The heavy, satisfying feeling in her stomach was her only comfort these past few days.
Even the dull pain in my ankle was dispelled by this delicious food.
Su Wei put down his chopsticks.
A white shadow darted out from under the table.
Cotton Candy rested its two front paws on Su Wei's knees, whimpering anxiously, its tail whipping behind it like a propeller.
"Give."
Su Wei poured the remaining half bowl of soup into a stainless steel bowl.
smack smack
The little fox didn't even lift its head, burying its entire head in the bowl and devouring the food in a flash.
"I'll clean it up."
Emily braced herself against the armrests, trying to pull herself off the sofa.
"Sit back down."
Su Wei didn't look up, skillfully stacking the three plates together.
"I've already asked you to cook, washing the dishes is such a small thing..."
Emily tried to argue, but as her weight shifted onto her injured leg, her brow furrowed instantly, and she gasped in pain.
A hand rested on her shoulder.
Su Wei held the bowl and plate in one hand, and used the other hand to push her back into the sofa.
The force wasn't great, but the meaning was clear.
There's no room for negotiation.
"If you don't want to injure your ankle again and end up spending tens of thousands of dollars on hospital treatment."
Su Wei turned and walked towards the open kitchen counter, which was only one meter wide, with his back to her.
"Then you should just sit and rest. Otherwise, if something really goes wrong, I won't be responsible for paying for it."
Emily opened her mouth.
Finally, frustrated, he grabbed a nearby cushion and punched it hard.
This man.
He was clearly showing concern for someone, but the words that came out of his mouth reeked of money.
The sound of rushing water filled the air.
The dish soap foam expands on the sponge.
Su Wei did not dislike this kind of mechanical, repetitive labor.
The warm water washed away the grease, and my fingertips touched the smooth porcelain surface, giving me a pleasant feeling of cleaning away the dirt.
A pale blue notification flashed by at the edge of my field of vision.
[Perform housework, Life Module Experience +2]
[Cleanliness rating: Perfect. Gained a small amount of mental relief.]
In the cramped apartment, warm yellow light shone on his shoulders.
He was only wearing a black wool sweater, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
As he scrubbed, the muscles in his forearm became clearly defined.
Emily tilted her head, her gaze lingering on that figure for a long time, her fingers unconsciously twirling the tassels on the cushion.
Such a scene, full of life and warmth, is even rarer than the aurora borealis in the harsh and cold land of Kodiak.
The sound of flowing water suddenly stopped.
Su Wei turned off the tap, shook the water droplets off his hands, and wiped the countertop until there wasn't a speck of oil left.
He glanced at the wall clock.
8:30 PM.
Su Wei walked to the clothes rack and reached down to take down the heavy windbreaker.
Is there anything else I can help you with?
He asked while checking the zipper.
"If not, I'll head back now."
On the sofa, the fingers holding the tassels suddenly paused.
"Now?"
Emily's voice rose a few octaves.
"Are you going back to the cabin at the foot of the mountain?"
"Um."
Su Wei had already put on one sleeve.
" Cotton Candy needs more space to move around, and I have to get up early tomorrow to take an exam at the Fish and Game Department."
It takes about an hour to ride a snowmobile back from here.
Although visibility was poor at night, he was familiar with the roads and the risks were manageable.
"No!"
Emily blurted it out.
Su Wei paused, turned her head to look at her, and looked at her with a question in her dark eyes.
Emily avoided eye contact in a fluster, her mind racing.
"Listen to what's going on outside."
She pointed to the window.
"Wa...
The snowstorm, which had stopped, has started to pick up again.
The cold wind howled through the window frame, making the glass vibrate and rattle.
"This is likely a blizzard that has returned from its original state; although it's not large, visibility will be extremely low at night."
Emily sat up straight, adopting the professional, serious expression of an animal behaviorist.
"And that snowmobile."
She pointed outside the door.
"That was a cobbled-together vehicle, Su. Even though you fixed it, it's still not an original part."
"If you break down halfway through your journey, in that desolate wilderness, hypothermia can kill you within half an hour."
Su Wei's finger stopped on the zipper pull.
This is indeed a problem.
Traveling at night in wind and snow carries the risk of vehicle malfunctions, and limited visibility can also lead to getting lost.
Staying overnight costs nothing and ensures you're in good condition for tomorrow's exam.
Most importantly €€€€
"If you go back, the roads will be blocked by a blizzard tomorrow, and I'll be eating dry bread."
Seeing his hesitation, Emily's tone suddenly softened.
Those blue eyes blinked, a hint of probing mixed with a barely perceptible plea.
"And... Old Devil Black hates people who are late the most."
When Black was mentioned, Su Wei must have thought of him.
For the sake of his hunting license and the herd of deer, he couldn't take any risks.
I'll sleep on the sofa.
Su Wei unzipped the jacket, took it off, and hung it back on the hanger.
Simple and direct.
Emily's tense shoulders instantly relaxed, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up, which she then forcibly suppressed.
"A wise choice, Mr. Hunter."
She coughed lightly, concealing the excitement in her voice.
"As the landlord, how could I let the person who just cooked me a delicious meal travel overnight?"
Su Wei ignored her teasing and glanced around the living room.
This apartment is way too small.