Chương 121: The Ever-Open Door

As Lin Che, Su Yuqing, and the slightly embarrassed Luo Bingli stepped into the house, the kitchen was filled with the crisp sound of spatulas clattering against iron pots, accompanied by a rich and enticing aroma of food, instantly creating a strong sense of home life.

"Mom! We're back! Xiaoli's here to visit too!" Su Yuqing called out eagerly towards the kitchen after changing into her slippers.

As soon as she finished speaking, Su Wanyi, wearing a floral apron, poked her head out of the kitchen with a gentle smile on her face.

The moment she saw Luo Bingli, her smile became even warmer: "Little Li is here! Come in and sit down, don't be shy, make yourself at home."

"If only you had told me you were coming sooner, I would have prepared more dishes that young people like. I added a few more at the last minute, and I don't know if they will suit your taste."

Clearly, she had already learned from Lin Che that he would be staying at her house, and had made careful preparations for it.

"Auntie, you're too kind. I—I can eat anything, there's really no need to go to so much trouble." Luo Bingli said somewhat shyly, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Sister Xiaoli! You're finally here!" Suddenly, a clear cheer rang out, and then a small figure rushed over from the living room sofa like a cannonball, aiming directly at Luo Bingli.

It's Su Xiaoye.

The little girl was wearing an adorable pink bunny pajama set. Her soft, black hair was a little messy from rolling around on the sofa, and her big, dark eyes sparkled with barely suppressed excitement.

Like a clingy kitten, she hugged Luo Bingli's leg tightly, tilted her little face up, and said in a childish voice, "Sister Xiaoli, I missed you so much! You haven't come to play with me in so long."

Luo Bingli was caught off guard by this sudden and enthusiastic "attack," and her body stiffened instinctively.

But when she looked down and saw the little girl's innocent and pure smile, the slight unease and restraint she felt because of staying at the hotel quietly dissipated.

She awkwardly reached out and gently touched Xiaoye's soft hair: "Xiaoye, be good, I missed you too."

"Hehe!" Su Xiaoye laughed happily, then took Luo Bingli's hand and dragged her to the sofa like a prized possession.

"Look, Sister Xiaoli! This is the new block castle Daddy bought me! It's so much fun! Shall I teach you how to build it together?"

Seeing the natural and intimate interaction between them, Su Wanyi smiled with satisfaction. She said to Luo Bingli, "Xiaoli, why don't you play with Xiaoye on the sofa for a while and watch TV? Dinner will be ready soon."

After saying that, she brushed a few strands of hair from her temples that were damp with steam, then turned and went back to the kitchen to continue her work.

Su Yuqing then skillfully took out some snacks and a few bottles of juice from the cabinet, placed them on the coffee table, and said to Luo Bingli with a smile, "Xiao Li, have some snacks to fill your stomach first."

For a moment, the living room was filled with Xiaoye's chattering childish words and Su Yuqing's occasional soft laughter.

Although Luo Bingli didn't talk much and mostly just listened quietly, she always had a faint smile on her lips, gradually blending into the warm and lively family atmosphere.

A moment later, the sound of a key opening the door came from the entrance hall, and Lin Chen returned from outside carrying a paper bag with the logo of a well-known dessert shop.

"Daddy!" Su Xiaoye was the first to notice, immediately dropping the building blocks in her hand and running over like a happy little bird. Lin Chen smiled, bent down, picked up his daughter, and gently pinched her little nose. Then he noticed Luo Bingli in the living room, a gentle smile on her face: "Little Luo is here too, welcome, welcome."

He placed the paper bag on the shoe cabinet next to him and explained, "I passed by a pastry shop on my way home from get off work and thought we had guests at home, so I bought some mousse cakes and fruit tarts that you girls like. We can all try them after dinner."

He paused, then said with a hint of sarcasm, "I feel like we usually eat ordinary home-cooked meals at home, so it would be a bit casual to serve you like this. That's why I thought I'd buy some snacks to make up for it a little."

Upon hearing this, Luo Bingli quickly stood up, somewhat flattered, and said, "Uncle, you're too kind. Actually—home-cooked food is perfectly fine. I'm not picky at all."

She could clearly feel that everyone in the family was conveying kindness and warmth to her in their own way.

Soon, a sumptuous dinner was laid out on the table: sweet and sour pork ribs, steamed sea bass, and chicken with mushrooms—each dish was a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate, exuding an enticing aroma, clearly prepared with care by Su Wanyi.

While stuffing delicious food into her mouth, Su Xiaoye mumbled various cute "praises" indistinctly.

"Mom's braised pork is the best! Sister Xiaoli, you have to try some!"

"The little cakes Dad bought were amazing! They were sweet and soft!"

Halfway through the meal, Su Xiaoye suddenly blinked her big, dark eyes and looked at Luo Bingli expectantly: "Sister Xiaoli, can you come and stay at our house every day?"

"That way, I can eat so many delicious dishes and snacks every day!"

"Pfft—" Su Yuqing almost spat out the mouthful of juice she had just taken a sip of. She quickly pulled out a tissue to wipe her mouth. Lin Che was also amused by Xiaoye's simple and unpretentious wish.

Luo Bingli was also amused by Su Xiaoye's innocent and childlike words. She reached out and gently pinched Su Xiaoye's chubby little face, and said softly, "As long as Xiaoye likes it, I'll come to see you often when I have time, okay?"

"Yay! That's great!" Su Xiaoye cheered happily, her little body twisting and turning excitedly in the child seat.

Lin Chen and Su Wanyi watched this heartwarming scene with knowing smiles on their faces.

The atmosphere at dinner was warm and harmonious. Su Wanyi kept putting food on Luo Bingli's plate, urging her to eat more, while Su Yuqing shared interesting stories from school and occasionally bantered with Lin Che.

As Luo Bingli looked at the warm and harmonious scene before her and listened to the relaxed and cheerful conversation of the family, something seemed to gently touch a corner of her heart, a bittersweet feeling that was both sour and astringent.

She no longer felt the resentment and pain that almost consumed her due to the stark contrast, nor did she have the urge to escape immediately.

At this moment, her heart was filled with peace and warmth. She smiled and listened attentively to everyone's words, trying her best, even somewhat clumsily, to respond to everyone's concern for her and Xiaoye's innocent and naive questions.

Every smile comes from the heart; every response carries a ease and comfort that she herself is unaware of.

Because she could clearly feel that everyone in the family was embracing and accepting her in their most sincere and purest way.

Just as Lin Che said to her that night—as long as she is willing, the door of this home will always be open for her, and this warmth will always belong to her.

Enveloped in this atmosphere of complete acceptance and pampering, she even temporarily forgot the real reason why she had mustered the courage to come here seeking "protection," and the heavy negative emotions that reason brought with it.

At least in this moment, she felt at ease, relaxed, and even happy.