"You want to eat my noodles?"

Chen Mo asked, his big eyes blinking, his lips red and teeth white, seemingly possessing a captivating charm.

"Forehead…"

Jing Zhe hadn't noticed the ambiguity in those words, but when Chen Mo said them, they had a completely different feel, making it all the more exciting.

"Of course! Didn't I say that since I'm a guest at your home, you should at least show me the proper hospitality!"

After calming himself down, Jing Zhe analyzed the situation.

"But…"

Chen Mo shrugged and said calmly, "I don't know how!"

"..."

After a moment of silence, Jing Zhe turned his gaze to Gui Zhi, thinking that if he couldn't eat the noodles cooked by his master, he could eat yours instead.

But before he could speak, Guizhi waved her hand hastily and said, "Young Master Kun, Guizhi doesn't know how either!"

"You don't know how?"

Jing Zhe said speechlessly, "I'm telling you, you're supposed to be a maid, can't you even cook?"

Guizhi wasn't embarrassed at all, and said earnestly, "Because our family has an imperial chef, we naturally don't need maids!"

Jing Zhe still didn't believe it and questioned, "If none of you can cook, then what are you doing buying noodles and vegetables at home?"

"The young lady finally came out for a visit and said she wanted to experience the life of an ordinary person, so she asked me to buy groceries to cook—but cooking is really too difficult, so I simply bought some of the simplest noodles and vegetables."

Guizhi spoke slowly.

"Then what?"

Jing Zhe was somewhat curious.

"Then...then it was so bad that we cooked some and threw it all away..."

"..."

Jing Zhe forced himself not to laugh out loud.

Chen Mo's face flushed red, and she glared at Gui Zhi, "I was clearly full and couldn't eat anymore, who said it was too bad?"

Then, in a fit of pique, she said to Jing Zhe, "Didn't you want to eat the noodles I made? Fine, I'll make them for you right now!"

As she was about to walk into the house, Jing Zhe was terrified. He rushed forward, grabbed her arm, and pulled her back.

When Jing Zhe pulled him, Chen Mo felt as if he had been electrocuted. He then shook off Jing Zhe's hand, crossed his arms, and stared at him with a menacing look.

Knowing he had been impolite, Jing Zhe smiled awkwardly and said, "There's no need to trouble Miss Chen. I'm good at making noodles, so let me show you my skills today!"

As he spoke, he went into the woodshed. Guizhi thought for a moment, seemingly wanting to learn the craft, so she followed him in to help.

Chen Mo felt a great sense of frustration, preferring to cook for himself rather than eat what she made.

"Hmph, it's just the bottom, right? It's all the same, just boil it in water. I don't believe you can cook it into something beautiful!"

He pouted, unconvinced.

...

Jing Zhe made stir-fried noodles, and the method was extremely simple.

Heat oil in a pot, add chopped green onions and sauté until fragrant, then add water and salt. Once the water boils, add the noodles.

Since there were still some leftover bok choy, Jing Zhe added them in as well, and finally added three poached eggs.

It didn't take long for a pot of fragrant stir-fried noodles to be ready.

Jing Zhe ladled out three bowls of noodles and placed them on the table, saying with a smile, "Here, try my noodles!"

Chen Mo remained reserved and unmoved.

Guizhi was already hungry and had smelled the enticing aroma, so she couldn't wait to pick up her chopsticks and start eating.

"tasty…"

With her mouth stuffed full of noodles and eggs, Guizhi managed to squeeze out a few words.

"Tch, aren't all noodles the same? How delicious can they be!"

As he spoke, he picked up his chopsticks, grabbed some noodles, and put them in his mouth.

But as soon as the noodles entered his mouth, Chen Mo was speechless.

Wow, it smells so good!

Seeing the two of them wolfing down their food without a care for their image, Jing Zhe was quite satisfied: Hehe, the noodles I made were really good!

After a busy day, once you've filled your stomach, sleepiness immediately sets in.

Jing Zhe yawned and asked, "Miss Chen, which room will I be sleeping in tonight?"

The empty rooms in the courtyard had been converted into ice cellars by Jing Zhe and were no longer habitable. There was a row of rooms on the north side, but it was unclear which one to stay in.

Chen Mo thought for a moment, then pointed to the westernmost room, "You can sleep there!"

After saying that, he didn't forget to remind her: "Don't go out at night!"

"Which is more convenient, indoors?"

Seeing Chen Mo's flushed face, Jing Zhe quickly laughed and said, "I was just kidding. I'm a heavy sleeper. I can fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow and I won't wake up until dawn!"

Chen Mo turned her head away and ignored him.

He then said to Guizhi, "Guizhi, why don't you sleep with me tonight?"

Chen Mo lived in the east wing, while Gui Zhi lived in the middle. Hearing Chen Mo's words, Gui Zhi asked curiously, "Miss, why are you asking me to come with you today...?"

"I'm scared!"

"It's alright, Miss Chen, I'm here, you don't need to be afraid!"

After hearing this, Jing Zhe immediately patted his chest and said.

She thought to herself, "Two weak women at home can't do without a man to support them!"

Chen Mo turned around, gave him a meaningful look, and said quietly, "I'm not afraid of others, I'm afraid of you."

Jing Zhe: "..."

...

Jing Zhe slept soundly.

After a quick wash, I came out of the room.

Good morning!

When I went outside, I saw that Chen Mo had already gotten up, but she didn't look too good; she had very dark circles under her eyes.

"Clang clang clang!"

Before they could speak, there was a knock on the door.

Jing Zhe and Chen Mo exchanged a glance, one went back into the house, and the other walked towards the door.

Upon opening the door, he saw the madam standing outside, beaming with joy. Seeing Jing Zhe, her face blossomed into a smile: "Young Master Kun, this old woman has come to deliver your silver!"

As he spoke, he took out the silver notes from his clothes. Jing Zhe gladly accepted them and said with a smile, "It seems that the ice has been made?"

The madam is such a meticulous person, she won't act until she sees a clear benefit. For her to willingly part with her money, the ice must have been perfectly prepared.

"It's done! It's done!"

The madam nodded her head like a chicken pecking at rice. Having mastered the method of making ice, she was naturally excited, as it added another money-making tool to Chunshui Tower.

"That would be perfect! Now that Madam has mastered the method of making ice, why not send someone to make more now, so as not to delay the business tonight!"

"Thank you for the reminder, young master! I will send someone to do it right away!"

After saying that, the madam bowed deeply to Jing Zhe again and jogged back to the other side.

————