On his way back, he remembered that Xu Manzhi had just moved in, so he went to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought two enamel basins, a thermos, two towels, toilet paper, and other daily necessities.

After putting everything away, he started cooking in the kitchen.

"I just cooked some meat. Try it. My cooking skills are so-so, it should be edible," Yan Lin said.

He used a spatula to scoop the braised pork into a plate.

Cough cough.

Cuckoo—

Xu Manzhi's stomach started growling uncontrollably.

The sight of the glistening braised pork, with its marbled fat and lean meat, its bright color, and the seasoning of ginger and garlic, immediately whetted her appetite.

After taking a few steps forward, Xu Manzhi reached out, grabbed a piece, and put it in her mouth.

Sizzle.

The juices from the fatty meat burst in your mouth, mingling with the sweetness of the lean meat. The aftertaste is endlessly delightful, making you feel like you're in heaven.

"Hot... chopsticks..."

Yan Lin hurriedly handed over the chopsticks.

Smack, smack.

Xu Manzhi took the chopsticks and shoveled two pieces into her mouth, stuffing it full. Her little mouth was glistening with oil.

Yan Lin's hands were itching to get involved.

He wanted to wipe her mouth for her... but he didn't dare, so he turned around, picked up a clean towel, and whispered, "Wipe it."

"Wow, this is so delicious! It's so good! Your cooking is even better than the God of Cookery. I want to eat your cooking for the rest of my life, okay?"

Xu Manzhi swiped away his towel, ran her fingers through it, and then licked the oil off her fingers.

Not a single drop can be wasted.

The next second, while Yan Lin was lost in thought, Xu Manzhi jumped up, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him on the face, then kissed him again.

Rumble.

Yan Lin lived in the entire Bengbu.

His face flushed and his heart pounded. He stammered, "No, my face is dirty..."

"What do you mean 'dirty'? Nonsense! I want to kiss you, I want to kiss you."

Smack, smack.

When she kissed him, there was a slight nibble.

The man's cheeks instantly turned bright red.

His arm muscles contracted, his pupils dilated, and ripples of emotion surged through his heart.

"Manzhi, you really don't mind that I'm ugly?" he whispered.

Xu Manzhi shook her head.

Her eyes sparkled, and she said casually, "But you are gentle, meticulous, and very considerate. You are not stubborn, and besides being upright, you also have your own kind of tact. I like men with this kind of personality."

These words were enough to make Yan Lin's soul leave his body.

He stammered nervously, "I...I'm stupid, I'm not...not as good as you say..."

From childhood to adulthood, he was either humiliated or subjected to merciless beatings.

Those were tough years.

My biological father has a terrible temper.

He would fly into a rage whenever he saw his hideous son, either beating the mother who had given birth to the monster or punishing him, blaming him for having such an ugly face that had brought shame to the Yan family...

The father said, "A monster like you, whoever marries you will be cursed for eight lifetimes. I, Old Yan, will curse you every day so you won't be able to find a wife, lest you ruin girls' lives."

But she said she liked him just the way he was.

This immense wealth was suddenly presented to him, and besides feeling dazed and fearful, he also felt a deep sense of guilt.

“Manzhi, you’ll regret marrying me…” he said in a low, hoarse voice.