How to Be Here

"Coming—" Hearing the doorbell, Tang Keke, without waiting for Ye Shuang to say anything, dutifully trotted over to open the door.

Outside stood a portly man and a pregnant woman—naturally, Chen Hai and... Zhou Min.

"Keke, you're here too," Chen Hai said cheerfully.

"Oh, hello, Uncle Chen," Tang Keke had just finished speaking when Chen Hai shook his head, "You call Ye Shuang 'brother,' but call me 'uncle'? That messes up the seniority."

"Though being a generation older than Ye Shuang seems fine too, I could be his old man."

At that moment, Ye Shuang, wiping his hands, walked out with Chen Qin. Having just heard Chen Hai's words, he was succinct,

"You wish."

Then, Ye Shuang's gaze fell on Zhou Min—her belly was quite large now, and she had filled out considerably, clearly having been well-nourished in the Chen household. At the very least, Aunt Chen would certainly not mistreat someone carrying the Chen family bloodline.

But what caught his attention wasn't that; it was Zhou Min's arm linked through Chen Hai's, the intimate way they looked together like a couple.

Ye Shuang: "..."

He glanced at Chen Qin beside him. Her lips were pressed together slightly, and she was frowning a little. The two shared a knowing look, clearly thinking the same thing.

"Due soon?" Ye Shuang pondered for a few seconds before asking Chen Hai.

Chen Hai nodded, "Yeah, almost. Recent check-ups have been fine, should be a healthy baby."

As soon as Chen Hai finished, Zhou Min stroked her belly with a blissful expression, "Ah Hai, the baby's kicking me."

"Naughty, making your mom uncomfortable," Chen Hai reached out and gently touched Zhou Min's belly, as if scolding.

This scene should have been perfectly normal, yet Ye Shuang and Chen Qin felt something off about it.

Because Zhou Min was the other woman, and Chen Hai's wife had even run off upset because of the drama. If she saw this, she'd probably be furious.

Chen Qin seemed about to say something but was gently pulled back by Ye Shuang.

"Alright, let's sit down and eat first," Ye Shuang smiled. "Looks like we need to buy more ingredients. Probably not enough for so many people."

At that moment, Keke suddenly raised her hand, "Brother, my house has lots of food! I'll bring it over!"

Whether by coincidence or not, this new home was in the same building as Keke's. Simply put, for Keke to come over and play, she just needed to take the elevator—much more convenient than before.

"Your family's food? That's not good... your parents might mind."

"No, they won't! My parents went out of town on business. It'd be a waste to leave it at home," Tang Keke shook her head. "And if we go buy groceries now, even at the nearest mall, it'll waste a lot of time. I just need to take the elevator home."

"Alright then. I'll buy some for you to take back later."

"Hehe, no need~" Tang Keke changed into her slippers and went straight downstairs. As she said, she was back in just a few minutes.

"I'm baaack!" she announced, as if returning from her parents' home, bringing all her family's ingredients over.

Ye Shuang looked at the large bag in Keke's hands and blinked, "This much?"

"Worried it wouldn't be enough," Tang Keke said. "And with Yuyou here, nothing will go to waste."

Hearing this, Ye Shuang glanced toward the living room where Bai Yuyou was sitting with Aunt Xian. Noticing his gaze, she tilted her head.

"True, should be able to finish it all."

Ye Shuang took the bag to the kitchen and found a chicken inside.

"The chicken's from the countryside, my grandma's free-range chicken," Keke explained.

"Nice," Ye Shuang said. Would be good for poached chicken—but considering it's probably been stored for a while, better to stir-fry with scallions or braise in soy sauce.

Then Ye Shuang noticed a dried pomfret.

"This was caught by my uncle and sun-dried by him personally," Keke continued.

"Great." Ye Shuang also spotted a piece of pork belly. Could steam it with the dried pomfret, add some ginger shreds and soy sauce later, should taste good.

Then there were things like cured sausages.

"Let's make claypot rice with the cured sausages," Ye Shuang rubbed his chin, then looked through the ingredients again, finding some things he didn't recognize.

"Oh, that's pork liver sausage from Macau."

"Pork liver sausage indeed," Chen Qin chimed in beside him. "Stir-fried with snow peas would be good, but we don't seem to have any at home."

"Ah."

Ye Shuang, like he was treasure hunting, pulled out a black pepper pure meat sausage, though this thing probably belonged in a hot dog roller.

"So much. And here's some chicken wings."

Ye Shuang rolled up his sleeves. "Enough talk, time to work."

He worked quickly, operating two woks at once while not forgetting to tell Yuyou and the others to start eating first. After all, the dishes on the table wouldn't taste good cold.

"Ah Ye, we'll wait for you."

"No, food tastes best hot," Ye Shuang shooed Chen Qin out. "The best comfort for me is you all eating heartily."

For Ye Shuang, busy cooking, the guests not wasting food was his greatest satisfaction.

Right then, An Shiyu came downstairs too.

But the atmosphere at the dining table was strange. Chen Qin's eyes kept drifting toward Chen Hai and Zhou Min, as if wanting to express something.

Bai Yuyou and Aunt Xian sat together but also didn't say much. It was clear Aunt Xian was trying to make conversation, but it was just asking about things like grades and friends.

Not having been part of the other's life, it was pure awkward small talk.

Meanwhile, Aunt Li was happily applying her lipstick, true to her word, probably dieting and not eating much.

Tang Keke looked left and right, then couldn't help but look admiringly at the short-haired girl beside her.

An Shiyu was engrossed in eating without a care—

Om nom nom, atmosphere? What's that got to do with me, I'm eating, don't bother me I'm eating, I'm starving, eating eating eating, 360-degree spiral eating.

"Ding."

The doorbell rang again. Ye Shuang, busy stir-frying the chicken, paused. By the time he turned around, Tang Keke was already up to open the door.

"Oh?! Taozi." Opening the door, Tang Keke found Taozi outside.

"Keke, sorry to intrude," Taozi said shyly, holding a cake and some fruit, as she had almost no experience being a guest.

"Taozi, you're here!" Keke, likely guessing Bai Yuyou had invited her, pulled her inside.

"So many people..." Taozi was taken aback seeing so many people present.

"Taozi, have a seat, perfect timing for dinner," Ye Shuang also smiled and started to say, but before he could finish, he heard a surprised voice from Fugui's direction, "Oh? My sweetheart, what are you doing here?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Taozi's body stiffened, only then noticing the figure slightly obscured by the screen.

Mother...?

Huh?!