After waiting for over twenty minutes, two fragrant and spicy stir-fried dishes were served.
One was Spicy Sliced Lotus Root, the other was Stir-fried Eggs with Leek Sprouts, accompanied by a plate of rice noodles.
Jiang Ling smelled the aroma, but wasn't sure about the taste. She tentatively picked up a slice of lotus root.
Instantly, a rich and mellow flavor flooded her mouth.
The lotus root was crisp, refreshing, sweet, and both fragrant and spicy. It tasted exceptionally good.
Although Spicy Sliced Lotus Root was a simple home-style dish common in the south, it wasn't easy to make well.
Jiang Ling had initially assumed that Jian Zhou, a young master from a wealthy family, wouldn't be a very good cook even if he could cook at all.
She had prepared herself to eat some culinary disaster, but to her surprise, it was the skill of a master chef.
Jiang Ling was both surprised and delighted. Her chopsticks kept moving, picking up food as she praised, "This flavor is amazing, so much better than any restaurant I've eaten at before."
Jian Zhou merely smiled faintly upon hearing this.
Jiang Ling put a mouthful of Stir-fried Eggs with Leek Sprouts into her mouth. The rich egg aroma hit her, and her eyes widened.
"This tastes even better! Who did you learn your cooking skills from? You must have studied under an incredible master in the culinary world."
"No, I learned it myself."
"Self-taught?"
"Mhm!"
"Damn, that's amazing! Anyone who marries you will be blessed for life!"
Jian Zhou remained noncommittal.
Jiang Ling glanced at him coquettishly and said with a charming smile, "Your cooking is so good, and you're so handsome. You must have a lot of girls chasing you. Tell me honestly, have you... you know... been with anyone?"
At her words, Jian Zhou's face instantly turned red, and his trembling finger pointed at Jiang Ling, "You... how can you, a girl..."
Jiang Ling chuckled, "What about me? Food and desire, these are human instincts. We're all adults, isn't it normal to talk about this? Tell me, was it your first time?"
"You..."
Jian Zhou bit his lip, seemingly wanting to call her shameless, but he couldn't utter a word.
Seeing him with an expression like a virtuous woman being molested on the street, Jiang Ling was nearly dying with laughter inside.
As someone who had read the original novel from a god's-eye view, how could she not know that Jian Zhou was such an amusing person?
This expression of being provoked, becoming flustered, yet having to restrain himself, was incredibly cute.
Jiang Ling couldn't help but laugh, "You won't say, but your expression has already betrayed you. Such a pure young man, hahaha..."
Jian Zhou's handsome face darkened from red.
If he didn't want to use Jiang Ling's special fate to change the tragedy of his past life, he would have already turned his back and left.
How could an eighteen-year-old girl have so many strange thoughts in her head?
It was too terrifying!
His brother was right; women in the entertainment industry were tigers, each more formidable than the last, and a single misstep could lead to being gnawed to the bone.
It seemed he needed to accelerate his plan, remove those who threatened the Jian family sooner, and uncover the truth behind the car accident in his past life.
Once everything was resolved, he would teach this "hooligan" a lesson.
Seeing Jian Zhou's forbearance, Jiang Ling was also secretly perplexed.
No matter what, this young man was a young master of the Jian family.
Even if he was willing to lower himself for An Qiuyan, he shouldn't be teased to this extent without daring to show any anger, right?
Could it be that he had other intentions in approaching her?
A flicker of suspicion flashed in Jiang Ling's eyes before she picked up her chopsticks and happily started eating the stir-fried noodles.