Shen Xingzhi naturally would not refuse.
He picked up the spice box and handed it over. As Shen Jianxi reached for it, their fingertips brushed.
She recoiled as if shocked, swiftly withdrawing her hand holding the spice box.
Shen Xingzhi hadn't paid much attention to such an unconscious and rapid touch, but the girl's reaction and her flushed cheeks, which she tried hard to conceal but could still be seen from the side, made him pause.
A guess began to form in his mind: perhaps she liked him.
It wasn't that Shen Xingzhi was overly confident; he was called the "National Male God" for a reason. Not to mention his achievements, just his face alone, even if it exuded a sense of distance, still garnered countless admirers.
Recalling her blushing on several occasions since they met, it was enough to confirm his suspicion.
He had to admit, this discovery made Shen Xingzhi feel quite pleased.
77: "Beep! Favorability +5, current Shen Xingzhi favorability is 23."
Nothing was happier than discovering that the person you were interested in was also interested in you.
He smiled silently, as if he hadn't noticed the maiden's secret thoughts, and calmly helped her on the side.
In reality, there wasn't much Shen Xingzhi could do to help. Most of the time, he just watched Shen Jianxi work.
However, neither of them brought up him leaving, as if they were both enjoying their time together.
Shen Jianxi worked quickly. Once she finished, Shen Xingzhi opened the kitchen door and called everyone to come and get the dishes.
The aroma had already wafted out through the cracks in the door while she was cooking. Now that the door was open, the scent fully spread, making everyone's already hungry stomachs feel even worse.
Lin Jing was the first to come over and pick up dishes. Although she had secretly signed with a management company, she was still a civilian in the public eye. Participating in this program was a stepping stone to accumulate fans before a natural debut.
Therefore, maintaining a good public image on the show was crucial. This was also why, despite her fervent admiration for Shen Xingzhi, she hadn't approached him. Getting close to him now would easily attract negative attention. Once she had established a certain status, she could focus on marketing a CP with him and then slowly get closer.
Shen Xingzhi served the rice. Ji Zhaoyun then brought over the sterilized cups, placing one at each person's spot, and poured out sodas from the refrigerator.
Only when everyone was seated did they begin to eat.
"Little Shen's cooking is really good. His future girlfriend will be very fortunate," Li Ying said, picking up a piece of sweet and sour pork. The taste was a delightful burst of flavor.
Perhaps due to the small games and labor in the morning, everyone was very hungry now, making the already delicious food even more tempting.
Shen Jianxi hadn't cooked a lot, but all the dishes were finished.
After eating, she leaned back comfortably on the sofa. Jing Luan took on the task of washing dishes; she had always preferred doing rather than cleaning.
The sunlight outside shone through the beautiful windows onto people. The air conditioning inside was strong, so it didn't feel hot, but rather pleasantly warm, as if the coldness within their bodies was being driven out. It made it hard to keep one's eyes open.
Shen Jianxi's eyelids began to droop frequently. Yet, for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to close them, stubbornly resisting.
Zhao Yingxin sat on a single sofa not far away. As she happened to look up, she saw this scene. Bathed in sunlight, her already fair skin was infused with a hint of warmth, and a sacred glow seemed to surround her.
Her heart suddenly skipped a beat.
This Shen Jian, he wasn't as annoying as they said online, but rather...
She hadn't expected to find someone who stirred her heart on this program. But now, Zhao Yingxin felt as if she had developed a crush on an eighteen-year-old boy.
She smacked her own face with a hint of annoyance, trying to clear her head. However, the sound of her patting attracted the attention of Shen Jianxi, who had been dozing.
Meeting those beautiful eyes, which also held a hint of unintentional languor, Zhao Yingxin's face instantly flushed. She abruptly stood up, startling Qi Jia, who had just walked up behind her.
Realizing her movement was too obvious, she mumbled, "I'm going for my nap," and retreated into her room.
Shen Jianxi watched her retreating back, utterly perplexed. Her reaction was as if she had seen a ghost. Was she that frightening?
She touched her cheeks in confusion.
Hmm! Still as smooth, delicate, and lustrous as ever.
...
Shen Jianxi didn't linger downstairs for too long. Not long after Zhao Yingxin left, she also returned to her room.
Her phone had been in the room all morning, and she needed to check if anyone had sent messages. After all, she was now a person with a boyfriend.
She took her phone out of her bag. As expected, there were quite a few messages, including one from Ji Zhaoyun.
Just as Shen Jianxi was about to reply, there was a knock on the door.
"Knock, knock, knock," Shen Xingzhi's voice followed immediately. "This is Shen Xingzhi. May I come in?"
Shen Jianxi switched to her work account and opened the door. "What is it, Teacher Shen?"
Shen Xingzhi smiled, not answering directly, but gesturing towards her room. "May I come in?"
Shen Jianxi thought for a moment and made way for him.
"...I came to ask if there's anywhere you'd like to go tomorrow," he said, discreetly scanning the room. "Oh, and one more thing. Let's add each other as friends. After all, we'll be partners tomorrow, and it'll be easier to keep in touch."
Shen Jianxi opened her work account's QR code while replying, "I'll listen to whatever Teacher Shen decides."
Shen Xingzhi scanned it, sent a friend request, and only put away his phone after Shen Jianxi accepted. "In that case, can I make the arrangements for tomorrow?"
"Okay." She nodded. For Shen Jianxi, where they went wasn't important. What mattered was which opportunities in that place could increase her favorability.