But there wasn't a single bit of residue in the soup, indicating how thoroughly Fu Yinxiu had filtered it.
It was hard for Ming Yutong to imagine Fu Yinxiu making soup, carefully skimming off the oil and filtering out the dregs.
A big man like him doing such meticulous work felt somewhat incongruous in her mind.
Ming Yutong took a sip and found the taste to be very fresh and slightly sweet, without any fishy odor.
She hadn't expected Fu Yinxiu to make such a soup. It seemed like she could taste the heartfelt effort he had put into it.
She couldn't help but think back to the day when Fu Yinxiu first brought the soup to her, and she had thrown it away.
She wondered what that soup had tasted like.
Every time she thought about how Fu Yinxiu had not been angry after she threw the soup away and had instead tried to please her, she felt a twist of discomfort in her heart.
At that moment, Ming Yutong's phone rang.
She looked at the screen and saw it was a call from Fu Yinxiu.
It was probably because Little Jingshi had told him about the soup.
Ming Yutong hesitated, her finger hovering over the answer button, unable to make up her mind.
Eventually, after ringing for a long time, the call ended automatically.
There was a prolonged silence afterward.
Ming Yutong could almost imagine Fu Yinxiu's disappointed expression on the other end.
She realized that it wasn't that she didn't want to answer, but that she hadn't managed to.
As she stared at her phone, the ringtone rang again.
This time, it was still Fu Yinxiu.
Ming Yutong finally answered the call, "Hello."
"Tong Tong!" Fu Yinxiu exclaimed excitedly, not expecting her to actually answer.
Ming Yutong didn't correct him this time.
After all, even if she corrected him, he would still stubbornly call her that.
Ming Yutong remained silent, not responding to his enthusiasm.
"Did you accept the soup?" Fu Yinxiu asked eagerly. When he didn't hear a response, he added, "Jingshi told me. Are you angry? I sent Jingshi to deliver the soup because if I went, you wouldn't accept it or see me."
"And I also worried that people at your company might misunderstand you and gossip about you."
Ming Yutong listened in surprise, not expecting Fu Yinxiu to be so considerate.
"I accepted it," Ming Yutong said.
"Are you angry with me?" Fu Yinxiu suddenly asked.
Ming Yutong was puzzled, "Angry with you?"
"Angry that I used Jingshi to deliver the soup? If he delivered it, you would surely accept it. But you might be upset that I forced you to," Fu Yinxiu's voice carried a deep sense of helplessness and guilt.
Ming Yutong's lips moved, her throat feeling tight, "No."
Fu Yinxiu, holding the phone, felt his hand trembling with excitement, "You're not angry with me?"
"The soup... I drank it," Ming Yutong bit her lip, "It was very good. You must have put a lot of effort into it."
"Not really!" Fu Yinxiu shook his head and then closed his eyes in frustration.
How could it be "not really"?
He's really being foolish!
It's his own soup that he stayed up almost all night making. If he downplays it like this, will Ming Yutong truly feel his sincerity?
He should have spoken honestly.
Ming Yutong couldn't help but smile slightly. With the taste and quality of this soup, how could she not see the effort he put into it?
"Wait, you said it was really good?" Fu Yinxiu suddenly shifted from his previous frustration to excitement.
"Yes," Ming Yutong nodded, "It's very good."
Fu Yinxiu, thrilled, said, "You like it? Then I'll make it again for you. I can make something different tomorrow. What do you like? Not just soup, but anything else, I've learned how to make it too."
It's rare for Ming Yutong to talk to him so much.
Yesterday, her attitude toward him in the office seemed to have changed, and today she even accepted the soup he sent.
Even though it was delivered by Little Jingshi, Ming Yutong, being smart, would surely realize it was his request.
But Ming Yutong still didn't refuse and even drank it, which made Fu Yinxiu very happy and hopeful.
"No need," Ming Yutong said blandly, "I'm sorry for throwing away your soup last time. I overreacted."
"It's okay, don't worry about it. You don't need to feel sorry. Whatever I give you, if you don't like it, you can throw it away. It's fine." Afraid Ming Yutong might misunderstand, Fu Yinxiu quickly added, "I'm not being sarcastic. I really mean it. If you don't like it, I'll find something you do like and give it to you."
Ming Yutong's eyelashes fluttered. Fu Yinxiu was truly changing her perception.
The old Fu Yinxiu wouldn't have made soup for her or done anything like this. He wouldn't have been so considerate or worried about saying things that might be misunderstood.
In short, he didn't used to consider her feelings or her mood.
But now, he has considered everything.
Ming Yutong felt a mix of emotions, touched but also uncomfortable.
She used to love him so much, and despite switching roles with him, she never received this kind of proactive care.
It was always her being proactive, and it was often exhausting, but she gritted her teeth and didn't give up.
Now, because of these events, he's changed.
If these things hadn't happened, would he not have changed?
He now said he loved her, so he's attentive to her in every way, even being cautious.
But what about before?
The fact that he never considered her feelings—did it mean he didn't love her as much back then?
Ming Yutong suddenly felt that her persistence over the years seemed somewhat laughable.