Chapter 45
"He really likes kids, but we won't have kids if we're together," Lin Jiayu always looked vacant.
"I didn't expect him to be with Yuzhu either," Ding Sha said.
"Actually, I have a lot I want to ask, but I thought about it all night last night - there's no point in asking anymore. Let's just let it go," Ding Sha said before leaving.
Even after Lin Jiayu left, Xiao Jun felt more indignant than Ding Sha herself.
Lying in bed that night, tossing and turning, Xiao Jun asked her, "What's wrong?"
"I just feel uncomfortable," Ding Sha said. "I didn't expect Editor Hu, who looks so gentle, would do something like this."
"Nothing surprising," Xiao Jun put his arm around her. "People are complicated, you can't figure them out so easily."
"Are you saying I'm stupid?" Ding Sha looked up at Xiao Jun meaningfully.
"No, I didn't," Xiao Jun quickly waved his hands. "I mean you're cute."
"Really?" Ding Sha didn't believe him at all.
"Really," Xiao Jun swore.
Lying on his shoulder, Ding Sha said, "I'm saying...if you..."
"I won't," Xiao Jun said decisively.
"You know what I was going to say, you just say you won't..." Ding Sha wanted to look up again but Xiao Jun pressed her back down.
"I know," Xiao Jun said. "I won't cheat."
Ding Sha didn't say anything.
"Don't believe me?" Xiao Jun nudged her to face him.
"Look at me."
"Look at what?" Ding Sha didn't understand.
"Look into my eyes."
After looking into Xiao Jun's eyes for a few seconds, Ding Sha blushed.
"Wha...What the..."
Xiao Jun laughed softly.
"Can't you see?" he said. "I have intentions towards you. My eyes aren't innocent towards you."
Ding Sha's heart raced.
Xiao Jun turned to hold her. "My body desires you, and only desires you."
"From my mind to my heart to my body, I'm filled with your brand."
"I belong to you. You have ownership over me."
With considerable heat pressed against Ding Sha, she couldn't help moving even closer.
After a while when Xiao Jun tried to let go, Ding Sha took the initiative to press against him.
"Sand?"
Xiao Jun was a little caught off guard.
"Ping'an slept with Sister Gong today," was all Ding Sha said.
Xiao Jun leaned in to kiss her.
It seemed to be raining outside, with the patter of raindrops. The newly bloomed flowers were nourished by the rain, faint tender voices drifted away, muffled by the breeze and rain.
The next day was sunny again.
The sun shone on the flowers by the bed and the red marks pressed on the sleeping Ding Sha's face.
Xiao Jun felt refreshed exercising vigorously in the yard while Little Ping An cried for his mom but was stopped by Xiao Jun.
"Puff..." Little Ping An got back at his dad by peeing on him.
But Xiao Jun wasn't bothered. In a good mood, he happily took Ping An to change clothes.
It was almost noon and Ding Sha still wasn't awake yet when the shop opened for business.
A small sign hung at the entrance.
"Today's Specials - All Kinds of Noodles"
The reason being Xiao Jun made too many noodles that morning, piled high and looked intimidating.
Fei walked in with his new livestream equipment, "Sis, how come there are only noodles today?"
To give Xiao Jun's face, Sister Gong said, "The boss is in a good mood I guess."
But what does the boss being happy have anything to do with only making noodles?
Fei was puzzled.
"Then I'll have an authentic Anhui beef noodle soup," he said.
After Sister Gong left, the livestream chat laughed out loud.
"Is it the kind of authentic Anhui noodle soup that only exists in Hebei?"
"I'm from Anhui and have never eaten this hhhhh..."
"So cocky! Only selling noodles!"
Fei also laughed. "Yes, it's the authentic Anhui noodle soup that only exists in Hebei. I had it once when I visited relatives, it was so tasty!"
He started describing in vivid detail what the noodle soup he ate looked and tasted like, making everyone in chat drool.
"Alright! This person from Hebei is going downstairs to find Anhui noodles!"
"Is it really that delicious? I'm hungry now! I also want to go to Hebei to eat!"
Hearing someone order noodles, Xiao Jun also laughed. He pulled out a lump of dough.
Wang Wenhao voluntarily went to the side to stretch the noodles.
Xiao Jun turned on low heat, fried chopped onions in oil, also ginger, garlic, peppercorns and other spices, scooping them out when done before frying the soaked dried chilies.
Then he added the prepared beef, salt, broad bean paste for more frying. He also added a bit of hot pot soup base, stir frying them together.
Pouring hot water in, he added light and dark soy sauce, chicken essence, oyster sauce and brown sugar, also adding cassia bark and fragrant leaves.
After boiling, he added the prepared bean skins and eggs, boiling on high heat before turning to low heat for continued simmering.
The beef Xiao Jun used was braised beforehand so the flavor would come out faster. Using raw meat would require braising for a whole day to achieve the right taste.
When Wang Wenhao finished rolling the noodles, he stir fried some greens before putting them in the bowl and adding the piping hot soup on top.
A bowl of authentic Anhui beef noodle soup that can't be found in Anhui was ready.
Fei first carefully captured every detail for his online audience, making sure people were drooling before lifting up a big mouthful for his own enjoyment.
"Oh oh!" Fei made strange noises. "Boss! What other surprises do I not know about!"
The chat knew that these noodles must be super tasty.
"Chewy and full of flavor, both aroma and spiciness!" As Fei relished it, he ordered a bottle of ice cold cola. "Those who can't handle spicy food might suffer..."
Chat ruthlessly mocked Fei's beet red face and lips.
Fei was extremely satisfied with this meal.
After the initial excitement, he slowly showcased the environment of the restaurant to his audience.
"The menu, the paper's dyed by the boss wife herself, and the words written by her too, pretty right?"
"Lots of furnishings here were handmade, great aesthetic sense right?"
"They choose the decor themselves too. Impressive huh?"
Hearing his proud tone, the chat found it very funny.
"Fei, you're speaking as if it were your own family..."
"Come clean Fei, what's your relation to the boss?"
"Oh by the way, where's the boss? Show me his face, a bad blind date left me feeling awful today..."
The boss wasn't around, but the boss wife was!
Ding Sha walked out slowly, holding her waist.
Messy dark hair, flushed cheeks, and bright eyes, an unconsciously alluring charm.
Seeing Ding Sha's liquid eyes brimming with affection, Fei inexplicably felt rather shy, reflexively turning the camera away.
"Wahhh I'm healed! Beautiful lady I volunteer!!!"
"This feels...racy..."
"I see...the implications..."
"Let's not discuss further...or we'll get blocked again..."
Seeing Ding Sha, Xiao Jun also came out. "Sand? Hungry?"
Fei watched silently as Xiao Jun brought a stool, poured water, massaged her waist and shoulders. He couldn't help sighing.
"Whipped..."
"Don't get it huh bro," Wang Wenhao suddenly popped up out of nowhere. "Know what this is called?"
Fei shook his head.
"It's called enjoying the sweetness after the deed."