After a Flash Marriage with a Professor - Chapter 67

Chapter 67: Secondary CP

This was the second time Shen Junlan had been inside Lingyu’s apartment. The previous time was when Ming Shu first ran away from home, and Lingyu contacted her to pick up Ming Shu.

Before, her mind was completely focused on Ming Shu, so she hadn’t paid close attention to the apartment. This time, before she had a chance, Ming Shu directly led her to the sofa to sit down.

“Professor Shen, why did you and Miss Yu come over?” Ming Shu quickly asked, seizing the time before Lingyu and Miss Yu came in.

“I said I would order takeout for you. Yu Yue hasn’t given up on Lingyu, and she wanted to come. But she had been drinking and couldn’t drive, so I had to drive her.”

“Oh~” Ming Shu was a bit surprised. She didn’t expect Miss Yu to continue persisting after being rejected.

“Of course, I also have a selfish reason. My wife is here, so I came for myself too.”

“Professor Shen…”

“Hmm?” Shen Junlan smiled, looking at the slightly uncomfortable Ming Shu. Probably because this was Lingyu’s place, Ming Shu was still unaccustomed to being affectionate in a space that wasn’t their private domain.

“Why aren’t Lingyu and Miss Yu coming in yet? I’ll go out and see.”

Just as Ming Shu stood up, Lingyu and Yu Yue entered one after the other.

Ming Shu breathed a slight sigh of relief, thinking that Miss Yu had at least secured a preliminary admission ticket and wasn’t entirely without a chance.

Shen Junlan was also happy for her long-time friend. Yu Yue winked at her, looking very pleased with herself. Shen Junlan shook her head. They were only at the beginning; it was too early to be happy.

“Lingyu and Ming Shu must be hungry.” Yu Yue quickly placed the takeout containers on the coffee table.

“Do they need to be heated?” Jiang Lingyu asked, temporarily ignoring Yu Yue’s way of addressing her.

“No need. The containers from our restaurant are very good at keeping food warm.”

The containers were opened. It wasn’t the foie gras and lamb chops they had eaten at the restaurant before, but a large, satisfying amount of pineapple fried rice, garlic oysters, fried noodles, and grilled eggplant—completely different in style.

“This is from Miss Yu’s restaurant?” Lingyu’s gaze shifted between the dinner and Yu Yue’s face.

“It’s from my restaurant. It’s my latest late-night meal creation. I’ve added barbecue and fried rice. Not many customers order these items in the store, but they mainly increase takeout revenue.”

“Thank you, Miss Yu, for personally delivering it.”

“It’s no trouble. I just hope you don’t find me annoying.”

Jiang Lingyu: “…”

Shen Junlan distributed the cutlery to everyone and said with a smile, “Let’s eat. I’m hungry after driving for so long. It’s a good time to try your new items. By the way, won’t the common-fare positioning conflict with the previous high-end positioning?”

Speaking of this, a confident smile spread across Yu Yue’s face. “Professor Shen, how many years have you known me? Are you still underestimating me?”

Shen Junlan said, “No.”

Yu Yue: “Try it.”

Everyone followed Shen Junlan’s lead and tasted the food, all showing surprised expressions. Ming Shu was the least able to hide her expression. These were all foods she and Lingyu had tried together before, but why did they taste so different now?

Seeing that Ming Shu liked it, Shen Junlan inquired with Yu Yue, “It’s good. What’s the recipe? I want to try making it for Ming Shu at home too.”

“No can do. If you want to eat it, come to the store. The recipe is exclusive, only my future wife can see it.”

Shen Junlan and Ming Shu simultaneously looked at Lingyu. Lingyu quickly lowered her head and focused on eating her fried rice, picking up one grain of rice at a time. She had to admit that the fried rice was extremely well-made, with each grain distinct. It was golden in color, dotted with reddish and greenish hues—a visual effect achieved with neatly diced carrots, peas, and green onions. The flavors of the different ingredients blended perfectly with the aroma of the pineapple. Every ingredient played its best role. Lingyu hadn’t felt very hungry initially, but after taking a bite, she felt hungry.

However, Lingyu was too shy to scoop up the rice. After all, this was made by Yu Yue’s restaurant. Their relationship had been quite awkward lately. She knew Yu Yue had feelings for her, but…

As her mind wandered, Lingyu thought the pineapple rice was genuinely delicious.

It was the first time she had eaten such delicious rice; she felt a sense of having her appetite completely captured. She carefully picked and ate one grain of rice at a time, already thinking about how she could eat the food from Yu Yue’s restaurant in the future while avoiding seeing Yu Yue, given that Yu Yue was the restaurant heir who personally delivered takeout.

Lingyu didn’t notice at this moment that the other three people were all looking at her strange habit of picking and eating one grain of rice at a time.

Ming Shu thought that Lingyu didn’t eat like this before.

Yu Yue’s mind worked quickly. She soon figured out the reason and smiled, helping scoop a large spoonful of pineapple rice into Lingyu’s bowl. This girl, why was she too shy to eat? She seemed hardly bolder than Ming Shu.

“Thank you.” Lingyu looked up instantly when she saw the amount of rice in her bowl increase dramatically, looking at the person who helped her scoop the rice.

It was Yu Yue. Lingyu quickly lowered her head again.

“You don’t need to be so reserved when eating. It’s fine to eat a lot.” Yu Yue specifically chose the pineapple rice and a portion of seafood fried noodles, thinking that carbs and barbecue could bring happiness.

“Um, Miss Yu, Lingyu is always on a diet.” Ming Shu gently reminded her, thinking of Lingyu’s efforts to lose weight over the past few years, afraid that Miss Yu might step on Lingyu’s landmine again in the future.

“Why? Lingyu isn’t fat,” Yu Yue blurted out. She didn’t think Lingyu was fat at all.

Ming Shu felt she had found a kindred spirit and nodded excitedly. Lingyu was a bit chubby in college, but after losing weight until now, Ming Shu thought she looked great and didn’t need to lose any more. However, Lingyu was prone to body image anxiety due to her past experiences.

Lingyu was surprised to hear that Yu Yue shared Ming Shu’s opinion. She looked up, scrutinizing Yu Yue with a suspicious gaze. She believed that Ming Shu didn’t think she was fat because of the friend filter, but she couldn’t understand why Yu Yue felt the same way.

“Miss Yu, you don’t have to lie to comfort me.”

“Why do you think I’m lying? Girls who are a little curvy are very cute. By the strict standards of modern society, you are only slightly overweight. Slightly overweight is great. As long as you’re within a healthy weight range, it’s fine.”

“My ex was also slightly overweight. I genuinely thought it was great.” Yu Yue tried hard to prove her point, even bringing up her ex-girlfriend.

Lingyu froze for a moment, then quickly lowered her head, remaining silent.

Yu Yue was a bit slow to react until she saw Shen Junlan slowly shaking her head at her. Only then did she realize she had said the wrong thing again.

After that, no one spoke anymore, especially Yu Yue. She was filled with regret. She thought she was usually quite articulate, but in front of Lingyu, she seemed to lose her intelligence, making the rookie mistake of mentioning an ex-girlfriend again. Lingyu had asked her before, “Are you treating me as a stand-in?”

Yu Yue firmly believed she absolutely didn’t intend to treat Lingyu as a stand-in. Lingyu didn’t resemble her ex-girlfriend; she looked more like Jiajia, but she had no feelings for Jiajia.

After the meal, Shen Junlan said, “Yu Yue, I’ll take you back first.”

Lingyu said, “Ming Shu, you should go home with Professor Shen too.”

“What about you? Do you not need me to stay with you?” Ming Shu asked worriedly.

“I’m fine. I’m sleepy after eating, and I’m going to wash up and rest. I have to get up early for work tomorrow.” Lingyu pretended to be sleepy, stretched, and her gaze shifted to Yu Yue. “Thank you, Miss Yu, tonight. The dinner was delicious.”

Yu Yue was delighted by her beloved’s compliment. “If you like it, you’re welcome to visit often.”

“Okay,” Lingyu agreed casually, but she knew she probably wouldn’t go to Yu Yue’s restaurant again.

“If it’s inconvenient to go to the store, you can also order takeout.”

Lingyu responded with another “okay,” but she knew she wouldn’t order takeout either.

It was better to cut off contact. She no longer believed that genuine love would ever come to her.

Ming Shu, Shen Junlan, and Yu Yue, the three people who were leaving, walked out together, all with mixed feelings. Lingyu insisted on seeing them off and followed them. Ming Shu walked a few steps, then ran back.

“Lingyu, I’m not leaving after all. I’ll stay with you tonight.” Ming Shu returned to Lingyu’s side.

“I don’t need you to stay. You and Professor Shen are newlyweds. I won’t be the sinner who hinders your happy life.”

“You’re overstating it, Lingyu.” Shen Junlan and Yu Yue turned around together.

Shen Junlan smiled, “Ming Shu is worried about you. Just let her stay for a night.”

“No need. I want to…” Lingyu’s gaze drifted back to Yu Yue, and she had a sudden thought. “I suddenly remember I have something to tell Miss Yu. Miss Yu had been drinking, so it would be troublesome for Professor Shen to take a detour to drive her back. Perhaps I can drive her back tomorrow morning.”

“That works too.” Shen Junlan agreed without hesitation. This was a rare opportunity for Yu Yue to make a good impression.

Ming Shu couldn’t understand why Lingyu would let Miss Yu stay over. Yu Yue was also completely bewildered.

Leaving the apartment and getting into the car, Ming Shu asked, “Professor Shen, do you think Lingyu is drunk? Wait, I remember Lingyu didn’t drink.”

“Will anything happen between them? Miss Yu seems to have had some alcohol.”

“No, although Yu Yue looks less proper on the outside than I do, the inside is the opposite. She won’t do anything too offensive to Lingyu.”

“Can you guarantee that?”

“I guarantee it.”

Reassured by Professor Shen’s guarantee, Ming Shu relaxed. “Professor Shen, let’s go home quickly.”

“Okay.” Shen Junlan glanced at the time and smiled, saying, “You have 6 hours until you have to go to work. I have to hurry.”

“Ah, there won’t be much time for sleep.”

“There won’t be much time. Sleep for a bit in the car first.”

“Okay.”

Ming Shu was completely unguarded. She leaned against the backrest and fell asleep, her head slowly tipping towards the car window.

Shen Junlan didn’t accelerate; she drove steadily, allowing her little rabbit wife to conserve her energy so she could give her what she wanted later.

After Yu Yue and Lingyu saw Ming Shu and Shen Junlan off at the gate, Yu Yue followed Lingyu back into the house.

“Lingyu, I’m truly surprised you’re letting me stay over.” Yu Yue was overjoyed, unable to hide the smile on her lips. Her already small eyes narrowed into slits when she smiled.

Lingyu quickly glanced at her narrowed eyes and said, “Miss Yu, don’t overthink it. This is purely out of necessity. I don’t want to burden Ming Shu, and I don’t want my situation to affect Ming Shu’s normal happy life. I apologize for using Miss Yu as an excuse.”

“I don’t mind you using me as an excuse a few more times, even every day.”

“No, only today.”

“Alright.”

Lingyu changed the subject. “I have a guest room here, but the room is quite small. I’ll have to ask Miss Yu to bear with it.”

“It’s fine. I can sleep on the sofa too. I’m not picky.”

“How can I let Miss Yu sleep on the sofa? It’s getting late. We can clean up together to be quicker.”

Lingyu led Yu Yue to the second guest room. “No one has slept in this room, but it’s cleaned regularly, so it’s not dirty. We just need to make the bed.”

“Lingyu, I saw two other rooms up ahead. Can I stay in that guest room?”

“That’s Ming Shu’s room.”

“Then forget it. If Shen Junlan knew I slept in Ming Shu’s bed, she definitely wouldn’t let me off the hook.”

“Is it that serious?” Lingyu was shocked.

Yu Yue frowned, her eyebrows knitting together. “Serious.”

Lingyu was amused by Yu Yue’s serious expression. “Miss Yu is also afraid of Professor Shen?”

“No.”

Lingyu looked unconvinced. Yu Yue seriously explained, “I’m telling the truth. I’ve been friends with Shen Junlan for so many years. She’s not my teacher. Why would I be afraid of her?”

“Perhaps it’s the natural bloodline suppression of a professor.”

“Alright, there is a little bit,” Yu Yue said sullenly. “I originally wanted to present a tall and mighty image in front of you, but I didn’t expect to be exposed so quickly.”

Lingyu was amused again. “Miss Yu talks like my dad. He also liked to say ‘tall and mighty.'”

“Didn’t your uncle live with you?” Yu Yue followed up with the casual question.

Lingyu suddenly stopped smiling, her expression cooled, and she turned to open the closet, took out bedding, and started making the bed for Yu Yue.

Yu Yue found this a bit baffling, unable to guess the reason. She didn’t think much of it and cooperated with Lingyu to make the bed.

“It’s done. I apologize for making Miss Yu have to make do for a night. I’ll drive Miss Yu away tomorrow morning,” Lingyu explained, then prepared to leave the guest room and return to her own room.

The overhead fluorescent light suddenly began to flicker, a bit glaring. Both of them looked up, and the light went out.

The entire guest room plunged into complete darkness. Lingyu gasped “Ah” and moved close to Yu Yue, grabbing her arm.

Yu Yue stood still, letting Lingyu hold her arm.

“Are you afraid of the dark?”

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