My Wife is a Beautiful CEO - Chapter 400

Chapter 400

The spectators were in awe as they witnessed Yang Chen swallow 66 dumplings . A lot of them even started cheering for him .

After the fourth bowl was served, Yang Chen took a deep breath before basically inhaling the dumplings once again .

With only thirty seconds left on the clock, Yang Chen had already forced 88 dumplings down his stomach . The owner and servers of the restaurant were all dumbstruck and stared at Yang Chen .

Yang Chen wiped his mouth with a piece of tissue . “Erm… the time isn’t up right? I finished them already . ”

The crowd shouted in excitement as they celebrated Yang Chen’s victory, while the owner of the restaurant didn’t know how to feel about this . It was originally an event organized to trick customers into eating and paying for the dumplings . Never in his wildest dreams had he actually thought that someone would walk in and complete the challenge .

However, he had to fulfill his promise, otherwise his restaurant would be shunned for dishonesty and have to leave Zhonghai .

The restaurant owner personally passed the dumpling doll to Yang Chen . The doll had a round body with a white face and a pouting mouth, causing numerous ladies to go crazy .

The boss immediately asked the employees to prepare a table of dumplings, with 16 different flavors .

“May I ask if you have other friends coming over as well?” the restaurant owner asked .

Yang Chen shook his head . “It will only be me and my wife . ”

The restaurant still brought the two to a private room with a huge table . All the dumplings couldn’t be forced onto a small table after all .

Lin Ruoxi looked at Yang Chen who walked as he rubbed his belly . She found it absurd and funny at the same time .  This man is indeed an undiscovered treasure . Why does he always have to worry me like this? Lin Ruoxi thought .

After they walked into the room, using both hands, Yang Chen handed the adorable dumpling doll to Lin Ruoxi . Smiling cheerfully, he said, “Take it . I finally managed to win the new year present . ”

Lin Ruoxi was stunned as her watery eyes widened . She quickly realized that Yang Chen only took part in the event just to win the doll for her .

Yang Chen let out an awkward smile . “The whole time I was out, I was wondering what kind of gift I should get you . I live in your house, drive your car, and use everything that belongs to you, even my salary is given by you . You even bought me new year clothes . I’ve wanted to get something for you, but if I bought something outside, I’d still be using your money, so that wouldn’t count as a gift from me . This dumpling doll, however, is rather decent . I know for a fact that you would like it . Since this meal is free, it doesn’t count as one paid using your money . Treat everything as a gift I’m giving my dear Babe Ruoxi . ”

Yang Chen spoke while rubbing his belly with one of his arms . Having listened to Yang Chen’s strange speech, Lin Ruoxi suddenly felt that her nose turned sour .

“Are you a dumbo?”

“Eh?” Yang Chen was stunned . He suspected himself for mishearing her .

“I said…” Lin Ruoxi reached her arm out to take the doll from Yang Chen’s hand before lowering her head as she touched the doll . “I said you’re a dumbo . Other than a dumbo, no one would think of such an idea as a gift . ”

Embarrassed, Yang Chen said with a smile, “I can’t help it . If I’m dumb, so be it . I’m glad as long as you like this toy . ”

Lin Ruoxi looked at the doll which had a smile on its face as she contemplated greatly in her mind . At last, she nodded and said, “I like it a lot . ”

“Hehe . Your husband isn’t that bad after all . Look at all the ladies outside . They’re all dying to get this doll, but none of their boyfriends can finish 88 dumplings . I guess it’s an opportunity for me to show my hidden talents at such a moment,” Yang Chen said, elated .

Lin Ruoxi wanted to laugh but she was pissed at the same time . Her eyes were initially reddish, but tears started to trickle slowly .

The two sat down . Silence ensued for a while . Lin Ruoxi pinched the doll in her hand as she said softly, “In the past during the new year, Grandma would always get me a present . At times it would be a book, and delicious snacks on other occasions… But no matter what it was, I’d feel very happy with it . I didn’t feel any of the items was unique . In short, our family could afford whatever I wanted… Then, Grandma and Mom both passed away, and I hadn’t received any gifts during the new year since . At that time, I noticed that not everything could be bought with money…”

Yang Chen let out a gentle smile . “That’s what I’m here for, no? I’ll come here again next year and get you another one . There were still a pink and a white one on the stage earlier . I’ll get you a pair next time . ”

“You…” Lin Ruoxi couldn’t help but smile not unlike a blooming gardenia flower . “You’re just like a child . There’s no need to do silly things in the future . Although you can finish them, I can tell that you feel discomfort after doing so . ”

“Is this considered a concern a wife holds for her husband?” Yang Chen asked and winked .

Lin Ruoxi pouted . She kept her mouth shut and remained quiet .

After a short while, a dazzling display of dumplings was served . Lin Ruoxi looked at the table placed full of dumplings . Frowning, she said, “I can’t even finish one bowl . What should we do now?”

Yang Chen stuffed two crab-meat dumplings into his mouth and felt his loss of appetite . Smiling, he said, “Eat some of them while they’re still hot . I’ll take the rest home . These dumplings are made with good wrappings . We can reheat them and it would still make for a good meal . ”

After half an hour, Yang Chen carried two huge plastic bags of dumplings and walked out of the restaurant . Lin Ruoxi hugged the eye-catching doll and walked by his side while they headed back to the parking area .

They soon arrived at the parking area . Lin Ruoxi suddenly asked, “Can you follow me somewhere?”

Yang Chen was surprised . “Where?”

Sorrow surfaced on Lin Ruoxi’s face . “I suddenly feel like paying Grandma and Mom a visit . Go with me, can you?”

Yang Chen understood her intention . Lin Ruoxi recently got a new younger sister at home, while Yang Chen brought home a mother-in-law . Moreover, she finally received a gift for the new year after so long .

In Lin Ruoxi’s originally ice-sealed heart, her past memories gradually emerged, which reminded her of her grandmother and mother . It was only natural that she wanted to see them .

“I’m actually supposed to meet Grandma-In-Law and Mother-In-Law long ago . Although Qingming Festival took place not long ago, it’s still important that we tell them of our marriage,” Yang Chen said .

[TL note: During Qingming (Tomb-Sweeping Day), Chinese families visit the tombs of their ancestors to clean the gravesites, pray to their ancestors, and make ritual offerings . Offerings would typically include traditional food dishes, and the burning of joss sticks and joss paper . ]

Lin Ruoxi smiled as she boarded Yang Chen’s car . “Just leave my car here . I’ll have someone send it home . ”

Yang Chen nodded and drove outside the urban area as he followed Lin Ruoxi’s lead . They were heading to a high-class mausoleum located in the west suburb .

After around forty minutes, the car entered a hillside area . It was surrounded by green pine and cypress trees . The road was quiet . Fat squirrels would appear on the road occasionally, adding to the vitality of the place .

Yang Chen stopped his car on a flatland under the hill . The tomb was placed rather high up on the hill .

As they exited the car, Yang Chen slapped his thigh and said, “Oh! I forgot to bring them presents . I don’t even have any joss papers . ”

Lin Ruoxi was feeling rather sad earlier but after listening to Yang Chen’s absurdity, she felt her sorrow trickle away . She rolled her eyes and said, “Don’t worry, we burnt lots of them during Qingming . ”

“Hehe . Alright then . I wonder if Mother-In-Law has had dumplings or not,” Yang Chen said with a smile .

Lin Ruoxi refrained from laughing as she ignored Yang Chen’s jokes .

As they walked on the meandering road on the hill, Yang Chen spotted a black Audi A8 which was leaving the place .

Yang Chen frowned slightly when he noticed the car . He then continued his journey as he followed Lin Ruoxi uphill .

Having walked for ten minutes, Lin Ruoxi was starting to get rather tired and was panting the rest of the way . They finally reached the tombstones of Lin Ruoxi’s grandmother and mother .

The tombstones were really clean . It was safe to assume that they were regularly cleaned . Two huge plum pines shaded the tombstones .

However, the surprising thing was the fresh bouquet of flowers placed on the tombstone of Lin Ruoxi’s mother . It was a rarely seen Chinese redbud flower whose petals were extraordinarily large .

Yang Chen looked at the name of Lin Ruoxi’s mother . He instantly understood why the specific type of flower was there . “So, Mother-In-Law’s name is Xue Zijing… It sounds almost identical to the Chinese redbud flower . ”

[TL note: Chinese redbud flower (紫荆花) is pronounced as Zijing in Mandarin, which sounds almost exactly the same as (Xue) Zijing (子静) . ]

“Yeah…” Lin Ruoxi leaned downward and touched the petals of the flower . “When Mom was still alive, she liked the Chinese redbud flower the most, with this specific type being her favorite . I have seen this same bouquet of flowers during Qingming before, but I have no clue who put it here . ”

Yang Chen looked at the picture on the tombstone . Smiling, he said, “You indeed look very much like Mother-In-Law, but you’re more beautiful . ”

Lin Ruoxi blushed slightly . She was pleased to be so directly complimented . But she still gave him an angry gaze . “Behave yourself in front of my mother . ”

Yang Chen smiled as he felt embarrassed .  Yeah, why did I tease my wife in front of her mother? he thought .

They stood front of Xue Zijing’s tombstone for a while . Lin Ruoxi then came to her grandmother’s tombstone . It was Yang Chen’s first time seeing the look of the Old CEO . She looked kind and friendly and apparently used to be really close with Lin Ruoxi .

Standing in front of the tombstone, Lin Ruoxi said to Yang Chen, “Yang Chen, can you give us a few minutes alone? I want to speak to my grandma . ”

Yang Chen nodded and bowed to the tombstone before walking away .

After a long time, Lin Ruoxi who was still standing reached her arm out to touch the tombstone, the corners of her lips revealing a sour yet sweet smile .

“Grandma, the new year is here . I don’t usually visit you during the new year . You know that I cry every time I come here . I remember you telling me that crying girls are ugly girls…

“But I have to come over this year . I don’t know what’s happening to me now . I can’t comprehend my own mind anymore .

“I feel that Yang Chen is a very detestable person . I dislike him a lot . He’d refer to me in various cringey ways . He takes everything lightly and goes around outside . I even saw him with another woman once . He would only come home in the morning after going through the night with other women . Now that he found his mother, I suddenly have a mother-in-law who treats me well sometimes, and bad on other occasions… They even partnered up to bully me today…

“He always does whatever he wants . He doesn’t call to tell that he isn’t coming home tonight . I always end up waiting for him like a fool…

“But… but… because of him, I feel extremely blessed, but also because of him, I get heartaches all the time . Grandma, do you find me weird as well…”

Cold wind blew from the mountains as it swept across the hills . Lin Ruoxi spoke as if she was talking to herself . Her voice floated in the air and dispersed in unknown directions .

Yang Chen stood near a corner of the hill . He looked at the slim figure dressed in black who was still standing in front of the tombstone before feeling a strange pain in his heart .

“Foolish woman, what if one day all your beliefs are in vain; what if one day all of your hopes turn out to be merely fleeting dreams . Can you… endure the pain?”

Yang Chen turned his head to look at the direction where the Audi left earlier with a depthless gaze .