Chen Ningxi hung up the phone and looked at her flushed face in the mirror, quickly going to wash her face to calm down.
To be honest, Cheng Qiaobei wasn’t within her expected range of marriage partners. Firstly, his job wasn’t very stable, moving around with different hotel positions. Secondly, he ca from a different circle than she was used to; her past acquaintances were all within the system, but Cheng Qiaobei was completely out of the system in a private company, entirely another circle.
The reason she hadn’t rushed to agree was that she worried whether belonging to different circles would cause them issues in getting along due to differing values.
Because for a relationship to last long, it wasn’t ultimately emotion-driven but decided by character.
Over ti, emotions might fade, but character wouldn’t change.
It couldn’t be helped that she was overly cautious—it was the lessons from past hurts. Now, when facing matters of the heart, she’d learned to slow down, to see if they were truly suitable for each other.
Sunday.
Finally able to sleep in naturally, Chen Ningxi opened her eyes, feeling completely refreshed. She took off her eye mask, pulled open the curtains, and let the brilliant sunshine pour into the room, warming the small place.
She planned to find Liang Lei to go to take a bath in the Forest Bubble Hall, spend the day there eating and drinking.
Chen Ningxi had never wanted to leave Dannjiang largely because of its bathing culture—there’s a saying, "Northeast bathing sees Danjiang seeing the nation."
Before she could call Liang Lei, she saw Cheng Qiaobei’s ssage.
north: Are you awake?
Chen Ningxi checked the ti; the ssage was sent ten minutes ago.
Chen Ningxi: Awake.
The next ssage left her dumbfounded.
north: Open the door.
Chen Ningxi stared at the words on the screen, talking to herself, slightly bewildered.
"Open the door, what door?"
Just then, the doorbell rang. Chen Ningxi was about to open the door but rembered she was in pajamas, "...Wait."
She turned back to her bedroom to change into sothing comfortable before answering the door.
Cheng Qiaobei ca in holding a thermal box. Chen Ningxi said, "I told you not to bring it."
"I already spent the money and couldn’t return it. If I didn’t bring it to you, I’d eat it myself from the kitchen." Cheng Qiaobei carried the box into the kitchen and first took off his coat, "Go about your business, I’ll make you a three-way crab dish."
Chen Ningxi said, "I can’t eat so early in the morning."
Cheng Qiaobei said, "You overestimate , it’s not that fast. It’ll be ready by noon."
Chen Ningxi awkwardly scratched the back of her neck, "...I’ll go freshen up."
Only then did she rember she hadn’t washed her face, cupping her hands around it, "I must look a ss right now, don’t I?"
Cheng Qiaobei glanced over her face, finally focusing on the top of her head, reached up and flicked a strand of her hair sticking up, "First ti seeing soone with built-in Wi-Fi, haha."
Chen Ningxi freed a hand to cover her head and dashed into the bathroom.
As soon as the door closed, Chen Ningxi leaned against the door, her heart pounding furiously.
When she ca out after tidying up, the person in the kitchen had already divided up the king crab according to the cooking thods and set them out.
A small pot of porridge was simring on the stove. Chen Ningxi looked inside. Besides shrimp and sea cucumber, there were ingredients with king crab at. Oh my goodness, this seafood porridge was worth the money.
Cheng Qiaobei also brought other seafood, clearly having thought about what to make in advance and preparing the ingredients.
Cheng Qiaobei sliced the kelp into thin strips, drizzled chili oil, white sugar, and white vinegar, and finally scattered so sesa seeds.
The mixed kelp strips were placed on the table. The aroma wafted up to her nose as she walked by, making Chen Ningxi swallow, "You’re quite a cook."
Cheng Qiaobei said, "Did you discover another sparkling side of ?"
Chen Ningxi clicked her tongue, "Don’t get too pleased with yourself."
Cheng Qiaobei turned back to the kitchen, took two eggs, heated the oil, and began frying them.
Chen Ningxi said, "Let do it."
"Don’t move. Today, you don’t need to do anything." Cheng Qiaobei gripped her shoulders, pushing her to the dining room, "Just wait here."
Once Cheng Qiaobei returned to the kitchen, she bent over to sll the mixed kelp again; the freshly pressed chili oil gave off a special fragrance. Chen Ningxi looked into the kitchen, where Cheng Qiaobei was unhurriedly frying eggs and occasionally stirring the porridge in the pot.
He made the complicated housework seem orderly. From him, you could feel the flavor of life and the tranquility of days.
Isn’t this exactly what she wanted?
The fried eggs were served, and the seafood porridge was ready. Besides the kelp strips, there was also a refreshing cucumber salad.
Seeing the shape of the fried eggs, Chen Ningxi laughed, "Having breakfast, there’s no need to be so fancy, right?"
Cheng Qiaobei’s long eyes curved beautifully; he smiled and said,
"Isn’t it necessary to put a little thought into it for soone you like? Besides, you’re worth my effort."
Chen Ningxi raised her hand holding chopsticks, "Stop, if you get any more cheesy, I won’t be able to eat."
"Haha." Cheng Qiaobei laughed without saying more, just signaling her to try it.
The seafood porridge didn’t have a fishy taste, but it was fresh, sweet, and soft.
"How is it?" Cheng Qiaobei asked.
Chen Ningxi nodded, trying the side dishes.
Her slightly surprised expression showed she was quite satisfied with his culinary skills.
Chen Ningxi said, "You eat too."
Cheng Qiaobei then picked up his bowl and chopsticks.
Noticing the smile that lingered even while he was eating, Chen Ningxi recalled what Cheng Qiaobei said yesterday...
As soon as I see you, I want to smile.
Sunlight poured over the floor, and the TV was on in the living room. They chatted as they ate, everything felt so natural.
Chen Ningxi: "Are you not working today?"
Cheng Qiaobei: "Nothing much today."
Chen Ningxi listened closely, "So, you’re working, you skipped work to co to my house?"
Cheng Qiaobei corrected her, "I’m a manager; I can control my work ti."
"Well..." Chen Ningxi teased him, "When you can’t win an argunt, you pull rank."
Cheng Qiaobei’s brows and eyes were full of amusent, "If you want to understand it that way, that’s fine."
Chen Ningxi looked at him sideways and smiled, "You don’t even hide it."
Cheng Qiaobei finished eating, wiped his mouth with a napkin, leaned back in his chair, and asked Chen Ningxi:
"What plans do you have today?"
Chen Ningxi said, "Planning to visit Forest Bubble Hall with Liang Lei."
Forest Bubble Hall covered a variety of services and ranked among the top three in Danjiang as a super-large bath and leisure center.
"What ti is your appointnt?" Cheng Qiaobei glanced at his watch.
Chen Ningxi: "Planning for ten, but..."
Cheng Qiaobei raised an eyebrow, "But what?"
Chen Ningxi looked back down, "You know the answer."
Cheng Qiaobei said, "I don’t mind. You can go about your business; I’ll drop you off."
Hearing this, Chen Ningxi looked up and asked, "Are you leaving?"
Cheng Qiaobei’s eyes twinkled with deeper amusent, "Can’t bear for to go? Just say it, and I won’t leave."
Chen Ningxi lowered her head to continue her breakfast, "Who said I can’t bear for you to go? Thick-skinned."
"Exactly, I’m thick-skinned; you’ve already said it twice." Cheng Qiaobei propped his chin with his hand, watching the person across the table eat, "Chen Ningxi."
Chen Ningxi: "Hmm?"
Cheng Qiaobei: "Sotis I’m afraid you can’t see through ; sotis I’m afraid you’ve already seen through ."
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