Back to Love: A New Beginning
Chapter 281

Chapter 281:.

I stood by the sink and continued washing the vegetables, turning a deaf ear to Derek.

He set the grocery bags down and patted Aaron, who was making the soup base, on the shoulder.

“God, I could smell it from outside the yard. It almost made me drool.”

I stopped washing the vegetables and the words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop myself.

“Then you’d better keep drooling. You’re not invited to eat with us.”

Hearing what I said, Aaron laughed, but Derek didn’t respond. As I continued washing the vegetables, I felt something hot hit my ear. My body stiffened on its own.

“Then you guys take the meat and leave the soup for me,” Derek whispered in my ear.

His chin almost touched my shoulder, and his hair rubbed against my ear, making my scalp tingle.

“Okay, you can have the soup,” I mumbled breathlessly, keeping my composure.

Instead of getting angry, Derek smiled at me.

“The most delicious part of a hot pot is the soup base. If you leave the best to me, Grandpa and Aaron will be in trouble later.” I was speechless.

Once the soup in the hot pot was ready, Aaron transferred the pot to the induction stove that was set up in the dining room, and we handed out the vegetables and meat one after the other.

The pot was boiling and the delicious smell hung in the air. The four of us sat at the small square table.

“It’s a rare opportunity to get together. You’d better have a few drinks with me today.” James smiled brightly.

“No drinking,” I blurted out.

James looked stunned. I glanced at Derek and saw him shoot me a complicit look. Realizing I might have overreacted, I decided to tone it down.

“All right. Whatever they say.” Aaron smiled as he added some vegetables and meat to the pot.

“Grandpa, Derek had a stomach ache and stayed in the hospital for a few days. The doctor advised him not to drink.”

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The old man nodded in understanding. He glanced at Derek and felt sorry for him.

“You, Derek, were disobedient and never took good care of yourself when you were younger. I told you that someday you would reap what you sowed,” she chided him.

Derek lowered his head and smiled helplessly. “Sorry, Grandpa.”

Even as James scolded Derek, he could see the love shining in his eyes.

The old man pursed his lips and looked at the boiling pot. After a moment’s thought, he said, “It will be a pity that we can’t drink while we eat the hot pot. I have a bottle of rice wine with little alcohol in it. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt your stomach. I’ll go get it.”

Moments later, he returned with the bottle of wine and told us that one of the villagers had made it. He had retired from a renowned hospital, so people here often visited him when they got sick.

James never charged money. The villagers would send him gifts, such as freshly brewed rice wine, or eggs hatched on his farm, to express their gratitude. He was very popular and everyone in the village respected him.

Aaron picked up the bottle of wine and took several glasses from the kitchen. Then he poured a glass for each of them. The window was open and it was snowing outside.

However, the atmosphere inside was warm and cozy. When I was a child, my mother prepared hot pots during the winter, when friends and relatives came to visit.

The hot pot was not about the taste, but about the warmth it brought to our body and soul.

But, today, eating with these people made me feel a little uncomfortable. After all, I had come here because I wanted to stay away from Derek-James and Aaron knew that. Since I hadn’t reconciled with Derek, I couldn’t eat and drink happily in front of them.

However, it would be impolite if I continued to show my anger, so I said nothing. I added mushrooms to the pot because I liked them. James was very talkative during the meal.

He told us funny stories that had happened in the village and all the unforgettable memories of his youth. He laughed from time to time as he reminisced about the good times. I watched the pot and listened quietly to his stories.

My heart broke as I remembered his illness. I always admired his fighting spirit. We all forgot to eat as we listened to his story spellbound, until Derek and Aaron picked up some mushrooms and put them in my bowl at the same time.

The synchronicity of their movements blew Grandpa away. I ignored Derek and thanked Aaron with a smile.

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