Peng Kai’s expression softened to the extreme: “Alright.”
The two of them finished shopping and queued up at the cashier.
Lan Hui saw him take out cash to pay and quickly said, “Kai-ge, let’s just split the bill, okay? You pay first, and I’ll transfer my share to you when we get home.”
Lan Hui hadn’t wanted to be so particular, but Peng Kai was just too generous. If they didn’t go Dutch, Peng Kai would end up losing out.
He was having a tough time too right now, she couldn’t take advantage of him.
“It’s fine.”
Peng Kai didn’t even think twice about it. When going out shopping with a girl, how could he let her pay?
She cooked for him every day, with vegetables and meat, nutritious and delicious—way better than takeout.
Each meal would cost at least forty or fifty yuan, and she’d been doing it for half a month now. When you added it all up, it was way more than what they’d just spent on groceries today.
Lan Hui didn’t say anything more, but she made up her mind to give him the money when they got home.
After checking out, Peng Kai asked, “Hungry? How about we eat dinner at the mall before heading back?” It was already past six in the evening, dinner time.
Lan Hui shook her head, “I’m not hungry. Let’s go home and cook dumplings. Eating at the mall, even a casual meal, would cost at least a hundred or two. We’ve already spent enough today, better to save a bit.”
“Alright.” Peng Kai had no objections, but in his heart, he thought this girl was truly wonderful—beautiful, unpretentious, good-natured, a great cook, thrifty, and clearly someone who knew how to run a household.
Whoever married her would be happy for a lifetime.
He wondered who would be that lucky.
As Peng Kai thought about this, a heavy, indescribable feeling welled up inside.
Suddenly, a wild and ridiculous thought popped into his mind—he hoped that the man who would marry Yue Fu would be himself!
Peng Kai was startled by this idea.
Ever since breaking up with Gu Shinan, he’d been utterly disillusioned with love. He’d thought he’d never look for it again in this lifetime.
Who would have guessed that just over a year later, he’d have such a crazy notion?
Peng Kai stared blankly at the girl walking ahead. She seemed to be in a great mood, humming a little tune with a spring in her step.
Noticing he was lagging behind, she turned and asked, “Kai-ge, is it too heavy? Want me to help carry something?”
Before Peng Kai could answer, she had already hurried back to him. He quickly said, “No need, these things aren’t heavy.”
Lan Hui had already come closer and took two light bags of groceries from his hand, “Doesn’t matter if they’re heavy or not, let me help. That way you’ll have it a bit easier, right?”
The girl’s playful smile and warm words made Peng Kai unconsciously lift the corners of his mouth.
It was the first time Lan Hui had seen Peng Kai smile, and she was pleasantly surprised, “Kai-ge, you should smile more often. You look so handsome like this, just like a thousand-year-old glacier melting into spring and flowers blooming.”
Peng Kai was a little embarrassed, “Let’s get going. Don’t you still want to go home and make dumplings?”
He quickened his pace, his steps a little flustered.
Lan Hui hurried to keep up, “Kai-ge, don’t walk so fast, I can barely keep up.”
Only then did Peng Kai slow down.
After getting in the car, Lan Hui said, “Kai-ge, I just thought of a compromise. From now on, let’s each put in seven hundred yuan a month as living expenses.”
“We’ll use that money to buy groceries, fruits, daily necessities, and so on. Like today, when we shop at the supermarket, we’ll just use the public fund. What do you think?”
Peng Kai was sharp—of course he knew this idea was because the girl didn’t want him to spend too much, didn’t want him to lose out.
With a public fund, all household expenses would be split, greatly easing his financial pressure.
“Sure. You put in seven hundred, I’ll put in a thousand. Let’s try it for a month. If it’s enough, we’ll stick to that amount. If not, we’ll adjust next month.”
After all, together it was only 1,700 yuan for the public fund. It might not be enough for a whole month.
Lan Hui said, “Alright, we’ll do as you say. But you shouldn’t put in a thousand. Let’s both put in seven hundred.”
Peng Kai disagreed, “You cook every day, that’s a lot of work, and I can’t help with that. I’ll just put in three hundred more—that’s the fairest.”
Lan Hui said, “But you already reduced my rent.”
“Reduced? Don’t tell me cleaning the house isn’t hard work?”
Peng Kai said, “Yue Fu, I know you don’t want me to lose out, but I’m really not. The auto repair shop doesn’t make much right now, but it’s easy to pull in over twenty thousand a month.”
“I just still have some debts to pay off, so I seem a bit strapped right now. Things will get better and better as time goes on.”
Lan Hui listened and found it a bit odd. Peng Kai sounded like a husband reassuring his wife that the hard times were only temporary, and life would get better…
So strange.
Lan Hui shook her head hard, trying to shake off such ridiculous thoughts.
She admitted she was pretty outstanding, but not so dazzling that someone would fall head over heels after knowing her for less than a month.
If it were another man, maybe her looks would make him obsessed with her.
But the man in front of her was Peng Kai—the one who’d lost all hope in love in his last life and never married.
“Alright, it’s settled then. I get paid in two days—once I do, I’ll deposit the money into a public card.”
Lan Hui didn’t dare think any further, afraid she’d get herself tangled up and end up with a headache.
“Okay, I’ll transfer the money to you when we get back. You manage it.” Peng Kai was straightforward.
“Mm.” Lan Hui nodded with a smile, “I’ll keep track of every expense, make sure it’s all clear and transparent.”
Peng Kai couldn’t help but laugh, “Alright.”
The car started and slowly pulled out of the underground parking lot.
The girl naturally turned on the music, humming along cheerfully, her face radiant with a bright smile.
The car was filled with a joyful atmosphere, a world apart from when he drove alone.
He suddenly understood—how could people ever be the same?
Some people were like a ray of light illuminating your life, like warm sunlight, like the fresh morning air that made you relax like never before.
And some people were like demons crawling out of hell—no matter how good you were to her, no matter what you gave, she would still hurt you ruthlessly, leaving you with nightmares you could never shake off.
Who you chose to spend your life with really made all the difference.
***
Twenty minutes later, the car stopped steadily at the bottom of the apartment building. After carrying the groceries upstairs, Peng Kai was about to leave again. Lan Hui was surprised, “Kai-ge, heading out again?”
Peng Kai nodded, “I need to go to the shop. My employee mainly washes cars—he’s still learning to repair them. When there’s something tricky, he can’t handle it, so I need to be there.”
He’d already missed most of the day at the shop and turned down several jobs. Of course, he wouldn’t tell Yue Fu that.
Lan Hui frowned, “Can’t you wait a bit? Let me cook you some noodles before you go?” He hadn’t had dinner yet—he’d be hungry at the shop.
“It’s fine. If I get hungry, I’ll order takeout.” Peng Kai replied.
Lan Hui asked, “Is your shop far from here?”
Peng Kai said, “Not far, just a ten-minute walk.”
Lan Hui asked, “What’s it called?”
Peng Kai said, “Peng Kai Auto Repair Shop.”
The corners of Lan Hui’s mouth twitched, “That name really stands out.” She’d seen shops named after surnames, but never one using the full name as a signboard.
Still, it was simple and direct—unforgettable, really.
“I’m running late, I’ll head off now.” Peng Kai said, quickly walking to the door to change shoes.
“Take it easy.” Lan Hui reminded.
Peng Kai grunted in acknowledgment, put on his shoes, and hurried out, closing the door with a snap.
Lan Hui didn’t waste any time either. She immediately started washing the groceries, chopping up the meat filling…
She was quick—half an hour later, the pickled vegetable and fresh meat filling was ready, and in another half hour, she’d wrapped forty or fifty dumplings and put them all into the pot to cook.
She ate ten dumplings herself, and packed up the rest to deliver to Peng Kai.
Lan Hui followed the navigation and walked over. In just over ten minutes, she arrived at Peng Kai Auto Repair Shop.
The shop was over a hundred square meters, with a spacious courtyard in front.
From a distance, Little Fatty was washing a car with a water gun, and a couple of customers nearby were smoking—probably waiting for their cars.
Lan Hui looked around but didn’t see Peng Kai.
“Wow, what a pretty girl.” The two customers smoking couldn’t help but exclaim. It was late and cold, and you rarely saw girls on the street at this hour. Now, seeing the lively Lan Hui, their eyes lingered on her.
Admiring beauty was a man’s instinct.
Little Fatty also noticed and quickly smiled, gesturing to her.
Lan Hui didn’t understand, but smiled and waved back in greeting.
At that moment, Little Fatty quickly turned off the water gun and ran over to a big truck, knocking on it. Peng Kai slid out from underneath.
He’d been lying on a mechanic’s creeper, face, hands, and clothes all smeared with grease—looking especially disheveled.
When he saw Lan Hui, his pupils shrank, and he hurried over, “Why are you here?”
Lan Hui raised the lunchbox in her hand, her eyes crinkling with a smile, “I made some pickled vegetable and fresh meat dumplings for you. Eat when you have time. I made a lot, so you can share some with your staff.”
A complicated emotion flickered in Peng Kai’s eyes, “That’s really thoughtful of you.”
Lan Hui smiled, “I had nothing to do at home, and your shop isn’t far. Consider it my after-dinner walk.”
As she spoke, Lan Hui quickly added, “I’ll put the lunchbox inside for you. The dumplings are dry-mixed, so they’ll keep longer, but make sure to eat them soon.”
Peng Kai nodded, “Got it.”
“I’ll head back then.” Lan Hui said, “I still have a few more fillings to wrap.”
Peng Kai apologized, “My car’s not fixed yet, so I can’t leave. You’ll have to go back alone. Be careful on the way.”
“Okay.” Lan Hui nodded.
Peng Kai reminded her, “Send me a message when you get home.”
“Alright.” Lan Hui smiled, waved at him, and left quickly.
Peng Kai watched her figure grow smaller and smaller, until she disappeared into the night, before finally looking away.
The customers smoking nearby looked envious and gave him a thumbs up, “Bro, you’re really lucky! Not only is your girlfriend beautiful, she even brings you food herself—talented and gentle.”
“I’ve been coming here to get my car fixed for over a year, and you always looked so serious. I thought you’d never find a girlfriend in this life. Didn’t expect to see something new today.”
“As expected, whether a guy’s cold-faced or warm, there’s always a market for him.”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.