The kitchen in Dong Garden is slightly smaller than that of Song Mansion, but compared to a typical household, it is still quite large.
There are plenty of ingredients in the kitchen, all very fresh, clearly prepared and delivered because they knew they were coming to cook.
The previous male servant made a brief appearance at the start, but hasn’t been seen since they entered.
He mentioned a "world of two," initially thought to be a joke, but now it seems it really is... free\we\bnov(e)(l).com
Looking at the vast array of ingredients on the table, Shi Nuan feels a bit at a loss.
"Can you pick these vegetables?" Song Yansheng selected some greens and asked her.
Shi Nuan nodded, "... I can!"
Somewhat embarrassed, yet surprised, Song Yansheng only asked her to pick vegetables, indicating he knew she couldn’t cook... Did Xiao Chuan tell him?
Shi Nuan took a basin and began to pick the greens, looking very earnest.
Song Yansheng stood beside her, glancing at her profile.
Her skin is fair, her features are delicate and exquisite, her long eyelashes brush down as she lowers her eyes, trembling slightly with the movement of her gaze.
Shi Nuan is very beautiful, watching her grow from a little girl into such a graceful young woman over the years, becoming more beautiful and good...
While happy, there’s more worry in his heart...
Because he’s very afraid others will notice her beauty, afraid the girl he’s protected for so many years will ultimately be taken away by someone else.
And indeed, she was taken away by others, once, twice...
But fortunately, after twists and turns, she finally returned to his side...
And he would no longer allow her to leave him again...
A hand reaches out gently, and when his fingertips touch the skin of her cheek, Shi Nuan is startled and looks sideways at the man, slightly confused.
The man’s fingers do not stop, naturally tucking behind her ears a stray strand of hair, asking, "Do you want to tie up your hair?"
Shi Nuan blushed and said, "I think I didn’t bring a hairband..."
"No problem..." The man chuckled softly, reached into his black trousers, and soon, a light blue handkerchief appeared in view.
Shi Nuan looked at the handkerchief, remembering she also had one in her drawer.
It was left behind last time when Song Yansheng helped her wipe off milk...
Lost in thought, the man had already moved behind her, gently lifting her soft hair.
The warmth of his fingers rubbing through the black hair to her scalp made Shi Nuan’s heart suddenly chaotic.
Instinctively wanting to dodge, the man suddenly reached out, embracing her tightly from behind, his warm breath coming from her ear: "Don’t move!"
Shi Nuan blinked, a little at a loss because the man held her so tightly, and this embracing posture was too intimate and... captivating!
This was a posture that should not belong to the two of them...
"Be good, don’t move... I’ll tie your hair up!"
Shi Nuan’s eyes flickered, feeling the man’s hand loosen from around her, followed by the warmth and slight itch from his fingertips fiddling with her hair...
She didn’t move again, fearing Song Yansheng would embrace her from behind once more, fearing that captivating intimate action would reappear...
She stood there quietly, waiting for Song Yansheng to finish tying her hair.
Probably afraid of pulling her hair too hard, his movements were light and gentle, which made her heart more chaotic...
Shi Nuan bit her lip, couldn’t help reminding, "Second Uncle, could you... could you hurry a bit!"
Song Yansheng said: "First time tying a woman’s hair, it’s inevitable I’m not skilled, slow is normal... And, if it doesn’t look good, Nuannuan, please don’t blame me..."
"No..." Shi Nuan quickly said, she really didn’t care about appearance.
Shi Nuan felt his knotting movement, seemingly finished, and felt relieved.
Just about to say "thank you, Second Uncle," Song Yansheng added, "It seems to be a bit crooked..."
Quickly said, "No problem... this is fine for now!"
Shi Nuan lifted her foot, intending to put some distance between her and Song Yansheng, but as her body moved slightly, Song Yansheng suddenly reached out again and embraced her...