Mute Beauty

Chapter 27: Embracing

"You really don't need to wait for me in situations like this in the future. You should eat on time. Your health is the most important," Yu Ting said gently, her tone soft as she apologized. She truly meant it; she didn't want Ran Ling to wait for her again and risk harming her health.

But Ran Ling didn't respond as she usually would. Instead, she frowned, her expression filled with a heavy sense of grievance and barely concealed agitation as she stared at Yu Ting.

Yu Ting was confused.

What's wrong?

Aunt Song, who had prepared the meal, began placing dish after dish on the table. "Hurry and try it. You must be starving, right? Little Ling made all these dishes herself. She spent a long time cooking."

Made them herself?

It dawned on Yu Ting that Ran Ling hadn't just been waiting to eat with her—she had personally prepared the meal, waiting for her to come home.

Looking at Ran Ling, who usually never lifted a finger in the kitchen...

"Sister Ling, you're amazing. I can't even cook," Yu Ting said, feeling a bit guilty. She took Ran Ling's hand and led her to the dining room.

There were four dishes and two soups, all beautifully presented, fragrant, and flavorful. It was clear a lot of effort had gone into the cooking.

After washing her hands, Yu Ting sat down and immediately served Ran Ling a piece of spare rib. "Sister Ling, eat first. You've worked hard~"

But Ran Ling didn't pick up her chopsticks.

Yu Ting asked, "Not hungry?"

Ran Ling said nothing. In those few seconds of silence, the atmosphere changed completely.

Aunt Song, who had been smiling and standing nearby, now seemed a bit awkward and unsure of what to do. She asked cautiously, "Little Ling, are you not feeling well?"

Yu Ting added, "Are you upset because I got home so late?"

That wasn't it.

Ran Ling would never get mad at Yu Ting, no matter how late she came home.

"Sorry," Yu Ting apologized, "I'll try to come back earlier next time, okay?"

Her apology was sincere, but how could Ran Ling express herself? She stared at Yu Ting's weary face, tightly gripping her chopsticks before finally forcing a smile.

She accepted the apology, but it didn't change the awkward atmosphere.

Ran Ling's mood had cooled. She was too tired to have much of an appetite, and Yu Ting didn't eat much either. A meal that had been made with such care was finished in just over ten minutes.

Despite all the anticipation and effort that went into preparing it, there was a lingering sense of regret.

Leaving the cleanup to Aunt Song, the two of them headed upstairs to rest.

The first room at the top of the stairs was their master bedroom, spacious and with a wide view. The overall warm color scheme made it feel much cozier than Yu Ting's previous bedroom, a place where one could truly relax. This was all Ran Ling's doing. In terms of aesthetics, Ran Ling's taste aligned perfectly with Yu Ting's, whether it was her fashion sense, her art, her wedding dress designs, or even the way she decorated their home. Yu Ting loved all of it.

Yu Ting was a good sleeper and could easily fall asleep anywhere. Ran Ling, on the other hand, was more particular—she needed her own familiar bed and linens to feel comfortable. So, the bed had been made up with the same purple sheets they had used at their island hotel, and the room was filled with a soft, relaxing fragrance from a sleep-inducing incense.