Grandpa Min

It was time for dinner and Xu Anyi and Si Mu left the company because Si Mu said he had finished all his work, and as they rode the elevator down to the first floor, Si Mu asked, "So what do you plan on treating me to tonight?"

Xu Anyi had not thought about it and she looked up, "It's your choice! What do you like to eat?"

And then she added softly, "But do remember that I am not paid as much as you are. . ."

Si Mu chuckled softly and nodded. Well, he was probably the most-paid person in all of Country Z, so of course he would know that.

"I'm not sure. . . I don't know many restaurants. Usually, my assistant books the restaurants for my meetings when I eat out. You can choose."

The elevator door opened and they walked out, and Xu Anyi thought about it in silence. She had not eaten out for many years already, and although she used to enjoy visiting restaurants a lot, she had forgotten most of them already.

However, when she thought of restaurants, she immediately thought of one, and she excitedly grabbed onto Si Mu's hand and pulled him out of the building, "I know where we should go!"

—

About an hour later, they arrived in front of a small and tacky shop. When Xu Anyi saw the smoke coming out of it, she let out a breath of relief to see that it was still open.

After all, it had been probably over 8 years already since she last came here. . .

There were many shops on this street, but most were closed already as only this shop seemed to have its lights still open. It was very small, and there were several tents placed outside the shop with wooden chairs and tables for people to eat at.

It was quite late already, but there were still a lot of people eating outside.

The two of them got out of the car and Xu Anyi cautiously looked over at Si Mu's expression, "I know it doesn't look like much, but I promise you they make the best chicken noodle soup ever."

Si Mu looked down at her and smiled, "No, it looks great."

Xu Anyi smiled and the two of them walked into the shop, which was empty. Inside, there was only an old man who seemed to be in his 80s already, seated behind the counter, fanning himself with a fan.

"Grandpa Min!" She called sweetly as they stopped in front of the counter.

The old man looked up and it took a few seconds before his eyes widened and he jumped up from his chair, "Anyi?! Is that you, Anyi?"

Xu Anyi nodded and let go of Si Mu's hand to rush over and hold onto the old man's hands, "Long time no see!"

"Oh, I thought you forgot about me and my shop already! How many years has it been already? How are your parents doing?"

Xu Anyi's expression stiffened for a quick second, but it quickly returned to normal as she nodded and didn't say anything.

Grandpa Min did not think that anything was wrong and he took the nod as a good sign as his eyes moved over to the man behind her, "Is this your boyfriend?"

Xu Anyi looked back at Si Mu and she shook her head.

"No, Grandpa Min, this is my husband."

Surprise flashed past Si Mu's face when he heard that, and then he smiled, stepping forward and bowing down slightly politely, "Hello, Grandpa Min."

The old man looked Si Mu up and down before he nodded with a stern expression, "Time really flies, you are married already! Does he treat you well?" He asked softly.

Xu Anyi smiled sweetly and nodded.

"Good, good." Grandpa Min sighed, "But I bet he can't make chicken soup as well as your grandpa Min can!"

Xu Anyi chuckled and nodded furiously, "Exactly! That is why I'm here today!"

The old man let go of her hands and turned around, "Okay, go sit outside. Same order, right? It will be ready in a few minutes."

"Thank you, grandpa Min!" Xu Anyi said loudly as the old man disappeared behind the curtain into the kitchen.

Xu Anyi looked back at Si Mu and the two of them walked outside, sitting down in the table nearest to the entrance.

Xu Anyi grabbed a pair of wooden chopsticks and explained, "This shop is quite close to my old home and my old high school. When I was in high school, there was a time when I came here every day."

She smiled at the memories, "I used to come here with my family as well when I was a kid, because my dad didn't know how to cook, and my mom would want to drink chicken soup whenever she wasn't feeling well. So, my dad would take us here since grandpa Min makes the best chicken soup."

She looked up at the sky and thought for a few seconds, "This was probably all. . . almost ten years ago."

Si Mu listened intently and felt his heart clench up in pain hearing her speak. There wasn't much emotion in her voice, but he knew just how painful it must be for her, yet he couldn't do anything about it to help her.

It made him feel weak and useless.

But all he could do now was to do everything he could to help her. . .

Xu Anyi smiled and grabbed a napkin, setting it down in front of her. She leaned forward and smiled sheepishly, "This is probably the cheapest meal you've ever eaten, right? I promise I will treat you to a better one in the future! I just suddenly thought of this and wanted to eat it."

Si Mu shook his head, "No, I like this."

His words were simple but Xu Anyi could tell he was sincere through his genuine expression and straightforward words.

She smiled.

"The noodles are here!" Grandpa Min came out, holding a tray with four large bowls on it, "Enjoy!"

"Thank you, Grandpa Min!"

Xu Anyi helped take the four bowls off and explained to Si Mu, "These two bowls have the chicken and the noodles, and the broth is placed separately so the noodles don't get soggy quickly. The broth is made from chicken bone and it's so fresh, you have to try it."

She poured the soup quickly into the noodles and pushed the bowl over to Si Mu, looking at him in anticipation.

He took a large bite and paused for a moment before he looked up at her, nodding. He swallowed the food and exclaimed, "This is the best chicken noodle soup I have ever had."

Xu Anyi smiled, "Right? The chicken is so soft too."

She began eating as well and the two of them ate in silence as night slowly fell upon them. When they had finished, the sky was dark already and Xu Anyi stood up, placing one hand over her full stomach.

Grandpa Min was wiping down the other tables, which were empty already when she walked over to him, "Grandpa Min, I will get leaving then. Thank you for the noodles."

He looked up and held her hand reluctantly, "Okay, okay, come visit me often."

Xu Anyi nodded, "Of course."

Si Mu stepped forward as well, "Thank you for the meal. Goodbye, grandpa Min."

Grandpa Min's expression turned more serious as he looked over at Si Mu and pointed one finger at him, "You better treat Anyi well! Even if she or her parents don't do anything to you, I will definitely chop you up like a chicken if I ever hear that you do anything bad to our little Anyi, understand?"

Xu Anyi pressed her lips together as she looked to the side, glad that the sky was dark already, or else Grandpa Min would be able to see the tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

Si Mu nodded, his expression completely serious as well, "Yes, I promise to treat Anyi well."

Grandpa Min sighed as he nodded, letting go of Xu Anyi's hand, "Get home safely. Remember to come to visit me often!"

Xu Anyi nodded, then she waved him goodbye and the two of them entered the car again, leaving the small empty road.

Grandpa Min walked out onto the road and watched their car leave, continuing to wave at them.

In the car, the two of them did not say anything as Xu Anyi silently wiped away the tears that had finally fallen when she could no longer see Grandpa Min standing outside the shop anymore.

She took a deep breath as she leaned against the back of the chair and looked out the window into the dark night sky. Her eyelids slowly began to feel heavy and she did not resist the temptation to close them.

Before long, she had fallen asleep.