Chapter Twenty-One: Visiting the Set

“Grandma, what did you call me back for?” Chu Muyun had been summoned home by his grandmother early that morning.

“I made some pickles for you to take back,” she replied.

Chu Muyun looked at the four jars his grandmother brought out. “Grandma, isn’t this a bit much?”

“Who said it’s all for you? There’s one for Xiaokai, one for Xiaowen, and one for Chenxi—each of you gets a jar, that’s not too much at all.”

His grandmother counted them out one by one, but the more Chu Muyun listened, the more something felt off. It made sense for Zhang Kai and Xiaowen’s jars to be given to him to pass along, but why was Bai Chenxi’s as well?

Rather unwillingly, Chu Muyun said, “Grandma, you can just give Bai Chenxi’s to her directly. Why give it to me?”

“Yunxi told me the boxed meals at her film crew were tasteless, so I thought I’d make some pickles for her.”

“Oh! So you made hers especially, and mine just happened to be along for the ride?” Chu Muyun felt a twinge of jealousy in his heart. Why did his grandmother like Bai Chenxi so much?

“You’re not happy about that? If you bring Yunxi back as my granddaughter-in-law, I’ll make you as much as you want.”

“Grandma!” Chu Muyun protested, displeased. How could he possibly pursue Bai Chenxi?

“All right, all right, I won’t say any more. When you go to Yunxi’s set, remember to bring the pickles for her.” Knowing Chu Muyun was unhappy, she decided not to press the matter.

“What Yunxi’s set? I’m going to see Lantian.” Of course, this last part Chu Muyun would never say to his grandmother.

Suddenly, Chu Muyun realized something was off. “Grandma, how did you know I was going to visit the set?”

Oh no, he’d forgotten about that detail.

“Don’t ask me. I won’t say a word.” Watching his grandmother act so childishly, Chu Muyun could only resign himself; whether it was Kai or Xiaowen, he’d find out eventually.

“Muyun, where have you been so early, carrying all that stuff?” As soon as Xiaowen saw Chu Muyun holding a box, he rushed over to help. He felt guilty for failing to keep the secret yesterday and was determined to make up for it.

Handing the box to Xiaowen, Chu Muyun finally spoke. “Grandma made some pickles. There’s some for you and Xiaowen as well. Remember to take them when you leave later.”

At the mention of Grandma Chu’s pickles, Zhang Kai’s eyes lit up. Before Xiaowen could even set them down, he couldn’t help but reach for his jar.

“Grandma Chu’s pickles are the best! With these, I could eat two extra bowls of rice,” he exclaimed.

“I don’t see you lacking in appetite usually,” Chu Muyun retorted, never missing a chance to poke fun.

Zhang Kai, distracted by the delicious food, didn’t even bother arguing. He took his jar and peered into the box again. “Muyun, there’s an extra one. You can’t eat that much—give it to me!”

“Don’t even think about it.”

“Chu Muyun, after all these years of looking after you, you won’t even spare a jar of pickles for me?” Zhang Kai put on an exaggerated performance, but Chu Muyun could barely stand to watch. “Cut it out, you’re embarrassing yourself.”

Zhang Kai turned to Xiaowen with a threatening tone. “Don’t you think so?”

Xiaowen couldn’t bring himself to say anything insincere. “Bro, it’s just a bit…” Just what, he didn’t need to say—everyone understood.

Zhang Kai touched his face, muttering, “Is my acting really that awful? I used to be the star of our drama troupe. I must be out of practice—better start rehearsing again tonight.”

“Xiaowen, put that jar in a bag and remember to leave it in the car tomorrow,” Chu Muyun instructed.

As soon as Zhang Kai heard this, he dropped his musings about acting. “Oh, something’s up! No wonder you wouldn’t give it to me—you’re saving it for your girlfriend!”

“What nonsense are you spouting!” Chu Muyun knew it had to be Xiaowen stirring up trouble again. “Grandma wants me to bring it to her, it has nothing to do with me.”

Zhang Kai’s eyes widened. “So you’ve already met the family—nice work keeping it secret, bro!”

“It’s not like that. She knows my grandma, it has nothing to do with me.” Chu Muyun made a point of repeating those last words.

Zhang Kai looked at Xiaowen, dubious. “Do you believe that?”

Xiaowen shook his head fiercely. Before, he was worried about Kai finding out; now that everyone knew, he saw no reason to hide it—he was determined to champion this ship to the end.

“If you two keep talking nonsense, I’ll get even with you for telling Grandma I was visiting the set!” He hadn’t even confronted them yet, and here they were, gloating in front of him.

“Xiaowen, come here and tell me Muyun’s upcoming schedule.”

“Okay!” Xiaowen hurried over without pause.

Watching the two act out their charade in the distance, Chu Muyun made up his mind: clearly, both of them were involved.

[Little Theater]

Bai Chenxi, more than two months pregnant, had recently been suffering from severe morning sickness and couldn’t keep anything down. One moment she craved this, the next that, and she’d grown much more willful.

Chu Muyun indulged her every whim, fetching whatever she wanted to eat at once. In these early weeks, Bai Chenxi’s sleep was light; no matter how quietly Chu Muyun rose, she always woke, though she never let him know.

When Chu Muyun hadn’t returned for a long time, Bai Chenxi decided to go see what he was up to.

A dim light was on in the kitchen. Chu Muyun was inside, battling with chunks of chicken, slicing as quietly as possible so he wouldn’t disturb her.

Bai Chenxi’s eyes grew moist all at once. That afternoon, she’d only casually mentioned she missed Grandma’s chicken soup. It was late now, too late to trouble Grandma, and she hadn’t thought much of it.

She didn’t expect that the man before her would remember—and get up in the middle of the night to make chicken soup for her.

Just as Chu Muyun was struggling with the chicken, he felt arms wrap around him from behind. He set down his knife, sighed, and turned to embrace her. “Did I wake you? Go back to sleep.”

“I don’t want to.” Bai Chenxi buried herself in his arms, acting spoiled. “I just said it in passing—I don’t really have to drink it.” Her voice was tinged with tears; ever since becoming pregnant, she found herself crying more easily.

“My temper hasn’t been great since I got pregnant. My moods are all over the place. They say all women are like this in early pregnancy; you don’t have to spoil me so much.”

Chu Muyun kissed the top of her head and said gently, “Silly girl, what are you thinking? I just don’t want you to crave something and not have it. Grandma’s chicken soup isn’t here, but how about some made by your husband?”

Bai Chenxi didn’t answer, just nodded vigorously.

“If you want some, be good and get some sleep. When you wake up, it’ll be ready.” As he spoke, Chu Muyun gently led her back to the bedroom.

Bai Chenxi wanted to stay with him, but Chu Muyun was insistent—she needed her rest.

Watching his figure slip quietly away, Bai Chenxi felt an unprecedented sense of peace.

She reached out to touch her belly, where the fruit of their love grew. “Baby, you must be good in there. You have a wonderful father. Let’s always be there for him together, all right?”