In the kitchen, Lou Xi stood by and watched as Feng Qingci swiftly chopped vegetables.
"Do you need any help?"
All Feng Qingci had prepared the food and was about to start cooking.
"No need, how did you get in here?"
"It was me who brought you home for dinner, not to cook."
Holding the spatula in his hand, Feng Qingci said, "I just wanted to show off in front of your parents."
"…Actually, you don't have to do this. You just need to be yourself as you usually are."
"It's just cooking- it's no big deal."
"Then I'll keep you company here."
The aroma from the kitchen wafted to the living room. Xu Yunxin, drawn by it, walked towards the kitchen.
When she arrived at the kitchen door, she saw that Feng Qingci was busily cooking, while Lou Xi had already started to taste the food with a pair of chopsticks.
Xu Yunxin, who was going to enter, stopped in her tracks.
She decided to let the two of them in the kitchen alone. Seeing Feng Qingci's expert moves like a chief chef, she would mainly focus on eating today.
After the meal was served, everyone gathered for dinner.
A large table full of flavorful dishes made everyone praise Feng Qingci endlessly.
Especially Xu Yunxin, she was completely conquered by Feng Qingci's cooking skills and ate an extra bowl of rice at dinner.
Before leaving, Xu Yunxin gave Feng Qingci a big red envelope and specifically instructed the driver to drop him off.
After everyone left, Xu Yunxin looked at Lou Yangze, "Why do you seem so out of sorts today?"
He was usually far more lively than this.
"I just wanted to maintain my aloof character," Lou Yangze said.
Xu Yunxin rolled her eyes, "Still maintaining your aloof character. If it weren’t for me, would you be asking him for his mother's autograph?”
“How could that be, that's a thing of the past."
Although he had such a plan, it seemed unnecessary now.
As long as they were happy, they would become in-laws in the future. Asking for an autograph would be a piece of cake.
"Do you think I don't know what you're up to?" She huffed, amused by his childishness in idolizing someone.
"All I think is that the kid is sincere, and he matches well with Xi Xi," Lou Yangze explained with a serious face.
"We shouldn't interfere in their matters, it's up to them. Whether they can be together depends on themselves."
Xu Yunxin nodded, "That's what I think too, let's see how fate plays out!"
…
Jiang City, Feng Family residence.
After Feng Qingci left, Feng Qingyi was alone at home.
The sky outside had already darkened, and the lights on the street were on before six.
Feng Qingyi stood on the balcony, blowing in the wind, absent-mindedly looking at a small shop not far away decorated with little lanterns.
It was the Lantern Festival, but she was alone. She didn’t even feel like going out to see the lanterns.
"Why are you outside in the wind again?"
A familiar voice came from behind her, and then she felt a thick fur cloak draped over her shoulders.
Turning around, she saw Qin Yuchuan.
"Why did you find time to come today?"
Qin Yuchuan stood beside her, "Today is the Lantern Festival, I came to accompany you."
"Oh, have you been well these days?" Feng Qingyi asked, looking at Qin Yuchuan.
Qin Yuchuan: "The weather is severe, and we've had to slow our march, but I'm alright, so there's no need for you, Feng Qingyi, to worry."
"Have you eaten?" asked Feng Qingyi.
Qin Yuchuan shook his head, "Not yet."
"I haven't either. I bought some tangyuan (rice balls). I'll go cook now."
Feng Qingyi tried to lay her fox fur coat on Qin Yuchuan, but struggled due to height difference.
Seeing this, Qin Yuchuan gently stooped down a bit.
"I just came out for a breather. You don’t have to, go in and warm yourself. I'll cook the tangyuan."
With Feng Qingyi moving into the living room, Qin Yuchuan was nudged to sit on the sofa.
Smiling faintly as he watched her back retreating towards the kitchen, Qin Yuchuan couldn't help but feel a tender affection.
Cooking tangyuan is simple, once Feng Qingyi had everything simmering in the pot, she returned to the living room.
Pulling her close to sit by him, Qin Yuchuan was tempted by the closeness of the girl.
Feeling this intense gaze, Feng Qingyi shifted slightly to the side.
However, she didn't shift far as he gently held her around her waist.
"What do you want?"
"Could you tell me what you've been doing these days?"
She’d reduced the amount of messages she sent him, maybe she didn't want to disturb him considering how busy he was.
But that wasn't what he wanted, as he yearned to know everything about her.
"I didn't do much, I went to classes and occasionally went out, there was nothing else."
Qin Yuchuan held Feng Qingyi's hand, causing her to gasp softly.
"What's wrong?"
Pulling her hand back, Feng Qingyi insisted, "It's nothing."
Seeing small wounds on Feng Qingyi's withdrawn hand, Qin Yuchuan firmly asked, "What happened?"
"It's nothing serious, I just pricked my hand while learning embroidery. It will heal in a few days."
Though Feng Qingyi didn't think it was a big deal, she felt a bit guilty seeing Qin Yuchuan's grave expression.
Despite not having done anything wrong, she felt a sense of unease.
"Did you apply any medicine?"
Nodding, Feng Qingyi affirmed, "Yes, I did. It will heal quickly."
"Why did you suddenly want to learn embroidery?" asked Qin Yuchuan.
Being honest, Feng Qingyi replied, "I just wanted to learn something new. I thought it would be fun, didn’t realize I lack talent for it."
"But I don’t want to quit halfway. Since I started learning, I want to complete it."
Qin Yuchuan paused the words that were on the tip of his tongue, asking her to quit learning.
Such tenacity was a trait he wasn't sure was good or bad, but he adored it.
Although talent is important, peak performance can also be achieved through sheer determination and hard work.
"Does it hurt?"
Feng Qingyi nodded and then shook her head, "At first it hurt a lot, but it doesn't anymore."
Holding her hand tightly, Qin Yuchuan asked, “Are you sure it doesn’t hurt?”
"You're holding so tightly, of course, it hurts!" huffed Feng Qingyi.
"Be careful in the future, try not to hurt yourself."
Feng Qingyi mutters quietly, "It's not like I want to be pricked."
"What did you say?" asks Qin Yuchuan.
Feng Qingyi: "I didn't say anything. The sweet soup balls should be ready now, I'll go and serve them, and you go wait for me in the dining room."
"Alright."
The steaming hot rice wine sweet soup balls are very appetizing just by looking at them.
After placing the served sweet soup balls on the dining table, the two sit facing each other.
"You eat! It is a bit sweet, if you don't like it, I will take you out later to eat something delicious." says Feng Qingyi.
Qin Yuchuan: "No need, I quite like it."
