“Xiao Wen, this is not a good idea… How can I ask you to cook on your first day here?”
“It’s okay, Sister Xue. I often make this soup for my dad at home.”
“You really don’t need my help?” Xue Rong was amazed when she saw Wen Yuan skillfully chopping onions. She had previously heard that a pampered young master was moving in, and did not think Wen Yuan would be able to do housework at all. She never expected his knife skills to be so good, and even comparable to hers!
“I’m just making borscht. It’ll be quick. You can help me take the beef and butter out of the fridge.”
After Xue Rong helped him take out the ingredients, she watched Wen Yuan neatly cut the meat, turn on the stove, and heat up the pot. Realizing she was overly concerned, she smiled and left the kitchen.
Wen Yuan finished cutting the beef and was about to brown them when a tall figure suddenly appeared at the door.
“What are you doing?”
The cold voice made Wen Yuan’s heart quiver. The beef on the plate accidentally fell into the frying pan, causing hot oil to splash the back of his hand, and Wen Yuan to cry out “ah” in pain. He was immediately ashamed upon realizing that Qi Jinran was watching him.
Seeing such clumsy hands and feet, Qi Jinran’s handsome eyebrows were covered with a layer of ice, and his tone was impatient: “Don’t use these clumsy tricks to please me. I won’t eat what you make.”
After saying this, Qi Jinran turned around and returned to the bedroom with a cane.
Such a stupid look in the kitchen. Can’t even fry beef, will the food even be edible?
Wen Yuan didn’t know that Qi Jinran had already given him a negative score for his cooking skills. Although the back of his hand was scalded by hot oil and he was mocked, he did not give up, and continued with the next steps. Put the beef on a plate, reheat the pan with olive oil, add onion, tomato, and beetroot, stir fry, and finally add potato cubes. Finally add water and boil.
In no time, the kitchen was filled with the rich aroma of food. Xue Rong walked in following the scent. Her eyes lit up at the bright red borscht soup.
“Xiao Wen, it’s ready so soon?”
“Yes, just needs some seasonings. Sister Xue, please help me taste how it is.”
“Okay.”
Xue Rong took a spoon, filled a small bowl, and tasted it. The soup was rich and delicious. The sweetness of the vegetables and the tenderness of the beef complement each other, and one’s stomach feels warm after a bite. Xue Rong gave a thumbs up in admiration.
“Xiao Wen, I can’t even make this taste! It’s so delicious! I’ll bring a bowl to the young master right away.”
“No, he won’t eat it. You can drink it with the housekeeper. I’m going out soon, and won’t eat lunch at home.”
He was scheduled to help in the bakery this afternoon. It’s already late, and he doesn’t have much time, so it’s better to go straight to the store and eat lunch there.
Xue Rong was a little distressed seeing Wen Yuan leaving in a rush with a bag on his back.
Because she was cleaning the living room earlier, she naturally heard what Qi Jinran said at the kitchen door. The young master is too much. It’s Xiao Wen’s first day. Not only did he not welcome him, he didn’t even want to drink the borscht soup that he spent an hour making. Too heartless.
Thinking like this, she still tentatively went to the study. Before she knocked on the door, she heard a voice from inside.
“Just make some porridge at noon, I have no appetite.”
“Okay, young master.”
Xue Rong sighed helplessly and went back down to the kitchen.
In the study lounge.
Qi Jinran stood by the floor-to-ceiling window and looked at the lake outside the window. As the weather became colder, the long-healed wound on his right leg began to tingle again. He closed the window with a pale face, returned to his desk, and slowly removed the prosthesis.
A cup of cold coffee, a few cigars, and an unfinished design manuscript lay on the desk. He picked up the pen and made a few changes on the screen, mind full of Wen Yuan busying himself in the kitchen, and a trace of irritability flashed across his eyes.
Maybe he shouldn’t have promised his grandfather and let such a reckless person move in. It will only disrupt the rhythm of his life.
Suddenly, the phone rang.
It was Qi Donghui who called.
He asked Wen Yuan if he was at home and how he was adapting, and asked the two of them to go back home for dinner tomorrow.
Qi Jinran responded perfunctorily and hung up the phone.
After a while, Xue Rong prepared fish fillet porridge and brought it to him. After a few sips, Qi Jinran felt it was too bland. But he did ask for it, and it was not easy to ask for something else, so after taking two more sips, he put down his chopsticks and went back to the bedroom for a nap.
He was awakened by the empty, hungry feeling in his stomach. Even though the villa was covered with floor heating, his entire body still felt cold. Frowning, he grabbed the crutches at the crutches at the head of the bed to prop himself up. He wanted to ask Sister Xue to make something, but he didn’t know what, and swallowed his words.
Sister Xue must be resting at this time, forget it.
Hobbling on crutches, he went to the kitchen to see if there was any bread left in the refrigerator. As soon as he entered, he smelled a sweet fragrance that immediately aroused the greed in his stomach. He turned around and saw that the insulated soup pot on the stove was still plugged in, and it was from there that the aroma wafted out.
Sister Xue should have cooked some soup. Qi Jinran didn’t think much and opened the lid of the pot. The rich aroma rushed towards his face, and he couldn’t help scooping a bowl to try. The sweet and sour taste filled his mouth. The soft cooked tomatoes and potatoes are sweet, and extremely appetizing mixed with fresh, tender beef.
After eating a small bowl, Qi Jinran’s whole stomach was warmed up, and the cold air in his body also dissipated a lot.
Just as he was about to scoop out the second bowl, Qi Jinran’s hand suddenly stopped, and his face became extremely stiff. He suddenly remembered that when he came down, he saw Wen Yuan cutting beef and potatoes in the kitchen. So, did he cook this soup?
Thinking of the cruel words he had said before, Qi Jinran’s face showed a trace of discomfort. He quickly put down the bowl, and walked out on crutches. But he hesitated for a long time at the doorway, the aroma still lingering in his mouth. Finally, with a blue face, he returned to the table.
“Young master, you are eating at home tonight—”
It was unknown what Xue Rong saw at the door of the kitchen that caused the second half of her sentence to get stuck in her throat, and she looked surprised and happy.
Qi Jinran put the bowl back without changing expression, and said coldly, “This soup is horrible.”
Xue Rong made a meaningful “oh” sound and pointed to the corner of her mouth.
When Wen Yuan returned, he was surprised to find that the borscht soup in the kitchen was finished.
He originally wanted to keep some for himself, and did not expect Sister Xue and the others to have such a good appetite. Smiling helplessly, he left the kitchen and saw Xue Rong greeting him with a smile.
“Xiao Wen is back. Dinner will be ready soon, you can eat some fruit first.”
Nodding, Wen Yuan went to sit on the sofa. Just as he ate an orange slice, Xue Rong suddenly came to his ear mysteriously.
“Young master drank the rest of the borscht.”
Wen Yuan’s eyes widened, looking at her in disbelief.
The elevator dinged just as Xue Rong wanted to say something, revealing Qi Jinran who came down from the second floor. The handsome man’s face was pale and gloomy, and he held a red sandalwood walking stick in his hand.
Xue Rong hurried into the kitchen.
Wen Yuan was still immersed in the joy of Qi Jinran drinking the soup he made. When he saw the man walking over, his facial features immediately widened, and a big smile appeared on his handsome face.
“Mr. Qi.”
Qi Jinran gave a cold “en”, put down the cane, and sat down on the sofa opposite him.
Wen Yuan touched his hair embarrassedly. Seeing the plump and juicy oranges on the coffee table, he couldn’t help but pick up the tray and bring it to Qi Jinran.
“This navel orange is very sweet. Would you like to try it?”
Seeing him acting as the host, Qi Jinran was inexplicably upset, and raised his deep eyelids.
“I don’t like sweets.”
“Okay.”
Wen Yuan didn’t want to seek failure, and put the tray down. The Qi family is good everywhere, but unfortunately the owner who lives here doesn’t like him. His parents also asked him to get along well with Qi Jinran, but with this attitude, it would be considered good if he wasn’t kicked out.
No one spoke anymore. In the silence, Wen Yuan turned on the TV and jumped to a children’s channel, which was playing SpongeBob SquarePants. Seeing the scene of a deflated Patrick, Wen Yuan couldn’t help laughing. Suddenly, a displeased gaze shot over.
Wen Yuan’s laughter stopped abruptly.
Damn, he almost forgot that this isn’t his home.
Smirking, he flipped to a serious news channel, and sat and watched the news honestly. Midway through, his eyes couldn’t help but float to Qi Jinran’s face.
Although this guy has a poisonous mouth and is a deadly arrogant, his face is also very beautiful. No dead ends across all 360 degrees. From the side, his high nose bridge and long, dense eyelashes are clearly visible, and he can’t help but want to touch one.
All kinds of thoughts ran wildly in his mind. The man who was quietly watching the news seemed to notice something, turned his face suddenly, and looked at him with deep black eyes.
Wen Yuan was caught in the act. Blinking guiltily, Wen Yuan quickly stood up. “I’ll go to the kitchen to see if the meal is ready.”
Dinner was a lonely affair.
In the past, when eating at home, he would share all kinds of interesting things at school with his parents, and the three of them would make jokes. But here, he and Qi Jinran sat across from each other. Qi Jinran didn’t speak, and he didn’t dare to anything apart from burying his head to eat. He didn’t even dare make a loud noise.
When he finally finished eating, he was relieved, and rushed back to his room.
Looking at the cold night outside the window, Wen Yuan finally felt a little uncomfortable.
He wanted to call his parents, but he was afraid that they would think too much, so he finally gave up. Being bored in the room was not a solution, so he decided to go out for a walk.
Because it was raining outside, he could only wander around indoors. He hadn’t explored much of the villa earlier, and if not for Xue Rong’s introduction, he wouldn’t even know that there was a game room and a gym on the third floor. Changing into casual shorts and a t-shirt, he planned to go for a run in the gym. As soon as he stepped in the gym, the phone in his pocket rang.
“Mom?” Wen Yuan didn’t expect his mother to call him.
“Xiao Yuan, are you… used to being in the Qi house?”
Although Ye Xia was very satisfied with Qi Jinran and agreed with this marriage, she could tell from yesterday’s engagement banquet that Qi Jinran was not happy with this marriage, and was a little worried about Xiao Yuan.
Hearing his mother’s voice, Wen Yuan’s nose was a little sour. But he didn’t want Ye Xia to worry, and a smile quickly appeared on his face.
“I’m fine. It’s the same as back home, and it’s bigger than our home.”
“Then… what about Jinran? How does he treat you?” This was what Ye Xia worried about the most.
Wen Yuan laughed. “He’s very kind to me. When I moved in, he even pushed a meeting and helped me pack up. We went out for pasta at night at a lakeside restaurant, and the steak was so delicious I couldn’t even bear to eat it.”
“Really?” Ye Xia couldn’t help laughing at her son’s words. “I really can’t tell, Jinran still likes you.”
“Of course, I’m also a school grass. Making a Qi Jinran bow down under my jeans is only a few minutes worth of work!”
“Heh.”
A mocking chuckle suddenly came from a corner of the fitness room.
Wen Yuan was dumbfounded when he saw Qi Jinran standing up from behind the elliptical machine.