Absolutely Spoiled - Chapter 61.1

Chapter 61.1 – Tingyu x Luobai 7
When Wen Tingyu opened her eyes, she found out Shen Luobai was already gone.
Before he left, he had prepared breakfast for her. She wasn’t really hungry, but her throat felt dry. After sipping some water to ease the dryness, she felt a bit better.
Once she freshened up, she took her time enjoying her breakfast. While she was enjoying her food, her phone rang, and it was none other than Shen Luobai.
“Awake?”
“Did you set up a camera to keep tabs on me? How else could you know that I have gotten up?”
A soft laugh came through the phone. It was faint; it could’ve been missed if the room wasn’t so silent.
But Wen Tingyu caught what Shen Luobai said next, “Your voice sounds a bit rough.”
Her hands shook, and she moved the phone away slightly.
Yet, she could still hear his apology. “Sorry, I’ll be more gentle next time.”
“You seem different today,” Wen Tingyu muttered.
Usually, Shen Luobai wouldn’t have made such suggestive comments. He was usually pretty reserved about that stuff.
But she also knew Shen Luobai had a wild side, one that could easily overwhelm her.
She had felt it before.
“Make sure to drink more hot water.”
“Isn’t that something a jerk would say?” Wen Tingyu shot back.
“I’m a doctor.”
Hearing that from him felt authoritative.
“My break is almost over.” He called her during a brief moment he managed to squeeze in at work. He couldn’t chat for long, so he quickly added, “I’ll come by to pick you up this afternoon.”
“…Okay.”
She recalled him mentioning last night that he wanted to take her to meet his mom.
She had met Qiu Huiyi before. Even in her quiet moments, she was a striking woman. But she had also heard from her grandparents that Qiu Huiyi’s health had declined over the past couple of years. Besides being a bit odd, she would sometimes cause trouble.
Some folks thought Shen Luobai was pretty unfortunate. He has got the brains and skills, but he was stuck in a tough family situation with his mom.
Wen Tingyu couldn’t help but think about how hard it must be for him to juggle studying, making money, and taking care of her. Ever since she met him, she’s felt a sense of pity for his situation.
As she prepared to meet Shen Luobai’s mom, she found herself feeling a bit more cautious. So she ditched her usual bright-coloured lipstick and applied a lighter shade one.
Unfortunately, when Shen Luobai showed up to pick her up, he quickly wiped out her lipstick.
Feeling angry, Wen Tingyu pushed him away, pulled out her lipstick, and reapplied a lighter shade.
Just as he leaned in again, she held up her hand to stop him, giving him a wary look. “Don’t mess up my lipstick.”
Shen Luobai nodded, apologising.
Wen Tingyu was left speechless.
She could sense that Shen Luobai’s feelings for her were shifting, moving from just a growing interest to something deeper. After six years of this back-and-forth, it was clear he was making an effort to connect with her, especially by taking her to meet Qiu Huiyi.
“The place I’m taking you might not be what you expect… It’s not the best environment,” he admitted, still a bit unsure of himself.
When they arrived, Wen Tingyu understood what he meant by “not very good.”
The houses were crammed together in a narrow alley, and his living space was just a small section of one of those homes.
Most of Shen Luobai’s earnings went toward living expenses and Qiu Huiyi’s medication, so he had to be careful with his money.
As Wen Tingyu walked in, she noticed the curious stares from the people around her, just like when they first spotted someone as unique as Shen Luobai in that neighbourhood.
Shen Luobai had been keeping a close eye on Wen Tingyu, catching every little change in her expressions and movements. If she seemed even a bit hesitant, he’d whisk her away. No matter how she reacted, he wouldn’t hold it against her.
But Wen Tingyu didn’t show any signs of wanting to back out. Even though she felt a bit uneasy, she held onto his hand tightly and urged, “Let’s go; we don’t want Auntie to worry.”
She was about to meet his mom.
As his girlfriend.
Qiu Huiyi was over the moon when she found out her son’s girlfriend was coming over; she had been looking forward to it all day. She was itching to show off her cooking skills and went all out, preparing a feast.
When she finally saw Wen Tingyu, her joy was palpable, and she even had tears in her eyes. Wen Tingyu’s grandparents had helped their family, and this girl, knowing their family background, chose to be with her son. It was a happiness that was hard to put into words.
“Hi, Auntie.”
“Come in, sweetheart, and make yourself comfortable.” Most moms would be thrilled to welcome their son’s girlfriend, but Qiu Huiyi felt an even deeper connection.
She had cleaned the house from top to bottom, mopped the floors, dusted the furniture, and even scrubbed the tables and chairs. She really liked this girl and wanted to chat with her like any other parent would, but her nerves got the best of her, leaving her unsure of what to say.
Wen Tingyu usually kept a calm demeanour, and it was unlikely that would change now.
Qiu Huiyi invited Wen Tingyu to sit down, but the elders were still standing. Wen Tingyu hesitated, saying, “Auntie, please have a seat…”
They both wanted to impress each other, but their concern for each other’s opinions held them back.
Eventually, Shen Luobai broke the silence, saying, “You two should sit down.”
“It’s past six, and dinner’s ready. Why not eat now?” the mother asked.
During dinner, Shen Luobai sat beside Wen Tingyu, gently holding her hand and leaning in to whisper, “My mom really likes you.”
Wen Tingyu felt a rush of happiness at those words. Honestly, she could sense it even before he said anything.
After the meal, the landlady came by, and Shen Luobai stepped outside to talk with her.
Meanwhile, Qiu Huiyi started clearing the table.
When Wen Tingyu offered to help, Qiu Huiyi quickly replied, “Sweetheart, just sit and relax.”
She meant it sincerely, not just out of politeness. Still, Wen Tingyu wanted to make a good impression on Qiu Huiyi, so she kept helping. “It’s fine; I’ll help.”
Qiu Huiyi headed to the kitchen first.
After Wen Tingyu brought in the dishes, she grabbed a cloth to wipe the table and tossed the leftover trash into the bin.
While Qiu Huiyi was busy washing dishes, Wen Tingyu called out, “Auntie.”
Suddenly, a scream echoed from the kitchen.
Have a nice day!