Chapter 1006: Your Father's Here
Zhai Yanjun spent quite some effort to cook a decent meal for his girlfriend. Xiang Wai was stunned since he did seem like he knew what he was doing. She didn't think she could ever get used to this.
"Try it and let me know how it is," said Zhai Yanjun as he looked at her eagerly. "Come on, have some. And give it a score. Also, tell me what needs to be improved."
"Okay," she replied. She took the chopsticks and picked up a piece of chicken under his scorching gaze. She chewed slowly and had a look of surprise on her face when she realized that it wasn't that bad. No, in fact, it tasted very good. "Oh, this scallion chicken is delicious."
Zhai Yanjun laughed happily, "I know, right? This is my Ayi's secret recipe. She said it's guaranteed to taste amazing."
Xiang Wai raised her brows at him, "You learned it from Aunt Yue?"
Zhai Yanjun nodded his head in response.
"Should I give the credit to Aunt Yue then?" she asked teasingly.
Zhai Yanjun smiled at her and shrugged, "I don't mind. You can give credit to my Ayi." He took a pause and added, "Next time, I'll make you crab noodles."
"Why next time?" she asked.
"I haven't perfected it yet," said Zhai Yanjun as he scratched his nose. "I'm not as talented as you in this department."
Xiang Wai smiled at him as she took another bite of rice. "But you're hard-working Captain. I believe you won't do badly."
"I'll keep trying my best, Major!"
Xiang Wai chuckled as she continued to eat. She picked up the side dishes and liked them too. It could be seen that her Captain was truly doing his best to learn to cook for her. It really made her feel sweet. He was willing to do something he didn't even like or had no interest in. Now, he had cooking books around his dormitory and even had a little notebook filled with points to remember.
Xiang Wai couldn't help smiling even brighter. She felt like this meal tasted extra fragrant and delicious. In fact, it wasn't that she ever wanted him to work for her. It was just that he was willing to put his effort into something she liked.
Since it was all for her, she liked it even more.
"We are planning an engagement party for Raelle," informed Xiang Wai. "You have to be there. We are supposed to dance together."
"We are gonna dance?" asked Zhai Yanjun.
"Yes," replied Xiang Wai happily. "So, I'll be coming over these days at night. We'll practice for an hour. I can't let people see my clumsy self."
"You're such a good dancer," said Zhai Yanjun sincerely. "It's me who should be worried." He thought about something, "Oh, wait! I think this practice is for me, right? Because you don't want me to embarrass you in front of everyone?"
Xiang Wai shook her head, "Don't speak nonsense. Remember we danced together in the military academy during a celebration? It was I who embarrassed myself, not you."
Zhai Yanjun recalled it and nodded his head, "Indeed. But now that I think about it, I realized that you weren't nervous because of the audience but because I was your dance partner. Because when you danced with Han after me, you certainly were in control."
Xiang Wai did not expect him to catch on to that now after a decade. Did he really have to think about that so deeply? But it also warmed her heart to realize that he actually knew all their memories together and could even recall all the smallest details. And she always thought he didn't care at all about the time they spent together.
It seemed she wasn't the only one who cherished those moments.
"Am I right?" he asked curiously.
"Stop staring at me and eat," she said instead of answering him. "You talk too much. Don't you know you're not supposed to talk while eating?"
Zhai Yanjun laughed at that because he could see she was trying to avoid talking about her embarrassing moments. So, he didn't mention it but the curve of his lips never went down.
Both of them ate the meal harmoniously and Xiang Wai even ended up overeating because she didn't want to leave any leftovers. Zhai Yanjun rubbed her tummy saying, "You... Why did you have to stuff yourself like this?"
"I was enjoying it," she argued.
"You really worry me sometimes," he said. "I still can't believe they named you as one of the best soldiers of the Special Armed Forces."
"You're doubting my ability?"
He tapped her nose, "I'm just unable to understand how someone like you can be so level-headed in missions when in normal times you're always emotionally charged and looking for a fight. And do silly things like stuffing yourself with so much food."
"I have dual personality," she said. "The level-headed Wai only comes out when she is needed. Otherwise she is too lazy to face the world. So, I have to overtake. So, boyfriend, you have to deal with my dual personalities. You can do nothing about it. You lost your chance to run away from me."
Zhai Yanjun was amused again by her words and sighed, "I don't feel like running. I finally found my destination. Why would I want to run?"
Xiang Wai blushed slightly under his gaze. She did not know her boyfriend could speak like that too. Sometimes, she really wanted to go and thank Shui Xian for being such a good tutor. He actually managed to turn her tight-lipped boyfriend into this passionate and sentimental man.
"I told Opa that we are dating," said Xiang Wai.
"And?"
"And what? He already knew and yet gave me a surprised look saying, 'Really? You're dating Yanjun? I didn't even notice.'" She shook her head as she remembered that and added, "He is so bad at lying. At least Yanyan did slightly better than him at pretending like she knew nothing. But Raelle went, 'As if we didn't know that.'"
"Well, Raelle is Raelle. She won't bother pretending," said Zhai Yanjun.
"True. My sister seems to love honesty," said Xiang Wai.
They talked for an hour before it was time for Xiang Wai to leave. She didn't want to leave but she couldn't stay for so long either. It was against the rules. So, she decided to reluctantly leave before she lost her conviction to step out of his embrace.
She mentally slapped herself for falling back into love with Zhai Yanjun so deeply, so easily and so soon! But then again, when did she even fall out of love? She was just deceiving herself.
He walked her all the way to her car and everyone on the ground saw them walking together. The comrades from the same unit weren't surprised but the college students who were here for training were horrified to see that soft and doting smile on Zhai Yanjun's face which usually emitted cold.
The comrades from the same unit had already seen this scene quite often lately. Why else would they be having that knowing look when they saw Xiang Wai coming to see Zhai Yanjun? There wasn't anyone who didn't know that Zhai Yanjun was dating Xiang Wai. It was like this news had wings as it spread far and wide.
"Why don't you tell me to stay?" asked Xiang Wai as she swayed his hand. "You don't want me to stay?"
"Wai, why don't you stay?"
"What's the point of asking that now?" she grumbled. "I had to remind you to ask me to stay. You really don't want me to stay at all."
Zhai Yanjun frowned at her acting and finally asked, "What are you up to?"
Xiang Wai dropped the act, "I always wanted to play the role of that unreasonable girlfriend."
"Was it fun?"
"No," she answered. "It's not fun at all. It's not fun even more since I know you can't stop me from leaving. Gosh, why do I have to be such an understanding girlfriend? See? Captain, you won't find a second one like me."
"I don't want one," he said. "I'm okay with only you." Xiang Wai was quite satisfied with that response. "No, maybe I'd like a second one."
"What did you say?"
He pinched her nose lovingly, "A cute daughter like doesn't sound like a bad idea."
Xiang Wai hit his arm, making him laugh.
"Are you looking for trouble?"
"No," he replied. "Take care of yourself. And drive safely. There is no hurry to get home."
"I know. I know. I'll drive carefully. Geez!"
She was tired of these reminders now. She wasn't that bad of a driver, okay?!
He rubbed her head and said, "Bye!"
"Bye!" she said and drove away from there.
Zhai Yanjun was still watching her leave when he received a call. He looked at his phone and frowned at the caller id. "Hello, what is going on, Harry?"
"You should come to here," said the guy on the other side.
"What's wrong?"
"Your father's here," replied the guy.
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om