Chapter 103 Couple Outfits

The more I look at it, the more it resembles the clothes of a big shot!

Bai Lu was dumbfounded, unwilling to believe that she would make such a basic and utterly naive mistake.

I was about to take it off and check it carefully.

Suddenly, a large hand grabbed my wrist, turned me around, and stuffed me back into my coat pocket.

Bai Lu looked up blankly, saw Xiao Cheng's slightly gloomy face, and decisively admitted her mistake: "I didn't mean to, I was in too much of a hurry to leave this morning and didn't see clearly..."

"Keep it on." He wouldn't let me take it off.

Bai Lu: "..."

If I remember correctly, Xiao Cheng only has two coats, both black, and exactly the same style and size.

He is now wearing a black overcoat.

She is now also wearing a black coat.

In later generations, this situation is generally referred to as...brotherly attire!

Yes, that's right, a good buddy outfit!

Bai Lu felt at ease and stopped taking her clothes off. Her hands, which were pressed into her pocket, stopped struggling.

As long as I'm not embarrassed, it's others who are embarrassed.

What's awkward is the gossipy look from the market vendors and the teasing glances from the neighbors passing by, not her.

Xiao Cheng saw Bai Lu's cheeks flush for a second before returning to normal, raised an eyebrow slightly, and casually withdrew his hand.

The lingering warmth emanates from the palm, extending from the main veins all the way to the cool fingertips, gently caressing the fingers.

Xiao Wei was surprised to discover another major event.

The older brother's expression wasn't as irritable as it had been when he told him to go to school this morning.

He walks very slowly now; his normal pace is enough to keep up, unlike before when he couldn't catch up even when running at full speed.

It's like the sun has risen in the west.

As soon as she got home, Bai Lu went to the closet to rummage through her clothes. Sure enough, her short black jacket had been shaken to the side by Xiao Cheng last night.

Above the wardrobe, there used to be her and Xiao Cheng's clothes, thick coats and jackets of different lengths.

Xiao Cheng only had two black coats and one black jacket; the rest of his clothes were hers.

She had few coats; only a thin black cotton coat and a short camel-colored overcoat.

Last night, they were all put back into the cloth bag, but Xiao Cheng shook them back into the wardrobe and didn't have time to hang them up again.

I accidentally grabbed the wrong clothes while changing this morning.

Bai Lu quickly changed back into her own clothes, hung Xiao Cheng's coat back up, and tidied up the rest of her clothes.

Upon arriving in the kitchen, Xiao Wei was already sitting in front of the stove, cooking rice, while another stove was also burning.

Xiao Cheng is cooking.

Having been here for so long, this was the first time Bai Lu had seen Xiao Cheng cook; the last time was for breakfast.

He only cooks noodles, fryes eggs, and makes porridge for breakfast; he does nothing else.

In my memory, Xiao Cheng rarely cooked. He usually ate something casually outside and when he got home, he would just make fried rice.

Bai Lu had some doubts; perhaps Xiao Cheng's cooking was inedible, which was why he didn't cook.

Did he suddenly decide to cook today because he wanted her to try it, and what would happen if he deceived her?

For the sake of her own life, Bai Lu felt it was better to keep the reins of life and death in her own hands.

"I'll cook it."

"Need not."

Xiao Cheng continued to stir-fry the vegetables slowly and steadily, holding the spatula in his hand, ignoring the small, fair hand that was stretched out in front of him.

Bai Lu wanted it, but he wouldn't give it to her.

Bai Lu wanted to stir-fry chili peppers, but he wouldn't give them to her.

Bai Lu wanted to cook for herself, but he wouldn't let her.

Bai Lu turned and left angrily. Xiao Wei, who was tending the fire in front of the stove, watched the whole thing and was dumbfounded.

This is the first time I've seen my older brother refuse Bai Lu's request so many times, and the first time I've seen him cook.

The first time I saw it, my older brother prepared a table full of delicious dishes, which stunned Bailu, who was still fuming.

Braised pork trotters, steamed fish, stir-fried broccoli and carrots with meat, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, stir-fried spinach...

None of them contain chili peppers, yet they are all delicious and visually appealing. The taste is comparable to that of traditional Chinese gourmets and chefs specializing in state banquet cuisine, and at least far surpasses that of restaurant chefs.

Bai Lu was not only stunned, but also stuffed.

Xiao Wei felt the same way. He had originally thought that since it was his older brother's first time cooking, he would finish the food even if it was bad.

Unexpectedly, it was so delicious that I couldn't stop eating it!

My brother's cooking is so delicious, why didn't he cook before? Why did he only cook today?

Xiao Wei was filled with doubts, but they all disappeared into his two bowls of rice, a testament to the "Clean Plate Campaign".

After a satisfying meal, in a good mood, it's time to discuss business during the White Dew season.

When I returned to my room, I saw Xiao Cheng sitting at the table by the window, his left hand supporting his chin, a cigarette twirling between his nimble fingers in his right hand, his eyes fixed on the outside, lost in thought.

Bai Lu quietly moved a wooden chair over, sat down next to him, and gently tugged at his sleeve.

She spoke softly, "Can we talk?"

The irritation that had been settling in Xiao Cheng's eyes surged up again, and the cigarette that had been twirling between his fingers fell onto the table.

He picked it up and snapped it in two: "Speak."

Bai Lu's eyes twitched slightly. She spoke in a clear voice, having already rehearsed the words countless times in her mind: "Do you agree to pay off the debt by making roasted chestnuts, or do you agree to let me stay here and earn 30,000 yuan before paying you back?"

"Anything is fine."

Xiao Cheng spoke concisely and casually, his expression unchanged, showing no sign of concern whatsoever.

Bai Lu couldn't quite figure out what he was thinking, and could only deduce the conclusion based on his behavior of roasting chestnuts in the morning.

"Does this mean you agree to let me stay here?"

"Um."

"Can I rent all kinds of kitchen utensils... like the electric chestnut roaster and the chestnuts from the woodshed?"

"Um."

Xiao Cheng said a single word casually.

This gradually eased Bai Lu's tension.

Her tone became more relaxed: "You roasted those chestnuts this morning, so you should get paid for them. But since you agreed to the second option, I should make the sugar-roasted chestnuts, sell them, and pay you back when I make a profit."

"It's true that you roasted chestnuts for me this morning. What do you think is the best way to pay for it?"

"Anything is fine."

Xiao Cheng clearly didn't want to discuss this topic anymore, his tone became increasingly perfunctory, and impatience was evident between his brows.

The cigarette that had just been snapped in two broke into four pieces, then six, and was finally crushed by long, strong fingertips.

The dark brown tobacco shreds scattered on the table, like his increasingly agitated expression, could not be hidden.

Bai Lu didn't want to bother him, but since things had already been laid out, everything had to be calculated clearly to avoid future trouble.

After all, she and Xiao Cheng weren't legally married and weren't considered husband and wife, so they would eventually have to separate.

She has to calculate every single penny; she doesn't like being wishy-washy or owing favors.

When doing things, one must be decisive and efficient; when it's time to make a decision, one must do so.

Bai Lu pondered for a moment, thought of a method, and was about to speak when she looked up and met a pair of deep eyes.

Xiao Cheng was looking at her, his eyes unfathomable, his agitation seemingly paused, and he didn't know how long he had been looking at her.

He met her gaze and didn't look away.

Instead, he spoke first: "You're not available these days, so I'll roast chestnuts and you can cook."

Equality and mutual assistance are very reasonable explanations and suggestions.

Bai Lu thought this method was more feasible than the one she had just thought of, nodded in agreement, and then asked, "I'll be eating and staying here with you. How much is the rent per month?"

(End of this chapter)