Stir-fry a couple of dishes for me before you go

After returning to the Lu family home, Lu Xiaoxiao told no one that she had gone to school to meet Lu Yubai's teacher, keeping her lips sealed as he had wanted.

That evening, Lu Shiyan messaged Lu Xiaoxiao and Lu Jiaoyue, telling them to get ready over the next two days. The day after tomorrow, they would head to the variety show's filming location with him.

Lu Xiaoxiao was quite excited. She happily rolled around on her bed a couple of times, then opened her phone and began scrolling aimlessly.

Partway through, her finger slipped and opened WeChat, where she suddenly spotted her chat with Ji Yunhuai.

Oh, right... I almost forgot about this guy.

She would be away for at least a month once she went on the show. What if Ji Yunhuai wanted to order her around during that time?

Lu Xiaoxiao furrowed her brows. After mulling it over, she decided to give him a heads-up and let him know she would be going on the show.

Not long after she sent the message, Ji Yunhuai replied, "Lu Shiyan's really taking you on the show?"

From that single short line, Lu Xiaoxiao somehow read thirty percent doubt, thirty percent disdain, and forty percent indifference.

What was that supposed to mean? He didn't believe her?

Speechless, Lu Xiaoxiao hammered out "Of course" and hit send.

Half a minute later, Ji Yunhuai replied, "Then he really does treat you well. He's not even taking his biological sister."

Lu Xiaoxiao: "...My second brother has always treated me well. And who said his biological sister isn't going? We're both going, okay!"

Catching sight of a pair of shoes on the floor, she hesitated, then sent another message. "By the way, when should I return the shoes I wore home last time?"

Lu Xiaoxiao could tell those shoes were expensive. Although she knew Ji Yunhuai wouldn't miss that little bit of money, she didn't want to owe him any favors. Seeing them sitting there also reminded her of the humiliation she had endured during their last meeting. It was better to give them back.

Ji Yunhuai: "Why return them? I can't wear them anyway. Just keep them."

Lu Xiaoxiao: "Oh, then I'll throw them in the trash. I don't want your stuff."

Ji Yunhuai had only just finished showering. Too lazy to blow-dry his hair, he had left it half-dry, changed into silk pajamas, and settled onto the sofa beside the floor-to-ceiling windows. This was the most relaxing part of his day.

When he saw Lu Xiaoxiao's message, his fingers paused, and he let out a low chuckle.

Not bad. She really knew how to hold a grudge.

And once she was no longer around him, she clearly grew bolder, even daring to talk back to him outright.

Ji Yunhuai's apartment had an excellent orientation and view. Looking out at night, the city lights resembled a brilliant river of stars glittering in the darkness, neon lights weaving together to outline the towering buildings.

The headlights on the roads formed a flowing galaxy, streaming endlessly back and forth. On the river not far away, lights from the banks shimmered in reflection, a refreshing and soothing sight.

Ji Yunhuai admired the view for a while, then suddenly noticed a faint smile on his face in the window's reflection.

How strange. Someone had clearly offended him, so why had it actually put him in a better mood?

...He must really have been too bored lately.

Leaning back against the leather sofa, he tapped his fingers idly against the armrest. After reaching that conclusion, he lowered his eyes and considered it for two seconds before finally sending Lu Xiaoxiao a location.

"If you really want to return them, come find me here at two tomorrow afternoon."

The following afternoon, Lu Xiaoxiao arrived at the location Ji Yunhuai had sent her as agreed-a luxury apartment building in the city center.

As she stepped into the elevator, she couldn't help sighing inwardly.

Lu Xiaoxiao, oh, Lu Xiaoxiao. You've been on your knees so long you've forgotten how to stand. You couldn't even bear to throw away a pair of shoes and just had to come scurrying over to deliver them!

But as soon as she finished berating herself, Lu Xiaoxiao began reassuring herself that it was understandable.

After all, before entering the novel, she had merely been a broke wage slave earning a few thousand a month. Saving up for such an expensive pair of shoes would probably have taken forever.

No, back then, she never would have been willing to buy shoes this expensive!

Although she had money now, she had only been in the novel for a little over two weeks. Lu Xiaoxiao couldn't forget her roots that quickly.

When she reached the floor Ji Yunhuai had specified, Lu Xiaoxiao smoothed the pained expression off her face before ringing the doorbell.

She stood there waiting for ages before Ji Yunhuai finally opened the door at his own leisurely pace.

His hair was slightly tousled, and he still looked drowsy, as though he had just woken from an afternoon nap.

Lu Xiaoxiao had no intention of getting drawn into anything with him. She shoved the shoebox straight into his arms and turned to leave, only for him to immediately call her back.

"What's the hurry? Have you had lunch?"

Huh? Ji Yunhuai actually cared whether she'd had lunch? Had he turned over a new leaf?

Could it be... that he wanted her to stay and was offering her lunch?

At that possibility, Lu Xiaoxiao hesitantly looked back and answered honestly, "No."

Ji Yunhuai let out a lazy yawn and asked, "Then can you cook?"

An ominous feeling rose in Lu Xiaoxiao's heart. Though she was a reasonably good cook, she fell silent for two seconds before answering cautiously, "No. Why?"

Ji Yunhuai stepped aside to leave her some room to enter, his tone positively breezy. "Perfect. Now you have a chance to learn."

"Since you're already here, stir-fry a couple of dishes for me before you go."

Lu Xiaoxiao: "..."

Lu Xiaoxiao: "!?!??"

Seriously, dude?

Did he even hear himself? What kind of thing was that to say!

Ji Yunhuai paid no attention to her reaction. With a stride of his long legs, he headed inside, as though certain Lu Xiaoxiao wouldn't leave.

Watching his infuriating retreating figure, Lu Xiaoxiao's face alternated between livid and pale.

She realized she had truly underestimated Ji Yunhuai's talent for making her life difficult. Had she known he could be this unreasonable, she should have pretended not to hear him when he called her and then run for her life!!!

But as her anger simmered, Lu Xiaoxiao suddenly smiled.

She had just thought of a way to get one over on him.

Didn't Ji Yunhuai want to eat her cooking?

Great. She would cook for him! They would just have to see whether he could stomach it!

Imagining the comical expression she might soon see on Ji Yunhuai's face, Lu Xiaoxiao couldn't help flashing a sly smile.

Seeing Lu Xiaoxiao enter the kitchen without the slightest resistance, Ji Yunhuai was a little surprised.

He hadn't actually expected Lu Xiaoxiao to cook for him. He had said those things mostly because he wanted to see the entertaining sight of her bristling and lashing out after being teased too far. Or perhaps... he had been looking forward to hearing some unexpected excuse.

But neither happened.

Could she actually know how to cook?

Ji Yunhuai's brows drew together slightly in puzzlement.

Although Lu Xiaoxiao was only the Lu family's adopted daughter, they should have treated her well enough over the years. Shouldn't she have spent her days without ever having to lift a finger in the kitchen?

He had certainly never heard any rumors of the Lu family mistreating their daughters.

As Ji Yunhuai puzzled over it, the phone beside him suddenly chimed with a message notification.

He glanced over and saw that the message was from Ji Cheng.

"It's An He's birthday today. Don't forget."