Chen Xi drove the car along the straight highway under the blazing sun.

The desert on both sides of the road was illuminated by sunlight into a pale golden color, like rolling waves extending to the horizon.

Chen Xi felt it was a bit glaring, so she casually picked up the sunglasses from the car and put them on.

“What should we eat for lunch?”

She asked casually.

Qin Lie glanced at her. The sunglasses covered half her face, making her nose bridge and lip line more prominent.

Her chin was pointed, adding a touch of femininity.

His Adam’s apple moved, and he said, “Whatever.”

Chen Xi: “How about we eat out before I take you home?”

Qin Lie made a sound of agreement, showing little interest.

Chen Xi: “What do you want to eat? Would stir-fry be okay?”

Qin Lie: “Too greasy.”

Chen Xi: “Hot pot?”

She shook her head as soon as she said it.

“Beef and mutton cause internal heat. You shouldn’t eat those for the next couple of days.”

Chen Xi: “Ramen?”

Qin Lie: “So-so.”

Chen Xi originally wanted to treat him to a meal as a way of saying thank you.

Who knew this guy would say “whatever” but be quite difficult to please?

Chen Xi: “So what do you want to eat? Should I go back and cook for you?”

“Good.”

Qin Lie said decisively.

Chen Xi smiled helplessly, “Your place has no oil, salt, soy sauce, or vinegar—what am I supposed to cook with?”

Qin Lie raised his hand and pointed to the intersection ahead, “Turn right, there’s a supermarket up front.”

Chen Xi sighed helplessly, “Fine, you call the shots.”

Who told him to take a brick to the head for her?

She turned the steering wheel right and drove toward the supermarket.

The two entered the supermarket, Chen Xi still wearing a slightly speechless expression.

She asked for instructions: “Your place has nothing—pots, pans, ladles, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar—should we buy everything?”

Qin Lie made a sound of agreement and pushed the shopping cart inside.

Chen Xi caught up with him in two steps and couldn’t help saying: “You never cook anyway. Isn’t it wasteful to buy a bunch of stuff?”

Qin Lie glanced at her, unmoved, and walked straight toward the cookware section.

Chen Xi helped him pick out a wok and spatula, vegetable washing basket, cutting board, and knives.

After buying these, the two wandered to the seasoning section and bought oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and several packets of seasoning.

Qin Lie only bought expensive things, not necessarily the right ones. Chen Xi followed behind him, putting back the flashy but impractical items one by one and replacing them with cheap, durable alternatives.

“This stainless steel cutting board can’t cut vegetables at all.”

Chen Xi picked up a wooden cutting board and held it up to him, “This one is good.”

“And the knife set—why buy so many? Having one for cutting raw meat and another for cooked food is enough.”

Qin Lie said coolly: “You know quite a lot.”

Chen Xi was busy selecting knives and didn’t say anything.

She used to be pampered by Fan Mingsu and never had to do any housework.

But since Fan Mingsu got sick, she started learning to do household chores.

“These two knives are enough, and for the knife rack, buy a simple one that’s easy to clean.”

Qin Lie listened to Chen Xi’s intermittent chatter, letting her pick and choose, replacing almost everything he had selected.

The corner of his mouth moved slightly, and his gaze unconsciously softened.

The two wandered to the fresh produce section, and Chen Xi asked Qin Lie generously, “What do you want to eat for lunch?”

Qin Lie looked at her bright, smiling face, and his heart suddenly fluttered.

Before he could speak, he heard Chen Xi say carelessly: “It doesn’t matter what you want—I can only make scrambled eggs with tomatoes.”

The smile at the corner of his mouth finally couldn’t be suppressed and rippled out gently.

The afterglow infected his gaze, like shimmering waves under warm sunset light.

Chen Xi suddenly sensed the explosive ambiguity between them and unconsciously felt a bit intoxicated.

The feeling of exchanged glances was another kind of enjoyment, no less thrilling than their intense collision in the car.

Between men and women, the methods might differ, but as long as it was enjoyable, that was enough.

Chen Xi quite liked this feeling. As long as he didn’t spell things out like last time, Chen Xi was willing to continue this ambiguity.

Occasional intimate encounters would be the icing on the cake.

Qin Lie glanced at Chen Xi indifferently.

He noticed her fair cheeks showing a faint blush and wondered what this woman was thinking about.

He casually grabbed several vegetables and threw them into the shopping cart.

Seeing the green peppers, Chen Xi quickly reminded him, “I’m not good at cooking those.”

Qin Lie smiled without saying anything and continued throwing things into the shopping cart.

The two pushed the full shopping cart to the checkout counter when Chen Xi suddenly remembered something and ran back into the supermarket.

Soon, she came running back with a peeler in her hand.

“I saw you bought potatoes.”

She ran toward him energetically, her eyes sparkling.

Qin Lie watched her and couldn’t help but be slightly dazed.

An elderly lady in front of them saw their shopping cart and asked with a smile: “Young couple just starting to live together?”

Qin Lie smiled without explaining.

Chen Xi was even more shameless than him, also smiling without saying anything, helping Qin Lie place items from the shopping cart onto the checkout counter one by one.

The two paid and headed straight to Qin Lie’s place, carrying several large bags of things into the house.

With this pile of stuff in the entryway, the minimalist style of the house immediately became somewhat incongruous.

Chen Xi put on the same disposable slippers from yesterday, picked up two bags, and walked into the kitchen.

She turned back to Qin Lie and said, “Lie down on the sofa for a while. I’ll call you when the food is ready.”

Qin Lie didn’t speak, bent down to pick up shopping bags, and followed Chen Xi into the kitchen.

One unpacked while the other organized, cooperating very harmoniously.

After all the kitchen utensils were in place, Chen Xi looked at the vegetables in the bags.

“I’ll make scrambled eggs with tomatoes and shredded potatoes. I’m not good at the others, so put them in the fridge for now.”

She bent down to take out potatoes and tomatoes from the bag and put them in the sink to wash.

Qin Lie took out green peppers and also put them in the sink.

Chen Xi turned back to look at him and asked somewhat surprised: “Can you cook?”

Qin Lie smiled disdainfully, “Following video tutorials—how hard can it be?”

The two worked on their tasks. Neither had much experience, and the kitchen gradually became a battlefield.

Just as Qin Lie placed the washed green peppers on the cutting board, Chen Xi took away the knife to cut tomatoes, so Qin Lie had to use an unsuitable knife for cooked food.

Just as Chen Xi grabbed a few eggs from the fridge, she turned around and bumped into the cutting board Qin Lie had just finished washing.

The eggs rolled from her hands and smashed on the floor.

Chen Xi couldn’t stand it anymore and pointed toward the door, “You go out first. I’ll cook, then you can cook.”

Qin Lie felt inexplicably cheerful, as if he were riding a helium balloon.

He smiled as he cleaned up the mess on the floor and gave the space to Chen Xi.

After finally making three dishes and a soup, Chen Xi suddenly slapped her forehead, “I forgot to steam rice.”

Qin Lie leaned against the kitchen doorframe and said unhurriedly: “We forgot to buy a rice cooker.”

Chen Xi was speechless for a moment, then saw the leftover xiaolongbao on the dining table.

“Never mind, I’ll pan-fry these buns.”

With the addition of a staple food, they finally had a meal.

Throughout the meal, Chen Xi ate with flushed cheeks.

She and Bai Yuning had lived together for so long, cooked together, and eaten countless meals together.

Even during their most passionate days, there was always warmth and tranquility between them.

Unlike now, the surging undercurrents made Chen Xi barely dare to look up during the entire meal.

Because whenever the two looked at each other, they couldn’t hide the sparks flying in their gazes.

After eating, Chen Xi told Qin Lie to rest in his room while she went to the kitchen to wash dishes.

In the sound of rushing water, Chen Xi suddenly sensed heavy breathing right beside her ear.

Chen Xi straightened up slightly, her back pressing against a burning chest.

Qin Lie placed both hands on the edge of the sink, completely enveloping her from behind.

A small electric current ran up Chen Xi’s back.

She remained silent and heard Qin Lie’s low, husky voice.

“Chen Xi, don’t tell me you don’t feel anything for me.”

After saying this, he turned Chen Xi around, lifted her onto the counter, and leaned in to kiss her.

Chen Xi raised her wet hands, wrapped them around Qin Lie’s neck, and gently kissed his lips and teeth.

As they kissed, they gradually lost control.

On the edge of losing control, there was suddenly a knock at the door.

Chen Xi quickly pushed Qin Lie away, got down from the counter, walked to the sink to continue washing dishes, her breathing still unsteady.

Qin Lie cursed the person knocking on his heart, composed his emotions, and then went to open the door.

Qin Zhan’s face appeared at the door, looking particularly annoying at this moment.

Qin Lie looked behind him—Liu Boyang, Yang Shan, and Han Susu had all come, carrying fruits and milk.

He was stunned until Qin Zhan pushed through the door, and everyone filed in.

Only then did Qin Lie belatedly say: “Come in.”

He stood at the door, watching Qin Zhan distribute disposable slippers to everyone, and suddenly felt a faint warmth in his heart.

Like a tired bird that had been flying alone for a long time, landing one day on an unremarkable branch.

It was intended to rest briefly before moving on, but it unknowingly gained companions.

Because of Chen Xi, his life had gradually formed bonds with this place and these people.

“Brother Qin Lie, your home’s decor is so cool.”

Han Susu walked into the living room, looking around and praising.

Qin Zhan translated this: “Like a place where a psychopath lives, right?”

Liu Boyang: “These gray walls—you might as well not paint them. Rough house walls look pretty similar to this.”

Yang Shan interrupted the three’s conversation and got to the point: “Brother Qin Lie, I heard you were injured. We came to see you.”

Qin Lie smiled and said, “Minor injury.”

Chen Xi came out of the kitchen, and all four saw her, grinning ambiguously.

Chen Xi was too lazy to explain. Seeing that the grapes they brought were quite good, she picked up two bunches, washed them in the kitchen, and brought them out to place on the coffee table.

The group chattered about last night’s incident while Chen Xi sat to the side, eating grapes, showing little interest.

Yang Shan suddenly remembered something and asked nervously: “Chen Xi, do you think it could be that used car seller?”

Qin Zhan: “Used car seller? Did you have a conflict with him?”

Chen Xi spoke up nonchalantly: “How is that possible?”

Seeing Yang Shan about to say more, Chen Xi casually deflected: “It might have been a pervert, or maybe a robber.”

“Or possibly a competitor who’s jealous of our good business. Without evidence, suspecting anyone is useless.”

Han Susu said with a terrified expression: “Chen Xi, you can’t go back so late anymore. If you need to work overtime, have Qin Zhan and Boyang accompany you.”

Qin Zhan and Liu Boyang, still feeling scared and guilty, nodded repeatedly.

Chen Xi smiled, “Alright, I’m scared too. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

Although Chen Xi spoke lightly, Qin Lie keenly sensed something.

No matter what the group said earlier, she remained unmoved, leisurely eating grapes by herself.

But as soon as Yang Shan said that, she immediately spoke up to refute.

She said a lot and directed the conversation elsewhere.

He looked at Chen Xi thoughtfully, restraining himself from asking anything.

Qin Lie originally thought Qin Zhan and the others would leave soon.

Unexpectedly, Qin Zhan produced two decks of cards from somewhere and encouraged everyone to play together.

Today was Sunday, and Yang Shan had left her child with her parents.

The others had nothing else to do either, so everyone agreed and immediately started playing cards.

Thinking about what had been interrupted earlier, Chen Xi secretly glanced at Qin Lie and saw him leaning against the sofa listlessly with a restrained expression.

She couldn’t help but smile, moved next to Yang Shan, and watched the game seriously.

After playing a few rounds, Qin Zhan turned back to ask Qin Lie, “Bro, want to play?”

Qin Lie shook his head, emanating low pressure, wishing he could sweep these clueless fools out the door.

After playing two more rounds, Yang Shan looked up at Qin Lie.

“Brother Qin Lie, do you want to rest for a while?”

Qin Lie’s expression brightened slightly, thinking that, finally, someone with eyes.

He imperceptibly straightened up, preparing to see them off the next second.

Qin Zhan suddenly chimed in thoughtfully, “Right, right, bro, go to your room and sleep. Don’t worry about us.”

Qin Lie’s eyelid twitched as he coldly glanced at Qin Zhan.

Qin Zhan popped a grape into his mouth and turned to ask Chen Xi, “Sister Xi, do you have water?”

Chen Xi smiled at Qin Lie and got up to fetch several bottles of water from the fridge.

Qin Lie stayed a while longer, then got up and went into the study to turn on his computer.

Qin Zhan didn’t forget to shout thoughtfully toward the study.

“Bro, you should still sleep for a while. Play games after you wake up.”

Qin Lie didn’t want to play any games—he only wanted to beat this annoying kid.

The group took turns playing until dinner time without realizing it.

Chen Xi asked if they were hungry, and Qin Zhan jumped up, saying, “Sister Xi, you play for a while. I’ll go buy some food.”

In the study, Qin Lie’s hands paused typing on the keyboard. Hearing Qin Zhan’s words, he continued typing furiously.

As Qin Zhan passed the study door, he kindly reminded:

“Bro, are you angry at the keyboard? Why are you typing so loudly?”

Ten thousand alpacas galloped through Qin Lie’s mind as he concisely told Qin Zhan to get lost.

Qin Zhan nimbly got lost while buying food.

Chen Xi played a good hand outside, laughingly calling out: “Look at my straight—how’s that? Impressed?”

Qin Lie had a stern face one second, but hearing Chen Xi’s words the next second, the corner of his mouth faintly curved.

The sky outside gradually darkened, and though the air conditioning in the study was set very low, Qin Lie didn’t feel cold.

The chill was probably dispelled by the lively laughter and conversation outside.