Free Web NovelChapter 63: Ch 63: Fragmented Memories and Tiny Bombs
The gentle music in the background kept playing, a soft classical melody that stirred the hearts of those listening, weaving through the elegant dining room like a delicate thread. Crystal chandeliers cast their warm, golden glow over the tables, making the silverware sparkle and the fine porcelain plates gleam softly.
The air was rich with layered aromas—savory, oceanic, and deeply comforting—as more courses arrived one by one. Su Wanyan kept yapping animatedly about the delicacies, her voice bright and full of wonder, while opposite her, Mo Xingxue listened attentively, nodding a few times and staring intently at Su Wanyan with unwavering focus.
The barrage, of course, couldn’t contain themselves.
[Man, I don’t know whether I want to be Mo Xingxue or Su Wanyan....]
[Decisions, decisions.....]
[To be loved is to be seen, sigh....]
[Nah, to be loved is to be stared at.]
[You’re both wrong. To be loved is to be fuc—]
[You know what, you’re both righ—what was that? WHAT WAS THAT??]
[Mo Xingxue wants that cookie so bad lol.]
[Cookie? You mean dic—]
[YO, YO, YO, LET’S KEEP IT PG HERE, ALRIGHT?]
As the chat tested the limits of Weibo’s censorship and barely scraped by, another of their dishes arrived. A server approached carrying an elegant clay pot resting on a lacquer tray. The lid remained firmly in place, but the aroma already lingered faintly in the air, rich and complex, causing Su Wanyan’s eyes to sparkle and her stomach to growl loudly.
Su Wanyan’s face flushed with embarrassment, and she heard Mo Xingxue chuckle softly, which only made her blush deepen. I can’t help it, I’m really hungry, she thought. Although the Peking Duck had filled her somewhat, it wasn’t nearly enough after the brutal course she went through this morning.
Fortunately, the waiter politely ignored it and continued his work with professional grace. He carefully positioned the vessel before them. "Allow me to present Buddha Jumps Over the Wall."
Su Wanyan watched with wide eyes as white-gloved hands lifted the lid. A cloud of fragrant steam rose immediately, carrying the intoxicating scent of seafood and rich, long-simmered stock. The waiter gestured toward the contents with elegant poise.
"This dish originates from Fujian Province and is regarded as one of China’s most luxurious soups. Inside are abalone, sea cucumber, fish maw, dried scallops, and premium stock that has been simmered for more than twenty-four hours."
A small ladle dipped into the golden broth. The waiter filled Su Wanyan’s bowl first, then Mo Xingxue’s. "The purpose of this dish is not only to showcase rare ingredients but also to express harmony between them."
The waiter smiled politely yet warmly, then bowed. "We hope you enjoy its depth and complexity." He then left the two women to their meal.
Su Wanyan looked at the stunning soup, swallowed, and took a careful sip. The broth was unlike anything she had tasted before. Layers upon layers unfolded across her tongue—the sweetness of seafood, the richness of long-simmered stock, the deep umami of ingredients she could immediately identify.
Every sip revealed another hidden flavor. It felt less like drinking soup and more like unraveling a masterpiece. This is delish too! Su Wanyan thought happily, her long legs unconsciously swinging like a little kid under the table.
Mo Xingxue also tasted it and nodded with quiet approval. Personally, Su Wanyan’s cooking is still more delicious though, she thought, her gaze lingering on her very satisfied alpha. "Is it good?" Mo Xingxue asked after swallowing.
Su Wanyan nodded repeatedly. "Really good!" She wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin, eyes still sparkling.
"Let’s bring Mo Yan here when she’s a little more grown up," Su Wanyan said suddenly, her voice warm with future plans.
Mo Xingxue smiled softly. "Yeah, let’s bring her here," she murmured, already imagining the three of them together. The thought made her heart feel lighter. She looked at Su Wanyan, who was happily yet elegantly eating, and a hint of flush crept into her own face. So she’ll really stick with us? Mo Xingxue thought, the idea bloomed warmly inside her.
What Su Wanyan meant as simply accompanying Mo Xingxue and Mo Yan into the future as a supportive best friend got twisted in Mo Xingxue’s mind because of another misunderstanding. Unaware of that, Su Wanyan kept eating, focused on analyzing the tastes and ingredients so she could recreate them later for Mo Xingxue and little Mo Yan, in case they couldn’t go here in the future.
Then, one by one, the rest of their orders arrived: Braised Yellow Croaker with its perfectly balanced flavors, Teochew Marinated Goose with tender meat and aromatic spices—each dish filling their hearts and stomachs alike.
While Mo Xingxue admired the beautiful presentations, she focused even more on admiring the alpha in front of her—the way Su Wanyan’s eyes twinkled at every new dish, how her mouth curled up in delight, the little hums of satisfaction, and how she muttered ideas for recreating the meals (to which Mo Xingxue quickly covered their mics).
Mo Xingxue’s gaze never once left Su Wanyan. Like she was entranced by some magnetic force. Su Wanyan continued yapping about the flavors, words leaving her mouth one after another. "I like how the spices didn’t dominate each other, but more on complemented each other, bringing out a masterpiece like that," she said rapidly, still talking about the Teochew Marinated Goose.
Mo Xingxue nodded, not really understanding the technical details but hanging on every word, practically looking at Su Wanyan with hearts in her eyes.
Soon, a waiter arrived carrying wine. Mo Xingxue didn’t notice at first, still lost in watching Su Wanyan. He poured two glasses of deep red wine with quiet professionalism, not disturbing their moment. After finishing, he bowed. Just before he could leave, Su Wanyan thanked him softly.
Mo Xingxue finally snapped out of her daze and looked at the cup near her right hand. When she saw the red wine, her eyes widened—not with amazement or awe, but with raw fear. Her breathing turned ragged, her hands shook, and she was petrified beyond relief.
Still, aware that a camera was focused on her and Su Wanyan was right in front, Mo Xingxue forced herself to look away from the wine. Instead, she stared down at the empty plate in front of her.
Not noticing anything amiss, Su Wanyan took the cup of wine. "Cheers!" Su Wanyan said cheerfully, raising her glass. But when she saw Mo Xingxue looking down, shoulders shaking, she grew worried.
"Xuexue? What’s wrong?" Su Wanyan asked gently. She looked at the camera and silently turned off the mic clipped to her. "Xuexue?" she questioned again. Slowly, she reached her right hand across the table to comfort her.
But Mo Xingxue pulled her hand back instinctively. She looked up at Su Wanyan, her eyes watery and filled with unmistakable fear and disgust.
Now it was Su Wanyan’s turn to be petrified, her outstretched hand frozen mid-air. She looked at Mo Xingxue in utter confusion, blinking rapidly as she tried to process what had just happened. One moment she had reached out to comfort her best friend, the next Mo Xingxue had recoiled as if burned.
A memory from the original owner flashed through Su Wanyan’s mind—a painful echo of past hurts. Su Wanyan smiled wryly, the expression bittersweet and gloomy. Slowly, she retracted her hand.
"Sorry," Su Wanyan muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, raw with hurt and self-reproach.
Mo Xingxue hadn’t fully registered what was happening at first. The sudden touch had triggered something deep and visceral. For a terrifying second, she saw Gu Chengze’s rabid, lust-filled face from that night—the night he had forced himself on her. Her body had reacted on pure instinct, pulling away in panic and disgust.
But as her mind cleared, she saw Su Wanyan—her kind, gentle Su Wanyan—looking at her with stunned, wounded eyes. Mo Xingxue’s heart twisted painfully. She wanted to reach out, to grab Su Wanyan’s hand, to apologize and explain the flashback that had overwhelmed her. She opened her mouth, the words "I’m sorry" already forming on her lips.
But before she could speak, Su Wanyan had already pulled her hand back.... Just like that time in the amusement park when everything had shattered between them.
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The baby care station inside the mall was a brightly lit, pastel-colored haven designed for exhausted parents. Soft murals of smiling animals decorated the walls, changing tables were equipped with all the necessary supplies, and the air carried a faint, clean scent of baby powder and wipes. Yet for PD Xu Cui and his small crew of production staff, it felt more like a battlefield than a peaceful nursery.
They stood in a loose semicircle around the changing table, staring intently at the awake and cheerful Mo Yan. The unmistakable, pungent stench of a dirtied diaper filled the small room, making several crew members dizzy and light-headed. Mo Yan, completely unbothered, kicked her tiny legs happily and gurgled, her phoenix eyes sparkling with innocent delight.
PD Xu Cui, usually so confident and commanding on set, looked unusually grave. He turned to his team with the solemn expression of a general addressing troops before a dangerous mission. "Do any of you know how to change diapers?" he asked, his voice heavy and serious.
The crew, looking like defeated soldiers at the end of a long campaign, shook their heads in unison. A few even took a small step back, as if the task itself was contagious.
PD Xu Cui sighed heavily, rubbing his temple. He looked down at the cute, adorable Mo Yan once more. In response, the baby laughed brightly, flashing a heart-melting gummy smile that lit up her entire face.
The crew was instantly blinded by her cuteness. One female staff member clutched her heart dramatically and leaned heavily on her coworker for support, pretending to be shot through the chest. "Soldier! Don’t die on us, soldier!" her male colleague cried out, rapidly shaking her in mock desperation.
"Goodbye...." she whispered dramatically, closing her eyes with a theatrical sigh.
The man continued supporting her. "No!" he screamed theatrically.
They were both promptly hit on the head by their other coworkers. "Stop playing around," the others scolded in unison.
The two troublemakers immediately straightened up, looking sheepish. They turned back to the PD with renewed (if slightly forced) seriousness.
PD Xu Cui still stared at Mo Yan, his expression hardening with resolve. "Wish me luck, soldiers," he muttered, rolling up his sleeves like a man preparing for war. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
"PD....." the crew murmured, visibly touched by their leader’s bravery. In their hearts, they swore, we will never forget your sacrifice!
Meanwhile, PD Xu Cui approached the changing table as cautiously as if he were dismantling a live bomb. A staff member beside him wiped sweat from his brow with a towel, watching with intense focus.
PD Xu Cui slowly undid the straps of Mo Yan’s diaper, his movements deliberate and careful. The stench intensified as he peeled it open. He desperately fought the urge to gag, bravely removing the soiled diaper, wrapping it tightly, and tossing it into the trash can with a decisive flick.
He then looked at the green mess on Mo Yan’s bottom and closed his eyes for a brief second, resigning himself to his fate. With a deep breath, he grabbed a generous handful of wipes and began the thorough cleaning process. After several careful wipes, he sighed in relief. He reached for a fresh diaper, preparing to secure it.
That was when disaster struck.
A sudden, clear stream of pee shot out from Mo Yan’s private area. PD Xu Cui yelped and jumped back in fright, narrowly avoiding getting soaked. "Ah!"
Luckily, not a single drop stained his shirt. He breathed a huge sigh of relief, then looked down at Mo Yan, who was smiling and laughing at him innocently, as if she had just played the world’s funniest prank.
Immediately, all of PD Xu Cui’s grievances melted away. He couldn’t stay mad at such an adorable face.
"Clean the mess," he ordered one of his staff members with renewed authority.
He successfully put on the new diaper, securing it with careful, practiced movements (after watching several hurried tutorial videos on his phone earlier). When he finished, he stepped back and admired his work with visible pride.
PD Xu Cui and the crew left the baby station, planning to buy new supplies and toys for Mo Yan. Forgetting the earlier chaos, PD Xu Cui hummed a cheerful tune, his steps light and jolly once more.
The crew followed behind him, exchanging relieved glances and quiet laughter at their leader’s unexpected victory over the tiny but formidable opponent.
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Thanks for beta reading this again, AshesOT! Also, the little angst part there is her idea, btw. She said that she wants to see y’all suffer... So, don’t blame me, I was just granting her request (I literally have proof).
Also, the little projectile scene was inspired from _Adi_’s story (where they shot a brown projectile) and someone else whose name I unfortunately forgot... (I’m sorry for forgetting your name, twin. It’s been a long time since I’ve read your comment so... I can only ask for forgiveness). Thanks for pooping/peeing, twins!
