her. Li, you’re here too, just talk things out, and there won’t be any issues.”
Cheng Yu coughed, and after a while, he slowly said with his head slightly lowered, “Do I dare to intervene? I’ve got myself into this mess because I meddle too much.” He intended this as a mutter to himself, but seeing the puzzled, sympathetic, and knowing looks from the three, he couldn’t help but smile at Song’s mother, “Alright, alright, I’ll take care of it. Look how anxious you are. Don’t worry, with me here, I’ll make sure they reconcile soon.”
Song’s mother, though initially confused by his words, didn’t think much of it, nodded, and got up, “Alright, I’ll leave them to you. I’ll go to the kitchen to prepare some good food for you.” She pointed at Cheng Yu, “You better handle this well, or you’ll be washing dishes later.” Then she went into the kitchen.
Watching Song’s mother’s retreating figure, the smile on Cheng Yu’s face gradually faded. He lit another cigarette and said to Song Li, “You guys came together? It’s rare for you to argue, why choose to do it in front of the elders?” Song Li neither confirmed nor denied, and Liu Yi took a deep breath but remained silent.
Cheng Yu, smoking, observed Liu Yi for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Yi, what have you been busy with lately?”
“Just that matter,” Liu Yi replied vaguely, but she felt Cheng Yu’s gaze was different from before, less admiring and more probing, like a knife peeling her layer by layer. She asked, “And you? You really seem to have lost weight?”
Cheng Yu took a puff of his cigarette and lightly said, “I’ve been with Xin Peipei.”
