In short, the meal was a torment for her, especially with these two people across from her. It was truly distressing.
If she had known this would be the outcome, she wouldn't have been soft-hearted and agreed to Lin Yuwei's request in the first place. How much better it would have been to go home and have a quiet meal. Now, she regretted it to the core.
"Sister Feng Jin, hurry up and eat. The food is getting cold."
Noticing that Feng Jin hadn't touched her chopsticks for a long time, Lin Yuwei urged her repeatedly. She busied herself picking up food for Feng Jin and even prepared a bowl of congee for her.
"Sister Feng Jin, try this congee. Does it resemble the one you make at your manor?"
The first time she ate this seafood congee was when she was staying at the Ling Manor. She had pestered the cook until he told her the recipe. Although the taste was slightly different, it was close enough. She thought it tasted good, but she wondered how Sister Feng Jin would find it.
Feng Jin picked up a spoonful and tasted it. While it wasn't as delicate as the one made at her manor, it was still quite good.
However, the shrimp in the congee tasted a bit stale. Perhaps it had been stored for too long.
Finding seafood in this season was indeed not easy. It showed that Lin Yuwei had put a lot of thought into this meal. Feng Jin was not a picky person, nor was she one to find fault.
"It's not bad."
Feng Jin gave a neutral evaluation. To avoid revealing any flaws, she took a few more sips before putting down the bowl.
"Pah... Why is this congee so salty!"
Chu Chenyi only took a mouthful and felt a mouthful of saltiness. He spat it all out.
What was this? Salty and fishy, it tasted awful. She couldn't imagine what Lin Yuwei was thinking, to actually enjoy such things.
"If you don't want to eat it, then leave quickly. Don't be an eyesore here!"
Lin Yuwei could no longer tolerate it. She stood up in a rage, pointed at Chu Chenyi, and berated him, wishing she could kick him out.
She had kindly invited him to stay for dinner, but he found fault with everything. In the end, she was the one receiving all the blame.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She felt like a complete fool, and a thoroughly duped one at that.
Chu Chenyi pouted sheepishly, not daring to say another word, afraid that a wrong word might enrage Lin Yuwei further, which would be a loss. He ultimately chose to remain silent and continued to eat his food.
"Everyone's tastes are different. If someone tries seafood congee for the first time, they might indeed find it salty and fishy. You shouldn't argue with him."
Feng Jin reluctantly played the role of peacemaker. Why was she so unlucky to be caught in such a situation? She had just wanted a quiet meal, which now seemed like a luxury.
"Hmph!" Lin Yuwei snorted in displeasure and turned her head away, no longer bothering with Chu Chenyi.
"Eat first, eat first..."
Feng Jin urged the two of them to eat quickly. After all this, she had become like the hostess.
This meal, which had been anything but peaceful, was finally, grudgingly, finished amidst the bickering.
The moment she put down her chopsticks, Feng Jin let out a sigh of relief. It was finally over, and she could go home soon.
After accompanying Lin Yuwei for a while and chatting, the sky gradually darkened. Feng Jin noticed the time and began to mention her departure.
"Well... it's getting late today, and I've been out for quite a long time. If I don't go back soon, the two children will probably start acting up..."
Feng Jin first subtly conveyed her intention, then paused before stating it clearly: "Um... I'll be going back now. I'll come see you again tomorrow..."
She knew Lin Yuwei would be very reluctant to see her leave, but it was already pitch black outside. If she didn't return now, she might not even be able to handle Ling Mo Han.
"Ah..."
When Lin Yuwei heard that Feng Jin wanted to leave, her previously cheerful mood plummeted. Her face lost all its smiles.
She had only been here for such a short time, and now she was leaving. She didn't know when she would see Sister Feng Jin again. The manor would become quiet and lonely once more, with no one to talk to. The days would pass by, feeling unbearable.
Before, she could go out for a stroll when she had the time. Now, with the child in her belly, every move she made seemed to be monitored. Even walking and sitting required extreme caution, let alone going out to play. It was simply a pipe dream.
After finally waiting for Sister Feng Jin to visit, someone she could chat with, they had only talked for a short while before she had to leave. Naturally, she was very reluctant to let Sister Feng Jin go.
"Sister Feng Jin, please sit for a little longer... stay and talk with me..."
Lin Yuwei tightly clasped Feng Jin's hand and shook it repeatedly, not wanting her to leave.
Feng Jin also looked helpless. Why had she gotten entangled with Lin Yuwei? It was now difficult to extricate herself.
"How about this, Sister Feng Jin, why don't you stay here tonight? Since it's already late outside, I'll be worried if you go back alone."
Initially, she had wanted Sister Feng Jin to stay a little longer and then let her go. But now, she had suddenly changed her mind. Lin Yuwei was still reluctant to let her leave.
Since it was already late, she couldn't feel at ease letting Sister Feng Jin leave alone. It would be better for her to stay the night and leave tomorrow morning.
"Ah!"
Feng Jin exclaimed in surprise, instinctively letting out a cry. Didn't she just say she'd stay for a little longer? Why was she not being allowed to leave now?
The change was too sudden; she couldn't quite react.
"No..."
Feng Jin refused without a second thought. If she stayed here, she was sure that as soon as Ling Mo Han found out, he would bring her back immediately.
The back-and-forth would be truly exhausting. She absolutely could not stay here.
"Sister Feng Jin, you... you..."
Perhaps it was due to her pregnancy, but she was very sensitive now. Sometimes, even she disliked her current state. If something didn't go her way or made her unhappy, she couldn't control herself and would end up crying.
"You... you don't cry, alright!"
Feng Jin was startled by her sudden outburst. She hadn't said anything, yet she started crying.
"Don't cry, alright? Let's talk things through slowly..."
"I... I... Sister Feng Jin..."