Chapter 30
The background is a simple and bright kitchen. He Xi stands in the middle of the cooking table, with a pile of raw materials placed on both sides.
"The first dessert I'm planning to challenge is Black Forest Cake." He Xi held out his palm and introduced it to the camera in a professional manner. "The ingredients are pitted cherries, granulated sugar, a cherry wine stain made from rum, dark chocolate for the chocolate chips later, and corn oil, warm milk, cocoa powder... light cream, and granulated sugar for the cake body."
"I did watch the tutorial beforehand. But since it's a challenge, I haven't practiced privately. Plus, I'm a complete novice at baking..." She grinned, a bright and energetic smile on her face. "So as for the show's effects... well, we can look forward to it."
"Okay, enough nonsense, let's get started. I'm also looking forward to seeing what interesting things will happen."
The process was sped up. With lively music playing, He Xi followed the on-screen tutorial on kitchen paper, concentrating on battling it out with a bunch of unfamiliar baking tools.
In the video, she has an upright posture and wears a gray short-sleeved shirt, revealing half of her strong and muscular forearms. Her skin has a light brown luster under natural light.
Her bangs are neatly combed back from the sides, and her slightly darker complexion accentuates her features beneath her European and American makeup. Her eyes are bright and expressive beneath dark, wild brows, her blush a light orange, and her lips, defined by a layer of glossy lip gloss, exude a healthy, confident, and powerful aura.
Then He Xi made a mess on the kitchen counter with a smart face.
He Xi sighed deeply and looked up, declaring his surrender, "No, no, cooking is really not my strong point."
"It will be dark if we delay any longer. I need to request outside help."
Then a PPT transition and Bai Shu made a brilliant appearance.
"Didn't you say you could do it?" The tall boy in a sky blue short-sleeved shirt and light blue jeans wiped his hands with a towel, turned around and said with a smile.
The girl, whose face was filled with frustration, smiled awkwardly when she heard this.
He Xi didn't intend to answer this question: "This is your first time making Black Forest Dishes, are you confident?"
Bai Shu grinned with his white teeth and said, "Try it."
The two of them stood at the counter, and the spacious kitchen suddenly felt a little inadequate. After taking two difficult steps, Bai Shu stopped and looked at He Xi, his eyes soft and bright. "How about you just watch from the side for a while?"
He Xi immediately retorted, "Me? This is my challenge!"
"I have to clean the countertop first." Bai Shu raised his lips and smiled, his tone a little helpless.
He Xi didn't refuse: "Okay, thank you for your hard work."
Bai Shu hummed softly, lowered his head and began to work. He was quick and nimble, and soon put the mess on the counter into perfect order.
The towel wiped across the countertop, leaving it glistening. Bai Shu nodded in satisfaction. "I just checked, and I think we have enough materials. We can get started."
"How about this, I'll teach you as I go, and you can help me out first. Then when you feel you're ready, you can do it yourself and just edit your own creation into the end of the video."
"I think this counts as a successful challenge. Do you think it's okay?"
He Xi gently stroked his chin with his fingers, thought for a while and nodded, "Okay."
"But are you really that confident?"
Bai Shu hummed briskly in response.
What happened next proved that Bai Shu was indeed gifted at baking. He Xi watched him create a beautiful, perfect Black Forest cake as if by magic, and suddenly felt a surge of frustration. He was truly amazing.
She couldn't help but admit it. However, this also aroused her competitive spirit, and she vowed to make a more perfect Black Forest cake in the future. Bai Shu didn't know what He Xi was thinking, so he just cut a piece of cake and handed it to He Xi, "How is it?"
He Xi couldn't stop eating, praising it as delicious. Bai Shu felt a strange sense of satisfaction. He Xi's praise made him feel genuinely happy. He also took a small spoonful and put it in his mouth. The cake melted on his tongue, and the sweetness spread to his heart.
Bai Shu's cheeks relaxed, his brows softened, and his lips showed half a mouthful of white teeth. The expression on his face was unexpectedly warm and very contagious.
He Xi was gradually stunned, staring at him infatuatedly. Suddenly, inspiration struck her head, and a lightbulb lit up above her head. She jumped up excitedly, almost throwing the cake in her hand. "Bai Shu, who said you can't save yourself? You are a good cook, and you eat so beautifully. You can definitely become a food broadcaster."
He Xi put down the cake, looked at Bai Shu who was still confused, picked up a stool with his foot and stepped on it.
She lifted Bai Shu's face from above and looked straight into his eyes, as if she wanted to look into his heart. "Bai Shu, listen to me. You've always had the ability to save yourself, but you didn't know it."
"The injury in high school hit you so hard, you were so heartbroken, so you couldn't see it. But now, Bai Shu, I see it, I know it."
"You can, really." He Xi murmured, "You really can do it, I'm not lying to you."
Bai Shu's body was frozen, motionless, his eyes slightly widening only from the raised eyebrows. At this moment, not only his eyes and heart, but also the world around him, had become the image of He Xi alone.
He Xi clicked the play button on the editing software and played it once. After confirming that everything was correct, he clicked publish.
As soon as the video was released, it immediately received a lot of traffic.
He Xi watched the video's growing number of likes and comments, leaping up in the playground with joy and clapping his hands with Bai Shu. "Bai Shu, not only am I famous, but you're famous, and our couple is famous too."
"Happy?"
"Nonsense!" He Xi's catchphrase. Bai Shu raised his eyebrows, not surprised.
Watching He Xi bouncing around like a piece of popping candy, her hands folded, her phone resting on her chin, her eyes twinkling as she discussed her future, she possessed a charm she hadn't even realized existed; it was captivating.
She stepped closer, counting off the comments on her fingers. "I didn't expect my first video to go so viral. Bai Shu, I think I have a natural talent for social media. I originally started making videos because I wanted to find something I enjoy, but when I was replying to the comments one by one just now, Bai Shu, you don't know how happy I was... I feel like I've finally found what I love."
"I've thought about it. I can continue to shoot challenge videos on this account, and then you can open an account to do food broadcasting. If it becomes popular later, you can make a food blogger account. Then we can try to shoot some daily life together to test the waters. If the results are good, we can also make a couple account... What do you think-"
Bai Shu met He Xi's eyes. "...How's it going?" He Xi realized they were already incredibly close, her hand resting on his chest. Such close proximity meant there was no hiding from the pounding of their hearts. Their eyes met, and Bai Shu didn't speak. He couldn't hear clearly either. Only one sentence remained, lingering in his mind like a demonic voice, constantly bewitching him—
Go down and kiss her.
Kiss her chin, her mouth, her nose, her ears, her eyebrows, her eyes, her forehead, her hair. Kiss her entire face, every inch of her skin...
His eyes suddenly widened. But it wasn't because of the last sentence that almost went astray, but because of the soft, cool yet slightly hot breath on the lips, which made his ears and his face burn red.
This was... the kiss of his dream lover, his beloved girl, his... his heartbeat, his bravery, his passion, his everything, his—
He Xi.
Bai Shu's heartbeat was so fast it threatened to burst out of his throat, bursting his chest. His hands and feet were in a panic, not knowing where to put them. He slowly closed his eyes and accepted his selfish desires, his greed, his possessiveness, everything about him. It was his.
He Xi.
He suddenly exerted force, wrapping his arms around the girl's waist and pressing her tightly into his arms, wanting to rub her into his bones. He cupped her face with his backhand, so impulsive yet so gentle, the affection between their lips so lingering, so gentle, so obsessed. Their tongues entwined, so madly, their saliva constantly exchanged, and the rising temperature in their mouths made him feel like melting.
He let out an unbearable, heavy gasp, and when he heard her gasp, he couldn't help but breathe softly. His heartbeat quickened, and every pore in his body opened up and jumped into his ears, shouting like a loud speaker: You are so happy. So Bai Shu smiled happily.
He Xi felt a wave of confusion, but she loved Bai Shu so much that when he smiled she wanted to laugh too. The laughter of the two men and women collided in the air, like the tinkling of ice cubes in a summer glass, so crisp and clear.
The two of them snuggled together, their bodies trembling with laughter. Their fingers clasped together, their skin pressed against each other. Their gazes were filled with an almost unbearable sweetness, yet they only savored the sweetness of it. This summer night was destined to be unforgettable for them.
Looking back, it’s been ten years.
They are no longer young, but their love remains as passionate as it was in their youth. When love becomes a responsibility, their choice remains each other. Through the trials of fate, the ups and downs of life, and the daily grind of life, they not only don't let go of each other's hands, but hold them even tighter.
"Ten years have passed in a flash." He Xi couldn't help but sigh as she flipped through the photos she and Bai Shu took when they were in college.
"Yeah." Bai Shu looked at his younger self with nostalgia, "Back then I could still enjoy a full banquet, but now I can't."
He Xi's eyes showed heartache. At that time, Chen Wutao and Bai Zheng had both fallen seriously ill, draining the savings of both families. Bai Shu's food-streaming videos were just starting to gain popularity at the time, and his stomach was damaged by all the food he had been eating to create hit videos.
"I...I'm not saying this to make you feel bad." Bai Shu looked at He Xi, his eyes moist. "I know you had a hard time, too. You lost a lot of weight back then."
"Fortunately..." Bai Shu hugged He Xi's waist fearfully, "Those difficult days are over."
After a major operation, the two elderly people recovered. Bai Shu and He Xi were more committed to each other after this experience and walked into the marriage hall hand in hand.
"After the cold winter, we have also ushered in our own spring."
He Xi leaned on Bai Shu's chest, listening to his heartbeat so close to her, and suddenly wanted to cry, "So much has happened in the past ten years."
Later, Bai Shu assisted He Xi in opening a cultural media company. The two successfully started their own business and achieved financial freedom.
Now, the two have been married for many years, traveled to many places and have footprints all over the world, but there is always only each other in their lives and family.
When Bai Shu was young, the way he ate brought a ray of light into the life of the anorexic He Xi. Later, when the family underwent a sudden change and someone needed to step up and take responsibility, Bai Shu took the initiative to carry the burden forward with his eating broadcast.
"Bai Shu." He Xi suddenly wanted to call him.
"Hmm?" Bai Shu lowered his eyelids.
He Xi gently touched Bai Shu's face, "My dear, Mr. Xiafan." Her soft fingertips touched the man's face.
Bai Shu snorted and laughed, then put his face against He Xi's hand and rubbed it, "Touch it more."
"Don't stop, I like it." The man put his lips to the woman's ear, and his ambiguous words mixed with his hot breath fell into her ear. The woman's face flushed immediately.
Ten years is a heavy number in anyone's life. In a corner cafe, quiet and beautiful music played as two men in suits sat facing each other.
"You're getting married?" Lin Shenyuan looked deep into Wei Mo's eyes. "Finally?"
"You're still talking about me." Wei Mo took a sip of coffee and put it down gently. "You've been alone all these years, without even a romantic partner."
"You care about this?" Lin Shenyuan was no longer the soft and inert young man he used to be. "Aren't you worrying too much?"
"Yeah... this is not a good habit." Wei Mo shook his head and laughed, as if remembering something, he said, "Hey, buddy won't have time to invite you out for coffee often in the future."
Lin Shenyuan thought about his wedding and asked, "Have you decided on a wedding? Chinese or Western style?"
"Both," Wei Mo replied, his eyebrows raised in anticipation. "But this time, I'm wearing a skirt." Seeing Lin Shenyuan's surprised expression, Wei Mo spread his hands and shrugged. "...She wants to wear a suit, for one thing, but also...I'm already this old, and if I don't dare to be unrestrained, wouldn't that mean I've lived in vain?"
Then a smile gradually appeared on Lin Shenyuan's face, and his eyes softened. "It's fine."
Wei Mo clinked his coffee cup against Lin Shenyuan's across from him and said casually, "Let's go together then."
"Okay." Lin Shenyuan leaned back in his chair and smiled. "I tried not to steal your limelight that day."
"You dare?!"
Bai Shu grabbed He Xi's hand that was resting on his face and moved it down, feeling his whole body getting hot. He twisted his body impatiently, looking at He Xi with a blurry look in his eyes. Suddenly, he let out a low cry, his head resting on He Xi's shoulder, panting non-stop, and the sound of his voice falling into her ears was extremely sexy.
He Xi blushed, and felt her palms burning. Bai Shu's lips gently nudged He Xi's ear, and he bewitched her with a devilish voice, "Wife."
"Having come this far, isn't it time to turn off the lights, huh?" The rising tone was tinged with intoxicating charm.
He Xi didn't move and refused to look up at Bai Shu.
Bai Shu is not a young boy. How could he stand there like he did in the past, not knowing what to do? He quickly stuffed a piece into He Xi's hand and closed her hand tightly.
"Would you mind putting it on me?" He took a step closer, passionately asking, "Would you mind letting me serve you?"
With a snap, a string of rationality in his mind completely snapped. He Xi fell completely, and Bai Shu took a step further, approaching with tenderness, "You've tried it before, I'm very skilled, right?" Bai Shu kissed He Xi lightly on the lips, the hint very obvious.
"...Yeah." He Xi closed his eyes.
His vision fell into darkness, but the sparks of desire crackled and burned fiercely.
We love each other with all our might, even in the midst of our passionate embrace. They both saw these words in each other's melting eyes, and swam even more madly in the river of love.
Their lives continued. No one knew what would happen in the future, but their clasped fingers, their fingers pressed tightly together, had long since become one layer of skin, binding their destinies together so tightly that not even the heavy vicissitudes of life, old age, sickness, and death could separate them.
-
Bai Shu sat at the dining table, browsing the latest current affairs news on his mobile phone, and scooped spoonful after spoonful of the century egg and lean meat porridge from the bowl into his mouth.
He Xi raised his head and caught a gentle, bright gaze. He Xi propped himself up on his elbows, met Bai Shu's gaze, and gently wiped the porridge from the corner of his mouth with his fingers.
Bai Shu moved his finger to the woman's smiling face, and gradually became mesmerized. "He Xi, you know, the way you look at me now is exactly the same as before. I'm very happy."
"I'm very happy."
"I'm really happy." Every time he said this, his heartbeat echoed, automatically blocking out the sounds of the wind, electrical appliances, and news on his phone around him, leaving only his and He Xi's breathing and heartbeat.
"I know. No need to say it so many times." He Xi scolded, "It's as if I could disappear at any moment."
"Don't worry, even if I'm seventy or eighty and my teeth have all fallen out, I will still look at you like this."
"because--"
"I love you." Bai Shu answered for her.
"Yes, but there's also..." He Xi explained with a smile, "Do you remember what I told you last time?"
Bai Shu's eyes were slightly closed, a hint of doubt flashed across his hazy eyes, and then gradually cleared up. He grinned, rubbed his hair against He Xi's neck and said, "Remember."
"So good."
My go-to for rice.
—End of full text—
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