"How could it remain the same? It's increasing day by day."
-
After placing the cake in the oven and setting the timer, Wen Tingxue heard a sharp sizzling sound from the kitchen.
It sounded like something being thrown into hot oil.
"?"
The young girl's head snapped up warily. What was happening?
Was someone cooking?
After confirming everything was fine with the oven, Wen Tingxue curiously walked towards the kitchen.
Through the glass door, she saw the young master, who usually never lifted a finger for chores, standing by the stove with his sleeves rolled up and an apron on. He was holding his phone in one hand and a spatula in the other.
In the swirling smoke, he actually exuded a hint of domestic charm. His movements were practiced, but his face was a mask of displeasure, his brows perpetually furrowed, completely lacking his usual serene composure.
As she moved closer, she noticed that those captivating, peach-blossom eyes were mostly glued to the phone screen.
He only glanced at the mysterious object in the pot occasionally, and from time to time, he would lift his hand to stir it.
His focused expression made it seem as though he was facing the most challenging problem in the world.
Wen Tingxue had never seen him so frustrated. Unable to help herself, she giggled and opened the door, nearly choking on the smoke.
"Cough, cough, cough, what are you doing? Cough, cough, didn't we agree I would cook today? Cough, cough..."
Before she could reach him, she was pushed out of the kitchen. The door was left half-closed, revealing his slightly defeated handsome face. His usually sharp sword-like eyebrows drooped a little, making him look exceptionally moody, yet also incredibly endearing.
"The kitchen is not a place for you. Go watch TV on the sofa." He pointed towards the living room with the spatula.
"But..."
Wen Tingxue glanced back at him, worried. "Why don't I do it? I asked you to come into the kitchen to wash fruit, not to cook. Today is your..."
He directly covered her mouth, his expression sour as he said, "Talk any more and I'll kiss you."
"..."
"Go check on the cake. Leave the kitchen to me." He nudged her towards the oven, then closed the door, continuing to pore over the recipe.
Watching his serious demeanor, Wen Tingxue recalled how relaxed he was during his high school tutoring sessions.
Tsk.
It seemed cooking was more difficult than exams, enough to make the formidable Mr. Yu approach it with the seriousness of facing a great enemy, giving it his all.
Wen Tingxue tried to go in and help him, but he locked the door from the inside.
"..."
After staring blankly at the back of his head for a moment, Wen Tingxue decisively went to monitor the cake.
It was her first time making a cake too, and success wasn't guaranteed. It was better to keep an eye on it.
As for the kitchen...
If he wanted to fumble around, let him. She wasn't very good at cooking herself anyway.
Buying the ingredients today was an experiment. After all, they would be living together in the future; they couldn't just eat takeout every day.
When the cake rose to its peak and began to recede, the kitchen door opened again, carrying a peculiar aroma of spices.
"You're out!"
The young girl dropped the cream and ran to him with delight, her eyes shining as she looked at him, as if they hadn't seen each other in a long time.
Yu Wenli shyly averted his gaze, his ears turning red. "I don't know how it turned out. Want to try it?"
He carried the plate towards the dining table, the cute apron looking somewhat amusing on him.
"Okay!"
Wen Tingxue followed him like a little shadow.
Yu Wenli, feeling immense pressure, settled her into a chair, then handed her chopsticks. His tone was uncharacteristically hesitant.
"I followed Grandpa's recipe, but I'm not sure... about the taste..."
"..."
Wen Tingxue bit down on her chopsticks, staring at the pitch-black... sweet and sour fish in front of her.
While the presentation was undeniably poor, to avoid crushing his confidence, Wen Tingxue, as if facing her doom, reached out with her chopsticks, and then, the plate flew.
"Huh?" The young girl looked up, puzzled. "What are you doing?"
"Just throw it away." He started to walk away with the plate.
The young girl quickly snatched the dish back, guarding it in her arms like a hungry animal.
"You wish! It's your first dish!" Her eyes were full of a mournful gaze. "I have to try it no matter what!"
Saying this, she ignored his attitude and picked up a piece with her chopsticks, putting it in her mouth.
There was no time to stop her. Yu Wenli immediately placed his hand on her chin. "If it's not good, spit it out quickly."
He stared intently at her expression, incredibly nervous, terrified she might be poisoned.
"Mmm..." Wen Tingxue savored it for a moment. "It's not that bad, but..."
She took out a few fish scales from her mouth and asked, confused, "Did you not scrape them off properly?"
Yu Wenli: "..."
"Okay, I guess so?" The usually confident young man scratched his head, looking unusually bewildered.
"Let's not eat it," he said, deflated, snatching the chopsticks from her hand. "I'll make something else for you."
Wen Tingxue: "..."
It was actually a little burnt, too.
But she didn't say it, afraid of discouraging him.
When the chiffon cake was successfully baked, Yu Wenli was still in the kitchen.
Wen Tingxue realized something was amiss, her initial joy diminishing considerably.
She quickly went over and found him leaning against the kitchen counter, playing on his phone, his head slightly bowed. His apron was half-undone, one leg bent and extended, exuding a lazy aura.
Wen Tingxue stared at the way he held his phone, as if he were messaging someone.
He was replying quite diligently and seriously.
He hadn't even noticed her arrive.
As she was thinking, he suddenly looked up, meeting her gaze. He instinctively flipped his phone face down on the counter.
"?" The young girl blinked in confusion. Without hiding anything, she directly asked, "What are you doing?"
"..."
Yu Wenli looked down at her. His height of nearly two meters, even without standing straight, exuded an imposing aura. Yet, at that moment, his presence seemed inexplicably subdued.
"It's nothing, just chatting with Grandpa." He took her hand, trying to change the subject. "Is your cake ready?"
"No," Wen Tingxue narrowed her eyes and leaned closer, her nose almost touching his. "You're not being honest. You're hiding something from me."
Yu Wenli: "..."
"Let me see your phone," the young girl reached out, palm up, her fingertips playfully hooking. "I want to peek at your little secret."
Little secret?
Yu Wenli chuckled and handed her the phone, obediently saying, "What little secret could I have? It's just a bit embarrassing."
"Hm? Embarrassing what?" Wen Tingxue looked up, puzzled. The screen of the phone in her hand had just opened, displaying his chat history with Grandpa Yu.
Grandpa Yu had sent voice messages, which he had converted to text, making it clear.
Grandpa Yu: [With your cooking skills, don't even think about capturing a girl's heart. You couldn't even catch a dog.]
The young girl's face instantly flushed, and her heart pounded. She pushed him. "I'm making a cake, stop messing around."
"Okay," he replied, his tone sweeter than cream.
The birthday cake was completed with their combined efforts. Although it wasn't as pretty as store-bought ones, it was still decent.
"Make a wish quickly!" Wen Tingxue held the cake with lit candles in front of him. The candlelight reflected in her clear, watery pupils, bright and moving.
Yu Wenli gazed at her intently and said, "My only birthday wish is to have this day every year and this moment every year."
The candles were blown out in one breath, hoping his heartfelt wish would be heard by heaven.
"Is it sweet?" The young girl scooped a piece of cake and fed it to him, asking with anticipation.
Yu Wenli nodded obediently. "Sweet."
"Do you know why?"
"Why?" he played along.
"Because I put your love confessions into it, so hahaha."
Before she could finish her bad joke, she was already laughing uncontrollably, her joyous laughter filling the room.
Yu Wenli couldn't help but laugh along, but his mind unexpectedly conjured the image of her when she first arrived in Jiangcheng.
So small and thin, dropping tissues used for wiping tears all the way, timid and fearful beyond measure.
And now...
Yu Wenli lowered his head and took a bite of the cake from her hand. Then, he put one arm around her waist and cupped the back of her head with the other.
The sweet taste of cream exploded on his tongue, mingling until the young girl, gasping for breath, went soft in his arms. Only then did he reluctantly kiss the corner of her mouth and say, "A birthday cake only tastes right when eaten like this."
Wen Tingxue: "..."
Illogical scoundrel.
-
The two of them frolicked until dusk began to settle.
Que You called them to eat, and Yu Wenli remembered the mess in the kitchen, so he got up.
"No," Wen Tingxue grabbed him, "You cook, I'll wash dishes. You're not allowed to busy yourself anymore today!"
Yu Wenli couldn't resist her and let her go to the kitchen.
When she returned after washing, the young girl covered his eyes with her cool hands and unexpectedly found him looking at an automatic dishwasher.
"Huh? What are you looking at that for?"
Yu Wenli took her hands from his eyes, kissed them, and said, "Doing chores together is romantic. In our everyday lives, I'd rather you do what you love, rather than busy yourself with these trivial matters."
Wen Tingxue hugged his neck, touched. "Actually, it's not troublesome. It's very quick to clean up."
Yu Wenli looked back at her. "Be good, darling. I need a girlfriend, not a nanny. I don't want you doing these things, and I certainly don't want you to think that our future will be like this."
Even if life was destined to become about the mundane realities of cooking, cleaning, and daily chores, he wanted the process to be slow, much, much slower.
He wanted to give her ample freedom and romance, not pots and pans.