Wen He reached out and slowly popped an entire macaron into his mouth, carefully cupping his palm beneath it to catch the crumbs so they would not fall onto the floor.
They would attract ants.
Seeing that he liked it, Ji Chi's mood improved a little.
He knew Little Wooden Head would love this sort of thing.
"If you like them, go downstairs and eat in the dining room. Don't get the room dirty."
This was one of the few things Ji Chi said that Wen He agreed with.
The room is mine... if it gets dirty, I'll have to mop it. What a hassle.
Wen He nodded gently, but his gaze unconsciously drifted toward the little box in Ji Chi's hand.
"Mm..."
He followed Ji Chi down to the dining room, where Ji Chi opened the box to reveal three more macarons in different colors.
He pushed the box toward Wen He.
"Go ahead. They're all yours."
Wen He nodded and reached for a mint-green macaron.
Cool, refreshing mint mixed with cream... it was delicious.
So delicious that Wen He unconsciously swung his legs.
Another advantage of being with that annoying guy was getting to eat tasty things.
Resting his cheek on one hand, Ji Chi quietly watched Wen He nibble at the macarons.
He did not understand what was so good about them.
The cameraman arrived just then, but instead of approaching, he filmed the scene from a distance.
[Hiss... who said Demon Dragon didn't have a heart?]
[I think he's pretty nice to Xiao He.]
[Bruh, what's with the double standard?]
[I knew he had ulterior motives toward Xiao He!]
[I really think Guy One and Guy Five are a good match.]
[Then let them stay locked together. Don't let Guy Five out to wreak havoc on anyone else.]
[Agreed.]
Only after swallowing the last one did Wen He look at Ji Chi beside him.
When their eyes met, Wen He felt a little embarrassed. He said softly, "Thank you..."
"You're welcome~ Are you full? Want dinner?"
Seeing his shyness, Ji Chi grew even more pleased. He finally understood why Quan Chongnian always liked watching his little bichon eat... so this was how wonderful it felt...
The other person ate every bit of the food he had prepared, then thanked him with a blushing face.
Mm... I like this.
Ji Chi privately decided that he could bring Little Wooden Head some afternoon tea treats in the future.
Wen He felt that since he had eaten someone else's food, he ought to repay him, so he looked at Ji Chi and asked in return.
"Do you want dinner? There are ingredients in the fridge. I can cook for you."
Ji Chi shook his head. He did not particularly feel like eating right now.
Seeing him shake his head, Wen He grew a little urgent and reached out to tug at Ji Chi's sleeve.
"What's wrong? Aren't you hungry? Have some."
Ji Chi raised an eyebrow at his anxious expression, the smile in his eyes deepening.
Is Little Wooden Head acting cute?
Ji Chi raised an eyebrow and rubbed his ear stud, his face full of smiles as he said, "Sure."
He seemed to understand why Quan Chongnian liked playing with his little bichon now. So this was what it felt like to have someone act cute with him...
It felt nice.
Great. This way, I won't owe him anything...
Wen He could cook. He did not know how it tasted, but he could just about stomach it himself.
As long as Ji Chi ate the dinner he made, they would be even for today.
Wen He stood and headed into the kitchen.
Aside from a few unfamiliar gadgets, he knew how to use a regular rice cooker and gas stove.
Ji Chi sat at the dining table, propping up his chin as he watched Wen He bustle around the kitchen.
There were plenty of ingredients in the fridge, but since only the two of them were eating, Wen He did not dare use much and took only three eggs.
Then he took out two potatoes and four ham sausages.
These were recipes he had seen online: cumin potatoes with ham sausage, and egg drop soup.
Wen He liked spicy food, but he was not sure whether Ji Chi did, so he simply made a couple of dishes.
He was already half full and would not eat much. Ji Chi could have the rest.
Ji Chi took out his phone and snapped a whole flurry of photos of Wen He.
He got up, walked into the kitchen, and took the potato Wen He was peeling from his hands.
"Let me. How do you want it cut?"
"Diced, like the ham sausages."
With Ji Chi helping him, Wen He began beating the eggs.
The show's camera obligingly circled around the two of them as it livestreamed.
[Where's the classic dating-show scene?]
[What scene?]
[The apron!]
[Without an apron, his clothes will get dirty! Shouldn't Xiao He be busy cooking while Demon Dragon puts an apron on him?]
[The commenter above has a point!]
Once the ingredients were prepared, Wen He shooed Ji Chi away. He did not need him getting in the way.
This scene in the kitchen suddenly reminded Wen He of the scenes in his dream.
It seemed he was always staying in the kitchen... the battlefields of romantic rivalry outside had nothing to do with him.
The milky-white egg drop soup was already bubbling in the pot.
Ah... looking at it this way, I really am like Passerby A.
Everyone else is on a date, and I'm the only one cooking. What am I if not Passerby A?
A date? Right... isn't that annoying guy supposed to be on a date?
At that thought, he quickly looked toward Ji Chi, who was playing a game in the dining room.
"Aren't you supposed to be on a date?"
Ji Chi kept playing the game in his hands and answered without looking up, "Yeah. I'm on a date."
"Then why are you here?"
"I'm on a date."
Wen He sighed softly. He felt Ji Chi was even better at playing dumb than the eunuchs in the imperial palace.
Wen He did not understand what he meant. He lowered his head and stirred the potatoes in the pan, the toasted aroma drawn away by the range hood.
The golden potato cubes had now developed a browned crust.
Wen He calmly scooped them out, then added the diced ham sausage to fry.
Sizzling droplets of oil occasionally splashed onto the stovetop.
Wen He began mixing the sauce. After returning the potatoes to the pan and combining them with the ham sausage, he poured in a bowl of thick sauce.
He covered it and let it simmer for a little while.
The egg soup in the ceramic pot was ready too. A handful of chopped scallions, and the perfect egg drop soup was ready to serve.
Seeing this, Ji Chi stepped forward and took the soup from Wen He's hands.
It was very hot...
Once the food in the pan was ready, he carried that out too.
Wen He had not cooked much rice, since the other guests were out on dates and would surely eat dinner...
Looking at the dish and soup before him, Ji Chi promptly pulled Wen He over and snapped several photos.
This was Little Wooden Head's first time cooking for him.
He had to record it.
It looked pretty good...?
Wen He raised his hand and held its fair back beneath his nose, sniffing carefully.
There was a slight smell...
Ji Chi mistakenly thought he had burned the back of his hand. He took his slender hand and turned it over repeatedly to inspect it.
"What's wrong? Where did you burn yourself?"
With his soft, fair hand enclosed in Ji Chi's large palm, Wen He felt a little embarrassed. He shook his head and tried to pull away.
But Ji Chi used a little strength to keep him from withdrawing, unfolding Wen He's fingers one by one to examine them closely.
There was no redness from burns, nor any specks of oil.
The tips of Wen He's ears gradually reddened. He tried to pull away and said softly, "I didn't burn myself. There's just a smell..."
Wen He disliked having cooking smells linger around him afterward. He found them smelly and uncomfortable.
"Really?"
Ji Chi drew the back of Wen He's hand beneath his nose and gently sniffed it.
Hot breath washed over the back of his hand. Wen He felt it burned even more than splattering oil...
His breathing briefly stopped, and even his heartbeat quickened. His usually indifferent, blank eyes now held a trace of bewilderment too... Wen He abruptly snatched his hand back, turned around, and went upstairs.
It felt strange... but he could not say what was strange about it.