Sent to the countryside, I turned the health center into a top-tier hospital.

"I didn't cry."

Zhao Guosheng denied it, but his voice was clearly choked with sobs, "I'm just happy."

Chen Ping didn't expose him, just smiled and said, "Okay, you're busy, I'm hanging up."

"Wait, where are you? Are you going back to Siping Township or to Tianhai? I've prepared a room in the dormitory for you."

"No, thank you," Chen Ping said. "I'm going back to Tianhai City. Keep an eye on the health center. Let me know when the money arrives."

Zhao Guosheng paused for a second, then laughed, his laughter tinged with a nasal tone, "Okay, go back and get some rest, and have a good time with Xiao Cui for a few days."

Chen Ping didn't reply, just smiled and hung up.

The bus traveled on the highway for more than an hour before exiting and turning into the long-distance bus station in Tianhai City.

Chen Ping got out of the car, stood in the square, and took a deep breath.

The air in Tianhai City is still the same, with the smell of exhaust fumes and dust, far worse than in Siping Township.

The lights in the square were blindingly bright, casting many shadowy figures on the ground.

He hailed a taxi and gave the name of Cui Ying's residential complex.

The driver glanced at Chen Ping, probably thinking that the man, with his canvas bag and ordinary clothes, didn't seem like someone who lived in a high-end neighborhood, but he didn't say anything, turned on the meter, and drove off.

When we arrived at the entrance of the residential area, the security guard had changed shifts; it wasn't the same one as last time.

Chen Ping gave the house number, and the security guard called the homeowner to confirm before letting him in.

He walked along the road lined with osmanthus trees. The streetlights were dim, and the osmanthus blossoms had already faded, but a faint fragrance still lingered in the air.

When I arrived at the door of the red brick villa, the lights upstairs were on, as were the lights in the living room on the first floor. Through the French windows, I could see the television flickering; I wondered who was watching it.

He rang the doorbell.

The door opened quickly.

Cui Ying stood at the door, wearing a white loungewear set, her hair loose, and a pair of fluffy slippers on her feet.

When she saw Chen Ping, she paused for a moment, then the corners of her mouth slowly turned up, higher and higher, and her eyes became brighter and brighter.

"Why are you back? You didn't even tell me beforehand so I could pick you up?"

"I'll be back once the matter is resolved."

Chen Ping stood at the door, not going in, his canvas bag still slung over his shoulder. "The health center is still under renovation, there's nowhere to stay."

Cui Ying stepped aside to let him in, took the canvas bag off his shoulder, and held it in her hand.

Then he took out the pair of gray slippers from the shoe cabinet and placed them beside his feet.

This action is very much like a newlywed wife taking care of her husband who has just returned home.

Chen Ping felt a little uncomfortable being served, but he didn't say anything.

"Have you eaten?" Cui Ying asked.

"not yet."

"Then I'll make you some noodles."

After he finished speaking, Chen Ping and Cui Ying were both stunned and looked at each other!

Chen Ping smiled, but only softly, since there were other people in the house.

Cui Ying blushed, glared at Chen Ping, put down her canvas bag, and turned to go to the kitchen.

Chen Ping changed his shoes and went into the living room.

Cui Ying's mother sat on the sofa watching TV, holding the remote control in her hand. The channel was stuck on a family drama. The female lead was crying, and the male lead was yelling. The voices weren't loud, but they were so loud they gave her a headache.

When she saw Chen Ping come in, she put down the remote control and looked him up and down. The bandage on Chen Ping's head had been removed, and he looked much more energetic.

"You're back?"

"Auntie, sorry to bother you." Chen Ping stood next to the sofa without sitting down.

"Sit down, what are you standing for?"

Cui Ying's mother pointed to the single sofa next to her, her tone much more natural than last time, no longer so polite or distant, as if she were talking to someone she had known for a long time, "Is the injury on your head alright?"

"It's alright, thank you, Auntie."

Cui Ying's mother nodded, said nothing more, and turned back to watch TV.

Cui Ying poked her head out of the kitchen, holding a handful of noodles, and called out, "Chen Ping, come here."

Chen Ping walked into the kitchen.

The water on the stove hadn't boiled yet, and the pot lid was on, with steam escaping from the gaps in the lid, looking whitish.

Cui Ying placed the noodles on the stove and turned to look at him.

She looked at him for two seconds, then suddenly reached out and gently touched the wound on his head before pulling her hand back, as if afraid of hurting him.

"Does it still hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt anymore."

"You're lying." Cui Ying's voice wasn't loud, but her tone was very firm. "How could it not hurt after getting stitches? I hope it won't leave a scar."

Chen Ping remained silent.

Cui Ying lowered her head, unpacked the noodles, took out a handful, and put a few back, as if calculating how much one person could eat.

She was very serious when she worked, with her brows slightly furrowed and her lips pursed, just like when she was doing accounting in the accounting office.

Chen Ping leaned against the door frame, looking at her, and suddenly felt a sense of peace in his heart.

The water has boiled.

Cui Ying put the noodles in, stirred them with chopsticks, then took two eggs out of the refrigerator, cracked them on the edge of the bowl, and the egg liquid slid into the pot. The yolks floated intact on the surface of the water, while the egg whites spread out.

She put the pot lid on, turned around, and saw Chen Ping still standing at the door. A slight smile appeared on her lips.

"Go sit in the living room, I'll call you when you're done."

"No need, I'll just wait here to eat your noodles."

Cui Ying glared at Chen Ping again, then turned away. But the moment she turned, the corners of her mouth turned up high. She smiled, knowing that Chen Ping was deliberately teasing her.

If any other man had said that, Cui Ying would have thrown the whole pot of soup at him long ago. But since it was Chen Ping who said it, Cui Ying was not only not angry, but also very happy.

Even if Chen Ping really wanted to eat her noodles, she wouldn't be angry.

The noodles are ready.

Cui Ying scooped the noodles into a bowl, poured the soup over them, placed two poached eggs on top, and sprinkled some chopped green onions.

White noodles, yellow eggs, green scallions, and a few drops of red chili oil—it looks delicious.

She carried the bowl to the dining table, put it down, then went back to get a plate of pickled vegetables and a plate of peanuts, which she placed beside it.

"Eat."

Chen Ping sat down, picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of noodles, and slurped it down.

The noodles are chewy, the broth is flavorful, and the poached egg is runny with the yolk flowing out. When mixed into the noodles, it's incredibly delicious.

"It's delicious." Chen Ping nodded.

Cui Ying sat opposite him, resting her chin on her hand, watching him eat, the corners of her mouth always turned up.

"When you were at the county hospital, did anyone bully you?" Cui Ying suddenly asked.

Chen Ping paused, his chopsticks hovering in mid-air. "No, what's wrong?"

"That careless guy has connections in the county town, I'm afraid he'll cause you trouble," Cui Ying said.

"He won't cause any more trouble." Chen Ping continued eating his noodles, his tone indifferent, as if he were talking about something trivial.

Cui Ying glanced at him, wanting to ask why, but opened her mouth and didn't ask.

"My dad asked you about it today."

"What do you want to ask?"

"I asked you when you were coming back, saying I wanted to play chess with you."

Chen Ping laughed, "Where's Uncle? I haven't seen him."

Cui Ying said helplessly, "He's always out socializing. Eight out of ten days he has to drink and socialize, and he doesn't get home until very late. He's also sick, and he won't listen to any advice."