Lunch

The elderly Chen's house was only a 10 minute walk away.

Along the sides of the dirt road towards his house were a landscape of hundreds of different varieties of small flowers, letting a person feel one with nature itself.

Sweet floral scents surrounded their very beings, stimulating one's senses to their greatest heights.

Despite it being the countryside, the large road appeared to have been regularly maintained.

The soil underneath had been hardened and flattened over time, creating a smooth surface comparable to the roads of Trinix's major cities.

Gazing upon the horizon, one can make out large metal structures, not influenced by the world around it.

Thin, translucent blades of green surrounded a small brick house, on the side of which laid an abundance of crops of various kinds similar to Chen Mei Ling's.

Grazing through the dewy green grass, they arrived upon an opened metal door, from which a hint of savory aroma is leaking out.

Clinking sounds echoed from from a walled off corner of the house, presumably the kitchen.

A head of white popped out from the door-less entryway, smiling at the sight of the guests.

An old woman slowly made her way out, wiping her wrinkly hands on the floral printed apron hanging down from her neck and tied around at the back of her stout waist.

"Sit down, sit down. The soup is almost ready."

Grandpa Chen pulled Jia Bi Yu from behind Chen Mei Ling, his wrinkled skin stretching into a smile.

"Old lady. Come meet Jia Bi Yu. He's Xiao Ling's cousin."

"Distant cousin," Jia Bi Yu corrected softly.

Ignoring his remarks, the elderly man pulled him forward to meet his wife.

"Oh my, what a beautiful young lady. It is a pleasure to meet you, my dear."

Before Jia Bi Yu can reply, grandpa Chen hurriedly corrected her.

"No no, Xiao Yu is a man, a heroic handsome lad just like me when I was young. HAHAHA!"

Lightly hitting the upper arm of her husband, grandma Chen grumbled teasingly.

"How can you compare yourself to such a charming young man? Have you no shame, old man?"

"What does an old lady like you know?"

Turning towards the two youngsters, he enthusiastically recited his experience during his youth.

"Don't look at how I am now. I was once very handsome myself, at most a tad bit less than Xiao Yu."

"What do you mean only a tad bit?" grandma Chen mocked.

"Shh...many beautiful ladies used to stare at me in awe, wanting so desperately to be my wife. You sure lucked out old lady," he smiled arrogantly at his wife of decades.

"Hmph. You were the one who courted me for over a year before I finally agreed, pitying how hard you tried."

Their lighthearted banter went back and forth until at long last, Chen Mei Ling went up to end it.

Sitting down together at a round marble topped table, the four of them enjoyed a simple meal of three dishes and one soup.

Grandma Chen's cooking might have been far inferior to Jia Bi Yu's, but it reminded Chen Mei Ling of her own mother's cooking.

She knew it was just an excuse that they had made too much food.

After all, they always used the same exact story, but she willingly accepted it, and felt thankful to the two elders from the bottom of her heart.

She savored each and every bite as she reminisced on the nostalgic taste, filling her with slight melancholy.

Jia Bi Yu noticing her state, grabbed a few pieces of pork belly with his chopsticks and placed it into her bowl.

He had seen how much she loved meat, having almost devoured the whole plate of braised beef the previous morning.

She looked up towards him, feeling touched by his small actions, and smiled softly.

Watching the heartwarming scene before their eyes, grandpa and grandma Chen felt a sense of relief. Relieved at how the girl has finally found her family.