An Xinrong disliked Zhuang Yan, yet she couldn't help but want to perform better in front of him.
She counted the bowls and chopsticks, rinsed them with water, and then wiped the table, working up a sweat.
An Xinrong isn't actually a bad person; she just said harsh things to stand up for Xia Wan, since Xia Wan is one of the few people in her circle of friends who doesn't look down on her.
Lu Yan is sensitive to heat, and after sweating profusely, she wanted to take a shower. She changed into casual clothes, which would make it easier for her to move around.
When Lu Yan came out of the shower, her fair skin was flushed pink, and her dark eyes were moist. Compared to her flamboyant red dress that morning, she was much more approachable now.
Her face looks pretty whether she's wearing makeup or not. What's most eye-catching are her long legs. Her legs, visible through her denim shorts, are white and long, like the finest mutton fat jade, and even her toes are pink and tender.
Even Zhuang Yan couldn't help but take a look.
Zhuang Yan quickly looked away. He was always focused on what he was doing, and he looked a little more serious than usual when he was cooking.
He glanced at the dishes on the cutting board. Besides the leftover sauerkraut and fish soup from lunch, which could be used to cook vegetables, he also prepared hot and sour shredded potatoes and preserved egg and tofu soup. The three or four dishes looked small, but the portions were large enough for six people.
The photographer zoomed in, and in the shot, Zhuang Yan was focused on slicing potatoes into shreds. His speed was incredible; all you could hear was the "snap, snap, snap..." sound. After a dozen or so cuts, with a flick of the knife, a plate of shredded potatoes was ready. The shredded potatoes were distinct, thin, and even. Even someone who couldn't cook could tell how good his knife skills were.
An Xinrong was peeling garlic on the side and saw how he cut potato shreds.
She had heard Xia Wan say before that Zhuang Yan always did the cooking at her family's house.
At first, she didn't take it seriously, thinking that even if Zhuang Yan could cook, his cooking would probably be mediocre.
This noon, the pot of pickled fish looked delicious, and others who ate it said it was delicious too, but she didn't taste a single bite. She was secretly competing with herself, and the consequence of this competition was that she was hungry all afternoon and felt anxious with longing.
Now that I can see Zhuang Yan's cooking skills firsthand, I realize that Xia Wan wasn't exaggerating; Zhuang Yan really is a great cook.
Lu Yan leaned closer, her body carrying the cool scent of a post-shower bath: "What are you doing? Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Not now."
Lu Yan pulled out an apron from somewhere: "Tie this apron on."
Zhuang Yan wanted to say no, but Lu Yan had already taken it. He reached out to take it, but Lu Yan pulled her hand away.
“You just chopped vegetables with your hands, let me tie it for you.” Not allowing him to refuse, Lu Yan raised her hand, “Lower your head.”
Zhuang Yan had nowhere to retreat, so he could only obediently bend down and lower his head in front of the camera. In just a few seconds, Lu Yan's hand brushed against his neck and touched his sensitive neck. Her gentle breath fell on his Adam's apple, and her fragrance filled his nose.
Her lips were very close to his ear, and apart from Zhuang Yan, no one else heard her say "Good girl."
Zhuang Yan's body visibly stiffened.
Lu Yan smiled gently, standing behind him. Her soft, boneless hands slid down his lean waist and touched the apron drawstring, as if she were embracing him from behind.
The director's eyes lit up, and he picked up the walkie-talkie: "Give them a close-up."
The photographer, listening to the sound in the earphones, quickly zoomed in and focused the lens on Zhuang Yan's facial expression.
The dodge was captured as a restrained, patient gesture, along with his reddened earlobes and suddenly stiff fingers.
Lu Yan tied her apron on and made a bow.
The area she touched felt like ants crawling over it, and Zhuang Yan couldn't help but touch his lower back.
"That's fine."
Zhuang Yan's expression was a bit unnatural. After tying on the apron, he didn't even know how to stir-fry the vegetables. He was stunned for a while before he remembered the next step.
An Xinrong, who was standing nearby, saw this scene and thought: "It's just an apron, why does it feel so strange?"
Furthermore, what does Lu Yan mean by suddenly being so close to Zhuang Yan? Has she forgotten that Zhuang Yan is her niece's fiancé? Although the engagement has been called off, a former fiancé is still a fiancé, and she, as his aunt, has no right to touch him!
[I'm stunned. It's only the first day, and it's already so exciting! Lu Yan was just tying an apron on Zhuang Yan, and the atmosphere suddenly became so ambiguous.]
The two characters exude intense sexual tension.
Zhuang Yan is a great cook, looking forward to dinner.
[An Xinrong: I shouldn't be here, I should be under the car.]
What exactly does Lu Yan mean? I really feel like she treats Zhuang Yan very differently.
[Lu Yan is definitely toying with Zhuang Yan. She's obviously a master of romance; she's so skilled. She's probably a player who keeps other players around.]
[I don't think Zhuang Yan is as bad as people online say. Putting everything else aside, he's really emotionally stable, and he's good at housework and cooking. Xia Wan didn't suffer in terms of living expenses when she was with him.]
[What's the use of being able to cook? Xia Wan isn't dating a chef or a maid. Dating is mainly about providing emotional support. People who don't love you will only get more and more annoyed. Xia Wan is still the best match for Gu Qian.]
Finally, it was time for dinner. At the large round table, they sat in the same seats as at lunchtime, with Zhuang Yan flanked by Jiang Ning and Lu Yan.
Zhuang Yan's cooking skills received unanimous praise. An Xinrong didn't say anything, but she kept eating after the food was served until her belly was round.
In the end, she couldn't even drink water anymore. Under the table, she gently rubbed her stomach and sighed inwardly: Xia Wan has been eating really well these past two years of dating.
As friends, they've known each other for so many years, yet she's never once invited her to her house for a meal. That's really not very considerate of her.
In the observation room, the observers were about to finish their shift. Before ending, Shen Li asked, "Xia Wan, I heard that An Xinrong is your friend. Have you ever invited a friend to your house for dinner?"
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