Jiang Shiyan grabbed the keys and rushed back. As he opened the door without entering, a pungent smell of smoke assaulted his nostrils. Waving away the lingering smoke, he dashed towards the kitchen. At a glance, he saw the kitchen door tightly shut, with the apron-clad young girl firmly gripping the handle outside, containing the acrid smoke within.
“Jiang Shiyan! Jiang Shiyan!” Tang Yang called out, her head turned sideways while keeping an eye on the situation inside the kitchen.
Jiang Shiyan halted before her in a few strides, his heart still racing.
Seeing the familiar face beside her, Tang Yang finally exhaled in relief. Still not daring to release the door handle, she explained with trembling lips, “I burned the tomato pot… No, no, I mean I wanted to make scrambled eggs with tomatoes. I prepared the ingredients and added oil, but then I couldn’t remember whether to put in the tomatoes or eggs first. So, I went to watch a video. It was showing how to add tomatoes, but as soon as I put them in, smoke started rising, and the fire suddenly leaped up to the range hood…”
Tang Yang’s face was dusted with a layer of ash, her large, bright eyes seemingly brimming with tears. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, trickling down her cheeks and gathering at her delicate chin.
Jiang Shiyan’s gaze followed her sweat downward, moving to her neck, then her hands, legs, and feet.
Confirming she had no injuries, Jiang Shiyan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Recalling the earlier incident, Tang Yang continued nervously, “My first instinct was to turn off the heat and cover the pot with the lid, but I ended up knocking over the pot. The hot oil spilled onto the counter, setting the whole thing on fire. Afraid of getting burned, I dropped everything and ran out, closing the door behind me.”
She patted her chest with one hand, adding, “Luckily, I reacted quickly. Otherwise, I would have been scalded…”
“What, do you want me to praise you for that?” Jiang Shiyan looked down at Tang Yang, his expression impassive.
“Huh?” Tang Yang sensed the unusual tone in his voice and was taken aback.
The kitchen range hood continued to hum, drawing in the thick smoke.
She looked at herself, her doe eyes wide with innocence.
Jiang Shiyan’s heart had already softened, though his expression remained stern.
He said, “So this is why you wanted to cook at my place? Knowing you could blow up the kitchen, were you planning to make me an explosive sugar treat?”
Tang Yang defended herself in a small voice, “I didn’t… I was following the steps…”
Jiang Shiyan placed his hand over hers, guiding her to open the kitchen door. Tang Yang coughed lightly from the smoke as Jiang Shiyan entered, surveying the scene expressionlessly. His gaze swept from the partially blackened ceiling and range hood to the half-burned ingredients on the counter and the dishcloth.
Without a word, Jiang Shiyan rolled up his sleeves and began gathering the salvageable ingredients one by one.
Tang Yang clung to the hem of his shirt, following close behind. She matched his every step forward and backward.
As Jiang Shiyan finished tidying up and turned to leave the kitchen, Tang Yang, thinking he was angry and about to give her the cold shoulder, pleaded in a soft, nasal voice, “Jiang Shiyan, don’t be like this. I know I was wrong. I won’t cook again. Where are you going? Please don’t leave…”
“To your place,” Jiang Shiyan said, pressing his throbbing temples. “Aren’t you going to have lunch?”
Tang Yang let out an “Oh” and meekly followed behind him.
“You seem to know how to cook,” she tried to flatter him.
“You think I’m like you?” Jiang Shiyan retorted. “If you had been born a few decades earlier, they wouldn’t have needed atomic bombs in World War II. They could have just deployed Tang Yang.”
“Jiang…” Tang Yang pouted, about to argue, but remembering that burning the kitchen was indeed her fault, she changed her tone mid-sentence, “I see…”
She adopted the demeanor of a wronged little wife.
Did he bully her?
Jiang Shiyan felt both sympathetic and amused, reaching out to ruffle her hair.
—
Twenty minutes later, in Tang Yang’s kitchen.
The tall, handsome man wore a pink apron as he heated the wok, while the small woman in an ash-covered apron stood beside him, chopping vegetables. A row of prepared ingredients already lined the counter.
As the water in the wok dried up, Jiang Shiyan added oil. “Sichuan peppercorns,” he said.
Tang Yang handed them over.
Jiang Shiyan: “Eggs.”
Tang Yang passed them.
Jiang Shiyan: “Salt.”
Tang Yang complied.
Jiang Shiyan quickly set aside the stir-fried eggs and poured in the drained tomatoes.
The bright colors and fragrant aroma rose with the steam as Jiang Shiyan skillfully cooked the dish. “Plate,” he said.
Tang Yang obediently presented the plate.
Jiang Shiyan scooped the tomato and egg dish onto it, sprinkling chopped green onions on top.
“It smells so good,” Tang Yang couldn’t resist sniffing as she carried it out.
Jiang Shiyan responded with a simple “Mm,” maintaining the air of an aloof master chef, but as he turned his head, he couldn’t help but smile secretly.
Next came mushroom and meat slice soup, stir-fried phoenix tail vegetables, and fish-flavored eggplant.
Jiang Shiyan’s hands moved like the wind, filling the kitchen with delicious aromas.
Tang Yang marveled at how they were working with the same basic ingredients, yet the difference between them was so vast. She secretly glanced at him from the corner of her eye, observing his occasional frowns and relaxed expressions, his handsome profile veiled in steam, his long, fair fingers wrapped around the wooden handle of the wok spatula…
This incredibly skilled cook was her boyfriend!
As Jiang Shiyan finished the eggplant dish and turned around, he caught Tang Yang’s sparkling gaze.
His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. “Take this out. There’s one more dish.”
“Oh, okay.” Tang Yang quickly offered the plate, her ears turning slightly red.
The final dish was boiled fish.
Jiang Shiyan first scored the surface of the mandarin fish, then stir-fried it with pickled peppers, ginger, and garlic. After washing the wok, he added water and the fish.
He spoke rapidly.
Tang Yang, now well-practiced, moved equally fast.
Jiang Shiyan: “Green onions, chopped.”
Tang Yang chopped them and handed them over.
Jiang Shiyan added the onions: “Ten-year cooking wine.”
Tang Yang grabbed the bottle of ten-year cooking wine, uncapped it, and passed it to him.
Jiang Shiyan added the wine: “Honey mandarin, peeled.”
There were no honey mandarins in the kitchen, so Tang Yang scurried to the living room to fetch one.
She knew orange peel was used when frying soft rice cakes during New Year, but she didn’t know boiled fish required peeled oranges. However, being a kitchen disaster, she followed the master chef’s instructions to the letter, peeling the mandarin and offering it to Jiang Shiyan.
At noon, the fire in the community was low.
The water in the pot bubbled weakly.
Jiang Shiyan, holding the spatula and turning the fish, tilted his head slightly and took the peeled mandarin from Tang Yang’s fingers into his mouth. He chewed twice and swallowed.
Tang Yang froze in place as if under a spell.
Wasn’t the orange supposed to go into the fish?
But that wasn’t the point. The point was, how could he…
When Jiang Shiyan had bitten into the orange, he deliberately slowed his movement. His warm, moist tongue slowly grazed her delicate fingertips. Tang Yang, recalling that fleeting sensation, turned completely red like a cooked shrimp.
Licking fingers and such, how could he make it seem so… so erotic?
Blushing furiously, Tang Yang pinched his waist.
Jiang Shiyan looked at her with a straight face: “What, do you eat oranges without peeling them?”
Embarrassed and annoyed, Tang Yang tried to step on his foot, but Jiang Shiyan scared her: “Oil! Oil!”
Tang Yang, startled, widened her eyes and tried to dodge. Jiang Shiyan couldn’t help but laugh, pulling the small koala-like girl into his arms.
—
“Ah, Yang Yang, be gentle… Yes, right there.”
“Is this okay? Should I keep moving like this…?”
“Mm, mm…” Jiang Shiyan let out a contented sound. “When did you learn all this…”
“My mom sits for long periods too. When I’m home on break, I give her massages.”
After the meal, Jiang Shiyan sprawled on the sofa while Tang Yang voluntarily gave him a massage. At first, he thought she was just playing around, but when she started, he realized she had some skill.
Jiang Shiyan switched to lying on his stomach, with Tang Yang straddling his back.
Tang Yang’s massage was gentle yet attentive, and Jiang Shiyan, while watching the cooking video Tang Yang had tried to learn from earlier, couldn’t help but groan in pleasure.
“How much oil did you use earlier?” Jiang Shiyan asked.
“About as much as in the video, just enough to cover the tomatoes,” Tang Yang replied.
Jiang Shiyan explained, “The blogger’s wok has a round bottom, while mine is flat. The blogger was stir-frying tomatoes and eggs, but you were deep-frying them. Plus, there was water. Hot oil doesn’t like too much moisture or prettiness.”
Tang Yang asked, “So next time, should I not use water and use as little oil as possible?”
“Not necessarily,” Chef Jiang instructed. “Too little oil might burn the food, making it darker than your hair color.”
Tang Yang didn’t retort, instead looking docile and soft. “Then how do you know how much to use and when to add it?”
“You know there’s something called talent, something called practice makes perfect, and something called a boyfriend who can cook…”
Jiang Shiyan sat up, pulling Tang Yang into his arms. Whatever he said, she listened attentively, her long eyelashes casting shadows in her eye sockets, occasionally nodding her little head in an adorably endearing manner.
Feeling he had asserted his authority as a husband, Jiang Shiyan finished explaining cooking techniques and then casually added, “My kitchen’s been wrecked and needs to be refurbished, including the ceiling. It’s inconvenient to live there during repairs. How about I stay at your place?”
At five in the afternoon, the setting sun’s light fell through the window.
Tang Yang, nestled in his arms, let out a lazy yawn. “Okay.”
Jiang Shiyan’s thoughts raced: “I’m the victim here. I can’t possibly sleep on the sofa. I’ll have to sleep hugging you.”
“Okay,” Tang Yang agreed softly again.
Emboldened by two successful advances, Jiang Shiyan grew bolder: “Then I’ll also request good morning and goodnight kisses every day…”
“I can give you one right now,” Tang Yang said gently, her small hands grasping his collar as she tilted her head up, her lips seeking his.
Tang Yang had changed into loungewear, the beige fabric soft to the touch.
She had a habit of not wearing a bra at home. As Jiang Shiyan lowered his gaze slightly, his subtle glance traveled down her fair, long neck to an expanse of creamy skin. His view of the soft whiteness ended at two curves, and then Jiang Shiyan keenly noticed two subtle protrusions pressing against his chest.
As Tang Yang’s hand traced Jiang Shiyan’s slim waistline, he pressed her back against the sofa.
Tang Yang gazed at him with sparkling eyes. Jiang Shiyan pecked the corner of her lips, smiling as he called “Yang Yang,” before kissing her deeply.
The two kissed passionately and tenderly, like playful children. Jiang Shiyan had long forgotten his previous aversion to anything beyond hand-holding, and Tang Yang had forgotten that just last year she was trying to set up blind dates for Jiang Shiyan, saying she no longer pursued love and would marry whoever was suitable.
They simply exchanged kisses and breaths repeatedly and at length, thoroughly and patiently, tirelessly.
A hint of desire arose between them, but on this afternoon, there was more gentle affection in their embrace.
It wasn’t until Tang Yang’s stomach growled that Jiang Shiyan checked the time. They realized it was already 8 PM.
As Tang Yang reached for her phone to order takeout, Jiang Shiyan caught her hand. “Kiss me.”
Tang Yang smiled and kissed him.
Jiang Shiyan: “Again.”
Tang Yang smiled and kissed him once more before getting up to order food.
Jiang Shiyan held her in his arms, casually kissing her hand. As he did so, he suddenly chuckled.
Tang Yang looked at him questioningly.
“It’s nothing,” Jiang Shiyan shook his head, eyes filled with mirth. “I just feel extremely happy right now,” he said frankly. “I have a career I love, my parents are healthy, and the person I like is my girlfriend.” Jiang Shiyan let out a satisfied laugh. “One should be a bit arrogant in life, so I’d say I’m the happiest person in the world.”
“Is that so exaggerated?” Tang Yang asked as she quickly ordered food based on their preferences. “What does being the happiest in the world feel like?”
Jiang Shiyan thought for a moment: “No matter what you tell me now, I’d still feel happy. Even if the sky fell or stocks crashed on Monday, it wouldn’t affect my mood at all.”
“Really?” Tang Yang looked at him.
Jiang Shiyan lazily played with her soft white earlobe. “Of course.”
Tang Yang coughed lightly and spoke softly: “I ran into your mother this morning. She invited me to lunch at your place, but I didn’t go. She asked me to tell her if I saw you bring a girl home.” Tang Yang blushed. “I didn’t tell her about myself.”
“Madam Yi can deal with her issues,” Jiang Shiyan felt this wasn’t a big deal.
Tang Yang gave a soft “Mm” and hugged his arm with both hands.
“I think our relationship can progress further,” Tang Yang said somewhat shyly. After saying this, her face grew even hotter. “But my period started at noon.”
I think we can progress further too!
Listen! Listen! His Yang Yang is just so gentle, adorable, and understanding…
Knowing Tang Yang used to have painful periods, though not anymore, Jiang Shiyan still got up to pour her a glass of warm water. He gently rubbed her flat belly through her clothes, smiling deeply: “Do I seem like someone who’d be so impatient?”
He was a grown man, vigorous and passionate. Food and sex are human nature.
Since Yang Yang was willing… Period? Jiang Shiyan scoffed inwardly. It’s only three to five days.
Tang Yang didn’t respond to his words. After mulling it over, she tried to hold his hand: “I received some documents on Friday. I need to go to B City for a management training program lasting 40 days.”
Jiang Shiyan’s smile slowly froze.
Tang Yang: “It’s semi-closed.”
Jiang Shiyan slowly withdrew his hand.
Tang Yang: “And it might involve a job transfer. I might be moved back to B City…”
Jiang Shiyan got up to leave.
Tang Yang held him back: “You said you were in a great mood. You said you were the happiest in the world. You said nothing I said would affect you.”
Tang Yang looked aggrieved.
“Good heavens,” Jiang Shiyan cried out in disbelief, “I’ve been single for so many years and finally got a girlfriend. We’ve just gotten together, and before I can even get used to it, she tells me she’s leaving. Ten days of dating, forty days apart. Even reverse leveling up isn’t this steep!”
Tang Yang was initially feeling a bit sad about parting, but his outburst made her laugh.
Tang Yang suppressed her laughter: “I thought you’d be calmer than me.”
“Calm?” Jiang Shiyan acted as if he’d heard the biggest joke. “If it were good news, would you have acted like that last night? Anyone with half a brain would know it’s some trouble Gan Yiming and those bastards cooked up for you. It lands on you and I’m not even allowed to complain? Am I supposed to say, ‘Hey,'” Jiang Shiyan deliberately put on an old cadre’s pose, “‘ Yang Yang, you should go. Yang Yang, you should have your career. Yang Yang, I hope we can support each other to become better people—'”
Jiang Shiyan was almost suffocating with anger: “Am I supposed to blow bubbles, clap my hands, and give you a ten-thousand-word pep talk?” Jiang Shiyan smiled. “I’m not an idiot.”
Tang Yang couldn’t stop laughing, but she remembered to comfort her little Jiang: “I can sneak back to see you during breaks, or you can come to see me—”
“I! Can’t! Take! This!” Jiang Shiyan enunciated each word, standing rooted to the spot, looking ashen.
Tang Yang stood on the sofa and patted his head.
“Kiss kiss.” She said, comforting him like a child as she kissed his cheek.
“Hug hug.” She said, hugging his waist at his height.
“Up up.” Tang Yang tried to lift him while hugging his waist, but Jiang Shiyan didn’t budge. She jumped off the sofa and tried twice more, but he remained unmoved.
The verbal comfort wasn’t working.
Tang Yang pursed her lips, thinking for a while. Her fair ears turned a rosy red. She glanced at Jiang Shiyan, then shuffled to the bedroom in her slippers.
“Click,” the door closed.
What was the little miss up to?
Jiang Shiyan raised an eyebrow imperceptibly but didn’t move.
Five minutes later, the bedroom door sounded.
Jiang Shiyan quickly averted his gaze, pretending to still be sulking.
The door opened, and Tang Yang came out wrapped in Jiang Shiyan’s suit jacket.
Jiang Shiyan wore a size 190, and the well-tailored fabric covered her thighs. Below it was a pink lace hem, and further down were two slender, straight calves with smooth curves, skin as white as lotus root.
Jiang Shiyan’s eyes darkened.
Tang Yang walked up to him, her little face burning red.
She took a deep breath and took off his jacket, revealing a small spaghetti strap knee-length nightgown.
Jiang Shiyan used to tease her for being flat-chested, but only he knew how petite and delicate her figure was under that nightgown, and how she smelled of sweet fragrance when she pressed close to him…
Jiang Shiyan’s throat bobbed heavily, unable to control himself.
Tang Yang was also nervous and didn’t notice.
She bent down to pick up Jiang Shiyan’s phone from the coffee table, skillfully entered “0901” to unlock it, then opened the camera and rotated it. She smoothed her hair, held the phone out, and took several consecutive shots. Tang Yang browsed through them, unsatisfied with this one and that one.
She flipped through for a while, choosing one where the straps were visible and she was smiling naturally. She then found a photo editing app.
Jiang Shiyan’s phone was customized with large storage and many games, and Tang Yang was free to browse. She was more familiar with his phone than her own, adjusting the light here and smoothing the skin there. After fiddling for a while, Jiang Shiyan saw no difference from the original, but Tang Yang was satisfied. She deleted the original and handed the phone to him: “A selfie, you can…”
She was shy, her voice soft, clearly trying to appease him.
Jiang Shiyan didn’t take the phone. One hand in his pocket, he slowly caressed her burning earlobe with the other. Jiang Shiyan’s fingertips were hot, and when they touched the sensitive skin behind Tang Yang’s ear, her whole body burned like a little piece of charcoal in an oven.
“You think… one selfie is enough?”
Jiang Shiyan seemed to be smiling, yet not smiling. His tall figure loomed over her, slowly pressing towards her.
The little red charcoal stepped back, and Jiang Shiyan stepped forward. She retreated again, he advanced again.
The cool touch of the wall, his broad chest in front of her. Jiang Shiyan’s fingers slowly caressed her earlobe.
Did he like it? Or not? Was he angry? Or not?
Tang Yang dared not look at him, her mind buzzing, her ears almost melting under his touch.
If one selfie wasn’t enough…
Tang Yang thought of what she saw in the bathroom this morning. She grabbed the hem of his shirt, peeking at him carefully, and said considerately: “Then, I’ll give you a pack of toilet paper?”
Jiang Shiyan’s smile froze for the second time in half an hour: “…”
“If one pack isn’t enough,” her eyelashes fluttered like wings, Tang Yang’s little face completely red as she said very softly, “Then, how about two packs.”