Steamed or boiled

As soon as a less-than-pleasant memory surfaced, Chu Yiqi said, "It really doesn't taste good."

"Fine, I'll just put it aside then."

Yu Nianxi asked jokingly, "Why didn't you ask me?"

"Didn't you say you weren't going to eat?"

"That's utter nonsense."

Xi Ai didn't want to pick it up again, so she simply said, "Fine, you can have it."

“But,” Yu Nianxi blinked and said, “can’t I have the ones you bake?”

Xi Ai was also puzzled: "Why do you have that?"

"Hopefully, we will have them all."

After Yu Nianxi finished speaking, she began to anticipate Xi Ai's lines: "She has some necessary connection with you."

Great sugar.

But Xi Ai said, "She didn't get to eat it last time either."

"Why?"

"I can't eat anymore."

Chu Yiqi chuckled, walked up to the camera, and said in a very low voice, "Actually, it was Xi Ai's barbecue skills that were so bad that she burned it."

The little bit stuck on it was all burnt anyway, so let's skip the intermediate steps and save Xi Ai some face.

It's not exactly a lie.

Xi Ai turned around upon hearing the sound: "I heard it!"

"What does this have to do with me!"

"You're slandering me, spouting nonsense in broad daylight..."

Chu Yiqi shook his head and covered his ears: "I won't listen, I won't listen. You're just a bastard chanting sutras. I won't listen, you're a bastard."

"This can't be broadcast, right?" Yu Nianxi whispered to the camerawoman.

The camerawoman spoke very softly, but because we were so close, we could still hear her: "It should be fine."

Xi Ai followed suit and covered her ears as well: "I can't hear you, I can't hear you, my ears are recharging."

-

"Is it fully charged?"

The old Xi Ai appeared before him, kneeling on the sofa, her hand covering Chu Yiqi's hand.

"Now that it's fully charged, can I speak?" Xi Ai smiled, picked up the bowl of bayberry soup, scooped out a spoonful, and handed it to Chu Yiqi.

"I won't drink it."

"Oh really?"

Chu Yiqi: "Actually, it was boiled, wasn't it?"

Xi Ai nodded, put down the porcelain bowl, and said, "Didn't we hear that?"

"No, it's leaking electricity again, and I can't hear anything."

"OK--"

Xi Ai stepped aside, took a sip of the bayberry soup, and then bent down.

It was a bayberry-flavored kiss, but because it was mixed with ice, it was cold.

-

Chu Yiqi looked at Xi Ai and finally remembered why the sentence sounded so familiar—it was clearly Xi Ai copying his own lines.

"Don't imitate my speech."

"oh."

When Meng Yike returned, the five of them had just moved their stools and sat down. Yu Nianxi looked at Xi Ai and Chu Yiqi, who had inexplicably separated and were now sitting apart, and turned back to give Meng Yike a wink.

Meng Yike glanced around and saw that only Yu Nianxi was looking at her, so she asked with her eyes, "Did you two have a fight?"

"No."

Meng Yike shook her head and had no choice but to sit between Xi Ai and Chu Yiqi. Then, taking advantage of the fact that there was no recording, she secretly typed.

[Sleepyhead: What? We've been so comfortable with each other during the day, and suddenly you realized something?]

[West Coast: Yeah, they seemed pretty natural this afternoon, though not overly affectionate.]

[Sleepy cat: shrugs.jpg]

Well, even a little contact is good.

At first glance, it looks like a split personality.

Xi Ai was on the balcony with her laptop, replying to messages while wearing headphones, and casually putting her phone down to open a soda can.

This is like a warning that she's going to stay up all night.

The slightly tipsy green grape flavor is the perfect accompaniment to working overtime; it's a must-have.

Chu Yiqi glanced in his direction, a strange emotion flashing in her eyes for a moment.

Bad habits are easily contagious, especially among people with close relationships.

For a time, Chu Yiqi's workload was quite heavy. So, when she looked out at the night view of F country through the floor-to-ceiling window late at night, she suddenly remembered that there was someone who always liked to sit in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, making work calls or busy with things she was not familiar with, and occasionally taking a sip of her drink.

The flavor is consistent; Xi Ai only drinks the green grape flavor.

So Chu Yiqi would occasionally sit to the side and casually take a sip, but she herself didn't like drinking. It was only when she was inspired to write songs that she would pick up some bad habits from Xi Ai.

Xi Ai looked up at her from among the pile of black and white clothes. Chu Yiqi's clothes always had a strange magic that made people feel much warmer.

She said, "Instead of learning the good things, I have to sip some wine to perk myself up."

Her tone was indifferent, clearly indicating that she didn't really intend to discuss this matter with Chu Yiqi.

Chu Yiqi, wearing only one earphone, said to Xi Ai without looking up, "A little drink is good for the soul."

"Oh my, even Teacher Chu, who hates alcohol and coffee, is having a drink." Xi Ai chuckled as she sent a file.

Chu Yiqi finally looked up from the music, leaned over and kissed Xi Ai's lips, which faintly smelled of alcohol.

It has a green grape and jasmine scent.

Later, as Chu Yiqi looked at the country that Xi Ai had spent her childhood in, a place she wasn't very familiar with, she suddenly got up and went downstairs to buy a bottle of wine.

They didn't have the "slightly tipsy" wine here, so Chu Yiqi stood in front of the shelf for a long time before finally spotting a bottle of wine with a green grape flavor.

That day, Chu Yiqi fell asleep by the window, hugging the pillow she had brought from China, with a thin blanket draped over her. In a very traditional way, half-asleep, she pulled the blanket up to cover her stomach.

The pillow smelled just like Chu Yiqi's, but it was originally given to her by Xi Ai.

The two of them, wearing masks and hats, spent over half an hour battling it out at a claw machine in a shopping mall late at night. Finally, Xi Ai won the prize and handed it to Chu Yiqi amidst his applause. Chu Yiqi then heard Xi Ai say, "Happy birthday."

This was also the last sentence Chu Yiqi heard before falling asleep, from her own memory.

Chu Yiqi blinked, forcing himself not to stare at Xi Ai's hands anymore.

She couldn't actually remember what the wine she bought later tasted like, but it was different from this one.

Very different.

It's a bit too bitter.

Shi Yunshan happened to come in with a bunch of flowers and didn't miss Chu Yiqi's expression at all. She then looked at Xi Ai and asked naturally and loudly, "Little President Xi, you're not going to stay up late tonight, are you?"

Shi Yunshan was certain that Chu Yiqi had heard that sentence, and the subsequent music was no longer important.

Xi Ai didn't look up and said, "Don't laugh, there's a video call tonight to discuss a collaboration with your family."

The implication is: If you provoke me again, I will report you.

Shi Yunshan pursed her lips and went to pick out a vase with Nie Chuiying.

You don't appreciate kindness. We've been too soft-hearted every time, so I'm giving you a bad review!

Chu Yiqi paused at the door, then turned around and took out a box of sliced ​​watermelon from the refrigerator.

Xi Ai seemed to be on the phone, so Chu Yiqi didn't rush over. She grabbed a fork and also picked up a bottle of sea salt-flavored yogurt and stuck it in the fork.

After doing all this, Chu Yiqi felt a little disgusted with herself. People say it takes twenty days to form a habit, but let alone twenty days, it's been two years already, and she still remembers Xi Ai's insignificant habits. For example, every time Xi Ai eats some barbecue or hot pot, she'll find some fruit to eat, and then halfway through, she'll feel like she's missing some yogurt.

She's clearly not a pampered young lady, yet sometimes she's exceptionally picky. Perhaps it's precisely because these habits are rare that they're so easy to remember.

After Xi Ai hung up the phone, Chu Yiqi went over and placed the yogurt and fruit on the table. Xi Ai said, "Thank you."

Chu Yiqi shook his head and was about to leave when Xi Ai grabbed his sleeve.

"What's wrong?" Chu Yiqi was a little surprised, but still tried to remain calm.

"It was Nian Zhaoyi on the phone just now." Xi Ai forked a piece of watermelon and handed it to Chu Yiqi. Everything seemed natural, but it felt awkward.

This action wasn't subconscious; it was just that Xi Ai remembered that as the kind person who brought the watermelon, she should eat the first slice.

Chu Yiqi took it, then pulled out a tissue to wipe his hands, and then heard Xi Ai say, "Zhao Yi and the others will be back in a few days, and then... the old man said he wants to see you."

Grandpa Xi himself doesn't remember saying that, but he does like Chu Yiqi very much.

However, it is true that Nian Zhaoyi and the others will be coming back soon and there will be a family gathering.

Since it was a mix of truth and falsehood, Chu Yiqi did not suspect anything.

To be honest, she did feel that her relationship with Xi Ai was awkward, as if she didn't have a proper position to see the old man, but...

"So, are you free?" Xi Ai looked up at Chu Yiqi, a position that was very deceptive, almost making Chu Yiqi forget that Xi Ai was someone with a bit of a cunning and ruthless side.

Chu Yiqi hesitated for only a moment before answering Xi Ai, "Probably."

Perhaps because of the many unexpected events that had occurred in the past, and all of them quite important, she often used uncertain words when answering Xi Ai's questions.

Xi Ai nodded, then said, "I'll tell her."

"Okay, goodbye." Chu Yiqi didn't leave, then paused for a long time before saying the rest of her sentence, "Don't stay up too late."

There should be a little more alcohol.

Although it doesn't affect anything, Chu Yiqi just doesn't want Xi Ai to drink too much.

It's funny to think about it, but she's really someone who's lenient with herself but strict with others, even though she herself hasn't had a very regular schedule in the past two years.

This includes, but is not limited to, always trying to eat spicy food even though you can't handle it; or imitating Xi Ai to disguise yourself perfectly; or occasionally trying some alcohol in an attempt to find a familiar taste. Later, Nadia took her to a bar, where the bartender specially mixed a drink for Chu Yiqi that tasted remarkably similar.

So later, when Chu Yiqi was feeling a little down, she would go there and sit in a less crowded spot, sipping her wine little by little.

Of course, Chu Yiqi never imagined that the person in front of him, who was looking at him calmly, would know all of these things.

Even the bartender, the special cocktail that wasn't on the menu, was all arranged by Xi Ai, with the combined help of Xi Yuchuan and Nadia—one in charge of running the bar, and the other in charge of guiding Chu to their destination.

What a well-conceived and secretive drama!

As Xi Ai watched Chu Yiqi leave, she suddenly remembered when Nadia had told her about this.

She didn't actually pry too much into Chu Yiqi's life, but that day Nadia suddenly felt something was strange because Chu Yiqi stopped in front of the wine shelf while shopping at the supermarket, looked at it for a long time, and chose a bottle of green grape jasmine with a slightly higher alcohol content.

"I found it strange at the time, because she always said she didn't like drinking. I thought something had happened to her."

Xi Ai's heart skipped a beat, and she said to Nadia, "I might know the reason, it's probably nothing."

A few days later, Xi Ai suddenly sent a voice message to Nadia: "Could you take Chu Yiqi to that tavern under Xi Yuchuan's management? It's not far from the Royal Academy of Arts. Xi Yuchuan will send you the location."

Sisie earned six points from Nadia.

Not long after, Xi Ai received another follow-up comment from Nadia: "Wow, all of Qi Qi's drinks are gone. Why didn't the bartender you hired give me the same drink? I'm giving you a bad review."

Xi Ai repeated the same trick and returned six dots to her.

As for Chu Yiqi, she had just finished class and wrapped her blue and pink gradient scarf around her neck. She had just stepped out of the school gate when she heard Nadia calling her name.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Chu Yiqi jogged over, pulling at her scarf as she ran.

Nadia feigned mystery: "I was socializing with them yesterday. There was a bar there, and I tried some drinks there—they were really good. So… could that beautiful and kind-hearted superstar come with me? I didn't get a chance to really enjoy it yesterday." Chu Yiqi happened to be free that day, so she asked, "Is it far?"

"I won't come to pick you up if it's far away."

"All right."

Then that day, Chu Yiqi sat on a high stool, sipping his wine without saying a word for a long time.

As if they were exceptionally understanding, Chu Yiqi didn't have any expectations, so she told the bartender, "Just do whatever you want, as long as the alcohol content isn't too high."

"Miss, do you like fruit flavors?" She spoke fluent English with little accent.

Chu Yiqi nodded subconsciously, responding entirely according to the slightly intoxicating taste of the bottle.

"Then I'll mix a floral scent. You don't dislike this smell, do you?"