Pei Xi was taken aback.

Although Jiang Cheng wouldn't eat that spoon; it was only used to scoop soup. But if she used it, and then used it again to scoop soup for Jiang Cheng later...

Pei Xi felt something was off.

But then I thought, friends probably don't need to worry about all that...

Pei Xi nodded and said, "Okay, I'll try it."

She picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful of soup, lowered her head and took a sip, her eyes immediately lighting up.

Li Ma's cooking skills are indeed extraordinary; the soup is neither gamey nor greasy, but has a rich aroma that comes from long simmering.

I only added less salt because I was considering Jiang Cheng's injuries, so the taste is a bit bland.

After tasting it, Pei Xi put the spoon aside and said to Jiang Cheng, "If you mind, you don't need the spoon later; you can just pour the soup out." Then, suddenly remembering something, she looked around and said, "Or should I go wash it..."

“It’s okay, I… don’t mind.” Jiang Cheng interrupted her, looking down.

Pei Xi was somewhat surprised. She had assumed that Jiang Cheng was a bit of a clean freak because he kept the house so clean and tidy.

I didn't expect him to be so unpretentious.

Making bone broth is time-consuming and laborious. Pei Xi knew that Jiang Cheng certainly wouldn't make it himself, nor would he go out to buy it. So he said, "The rest is all yours. My task today is to make sure you drink it all."

Jiang Cheng paused, looked at her earnest gaze, nodded and said, "Okay."

Pei Xi was surprised that Jiang Cheng, who looked thin, had a big appetite and actually finished the last bowl of soup.

After finishing his drink, Jiang Cheng stood up, picked up the lunchbox from the coffee table, and said to Pei Xi, "I'll go wash the dishes."

Before Pei Xi could refuse, she took the things and walked to the kitchen sink.

Pei Xi followed directly.

Jiang Cheng put the bowl in the sink, then rolled up his sleeves, turned on the tap, squeezed dish soap onto the dishcloth, lathered it up, and began to slowly scrub along the edge of the lunchbox.

He washed very skillfully; it was obvious he did this kind of work often.

Pei Xi leaned against the kitchen door frame, quietly watching him work.

She glanced around the kitchen; the range hood and gas stove looked very old, especially the gas stove, which was the old-fashioned type that many people no longer use.

Although it's old, it's very clean, clearly indicating that it's cleaned regularly, with no accumulated grease or grime.

Pei Xi asked softly, "Do you usually cook for yourself at home?"

Jiang Cheng, with water running, answered without looking up, "Occasionally, sometimes when I'm busy, I just buy food outside."

Pei Xi nodded and then asked, "How's your cooking?"

Jiang Cheng paused for a moment, seemingly thinking seriously, and after two seconds replied, "I don't know. Only I have tried it; no one else has commented on it."

Upon hearing this, Pei Xi smiled and said, "Then who will be so lucky as to be your first customer?"

Jiang Cheng paused for a moment, then began rinsing the foam off the lunchbox.

Amid the rushing water, he answered softly, "I don't know."

Pei Xi had only asked casually, but upon hearing Jiang Cheng's answer, she smiled and exclaimed, "I really admire people who can cook. Every time I see Li Ma cooking in the kitchen at home, I feel so impressed."

“Unfortunately, ever since I injured myself while cooking porridge when I was a child, Pei Zhi has never let me into the kitchen again.” A helpless smile rose in Pei Xi’s eyes. “He gets angry as soon as I enter the kitchen.”

"Injured?" Jiang Cheng frowned, turned to look at her, and turned off the tap.

Pei Xi rolled up her sleeves and openly showed him the wound, "Look, it's right here, there's still a little trace of it."

Her skin was smooth and fair, but there was indeed a scar on it that was different from her normal skin tone.

Jiang Cheng's eyes darkened.

His brow was furrowed, and his expression wasn't very pleasant.

Looking at his expression, Pei Xi suddenly burst out laughing and said, "I've noticed that you're just like Pei Zhi."

Jiang Cheng was taken aback. "What?"

“Every time I mention this, Pei Zhi’s face turns sour.” Pei Xi circled Jiang Cheng’s face in the air with his hand. “You looked just like him.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng's brow relaxed slightly, but his expression remained somewhat uneasy.

Pei Xi smiled and said, "I'm all better now, it doesn't hurt anymore."

She looked at Jiang Cheng, trying to find a sense of empathy in him, and said with a hint of complaint, "Let me tell you, Pei Zhi is incredibly outrageous. He not only won't let me into the kitchen to cook, but he won't even let me bake a cake."

Jiang Cheng suddenly spoke up: "Pei Zhi is right."

Pei Xi was startled.

She didn't expect Jiang Cheng to speak up for Pei Zhi.

This is truly unprecedented.

Jiang Cheng looked at her and said gently, "Listen to Pei Zhi. If you want to eat it, someone will make it for you."

Pei Xi pursed his lips.

They actually stood on the same side.

She felt that Jiang Cheng and Pei Zhi both treated her like a child.

Pei Xi was about to retort when she suddenly felt a pain in her eye, as if something had fallen in. She instinctively raised her hand to rub it, but Jiang Cheng suddenly said, "Don't rub it, it might be an eyelash that fell in."

"Don't move." He quickly wiped his hands dry with a tissue and walked up to Pei Xi.

Pei Xi obeyed and did not move.

The next second, Jiang Cheng reached out and patted her head.

Then he lowered his head, looked into her eyes, and gently blew a few breaths of air.

The two were so close that Pei Xi forgot to blink for a moment.

She could clearly see the prominent Adam's apple on Jiang Cheng's throat, like a piece of ice, lying under his skin, gently rolling up and down.

He held her head with both hands, bent over, his face so close to hers, the posture was as if he were...

Pei Xi's heart skipped a beat, and she hastily looked away. "Okay...okay, it's probably just dust."

She cleared her throat, only to feel an uncontrollable burning sensation in her ears.

"Well... it's getting late, I have to go."

Pei Xi touched her feverish ears, picked up the washed lunchbox, put it in a lunch bag, and then turned to Jiang Cheng and said, "No need to see me off, you should rest well at home."

After saying that, she waved to him, didn't look at Jiang Cheng again, and quickly walked out.

The moment he turned around, Pei Xi clutched his chest and took a deep breath.

My heart was pounding uncontrollably, as if it were about to jump out of my chest.

My face felt like it was on fire.

In her panic, she didn't see that behind her, Jiang Cheng's ear tips were already bright red.