Who would come to the house in the early morning of New Year's Day?
Jian Jing was full of doubts as she turned on the video intercom, only to see another cat cake.
She was extremely surprised and opened the door to let the person in. Half a minute later, the elevator arrived on this floor. The masked man crept in holding a fat cat.
"Teacher Jian Jing, happy new year." Jiang BaiYan took off his mask and gave a big smile.
Jian Jing asked: "Aren't you in Beijing?"
"I flew back right after the performance." Jiang BaiYan stroked Knight's head. They were already very familiar with each other and Knight no longer rejected him as much as in the beginning.
"Why didn't you go home?"
"Spending New Year's alone would be too miserable." He made a grimace and looked around the dining table. "Got anything to eat? I'm starving."
Jian Jing turned on the induction cooker again to heat up the pot: "There's still some meat, vegetables left, or do you want instant noodles?"
"We can put everything together and cook hot pot noodles, that's the most delicious." He took off his thick down jacket. Underneath he only wore a long sleeve T-shirt.
As Jian Jing opened the instant noodles, she asked: "Didn't they give out meal boxes for the Spring Festival Gala?"
"They did, but I didn't dare eat too much or my face would get swollen." He rubbed his cheeks. "I was starving. Airplane food tastes terrible."
The pot soon started boiling. She put in the noodle cake and vegetables, cracked an egg in, and finally poured in the remaining beef rolls until thoroughly cooked then turned off the heat.
The aroma was too tempting. Jian Jing who was already full couldn't resist and scooped a small bowl for herself as well.
She changed the channel, dipped some sauce on the noodles: "Did everything go smoothly for the show?"
"Far from it." He gulped down three mouthfuls before replying, "Lots of problems happened. During rehearsal I already said this skit wasn't good and might get cut, but in the end it wasn't and they said the lines needed to be changed on the spot. Right before going on stage, someone dirtied my clothes. I had to borrow a similar jacket at the last minute — didn't you notice? I kept my sleeves rolled up the whole time, they were way too long."
"Sounds chaotic."
"It's always like that backstage." Jiang BaiYan said. "Especially today."
Jian Jing laughed. She picked up Pudding who was scratching the tea table and stroked its chin: "Poor Pudding, it got so thin."
Jiang BaiYan became very vigilant: "Don't give it snacks, oh! It finally lost two jin."
Jian Jing could only kiss Pudding's head.
Pudding let out a tender, sweet "meow meow" that melted one's heart.
Jiang BaiYan slurped down the noodles.
"Isn't it bad to eat so much?" Jian Jing asked.
He yawned a little: "It's fine. Starting today, my only job is to promote Rose Gold. I need to tour a few cities for road shows. March only has two commercials which can be photoshopped, no big problem."
Rose Gold is scheduled to premiere on 2.14, avoiding the chaos of the Lunar New Year slot and aiming for Valentine's Day instead.
The publicity also focused on the suspense romance genre, putting the two elements side by side, so it gained a lot of expectations from novel fans — everyone is looking forward to the movie being sweet.
Jian Jing asked: "Have you seen the final film?"
Jiang BaiYan's face fell: "Director Mei won't let me watch it. Have you seen it?"
"I didn't go watch it." When they had internal screenings for the crew, she was battling wit and courage with Wintry Castle and The Curse.
Jiang BaiYan changed the subject again: "The premiere of Demon Doctor 2 is at midnight today, right?"
Jian Jing nodded. In a flash, it had already been over a year since Shao Meng and Xie Wei passed away.
"Don't worry. At most, the audience will compare the differences between the two versions. Shao Meng did die after all. No one will say anything." Jiang BaiYan pretended not to notice her melancholy and smiled to comfort her, "You don't need to worry at all. If the movie turns out well, it's because you wrote it well. If it turns out bad, it's because Director Huang is no good."
Jian Jing was amused by him: "Be careful or I'll tell Director Huang what you said."
"Eek, you're so nasty." He complained, "I tried so hard to get on the directors' good side!"
"Then why did you say that?"
"You were the one who said it first." He cracked open a can of zero-calorie Coke and chugged a few gulps, letting out a long sigh. "Flattering others together is just acting. Only dissing people behind their backs means you truly think that way."
Jian Jing couldn't help laughing out loud.
"If you sell me out, I won't tell you secrets anymore." Jiang BaiYan spread his arms wide. "Give Pudding back to me. You already have Knight."
Knight: "Whine."
Jian Jing hugged the cat tightly. Knight was strong and heroic, not bad at all. But holding the frail, helpless and pitiful Pudding in her arms still felt better.
It was chubby and soft to the touch.
Jiang BaiYan could only turn around to hug Knight: "We've been abandoned."
Knight let out an extremely human-like sigh.
"Just kidding!" Jian Jing put Pudding on her lap and pet them one in each hand, stroking their heads.
Knight silently laid down.
But Jiang BaiYan dodged her hand, tilting his chin up: "No free pets."
"You've changed!"
"Teacher Jian Jing, that's not how you put it." He said slowly, "In the past, a life-saving grace — anything was fine. But I've helped you now too. Can't say we're even, but touching here and there..."
He shook his head vigorously: "You've got to show your sincerity."
The corner of Jian Jing's mouth twitched. "Are you openly asking for money?"
"A hundred bucks." He used a street vendor's tone. "No work during New Year's, everything must go. Can't afford to lose out. Touch all you want, earning with every touch."
Jian Jing: "..." She stroked Pudding's head, "Tired? Your bed is still there, go get some sleep."
As she spoke, she carried it to the bedroom it used to sleep in. Pudding's favorite mat was still left there. Pudding was tired already. It laid down on the familiar mat and closed its eyes shortly after.
Jiang BaiYan was still bargaining outside: "Ninety eight, jumping price. Just ninety eight."
"Shut it." Jian Jing shouted, "Pudding is sleeping."
She beckoned Knight who followed her over and stroked its head: "Time for you to sleep too. Don't bully Pudding, got it?"
Knight let out a soft bark: "Woof."
"Such a good boy." She led Knight back to its new bed and turned off the big light, leaving them a small nightlight.
Knight held its blanket in its mouth and hugged its dinosaur plushie, then laid down to sleep.
Jian Jing closed the door and asked Jiang BaiYan: "It's almost dawn. When are you going back..."
Her voice stopped abruptly.
In just three minutes that she was gone, Jiang BaiYan had fallen asleep.
He sat on the floor with legs outstretched. His head leaned against the sofa armrest. He probably just meant to close his eyes for a bit, but as soon as his eyelids shut, his consciousness plunged into deep slumber.
Jian Jing squatted down and watched him for a while, realizing he had really fallen into a dead sleep, his breathing becoming steady.
No wonder, these past days must have been tiring to death for him.
She put two cushions behind his head and waist, then covered him with the new fluffy blanket she just bought. After that, she turned off the lights and went back to her room to sleep.
Heping City banned personal fireworks. With the lack of crackling noises, Jian Jing soon fell asleep.
She dreamed of the old world.
Yet on such a big holiday, her parents sat in silence. The TV aired the Spring Festival Gala but neither paid attention. The skits and song and dance numbers were noisy and lively, but the room was extremely bleak.
At ten o'clock, her mother went to bed first. Her father smoked a cigarette and also went to sleep.
The dishes on the table had all turned cold. They were everything she liked to eat.
A loud cracker went off outside. Fireworks shot into the sky, dispersing into colorful specks of light.
Then she woke up.
At daybreak, a ray of light leaked in through the heavy curtains. She pressed the switch. The automated curtains slowly drew open. Outside was a stretch of white.
Jian Jing couldn't help letting out a soft sigh.
She stared blankly for no reason for a while. Then she got up sluggishly to wash her face and brush her teeth.
Aroma wafted in from outside. As she applied facial cream, she combed her hair while walking out.
The messy tea table from last night had already been cleaned spotless. Pots and pans were all stuffed into the dishwasher. The cats and dogs had fresh food and water bowls. All the plants on the balcony had been watered and loosened as well.
The winter sun shone gently into the glass windows. The gleaming floor was pristine. The robot diligently roamed around the corner.
"Good morning." Jiang BaiYan took waffles out of the breakfast machine, squeezed fruit sauce, plated, sliced an apple, emptied the fried eggs and bacon from the pan, then brewed a cup of hot coffee.
He brought breakfast to the dining table and put his hands together apologetically: "Sorry for falling asleep last night. Please forgive me."
"It's fine. You were exhausted." Jian Jing didn't blame him at all. The intense rehearsals before the Spring Festival Gala must have been extremely stressful. Being busy for a whole day plus the plane ride, even an iron man wouldn't be able to take it. "Go home early and get some rest."
Jiang BaiYan answered obediently: "I'll leave after Pudding finishes pooping."
Jian Jing picked up the waffle, soft and sweet, and couldn't help but say: "I've only used this once since I bought it, but it turned out terribly inedible."
Jiang BaiYan: "More practice is all it takes."
"So difficult," Jian Jing complained. "I don't seem to have any talent for cooking."
Jiang BaiYan scratched his cheek.
"Meow Meow~" Pudding crawled out from the bathroom, calling for his owner to scoop the litter.
"Coming!" Jiang BaiYan hurried to clean up, stuffed the kitten into his bag after he was done, and bid Jian Jing goodbye. "I'll head back first then. Shall we meet on Valentine's Day?"
The premiere of Rose Gold was certainly one to attend. Jian Jing nodded: "Thanks for the breakfast."
Jiang BaiYan's eyes crinkled happily as he took his leave.
Jian Jing continued eating. The fried egg was perfectly shaped, the bacon cooked through without being tough. She then looked at the latte's foam, also more evenly textured than ones she usually made herself.
She felt sour. It's so nice to know how to cook.
[System: Limited Draw Pool now open. Draw?]
Jian Jing: "Cough cough cough." She choked.
A limited draw pool now? What could possibly be drawn?
Draw. She dabbed the coffee foam from the corners of her lips.
[Limited Card Draw in Progress]
[Draw Complete]
[Name: Limited Card - Death's Delicacy]
[Description: Delicacies have nothing to do with death, but let's make an exception. For every case you crack, you will gain the ability to cook a delicious dish of your choice, no limits on cuisine.]
[Note: Become a gourmet detective!]
Jian Jing: "???"
It can be like this? It's actually possible?
This card's not bad.
What a pity it's the festive season... No no, what she meant was, she hoped that during the festive season, no cases would occur.
Otherwise, a certain someone would have to work overtime today, and her dinner would go down the drain.
After breakfast, Jian Jing walked her dog and had a simple pizza for lunch. The afternoon was leisure time. She went to catch a movie and by the time it ended around four, she brought her dog to the Ji family residence for dinner.
Ji Yunyun opened the door.
"Teacher Jian, come in quick!" She was extremely delighted, taking out a new pair of rabbit slippers. "Just got these!"
She also took out wet wipes, sweetly asking: "Is this Knight? Come, let me wipe your little feet clean, okay?"
Knight looked to Jian Jing. She tilted her chin and he reluctantly lifted each paw to let Ji Yunyun wipe the dirt from his paws.
Compared to her brother, Ji Yunyun was undoubtedly the more suitable owner.
She was well-prepared, taking out drinks and snacks to entertain her guest: "Teacher Jian, want an orange? My dad's friend sent over a huge box. I can't finish them all."
Even as she asked, she nimbly opened the box and took out two plump citrus fruits, yelling as she did: "Hey, you want any?"
Ji Feng poked his head out from the kitchen, rolling his eyes. "Mind your manners, who're you yelling for?"
"Whoever answers," Ji Yunyun stuck out her tongue, unafraid of him.
