Chapter 978: [Bonus chapter] Seen It All
Mu Chenyan said Xia Zhao was her enemy. She said he was annoying. She said he was unbearable.
But what she couldn't deny was that he scared her at times. He always caught her off guard and messed up the whole system that she couldn't handle. So, she always built a wall of competition between them. She wanted to win over him. She always wanted to win but she was still the one who lost in the end.
'Is this a feast?' questioned Yue Yue as she looked at the table. 'It's only three of us. Did you have to cook so much?'
Xia Zhao looked at the table full of dishes and felt like he really went overboard. It couldn't be helped. This was his first time cooking for the two of them. He had to do his best.
"It's not much," said Xia Zhao. "I didn't know what you'd like so I made a couple of extra dishes."
Yue Yue's lips twitched when she heard that. 'A couple?' she repeated in her mind. He really forgot how to count as well. Whatever. She'll be the magnanimous one here and let him off the hook this time. She should understand his state. She was also this excited when she thought about cooking for Zhai Kuijun and how could she not understand his feelings? She really could.
"Take whatever you like," said Xia Zhao like a generous host. "Here are shrimp dumplings in soup. Someone sent me lotus seeds this morning, so I made lotus seed paste buns as well. You can try some beef meatballs as well. And these chicken rice rolls. This is fried taro cake and these are water chestnut cakes."
'What's that?' questioned Yue Yue as she pointed at two other dishes that were placed before Mu Chenyan.
Xia Zhao looked at Mu Chenyan and answered, "That's Khao Soi(Thai Coconut Curry Noodle Soup) and the other one is Laab(Spicy salad)."
Yue Yue nodded her head in understanding, 'Chenyan likes these. I got it.'
"Are you trying to impress me?" asked Mu Chenyan.
"I'm just trying to be a good host," replied Xia Zhao, completely denying that he was trying to impress her. As if impressing her was easy. He'd definitely reach his grave trying to do that. He must be crazy to even try to impress her.
"First, try to be a good person!"
"Between the two of us, I'm still the better person."
Mu Chenyan glared at him and was about to shoot back when Yue Yue held her arm and mouthed, 'Are you five? What's wrong with you? You really love arguing with him. What? Is that your love language?'
Mu Chenyan gaped at her and covered her mouth, "Don't speak nonsense!"
Yue Yue shrugged and let her be. While Mu Chenyan turned to see if Xia Zhao saw what Yue Yue said and Xia Zhao pretended to look away as if he didn't know anything at all.
Yue Yue pushed her hand away and picked up the chopsticks. Everything looked like a delicacy that she couldn't bring herself to eat and ruin the aesthetic but the enchanting aroma was beckoning her. She suddenly felt like her son's greedy soul came inside her and she picked one thing after another and felt like her soul was comforted.
This was so delicious that she felt like shedding tears.
"Why are you crying?" asked Mu Chenyan.
Yue Yue was shocked by that question and touched her eyes. She didn't even realize that a tear slid down her eye. She couldn't believe it. She was literally so happy to eat.
'This is so good.'
Mu Chenyan was shocked to hear that and her face turned ugly, "You're saying that he is a better cook than me?"
Yue Yue wanted to nod but she felt like if she did, things won't end well. Mu Chenyan might snap her neck right there and then. Well, Mu Chenyan won't go that far but still, you could never be certain when it came to Mu Chenyan.
'I didn't say that. It's just that the dish reminded me of my childhood. It was a beautiful memory. It's nostalgia that made me tear up. Yes! Nostalgia!'
It would have been better if she didn't give this long explanation. Seeing her making excuses, Mu Chenyan's expression darkened.
"Was this a competition as well?" asked Xia Zhao.
Mu Chenyan looked at him, "Everything between us can only be a competition."
"Why? Because you're scared to look beyond that?"
"Shut up!"
"Okay."
Yue Yue silently nodded to herself. Definitely, that was their love language. It was just that she could understand sign language but this secret love language was not something she could comprehend. Rather than wasting her brain cells on that, she preferred enjoying this meal that made her tongue want to dance in joy.
Now, she was actually understanding a little bit of Mu Chenyan's frustration regarding him. He was good at everything to the point that he left no room for anyone else. How could she not be exasperated?
She felt like she should feel some pity for her best friend right now.
'I want to see the painting that Chenyan has her eyes on.'
Xia Zhao understood Yue Yue's request and nodded his head, "I'll show it to you after the meal."
'I can see it?'
"Well, why not?"
Mu Chenyan was feeling that Xia Zhao was too easygoing with Yue Yue. Was it her illusion? He was being too nice? What game was he playing? Why wasn't she able to understand it?
What she couldn't understand was that Xia Zhao changed his tactic to approach her. Instead of confronting her feelings, he was trying to impress her best friend. It was just an indirect approach to get to her. Since she won't listen to him, he hoped she'd listen to her best friend. After all, Mu Chenyan seemed quite helpless before Yue Yue.
He never thought someone could control Mu Chenyan like this but now, he had seen it all.
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