Chapter 15: Amused into Laughter

Li Yang had nothing to say except to eat!

He shoveled huge mouthfuls of rice into his mouth, cheeks bulging as he mumbled, “So good. Way better than anything I could make.”

An Ling thought he was like a gluttonous beast—once he started eating, it was all chomp chomp chomp. 

What an appetite. 

Was this why he was so much taller than her?

Could I still grow taller? 

An Ling wondered. She copied his style and dug in with big bites too.

Grandma Li watched them with a happy smile. 

The only downside was that An Ling got full pretty quickly, while Li Yang was still going strong.

Once all three had finished eating, An Ling started to clear the dishes, but Grandma Li stopped her.

“The one who cooked doesn’t wash the dishes—the one who didn’t does. Fair and square.” Grandma Li hauled Li Yang up from his seat. “Go on, get to washing.”

Li Yang pulled a long face but didn’t dare disobey Grandma, so off he went to do the dishes.

An Ling sat back down, but her ears stayed perked, listening for any sounds from the kitchen.

Thankfully, all she heard was running water and clinking bowls—no shattering.

Li Yang’s earlier attempt in the kitchen had left her a little traumatized.

“An Ling,” Grandma Li suddenly spoke up.

“Are you hiding something big from us?”

“Huh?” 

An Ling looked at her in surprise. Grandma, you’re not turning into a prophet, are you?

She paused, then smiled. 

“Of course not, Grandma. I have to focus on studying every day—where would I find time to hide anything?”

“Really?” Grandma Li looked at her.

“Really.” An Ling nodded.

“Sigh~ You child.” 

Grandma Li took her hand. 

“It’s fine if there’s nothing, but if something’s wrong, you have to tell us. We can solve it together. It’s always better than worrying alone.”

An Ling froze, unsure how to reply. 

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but nothing came out.

She couldn’t exactly tell her, Grandma Li, I’m not the old An Ling anymore. 

I turned into a girl, and if I get too close to Li Yang, I’ll die.

“I… I’m really doing fine,” An Ling finally managed.

Grandma Li looked at her, sighed again, and patted the back of her hand. 

“Alright, alright. If you say so, then that’s how it is. Just remember—if anything comes up, come find us. Don’t think you’re being a bother.”

“Mm.” An Ling nodded firmly.

In the kitchen, Li Yang finally finished washing the dishes and came out with flap flap sounds from his half-on slippers.

“Done?” 

Grandma Li asked.

“Done!” Li Yang announced proudly.

“Not bad.”

Grandma Li stood up. 

“It’s getting late. We should head back and let An Ling rest early.”

An Ling stood up too. 

“Grandma Li, I’ll walk you out.”

“No need, it’s so close.” 

Grandma Li waved her off, but still let An Ling escort them to the door.

Li Yang followed behind, his tiny slippers flap flaping with every step.

Watching the two ahead of him, it almost looked like An Ling was Grandma’s real grandchild.

Sigh~ Other people’s kids always seem better~ Li Yang muttered under his breath.

An Ling caught a bit of the sound but couldn’t make it out clearly. 

She turned to look at him.

Li Yang pretended nothing had happened and changed back into his own shoes at the entryway.

An Ling stood at the door, watching their figures disappear into the night before slowly closing it.

The house fell quiet all at once.

She had spent so much time around Li Yang again today.

She wondered what the memory fragment tonight would be like.

An Ling tidied up the living room and kitchen, took a shower, changed into her pajamas, finished her homework at the desk, then climbed into bed.

It was still fairly early. 

Today’s homework hadn’t been hard, so she finished it quickly.

An Ling buried her face in her tail.

How am I supposed to tell anyone about this? They’d laugh me to death, right?

She rolled over and looked toward the window.

The window was shut tight, curtains drawn completely. 

She couldn’t see what was happening across the way.

That guy isn’t going to knock on the window again tonight, is he? 

Chatting like this every day is such a hassle.

It was the modern age—why not just use a phone like a normal person instead of acting like a kid?

Even as she thought this, An Ling still pricked up her ears, listening for any noise outside.

Sure enough, before long the familiar sound came from the window.

Thump~ Thump~ Thump~

She sat up. “What a childish ghost.”

An Ling sighed, got off the bed, and walked over to the window with her tail swaying.

She pulled open the curtains. 

Same old scene—gesturing wildly, looking ridiculous and immature.

An Ling took a deep breath and pushed the window open.

“What do you want?”

“Nothing much.” 

Li Yang said righteously. 

“I was bored and had nothing to do, so I came to chat with you.”

An Ling paused. “Is that even a reason?”

“Of course. Chatting is perfect for killing time when you’re bored, right?”

“By the way, your cooking was really good. Where did you learn it?” 

Li Yang asked.

An Ling thought back. 

“Online mostly. Some from Mom teaching me.”

“I learned from Grandma too. How come I never picked it up?”

“You?” 

An Ling looked at him. 

“You really don’t have any talent for cooking. Being able to boil instant noodles is already your limit.”

“Hey! That’s not fair!”

“What’s not fair?”

“I can boil dumplings too!” Li Yang declared confidently. “And sweet rice dumplings!”

An Ling couldn’t help laughing at that. 

“Boiling dumplings and sweet rice dumplings counts as knowing how to cook?”

“Why not?” 

Li Yang protested. 

“They’re all boiled in water. I can control the heat perfectly—I never let the skins break.”

“That’s called knowing how to boil water, not knowing how to cook,” An Ling corrected him.

“Hey, what’s with you?” Li Yang pretended to be angry. “I still have a signature dish, you know.”

“You have a signature dish?”

An Ling’s ears twitched with curiosity.

“What is it?”

“When I make hotpot, I can swish the beef slices until they’re perfectly cooked!”

An Ling stared for a second, then burst out laughing.

“Pfft… Hahaha!”

She laughed so hard her eyes curved into crescents, her tail wagged back and forth behind her, and even the ears on top of her head twitched nonstop.

Li Yang leaned on the windowsill, watching her laugh, and started laughing along with her.

“What are you laughing at? Being able to swish beef perfectly in hotpot is still a skill!”

“What kind of skill is that?” 

An Ling finally stopped laughing. 

“That’s because the hotpot broth and dipping sauce are good. You just get credit for finding a decent hotpot place.”

“Why does that sound like you’re mocking me?”

“Not at all. I mean it.” An Ling blinked innocently.

“Yeah, true.” 

Li Yang nodded. 

“When it comes to reading people and situations, you really aren’t as good as me.”

“Hey! Give you an inch and you take a mile.”

The two of them started bickering back and forth, just like when they were kids.

The night breeze blew gently, carrying a hint of chill. 

An Ling’s ears shivered from the wind, and she instinctively hunched her shoulders.

It pulled her back from those childhood memories to the present.

“It’s still a bit cold at night, and I’m getting sleepy.”

“Then go back inside. Don’t catch a cold.” 

Li Yang said, unusually serious for once. 

“We have school tomorrow.”

The streetlight shone from the side, casting soft shadows across Li Yang’s face. 

His expression was hard to read, but his eyes were bright.