Cheng Xining sat through a long train journey, only to arrive here and stay busy. Eventually feeling tired, she quieted down, leaned on the sofa, and watched TV with Shen Mianmian.
After watching for a while, she found it boring and directed Shen Mianmian to change the channel. Shen Mianmian didn’t get angry and helped her switch through several.
Before long, the meal in the kitchen was ready. With the addition of one more person and the New Year occasion, He Nan had made three dishes and a soup, well-balanced between meat and vegetables. The aroma of the food wafted through the house, making Shen Mianmian’s stomach growl loudly.
Cheng Xining was also hungry since she had only eaten before boarding the train. After boarding, the odd smells on the train made her lose her appetite. Now seeing the delicious food He Nan had cooked, she was so excited she almost jumped up.
The three of them sat down to eat, and Cheng Xining picked up her chopsticks and started eating. Despite her hunger, she ate very delicately, without any sign of wolfing down her food, due to her upbringing.
"Brother Nan, your cooking is really delicious. This is the first time I’ve eaten food cooked by you," she said, then added while blushing and biting her chopstick, "I wish I could eat all the time."
The implication wasn’t much different from a confession.
Shen Mianmian pretended to not understand anything and sneakily glanced at He Nan, catching her eye with his. Her heart guilty, she quickly lowered her head and concentrated on her meal.
Brother He didn’t like others gossiping, especially when he was the male protagonist at hand.
Had she committed a big taboo?
While Shen Mianmian was wildly guessing, He Nan said sternly, "If you don’t want to spend New Year’s Eve at a hotel, then keep your mouth shut tight."
Clearly, this was intended for Cheng Xining.
"Hmph..." Cheng Xining pouted unhappily but didn’t make another sound.
The meal went relatively harmoniously. After they had finished eating, He Nan called Shen Mianmian into the study with the excuse of teaching her English.
Cheng Xining was tasked with washing the dishes and cleaning the dining table. Although reluctant, she diligently did so to demonstrate her domestic virtues in front of He Nan.
For Cheng Xining, who had never done such chores, this was undoubtedly a major project. She had barely begun when she broke a dish.
Hearing the crashing noises from outside, Shen Mianmian worried there wouldn’t be any bowls left for dinner. "Brother He, maybe I should go out and help!"
A girl like Cheng Xining would probably marry into a wealthy family even if she didn’t marry Brother He, so these chores were things she needn’t ever deal with in her lifetime. Today’s exertion might just be the hardest work she’d ever do.
Of course, for ninety percent of people, such tasks aren’t considered hard at all and have nothing to do with true hardship. However, comparisons between people are futile.
Some people are born with a golden spoon in their mouths.
"No need," He Nan said firmly: "Let her learn her lesson, instead of running around everywhere."
After saying that, he continued to teach her English, apparently with no intention of helping Cheng Xining.
Since Brother He spoke thus, Shen Mianmian felt it wouldn’t be right to say anything. Besides, she had noticed that Cheng Xining was eager to show off in front of Brother He and was doing these tasks willingly.
Thinking this way, Shen Mianmian felt clearer and focused entirely on her studies. The two of them stayed in the study until 5:30 PM without even a trip to the bathroom. The source of thɪs content is 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝓷𝓮𝓽
In the living room, Cheng Xining was nearly going crazy with waiting. She occasionally made noise in the hall and even eavesdropped at the door, but she didn’t dare to knock and enter.