Just as Fang Zheng knocked on the door, the atmosphere became silent.
The biggest fears one would have in life were the atmosphere turning silent out of nowhere, and the concern of a friend out of nowhere.
'It means either your friend is trying to borrow some cash from you, or your life is about to end.'
The door opened. Eh?
Fang Zheng was slightly surprised.
It was not the woman on the balcony who opened the door, it was a middle-aged woman who looked a little like Sun Yushu.
Fang Zheng had thought of a few possibilities before he knocked on the door; Sun Yushu's mother opening it herself was not one of them.
Sun Yushu was in a flurry.
"Mom!"
The worry and torture he had been enduring turned into cries.
Whatever the saying goes about men should not cry easily... Nothing could describe the scenario.
Mother Sun asked worriedly, "Why are you crying out of nowhere? You've lost weight again."
Sun Yushu did not have much time to explain. He wanted to take his mother and leave the Waterfront Garden but at this very moment, a woman appeared.
She was holding a sharp knife in her hand that was meant for cutting fish. She stood silently behind Mother Sun. She did not say a word or have any expression on her face. She just stared at the trio by the door with her lifeless eyes, and just continued staring.
All while holding a knife in her hand.
Fang Zheng had chills looking at the sharp knife she was holding in her hand.
Fang Zheng also understood that the earthy and dead fish smell was coming from Zheng Mei.
It was nauseating.
Seeing how both Sun Yushu and his mother seemed normal, it was obvious that he was the only one who could smell it.
Sun Yushu saw the knife-wielding Zheng Mei as well. He got terrified and stood in front of his mother.
Zheng Mei continued standing calmly while holding the knife.
No one knew what she was going to do with it.
At this moment, Mother Sun broke the silence and said to Fang Zheng warmly, "You should be the colleague Yushu was talking about, you seem elegant and energetic."
"Come, come inside. Since we have guests today, Yushu said he wanted to bring a colleague as well, I was just discussing with Cai Jiajia's mother on what to do for dinner."
Fang Zheng looked at Sun Yushu confused.
Sun Yushu shook his head in the direction of Fang Zheng.
Fang Zheng understood it right away. Sun Yushu was afraid that his mother would not be able to take the news, and that was why he never told his parents about Zheng Mei's death.
No wonder Mother Sun seemed normal being in the same space as a dead person.
To Mother Sun, Zheng Mei was still alive…
"Nice to meet you Aunty, I'm sorry for coming over and disturbing your rest. Sun Yushu and I got something for you on our way here." Fang Zheng handed over a gift bag which had the usual supplements for the old in it.
Of course, Sun Yushu paid for it.
They had to go through with the act.
Mother Sun was happy. It was rare for her to have guests over. She had a smile on her face as she invited Fang Zheng into the house.
Sun Yushu was in doubt if he should go in.
He looked at Fang Zheng in doubt, signaling to him to make the decision. Meanwhile, Fang Zheng walked into the apartment with a joyful Mother Sun; nothing seemed wrong at that moment.
Sun Yushu followed suit through gritted teeth.
After seeing the trio enter the apartment, Zheng Mei stopped staring at them and went back into the kitchen with her knife.
Once Fang Zheng got into the apartment, he felt an aura of isolation from the rest of the world. The apartment felt dark, cold, and it made him uncomfortable.
On the other hand, Sun Yushu and his mother seemed normal. There was only a jacket over Mother Sun.
The air-conditioner was off as well.
Fang Zheng kept feeling a sharp gaze from behind his back.
It was coming from the kitchen.
Mother Sun handed a drink to Fang Zheng excitedly and said, "I heard Yushu was bringing a colleague over, Jiajia's mom said she was good at making fish soup, she wanted to cook a good meal for Yushu's colleague."
"Jiajia's mom was supposed to be a guest and I wouldn't have let a guest work in the kitchen, but Jiajia's mom insisted on it. Fang Zheng, you're in luck today."
Fang Zheng looked at Sun Yushu in doubt.
Sun Yushu was confused as well.
A dead woman, making fish soup for them?
"Yushu, look, Jiajia's mom is so nice, I'm pleased with Jiajia as well. You're already too old, any man who's older than 27 years old would be despised if you don't get married anytime soon and give birth to a grandchild for your parents... Your parents aren't going to be alive for much longer."
Mother Sun was adamant about the old tradition of getting her son married as soon as possible... No wonder Sun Yushu moved out alone. This was what every son and daughter had to go through.
"I'm already set on having Jiajia's mom as part of our family. Tell me, after seeing Cai Jiajia the last time, have you been going out with her?"
"..." Sun Yushu and Fang Zheng were speechless.
Sun Yushu did not know how to explain that there's a dead person in the house and the dead person was working in the kitchen at the moment.
She was making fish soup for them.
She was being treated like family.
Sun Yushu was having cold sweat. He was afraid of scaring his mother, who already had heart problems.
At this very moment, everyone smelled the scent of rapeseed oil mixed with fish and the sound of cooking could be heard.
The scent of fish was getting stronger and stronger, it smelled amazing.
A woman could be seen cooking in the kitchen from where the couch was located.
This was supposed to be an endearing moment.
But!
When dozens of dishes were laid on the dining table—braised fish, tomato-based carp, catfish tofu soup, fried fish balls, lemon-based fish steak, black pepper fish head, fish head soup, fresh fish soup, and another stewed fish soup—Fang Zheng could still smell the dead fish scent from Zheng Mei. His stomach became twisted and he had cramps, it was as if he had a ball of hair growing in his throat. His expression changed.
The amazing scent of fish in the air did not get his appetite worked up at all. He was feeling chills.
Fang Zheng's eye was twitching.
Before this, he had thought about multiple scenarios that might unfold and this was not one of them. At this very moment, the lifeless woman who sat down next to him at the dining table finally spoke, "Eat!"
Her voice was calm.
She sounded like a soulless puppet—cold and rigid.
She lowered her head and there were chills around her. Her expression could not be read. Should the fish be eaten?
Or not?
Fang Zheng and Sun Yushu were terrified.