Lin Yuan waved his hand, giving him a "you guys don't understand" look: "You don't understand, this is a man's responsibility!"
A few hours later, Lin Yuan and the others helped Xu Lan move her luggage.
The apartment was already filled with the atmosphere of life, and Xu Lan's personal belongings were neatly arranged, with everything in an orderly manner.
This woman is simply a natural-born virtuous wife.
"Are you hungry? Why don't you stay and have a meal with us?"
Xu Lan leaned against the door frame, breathing heavily, her face showing slight weariness, but her eyes still sparkled with an inextinguishable passion.
She raised her hand, her fingertips lightly brushing away the fine beads of sweat on her forehead, a playful smile curving her lips.
"Oh, today has really worn me out. If you don't do me the honor of having dinner with me, I'm really going to put on a good show of 'shedding tears on the spot'."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan laughed heartily and patted her forehead forcefully, his joke tinged with sincerity.
"Alright, then I'll gladly accept your offer. But on another note, if your cooking skills aren't up to par, don't blame me for being picky."
Xu Lan feigned anger, but her eyes were full of confidence.
"Just you wait and see, today I'm going to show you what a real surprise is!"
After saying that, she turned and walked into the kitchen, leaving behind a series of light and firm footsteps, indicating that a feast for the taste buds was about to begin.
She wore a simple white apron, her hair was casually tied into a ponytail, and a few stray hairs fell in front of her forehead, making her look particularly playful.
She hummed a little tune as she chopped vegetables, her movements fluid and graceful, captivating Lin Yuan's attention.
"Hey, Sister Xu Lan, did you learn your cooking skills from a fairy in the clouds?"
Lin Yuan's words carried a hint of humor as he lightly teased the reporter.
A faint smile appeared on Xu Lan's lips as her nimble hands continued to work on the stove without her looking up.
"Cooking was an essential skill during my time at the orphanage. Otherwise, no one would want to taste hunger."
The spatula danced lightly in her hands, the ingredients in the pot tumbling and rolling with the leaping flames, and an enticing aroma gradually filled the air, warming the entire kitchen.
Looking at this scene, Lin Yuan's eyes revealed a hint of nostalgia, "That time is really like smoke blown away by the wind, and it can never be found again."
"But looking at your life now, isn't it quite fulfilling?"
Xu Lan stopped what she was doing and turned around.
Lin Yuan looked at her, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
He suddenly realized that Xu Lan was not just a girl who needed help, but also a combat partner who could empathize with him.
He smiled slightly and nodded: "You're right, the present life is the most important."
Xu Lan worked in the kitchen for half an hour before finally serving six dishes.
Braised pork ribs, steamed fish, garlic broccoli... every dish is exquisitely prepared, with perfect color, aroma, and taste, making one's mouth water.
Lin Yuan couldn't help but swallow hard, his face full of amazement: "Wow, Xu Lan, your cooking skills are so good, you could open a restaurant!"
Li Tianyi and Sun Xinyi couldn't help but praise it.
"Miss Xu, your cooking skills are amazing!"
While picking up some food, Lin Yuan said, "Xu Lan, you are a model of a virtuous wife and loving mother, capable in both the living room and the kitchen! It would be a waste not to marry you!"
Xu Lan's face suddenly flushed crimson. She glanced shyly at Li Tianyi, her eyes flickering with a hint of trepidation.
Li Tianyi seemed to have caught this subtle change in emotion. His eyes showed a slight surprise, but it was fleeting. He then lowered his head and continued chewing his food as if nothing had happened.
Xu Lan waved her hand modestly, her cheeks slightly lowered, her voice barely audible: "It's not that good... In fact, everyone in the orphanage has to fend for themselves. Otherwise, the taste of hunger is not so easy to bear."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan laughed heartily and casually put his arm around Li Tianyi's shoulder: "Tianyi, don't you think that makes sense?"
Sun Xinyi chimed in, "Young Master Lin, what you're saying sounds a lot like a marriage proposal!"
Xu Lan's face instantly turned bright red. She lowered her head and whispered, "Stop teasing me..."
Lin Yuan couldn't help but feel overjoyed when he saw Xu Lan blush.
He deliberately dragged out his words: "Oh my, the way you blush is so cute! You're just like my little Xu Lan!"
Xu Lan was so embarrassed by his joke that she picked up her chopsticks and chased after Lin Yuan to hit him.
"Brother Lin Yuan, if you keep talking nonsense, I won't be polite!"
Lin Yuan laughed loudly as he dodged, "Alright, alright, I won't say anything more!"
The four sat around the dining table, eating dinner and drinking red wine.
Xu Lan's pretty face was flushed with a faint blush under the red wine, making her look exceptionally charming and beautiful.
Lin Yuan's gaze fell on Xu Lan, a complex and unreadable emotion flashing across his eyes, which was then gently smoothed away by a warm smile.
"Come, let's drink to this new chapter that is about to begin!"
Lin Yuan raised his glass in invitation, his words carrying a hint of lighthearted humor.
A gentle smile curved Xu Lan's lips, her eyes sparkling with tenderness as she lightly touched Lin Yuan's wine glass to her lips.
"To this new life, may it be as rich and flavorful as fine wine, cheers!"
Li Tianyi and Sun Xinyi followed suit, and the four of them raised their glasses and drank together. The aroma of red wine slowly filled the air, adding a subtle ambiguity and warm warmth to the scene.
At that moment, Lin Yuan's gaze fell on Xu Lan again, and his voice softened unconsciously. "Xu Lan, actually, there's a voice in my heart that's always wanted to tell you that, compared to those memories from our youth... now, I just want to stay with you."
Xu Lan paused slightly, a strange determination flashing in her eyes.
"Brother Lin Yuan, actually I am too..."
Before he finished speaking, emotions were already flowing, causing Li Tianyi to frown slightly and a complex emotion that was hard to describe to flash in his eyes, but he quickly regained his usual calm.
His words became gentle as a breeze, softly brushing past: "We are a family. The road ahead is long and wide. Let's walk hand in hand."
Sun Xinyi smiled radiantly and gently patted Xu Lan's hand; that warmth seemed to dispel all gloom.
"That's right, from now on, we are an inseparable whole. Let's fight side by side, share laughter, and leave our shared footprints in tomorrow."
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