Evelyn got back to the apartment and started making dinner.
She searched online for a hot and sour beef recipe while prepping the ingredients.
She didn't expect it to be perfect on the first try.
But at least it had to be edible.
After cooking three dishes and a soup, the soup was the hot and sour beef.
Evelyn went to call Alexander for dinner.
Alexander walked to the dining table.
He looked at the soup with floating lettuce and chili peppers.
“Are you sure you followed the recipe?” he asked.
“Yes, I did. It might not look great, but it tastes good!” Evelyn explained.
She filled a bowl for him first.
Alexander looked skeptical but didn't say anything else.
He sat down at the table, ready to eat.
Evelyn placed two bowls of rice in front of him, then sat down to join him.
Alexander took two bites of the hot and sour beef.
“The meat is a bit tough. The soup is too sour. Not spicy enough,” he said.
“There wasn't enough pickled chili. I'll do better next time,” Evelyn replied awkwardly.
“It's good for a first attempt,” Alexander said.
“So, do you still insist on returning the money?” Evelyn blurted out.
She looked at him with hopeful eyes.
Alexander paused for a moment.
Then he lifted his gaze to meet hers, a slight smile tugging at his lips.
“Are you afraid I'll ask for it back?”
Evelyn nodded honestly.
She continued, “If you insist on getting it back, can you wait a bit longer? Otherwise, your family lent so much to mine. I'm afraid my dad doesn't have the money to pay you back right now.”
Alexander's face darkened instantly.
“You're still thinking about that money?”
“I think about it sometimes. I don't know if I'll ever earn that much in my life!” Evelyn sighed.
Her father had told her before.
Although she married into the family because of the money, they wouldn't accept it as a gift.
Once things settled down, they would pay it back.
So she shouldn't feel inferior.
She should hold her head high.
“Then wait until you earn it,” Alexander said in a low voice.
He lowered his head and ate without another word.
Evelyn felt the atmosphere in the living room suddenly turn cold.
She didn't know what she had said wrong.
Or maybe the hot and sour beef was just too terrible.
Either way, Alexander was unhappy.
“I'll try to make it better next time,” Evelyn said softly.
Alexander didn't respond.
After dinner, Evelyn cleared the table.
Alexander was watching the news in the living room.
As she tidied up, she secretly glanced at him.
He still seemed upset.
Should she find a way to cheer him up?
When Alexander came out of the study, Evelyn stood awkwardly at the door.
“Yes?” he asked.
“Um… should I sing for you?” Evelyn gathered her courage.
“Why do you suddenly want to sing for me?” Alexander's face remained expressionless, but a smile flickered in his eyes.
“Don't you think listening to songs can make people happy?”
“It depends on the song. Some songs just give me a headache.”
“Oh,” Evelyn replied, her mouth pouting in disappointment.
“Go ahead. Sing for me,” Alexander said, touching his nose.
“Is ‘Mother's Kiss’ okay?” Evelyn asked with a smile.
“Pick another song.”
“How about ‘The Snail and the Oriole’?”
“Pick another one.”
“What song do you like? I don't know if I can sing it.”
“Love You for Ten Thousand Years,” Alexander said casually.
“Huh?” Evelyn froze, her face blank.
Could she say she had never heard that song?
There really was a generation gap between them.
“Is there a problem?” Alexander stepped closer, deliberately teasing.
“I can't sing it!” Evelyn said awkwardly. “Can I pick another one?”
“If you want to sing for me, shouldn't you choose one I like?”
“Can I learn it first and sing it to you later?” Evelyn had to compromise.
“Fine. Just sing it to me before you go to bed.”
“…” Evelyn was speechless.
Was he treating it like a lullaby?
So, for the next while, Alexander made a cup of tea and leisurely went back to the study to work overtime.
Evelyn sat in the living room, listening to “Love You for Ten Thousand Years” on her phone.
She tried to learn the song.
“I love you for ten thousand years… I love you for ten thousand years…”
Evelyn sang along, reading the lyrics.
She thought Alexander's favorite song was so cheesy.
Then she wondered if he was confessing to her.
The next second, she shook her head and threw away that terrible thought.
Alexander was gay.
She wasn't a man.
Later, Alexander was still busy.
Evelyn read for a while, then took a bath and went to bed.
Lying in bed, she thought about waiting for Alexander to come to rest.
Then she would sing to him.
So she lay there, humming softly, and fell asleep.
When she woke up in the morning, she was lying on Alexander's body, in his arms, as usual.
Luckily, she had fallen asleep last night.
She didn't have to sing to him.
Carefully, she moved his arm and got up to prepare breakfast.
Then she heard Alexander's sleepy voice behind her.
“Evelyn, you haven't sung to me yet.”
Evelyn froze.
She hypnotized herself.
It must be her imagination.
Or Alexander was talking in his sleep.
But then she turned around and met his gaze.
Only one thought crossed her mind.
She was doomed.
She could only giggle nervously.
“Sing. I'm listening,” Alexander said, not letting her off the hook.
“Um… can I sing later?” Evelyn asked awkwardly, sitting cross-legged on the bed.
“Are you going to sing at dinner?” Alexander asked.
Evelyn imagined standing by the table while Alexander ate, singing “Love You for Ten Thousand Years.”
He would probably throw up all his food.
So she shook her head reflexively.
“Sing it now. I'll get up after you finish.”
“…” Evelyn felt like a million thoughts were racing through her mind.
Finally, she insisted, “If I sing badly, don't laugh.”
“Okay.”
“Then I'll stand and sing,” Evelyn said.
She got out of bed and walked to the window.
Looking at the scenery outside, she silently pretended she was the only one in the room.
Everything else was just background.
She took a deep breath and began to sing.
“One rotation of the earth is a day, which means how much I miss you. The love of goodness and beauty has no limit and no flaw. One rotation of the earth is a year, which means how much I love you. The eternal horizon and my heart will never change…”
Alexander felt his scalp tingle.
His brows furrowed deeper and deeper until Evelyn finished.
When Evelyn finished, she turned around.
She looked at Alexander with an embarrassed face.
“I'm done.”