Chapter 21: Job for a big event

What? Suyin could not believe it. After all, that happened…

“Mom, are you sure we are invited?”

Her mother Madam Tang glared at her.

“Why wouldn’t we be invited? We are the Tang family. We have known each other since you all were only children. We have done business with them. And professionally, we are still partners. So, of course, we will be invited.”

“Mom, you know what happened two years back. Why would they still invite us?”

“So what? Their matriarch still values our friendship. And as long as she is there, nobody can break off our association with them”, she proudly said. “And besides, Chen Jianyu will also be there. You should take this chance to rekindle your relationship with him.”

Suyin froze. Another chance with him? Is that even possible?

“We have broken up Mom.”, her head started to ache.

“Yes, but do you think he would have moved on? You both were so much in love with each other. It’s not easy to forget. But I admit its equally not that easy to get back together either. So, you should have patience. I’m sure if we tread slowly and carefully, it’s a matter of time before you become a couple again.” She patted her shoulders.

Suyin again remembered that girl. The scene replayed again.

But maybe, just maybe…they are really not dating? There can be any other reason why they were together. Should I find out?

She thought for a long time and said, “I will think about it.”

Madam Tang sighed. Well at least she didn’t reject the idea, she thought. That’s a good start. It will be so good for their status if Suyin becomes their daughter-in-law.

“Alright. It’s quite late now. Go to sleep. I don’t want to see any dark circles on your beautiful face.” She kissed her forehead.

“Okay.”

Suyin decided to find out about that girl first thing in the morning.

—

The next day, Chen Jianyu came to visit Nana. Natsukashi was quiet since there was not much of a morning rush.

“Chen Jianyu. It’s good to see you. Give me ten minutes. I will quickly make something for you.”, she smiled.

“Hi, Nana. Thanks. I’m starving.”, he said.

After ten minutes, Nana came out with a bowl of hot wheat noodles and some tasty fatty pork-filled rice dumplings.

Jianyu immediately dug in and thoroughly enjoyed it.

“Is it good?”, Nana asked.

“It’s more than just good. Really, how did you learn to cook such delicious food?”, he asked while popping a rice dumpling in his mouth.

Nana was arranging the plates when suddenly she stopped. Memories of distant past were coming back to her; like a movie playing in front of her eyes.

“Nana. You are so good at making these dumplings. Seriously, I am the one who taught you and here you are already surpassing your mother.”

“My daughter knows to cook so well. I’m proud of you.”

“See, how the twins are attached to her. They are only playing with her”, a woman giggled and said to her husband, “we are long forgotten by them.”

Then another memory flashed by.

“Why? Why Nana? Why did you have to destroy our home?”

“We were living so happily. Everything was so perfect. How could you be so vicious?”

“What did we do wrong?”, the woman was crying hysterically.

“No! Stay away from my twins! You don’t deserve to call yourself neither my daughter nor their sister.”

The memories just kept flooding and Nana got in a daze.

Jianyu patted her shoulders. “Nana? Nana?”

He jarred her out of her daze.

“Huh?”, Nana asked.

“What happened? Looked like you were deeply lost in some thoughts.”

“Ahh..no it’s nothing. Sorry, what had you asked?”

“Oh, I just asked how did you learn to cook such great food?”

Nana smiled looking out of the window.

“My mother. She used to love cooking. And she passed on that love to me too.”

“I see.”

Jianyu wanted to ask the meaning of why she said ‘used to’, but stopped there. He figured that was a sensitive topic for her and she wouldn’t wish to talk about it. He felt it.

So he dropped it. After all, there was a part of his life too, that he was not ready to share yet.

He quickly came to the main point for which he came to visit her.

“Oh yes, I just remembered. Actually, I came to talk to you about something important.”

“What is it?”, Nana asked.

“You have experience in catering, right? In events or gatherings?”

“Yes. I have done a few. Just recently, during the Spring Festival, we catered for a couple for their wedding anniversary. Why?”

“That’s perfect. Actually, it’s my cousin’s second wedding anniversary next week. Do you remember the guy who texted me during our lunch? That guy. So I suggested to him that you could be the caterer for the event.”

“What!?”, Nana asked in utter shock.