Chapter 34: CH-34: My sweet but silly sister?

"Mmm, such a delicacy!"

Jian Yulan uttered excitedly, having no other experience like this. The dumpling she just ate turned her worldview upside down.

She had to admit, the ladies in front really knew how to cook!

At the moment, Jian Yulan, Dong Mulan, and Gu Changsheng were seated around a round table, with delicacies spread across the table.

Dong Mulan was gobbling up the dishes without any care for her womanly elegance. Elder Jian was also savouring the dishes in relish. Only Gu Changsheng had his head down, a forced smile on his face.

It was as if someone had stolen the winning lottery ticket from him.

"Hey, if you don’t want it, give me your piece too."

Dong Mulan responded, seeing the juicy leg in his hand, not knowing she was just sprinkling salt on his wounds.

"Here, here!!"

Replied her husband helplessly, giving her his own piece and even serving some sides for her.

Putting aside his sour mood, he looked towards his silly wife, and the forced smile turned natural unknowingly.

Letting the matter rest, he also began to enjoy the dinner, ignorant of someone’s gaze.

Though Jian Yulan felt a bit perplexed about his mood swings, having noticed the forced smile, she decided against pointing it out, instead mentioning softly.

"Gu Changsheng, your cooking is truly delightful!"

"Yup, Changsheng’s chicken is the best!"

Getting the praise made Gu Changsheng feel a bit better, only to have Mulan pour cold water on it.

"Pfft!!"

"Pffftt!!!"

Now Gu Changsheng felt his cheeks burning with shame, inwardly complaining that this panda never learned. Jian Yulan also felt a bit embarrassed, finding her wording correct yet not quite.

This time, however, Gu Changsheng didn’t correct her. Pointing it out would only embarrass him more.

But this time, he really took a grudge, swearing to let Mulan truly enjoy his ’chicken’ tonight.

Soon, all of them got their tummies’ worth, still sitting and talking about everyday life.

"You remind me of my sister. She looked just like you, sweet but silly."

Intoned Jian Yulan abruptly, causing much surprise to the duo.

The days they lived here let them perceive a good deal about Elder Jian. She was a cold-on-the-outside-but-soft-on-the-inside kind of woman, one with no family.

Now it all made sense why she was so favourable towards them, having personal reasons.

"But you know, Elder Jian," Dong Mulan said, tilting her head innocently, "I think your sister must be very happy to have someone like you too."

Jian Yulan paused, her smile fading slightly. Without noticing that, Mulan continued.

"If she is anything like me, she probably annoys you all the time to boot. But having someone who scolds her, guides her, and stays by her side... she must have treasured that."

Her words were simple, yet each one seemed to pierce Jian Yulan’s heart.

She lowered her gaze, silently clenching her fingers beneath the table. For some reason, her face turned ashen, as if remembering something terrifying.

"...Perhaps," Jian Yulan murmured, the last part coming out with a heavy, burdened sigh, "I wasn’t as good a sister as you think."

"You must be the best family she had, Elder Jian!!"

Stated Dong Mulan with a shake of her head, once again overstepping her boundaries.

"She’s no more, I... I failed to protect her."

Jian Yulan said with a grief-stricken sigh, but she wasn’t the only one who grieved. Dong Mulan and Gu Changsheng also felt bad hearing about her sister.

For a while, silence descended upon the table, as neither Gu Changsheng nor Dong Mulan knew what to say after hearing Jian Yulan’s words.

Even Dong Mulan, who usually had something to say no matter the situation, remained quiet this time, her previous cheerful expression replaced with a slightly saddened one as she looked towards the woman sitting opposite her.

Jian Yulan lowered her gaze, her fingers resting quietly beside the bowl, as if the memories she had tried to bury deep within her heart had suddenly resurfaced once again.

She had already lived with this regret for many years, yet tonight, for some unknown reason, it felt much heavier than usual. ℯℯ𝘭.

Perhaps it was because Dong Mulan reminded her of her sister, perhaps it was because of the things Mulan had said, or perhaps... she was simply tired of carrying those memories alone.

"Elder Jian... You don’t have to blame yourself forever. Even though we don’t know what happened back then, you shouldn’t hold it to yourself. Your sister couldn’t have wanted that!"

Gu Changsheng finally spoke, his voice much softer than before.

Jian Yulan raised her gaze towards him. The simple words he spoke caused Jian Yulan’s eyes to tremble slightly, though she didn’t immediately respond.

Dong Mulan continued, tilting her head slightly as she spoke with complete sincerity.

"If your sister was important to you, then I am sure you must have done everything you could for her."

Gu Changsheng glanced towards his wife, somewhat surprised by her words.

For once, there was no silly expression on her face, and most importantly, she wasn’t saying something that would make him want to bury his head into the table.

She looks pretty cool right now.

Jian Yulan stared at the table for several moments before eventually letting out a faint chuckle.

"Perhaps you are right."

Although her voice still carried some sadness, the bitterness from before seemed to have faded slightly.

"You really are a strange girl, huh."

Dong Mulan: "Is that a compliment?"

Jian Yulan: "No."

Dong Mulan: "(ಥ﹏ಥ)?"

Gu Changsheng and Jian Yulan both chuckled slightly. How could they not, seeing Mulan’s antics?

Jian Yulan shook her head, and a faint smile appeared on her face as she looked at Mulan.

"You really are silly."

"I am not! I... i-I am just innocent!"

Dong Mulan immediately protested, puffing her cheeks.

"That is just another way of saying silly."

Gu Changsheng couldn’t help but interject from the side, jumping into the ongoing drama. Dong Mulan immediately turned towards him, her eyes narrowing dangerously as she reached out and pinched his waist.