Xue Fu returned to the educated youth settlement for meals. She had no food rations, although she was given food coupons, but other chores were also assigned to her.

Xue Fu, who was standing outside and had overheard their conversation, froze instantly: ...Damn it.

I'd completely forgotten about cooking.

The next second, Xue Fu tugged at Gu Chong's sleeve, her light amber eyes sparkling.

She spoke with a strong voice: "Coming!"

I still need to mooch this meal!

Gu Chong suddenly broke into a smile.

He always had a cold face, but when he suddenly smiled like that, his features became flamboyant and unrestrained.

His joy was so obvious that the meaning was self-evident.

Xue Fu, on the contrary, felt awkward.

“I’ll come to the educated youth settlement to help you at noon,” he said readily. “Come to my house tonight.”

He arranged it for her directly.

Xue Fu opened her mouth as if to say something, but since his arrangements suited her perfectly, she had nothing to say.

After all, she was overjoyed that someone was helping her with the cooking.

Xue Fu thought that things had come full circle and returned to the starting point.

Perhaps this was the best arrangement all along.

Xue Fu gradually felt at ease.

Praise sprang up like mushrooms after rain—

"Gu Chong, you're so kind!"

Thank you so much!

"Thank goodness you're here!"

"Waaah..."

......

Xue Fu carried the rice bowl into the room.

She couldn't hide what was in her hand at all; it was obvious at a glance that someone had given her something.

Everyone knew perfectly well who had brought her breakfast.

After all, they've been delivering to our door almost every day for the past few months, so they're incredibly familiar with us.

Zheng Peipei and Liu Ling both noticed it and were taken aback.

Because the female educated youths shared a room, their relationship was relatively harmonious. So Zheng Peipei and Liu Ling took the initiative to come over and ask about it.

"You...?" They didn't explain clearly, but a glance from them conveyed what they wanted to ask—and those who knew, knew.

The lunchbox in Xue Fu's hands was warm, so warm that it made her heart feel soft and yielding.

Xue Fu lowered her eyes, somewhat shyly: "I won't have dinner with you tonight, but I'll still do what I'm supposed to do at lunch."

Cheng Pei-pei asked casually, "Are you two dating?"

Xue Fu paused, suddenly at a loss for words, unsure how to explain her current relationship with Gu Chong.

From her own perspective, if Gu Chong were to confess his feelings now, she would be willing to date him.

Although he's a rough guy, he's actually good-looking, sensible, helpful with chores, and his cooking skills are top-notch.

Only a fool wouldn't talk about a rough, tough guy like this who can do anything.

The problem is that Gu Chong should also like her; he's made it very obvious, but he just doesn't talk it out.

Xue Fu even suspected that he might not know that if two people want to confirm their relationship, they need to ask each other directly, rather than simply tacitly agreeing to be together.

Dating isn't something that's conventionally agreed upon!

After all, we can't read minds, so who knows if the other person is the same way?

But then I thought, surely Gu Chong isn't that naive?

Moreover, Xue Fu felt that she had made it quite obvious, so why couldn't he see it?

Are we waiting for her to speak up first?

Under the watchful eyes of Zheng Peipei and Liu Ling, Xue Fu awkwardly touched her nose and shook her head: "Not yet."

"All right."

It's said that bystanders see things more clearly, but even these two women couldn't understand the situation between them.

Xue Fu finished breakfast and went to work. However, in order to get back to cook, she returned to the educated youth settlement half an hour early in the morning.

Xue Fu has now learned how to cook simple meals, such as porridge.

She hasn't completely overcome the challenge of ignition yet.

Gu Chong said he would come to help in the morning. Xue Fu had just reached the fork in the road leading to the educated youth area when she saw Gu Chong standing under a tree waiting for her. He was tall and very conspicuous standing there.

Gu Chong was one of the tallest young men in the village. Xue Fu didn't know his exact height, but she always found him easily in a crowd.

Not knowing how long he had been waiting, Xue Fu jogged over and said, "Gu Chong, you're here."

Gu Chong's eyes softened as he looked down at her and said, "Mm."

As they walked, Xue Fu briefly explained to him the preparations for lunch that day.

"They cooked too much porridge this morning, but we still have enough for lunch. We just need to heat it up a little."

The weather has turned to autumn recently, so unlike in summer when you can just drink cold porridge in the morning, you still need to heat up the rice.

"As for vegetables, we can make a vegetable soup. The vegetables should be picked from the private plot in the back."

"Then just take a handful of kimchi from the kimchi jar and chop it up."

This is what they ate at their educated youth settlement every day. There were many of them, but they earned few work points, so they were quite frugal with their food.

Gu Chong frowned imperceptibly as he listened, but Xue Fu noticed his dissatisfaction.

"Is that all?" He carefully traced her face again, looking intently. "No wonder you've lost weight."

Xue Fu: ...

Her ears turned slightly red.

The supplies at the educated youth settlement were indeed much worse than those at Gujia.

But that's normal.

It's because the Gu family eats too well! Gu Chong is too capable! That's why the contrast seems so stark.

Xue Fu led Gu Chong into the educated youth settlement.

Once inside the kitchen, Xue Fu told him where the things were, and Gu Chong assigned her the task of picking vegetables in the backyard.

Xue Fu, carrying the shopping basket, said, "Okay!"

She went to the backyard, estimated everyone's appetite, and picked four or five handfuls of vegetable leaves.

When she returned, she found that Gu Chong had already done most of the work by himself.

The fire is burning, and the food is getting warm.

He also cut the kimchi he took out of the kimchi jar into even small pieces and stacked them in the bowl.

All that's missing is her basket of vegetables to make soup.

Xue Fu was about to help when he snatched the basket away from her as she was about to fetch water to wash the vegetables.

He even took over washing the vegetables.

Gu Chong glanced at her distractedly, then pointed to a bench on the side: "Go sit down and play for a while, it'll be over soon."

Xue Fu once again experienced the wonderful feeling of being fed.

She really found the right person to align herself with!

Gu Chong was quick and efficient, and he prepared her lunch in less than half an hour.

But he wasn't satisfied. With a slightly serious expression, he said he would bring her a meal separately later, essentially giving her special treatment.

However, Xue Fu refused.

Anyway, we're going to Gu's house for dinner tonight, so one more meal won't make a difference.

This will save Gu Chong from having to make an extra trip.

"It's okay. I can come to your place for a nice meal tonight!"

Gu Chong nodded and said "Mmm," already thinking about what delicious and nourishing food he should make for her that evening.

Xue Fu took a nap at noon, and in the afternoon, while she was wandering around the fishpond inspecting the water, the village's loudspeaker came on.

After the speaker hanging in the tree made a few crackling sounds, the announcer's voice came through.

"Comrade Xue Fu, someone is looking for you. Comrade Xue Fu, an educated youth from Qingtang Village, is looking for you."

"Please come to the broadcasting station if you hear this. Please come to the broadcasting station if you hear this."

The announcer repeated it several times, her voice clear and bright.

Xue Fu, who heard everything clearly, stood by the fishpond, pinching the bridge of her nose and thinking quietly.

Has she gotten herself into trouble again?

Xue Fu felt that she was very law-abiding and had not caused any trouble.

Who would look for her?