Chapter 14 The fiery, smooth, and silky touch assaulted his entire palm...
To say Xinmian has no sense of caution is an overstatement. She's like a mouse before a cat whenever she sees him.
You'd think she was wary? Yet here she is, falling asleep right in front of him.
She was still clutching the backpack strap in her hand, leaning against the back of the sofa, her head nodding slightly.
The floor lamp cast a bright, warm yellow light, shining directly down on her, as if coating her entire body with a luminous glow.
The exposed half of her face had smooth, fair skin, a beautiful jawline, slightly closed eyelids, and curled eyelashes.
He was fast asleep.
fine.
If he's asleep, he won't pretend not to know him.
Chi Yu's gaze was as tangible as a physical object, fixed intently on her.
His eyes were a deep, dark color, as thick as ink and impossible to blend.
The living room was very quiet, so quiet that only two breaths, one deep and one light, could be heard.
Fat Orange took a nap, then got up to go to the bathroom.
The cat's round head poked out of the litter box, and after it finished pooping, it scratched around with its paws, making a rustling sound.
[Feeling refreshed! I feel as light as a feather now!]
It suddenly burst out of its nest, became excited, and began to wriggle around on all fours, looking like it was about to start "parkour".
Unexpectedly, just as he made a move, a gaze filled with murderous intent suddenly shot towards him.
Chi Yu looked at it coldly, "If you wake her up, you won't get any of your yellow croaker for the next two days."
The chubby orange cat, its front paws already outstretched: ......
[Forget it, this cool look doesn't necessarily require running.]
With its tail held high, it strode gently to the sofa, then leaped onto the coffee table.
It licked its paws, lay down, and looked at Xin Mian curiously. Seeing that she had her eyes closed and didn't move, it turned its head to look at Chi Yu.
The man put his long finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture.
But the next second, Xin Mian, who was dozing off, suddenly tilted her head and fell directly onto the floor lamp on the side of the sofa.
Chi Yu narrowed his eyes slightly and reached out without thinking.
His broad, warm palms were placed directly under the girl's soft cheek, supporting her and acting as a human cushion.
His face was very small, not even as big as one of his palms.
While cupping her cheeks with his palms, his long fingers could also slip through her hair, enveloping the side of her head.
The soft, smooth touch enveloped his entire palm, traveling along his veins to every part of his body.
Chi Yu's body stiffened instantly, and his heart skipped a beat.
He stopped moving as if possessed, somewhat afraid that his calloused palms might hurt her.
Xin Mian, who was sitting on the sofa, frowned slightly at the commotion.
Fat Orange's ears twitched, and it immediately turned its head to look at Chi Yu.
[Human! You woke yourself up this time, it's not my fault!]
[No less yellow croaker tomorrow!!!]
Xinmian was still a little groggy from sleep. When she opened her eyes, she met Pangju's beautiful, glassy cat eyes.
[Meow~]
The chubby orange cat tilted its head and flicked its tail.
She blinked, then belatedly realized that something warm was pressed against her cheek.
!!
Xin Mian suddenly sat up straight, staring wide-eyed at the person in front of her.
Now I'm wide awake.
"You...I..."
A faint, indescribable sensation lingered on her cheek, the tips of her ears had turned slightly red, and she opened her mouth, but couldn't finish her sentence.
Chi Yu calmly withdrew his hand, leaned back on the sofa, and casually raised his eyes, his dark eyes fixed on her.
"I helped you again."
He was referring to the time he protected her from falling onto the floor lamp stand.
Xin Mian quickly glanced around and understood what he meant.
She pursed her lips and managed to squeeze out two words, "...Thank you..."
Having said that, not wanting to linger in the living room, she grabbed her phone and backpack and fled.
As she passed Chen Xiulian's room, she thoughtfully slowed down and walked lightly, almost tripping over her own foot. She had to hold onto the handrail to steady herself and continue running upstairs.
Behind her, a person and a cat sat in the living room, both looking at her back.
Only when he was out of sight did the chubby orange cat turn its head, its glassy cat eyes looking at Chi Yu, its paws scratching twice in the air.
[It's all your fault! You scared her away!]
Chi Yu lazily curled his lips, his dark eyes seemingly holding an ambiguous smile, looking like he was in an extremely good mood.
He stood up straight, one hand in his pocket, and flicked the fat orange cat's tail with his foot. "Can't sleep?"
The chubby orange tilted its head.
[What's the meaning? ]
Chi Yu bent down, grabbed it by the scruff of its neck, and carried it out of the living room into the yard. "If you can't sleep, then pick the ripe lychees and wampee."
[？？？]
The chubby orange cat glared at him, [You dare say that again!?]
Chi Yu placed it on the stone table, turned around and took out two baskets, then grabbed the fat orange that was trying to escape.
"A real man keeps his word."
[Meow!]
The chubby orange protested.
But the fat orange's protest was ineffective.
Chi Yu gave its fluffy head a good ruffle. "You've been raising an army for a thousand days to use it for one. You have to live up to the expectations of all those little yellow croakers that died."
The chubby orange cat raised its paw and delivered a series of punches to the hand that was petting the cat, but after the punches, it was still pressed down next to the bamboo basket and obediently guarded it.
It glared at him sideways.
[This cat will definitely take this to the central government one day!]
——
By the time I finished showering and drying my hair, it was already past midnight. I was extremely sleepy and groggily climbed into bed, tucking myself under the covers.
She slept straight through until noon the next day. When she woke up, Chen Xiulian came upstairs to ask her if she wanted lunch.
Xinmian rubbed her eyes and nodded obediently, "Grandma Chen, I ate it."
“Okay,” Chen Xiulian replied cheerfully, “Then you get ready, Grandma will be there soon, you can eat as soon as you come downstairs.”
"Okay, thank you, Grandma."
"No need to be so polite."
The weather was fine, with a clear blue sky and light clouds.
Sunlight cast dappled shadows in the courtyard.
After lunch, Chen Xiulian carried two full bags of lychees and wampee to attend an event organized by the Wangshui Island Senior Citizens Association.
As soon as she opened the courtyard gate, she bumped into Qin Shengtian, who had come looking for Xinmian. "Grandma Chen!"
Qin Shengtian called out in a clear, bright voice, "Are you going to participate in the event?"
The senior citizens' association holds several activities each week, as those familiar with Wangshui Island know.
Chen Xiulian nodded with a smile, "Yes, it's just right to bring some lychees and wampee with us."
"You've come to see A-Yu?" She didn't know that Qin Shengtian and Xin Mian already knew each other.
Qin Shengtian smiled and shook her head, "No, I came to find Mianmian."
"You two know each other?"
We met yesterday.
“Good, good, good,” Chen Xiulian was even happier, “This way you will both have each other’s company.”
Xin Mian had just moved the easel into the living room when she heard voices coming from the courtyard gate. When she went out to look, she saw that Qin Shengtian had indeed arrived.
The two said goodbye to Chen Xiulian and watched her walk out of the alley toward the senior citizens' activity center before closing the gate.
Qin Shengtian couldn't wait, "Come, come, Mianmian, try it quickly, I got up early this morning to make it."
"Which tastes better, mine or the bakery's from yesterday?"
Qin Shengtian loves baking. During college, she used her savings to enroll in an extracurricular baking class. Later, she enrolled through a formal institution and obtained a baker's certificate.
Yesterday I went to the bakery and tried a few breads that interested me, and this morning I couldn't wait to get up and try making them myself.
Xin Mian's hands were stuffed with several small bread rolls and jars, and her eyes lit up. "Did you make all of these?"
"Tian Tian, you're so amazing!"
Her direct and generous praise made Qin Shengtian a little embarrassed. She smiled and helped her open the packaging bag, saying, "Try it quickly."
The two entered the living room together, and Fat Orange jumped out of its nest and circled around their feet.
Qin Shengtian, with great insight, presented her gift to this "little master," saying, "This is a cat treat for Father Emperor."
She mischievously imitated the palace maids in palace dramas, tearing open cat treats for the chubby orange cat.
Xinmian was overjoyed. "When I first learned that it was called by this name, I also told it that its other name could be Emperor Father."
This is something that only those who have watched palace dramas can understand.
Qin Shengtian bent down to pick up the chubby orange cat, but unexpectedly, it raised its front paw and jumped directly into Xin Mian's arms, patting Qin Shengtian's hand in the process.
[Keep feeding the cat treats, don't stop]
Qin Shengtian was amused by it, "You certainly know how to enjoy yourself."
"Lying in the soft, fragrant embrace of a beautiful woman, with someone serving you cat treats."
[Meow~]
[I won't listen, you're just spouting nonsense.]
After Fatty Orange finished eating the cat treats, Xinmian and Qin Shengtian got up to wash their hands.
Qin Shengtian excitedly pulled her to the kitchen, "I'll make you a drink today."
"What?"
Xinmian asked curiously.
Chen Xiulian had just left a bag of lychees and a bag of wampee, but there were still quite a few left in the kitchen.
Have you ever tried sea salt wampee?
Xinmian shook her head.
Wangshui Island is a small island in the south where fruits are cheap and come in many varieties.
Her hometown is Yuncheng, an inland city located further north. Due to its climate, Yuncheng's fruits are not as diverse as those on Wangshui Island.
She had almost never heard of the fruit called wampee before.
Not to mention making it into sea salt yellow peel.
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Please wash the yellow peel for me."
Xinmian picked a small basin of wampee from the branch, washed it clean as required, and then poured it into the container prepared by Qin Shengtian.
Lacking professional tools at home, they could only use the curved back of a large spoon to mash the yellow peel to extract the juice, just like how lemons are pounded in fruit tea shops.
Add salt, squeeze in a few drops of lemon juice, and continue to pound.
Finally, remove the pit and peel from the wampee, then pour the mashed pulp and juice into a glass, add cooled boiled water and ice cubes.
A cup of sea salt wampee is ready.
The sweetness and acidity can be adjusted according to your own preferences.
Qin Shengtian handed the cup to Xin Mian, looking at her expectantly, "Mianmian, you should try it."
While pounding, Xinmian could already smell the fragrance of the wampee.
She took a sip from the cup and smiled with delight.
"Is it good?"
Xin Mian nodded emphatically, "It's delicious!"
For her, it was a very novel taste and texture.
It has a rich and complex flavor profile, with a salty, sweet, and sour taste, and you can even taste the fruit pulp. It's very refreshing and helps to cut through any greasiness.
Xinmian took several more sips, closed her eyes and let the flavor spread in her mouth, then sighed with enjoyment, "So delicious."
"Tian Tian, you're so amazing!"
As she drank and praised her drink, she was completely unaware that outside the kitchen door, a tall and imposing figure leaned against the wall, listening with great interest to her soft, gentle voice.
A note from the author:
----------------------
[Fat Orange: I'm going to complain to the central government! I'm going to complain to the central government!]
[P.S.: Sea salt wampee is super delicious! Highly recommend!]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
