early morning.
Dining room.
Xiao Qianshan, Xiao Yuxuan, Xiao Linzui, and the others sat at the dining table with blank expressions, without any elaborate breakfast in front of them.
Because the cook is temporarily unemployed.
In the kitchen not far away, Xiao Shuihan, wearing an apron, was gently stirring the pot with a spoon in her hand.
Soup was simmering in the pot, bubbles rising and making a gurgling sound, but if you listened closely, you could also hear Xiao Shuihan humming a cheerful tune.
Xiao Shuihan was indeed very happy at this moment. Chu Liyue seemed to be very busy these days, and he and Luo Yilan spent their free time with their son.
Although it was still somewhat awkward, he could clearly feel that his son's resistance to them was fading at a visible rate.
At least when I talk to them, my eyes don't dart around as much anymore.
In particular, the young woman in the cheongsam seemed to have excellent medical skills; under her careful treatment, her son's condition improved significantly.
On one occasion when Chu Liyue was not around, they even fed their son his medicine spoonful by spoonful. The son blushed and said he could drink it himself. The scene was incredibly heartwarming.
He was making soup because his son was feeling a bit better and seemed to be able to eat some food.
He urgently went to learn how to make nourishing soups, intending to make soup for his son.
He and Luo Yilan used to be quite good cooks, but in recent years, due to their careers, they have rarely been in the kitchen, and their skills have become rusty.
So he decided to let the cook rest for a day, and let his father and brothers test the waters first. If it passed the test, then he would send it to his son.
He stood in front of the pot, wearing an apron, yet his handsome face and noble demeanor were still evident. A faint smile played on his lips as he fiddled with the soup spoon.
Beside her, Luo Yilan wore an elegant black dress, her hair was piled high in a bun, with two strands of hair falling in front of her forehead. Her face was noble, and her charm remained undiminished.
She held her phone, reminding Xiao Shuihan from time to time which ingredient to add and how much, with a slight smile on her face.
The rising steam, swirling and dispersing, creates a scene that is both warm and inviting, full of life.
After a while, Luo Yilan handed over a folded dry towel. Xiao Shuihan placed the towel under his hand, picked up the casserole, and walked out.
He carefully placed the bubbling hot clay pot on the table, and a refreshing and delicious aroma instantly filled the air.
Wearing an oversized short-sleeved shirt and flip-flops, Xiao Fengyin sniffed lightly, her eyes brightening. Although she was without makeup, her smile was still captivating.
"It smells so good, Uncle!"
"Open it quickly, let me have a taste. I've been waiting for so long, I'm starving."
Xiao Shuihan gently pinched her ear with her burning fingers, and upon hearing this, she couldn't help but smile:
"Does it smell good? That's great!"
As Xiao Fengyin nodded, Xiao Yuxuan, with a cold expression, began his chilling remarks:
"Third brother, if you want soup, why don't you just ask the cook to make it?"
"Even if you cook it yourself, you don't need to involve us."
Xiao Shuihan rolled her eyes at him: "What do you know?"
"Homemade food tastes like home."
He opened the pot lid and shook his hand: "As for inviting you guys, it's because Ah Lan and I haven't cooked in a long time, so we wanted you guys to help us taste it."
Xiao Yuxuan's eyebrows twitched slightly: "What kind of soup did you make?"
Xiao Shuihan replied: "A nourishing soup with many ingredients."
Xiao Yuxuan glanced at the pot and, seeing Xiao Shuihan about to serve soup to the upright, aged-looking Xiao Qianshan, suddenly said:
"My father is too old. I don't know if this soup is good for his health. I don't want anything to happen. Give it to me first."
He took the soup bowl, picked up the spoon, took a small sip, and said, "My nephew isn't feeling well either. You'd better wait a few hours and see if I react before letting him drink it."
Xiao Shuihan was in a good mood these past two days and didn't hold it against him. While serving soup, she said in a low voice:
"You're just being a sour grapes. If you want to make soup for your son, you need to have some!"
Xiao Yuxuan calmly sipped his soup, his face expressionless: "I don't have a son, but I have a daughter."
Xiao Shuihan paused, then scoffed, "Do you think Feng Yin would dare drink the soup you made? Or even give it to her?"
Xiao Shuihan looked at him with a teasing expression: "Brother, do you know whether to put the ingredients in first or boil the water first when making soup?"
Xiao Fengyin's fair feet were on slippers, her legs swinging. Upon hearing Xiao Shuihan's words, she burst into laughter, her messy bun shaking wildly.
"Third Uncle, have you forgotten? My dad doesn't even know what boiling water looks like?"
"My mom almost thought she had married a fool back then."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yuxuan's cold and stern face tightened like a knife, revealing a rare hint of unease.
This was one of his embarrassing moments. Although he was cold and domineering to outsiders, he never even spoke harshly to his wife and daughter.
He couldn't be like Xiao Linzui, whose every word touched the heart and who never said anything hurtful, nor could he be like Xiao Shuihan, who clung to Luo Yilan like a dog.
So they wanted to express their love through actions, but the kitchen almost became a graveyard for the family of three that day.
Because of this, he was often teased by his own brothers and his leaky cotton-padded jacket. His reputation as the "Kitchen Killer" was known to everyone in the Xiao family.
As they spoke, Xiao Shuihan had already personally served soup to everyone. The soup was steaming hot and had a wonderful aroma. The sounds of blowing and slurping filled the air, making everyone feel warm and cozy.
Xiao Qianshan lowered his head and sipped the hot soup, his downcast eyebrows appearing gentle, and the corners of his lips curving into a subtle arc.
Xiao Fengyin blew on the hot soup in the spoon, her fox-like eyes narrowed, and praised repeatedly: "Third Uncle, this soup is enough for my dad to learn from for a lifetime."
"To win someone over, you must first win their stomach. Trust me, this soup will definitely win me over."
Hearing her say that, Xiao Shuihan gained some confidence. He scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew on it, carefully caught it with his hand, and brought it to Luo Yilan's lips.
"Ah Lan, have a taste."
Luo Yilan took a small sip, then he filled his mouth with the remaining half. The flavor was fresh and delicious, light and not greasy, leaving a lingering fragrance in his mouth. Xiao Shuihan smiled and smacked his lips.
"I never imagined that not only would my virility remain undiminished, but my culinary skills would also not have declined."
The people at the table stopped drinking their soup abruptly. Xiao Linzui, with a subtle expression, reminded them, "Third brother, Jingyuan is one thing, but Fengyin is neither in love nor married yet. Watch your words."
Xiao Shuihan looked up at Xiao Fengyin, who had instantly understood. Her porcelain-white face flushed slightly, and she nodded hesitantly.
"Third Uncle, I wish you and Third Aunt happiness."
Xiao Shuihan wasn't embarrassed at all. He hummed a little tune and replied with a smile, "I received your blessings, but I don't have time to play with you guys. Ah Lan and I have to go feed our son."
As they spoke, he and Luo Yilan carefully selected the best ingredients and packed them into an exquisite porcelain lunchbox.
He waved casually to everyone, then took Luo Yilan's hand and walked outside.
Watching them walk away side by side, Xiao Fengyin suddenly said, "I think Uncle and Aunt might be able to win over my little brother today."
Xiao Yuxuan calmly wiped his mouth: "So slow, yet you still claim to be as vigorous as ever? Absolutely no speed."
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