Intolerable or not, adhering to the principle of not mixing work and personal life, Wen xueqing picked up her chopsticks and began to wolf down her food at lightning speed.
Uncle Hou was stunned by the sight of the girl devouring his meal. One might think his cooking was exceptionally delicious. He had been a butler for so many years and had never set foot in the kitchen back at the main house. It wasn't that he didn't know how to cook, but his cooking was truly mediocre. He followed the recipes to the letter, but it always lacked a certain something.
In the Zhou family's words, it was bland and tasteless, with only the natural flavor of the ingredients and salt coming through. Fortunately, Uncle Hou excelled in other areas, or he wouldn't have been a butler for the Zhou family for so many years.
But honestly, seeing Wen xueqing eat with such gusto brought a faint sense of joy to Uncle Yan's heart. After all, eating heartily was the greatest compliment to a cook.
"Xueqing, eat slowly. Gulping down your food is bad for digestion" Uncle Hou handed Wen xueqing a glass of orange juice.
The orange juice was freshly squeezed and delivered that day, completely different from the kind sold in supermarkets. Wen xueqing swallowed the food in her mouth, took a sip of orange juice, and let out a satisfied burp. She temporarily slumped back in her chair, letting his slightly bulging belly air out.
She knew right now her behavior was unladylike, but did she care? No.
"Xueqing, would you like more rice?" Uncle Hou picked up Wen xueqing's empty bowl.
How could Wen xueqing let an old man serve her like this? She was a chameleon with principles. She quickly stood up and took her bowl. "Uncle Hou, don't be so formal with me. I can get my own rice!"
Uncle Hou was worried that Wen xueqing was too embarrassed to eat more. Weren't celebrities very particular about managing their figures?
But then he saw Wen xueqing heap another mountain of rice into her bowl.…
Wen xueqing felt Uncle Hou's gaze and shyly lowered her head, but it didn't slow down her eating in the slightest. She polished off the four dishes and one soup, not leaving even a scrap of food behind."
Not a picky eater, ate a lot, and wasted nothing Wen xueqing had checked all the boxes that elders appreciated. Unconsciously, Uncle Hou's fondness for her had increased by several points.
He refilled Wen xueqing's glass with a large cup of orange juice. Wen xueqing said her thanks and gulped it down.
In truth, Uncle Hou's cooking was average, but the high quality of the ingredients more than made up for it! Wen xueqing felt like she was about to ascend to heaven from sheer bliss.
After five minutes of one watching with relish and the other eating with relish, it finally dawned on them.
"Did I forget to save any food for my husband?"
…The two looked at each other in silence.
"It's fine. The master doesn't eat until two or three in the afternoon. I'll just make some more."
It was only twelve o'clock, so there was still time. Uncle Hou rolled up his sleeves, and Wen xueqing quickly stood up.
"Uncle Hou, let me do it." Wen xueqing was full of fighting spirit. This was a crucial moment to showcase his professional abilities!
Uncle Hou hesitated, looking at Wen xueqing as if she were a young mistress whose hands had never touched a drop of dishwater.
The master was already tormenting himself like this. If this kid added fuel to the fire, wouldn't the master…?
"Um, Xueqing, maybe Uncle Hou should do it. The master is a bit of a picky eater."
Wen xueqing hesitated. Could this be the highest realm of pickiness: as long as it has flavor, it's fine?
"Uncle Hou, I'll just make something simple. Besides, I want to find an excuse to go see my husband~" Wen xueqing rubbed her hands together, her shy demeanor truly resembling that of a pure-hearted young woman who had just fallen in love.
Uncle Hou's expression was complicated. He found that every time Wen xueqing expressed her love for the master, it left him speechless. He didn't know if he was shipping it, but his teeth were definitely aching from the cringe.
While Uncle Hou was still hesitating, Wen xueqing, as nimble as a cat, slipped into the kitchen. She gave Uncle Yan a "you can count on me" look and closed the kitchen door.
Let's just say, she was very afraid.
Wen xueqing knew very well that people with stomach problems couldn't eat spicy or irritating foods. During that period before, her mouth had become so bland she could have sprouted feathers. Before she hit rock bottom, she had studied various recipes to make something good for herself, making all sorts of adjustments for her stomach condition, and the results were quite fruitful.
To let her boss know that hiring—no, marrying her was an absolutely correct decision, Wen xueqing put her heart and soul into making this meal.
She found fresh shrimp, tofu, and mushrooms in the refrigerator. As she skillfully prepared the ingredients, she carefully considered her current situation.
The original owner of this body had been seen by Zhou yunyi at a party, pretending to be drunk and rubbing against Gu yen. Zhou yunyi said nothing, only her eyes reddened. But one of her followers, Jiang qingping, the general manager of a listed company, couldn't stand it.
He investigated Wen xueqing's family background and gave her bloodsucking aunt's family three million. Her aunt then cajoled and tricked her into marrying Hou yuancheng.
Hou yuancheng had no right to refuse. Jiang qingping had only mentioned it to Father Zhou, who agreed to the marriage on Hou yuancheng's behalf without a second thought.
Since the original owner had a terrible reputation in the entertainment industry and thought Hou yuancheng was just an ordinary rich second-generation kid, she agreed under the coercion and enticement of her aunt's family. It wasn't until she arrived here that she realized she had been completely deceived, which was why she had thrown a huge tantrum and made a scene yesterday.
Two universally loathed people getting together brought joy to a circle of onlookers.
As an 18th-tier artist constantly plagued by slanderous material, Wen xueqing knew what kind of insults were being hurled at her online without even looking.
In such a predicament, if it weren't for the one million in pocket money, Wen xueqing wiped her mouth."
"Then she continued to console herself. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. And for now, Hou yuancheng wasn't as bad as she had imagined. A little temper was harmless. It couldn't crush her.
She would just treat it as a little spice in her million-a-month salary.
Uncle Hou glanced worriedly at the kitchen, because he had just clearly heard a sinister cackle coming from inside.
About half an hour later, Wen xueqing emerged from the kitchen holding a tray. On it was a medium-sized bowl of noodle soup, topped with pan-fried shrimp and tofu with fresh mushrooms, and sprinkled with a layer of finely chopped green onions.
Needless to say, the presentation was excellent, and the aroma alone was countless times better than the meal Uncle Hou had made. A glass on the side was filled seven-tenths full with coconut milk.
Uncle Hou was stunned. This kid really knew how to cook?
Wen xueqing grinned and was about to carry the tray upstairs.
"Hey, hey, Xueqing," Uncle Hou suddenly remembered something.
Wen xueqing cut him off, speaking with an air of ordinary confidence. "Don't worry, Uncle Hou, I'm quite confident in my cooking skills!" With that, she headed straight upstairs.
Uncle Hou, left behind, thought: Ah, no, that's not it. What I wanted to say was, the master doesn't eat green onions.
Having eaten her fill, Wen xueqing's strength had returned. She effortlessly held the tray with one hand and knocked on the door with the other, but there was no response from inside.
Was Wen xueqing the type to be easily deterred? Her goal wasn't high. As long as Hou yuancheng treated her like an ordinary employee and let her stay, she would be eternally grateful. So, Wen xueqing swiftly cast aside her fragile heart and knocked on the door like a monk striking a bell, over and over again.
Finally, after three minutes, Hou yuancheng shifted his gaze from the computer screen and looked at the door with a gloomy and impatient expression. "…Come in."
The knocking at the door stopped immediately. Then, the door slowly opened a crack, and a little pink head squeezed through the gap like a mushroom after the rain, followed by a faint fragrant aroma that wafted into the room.
The scent tugged at Hou yuancheng's stomach, causing a sharp pang of pain, but he showed no sign of it on his face. The look he gave Wen xueqing was now tinged with more disgust than he would give a stranger.
"Hub—"
"If you call me that again, get out," Hou yuancheng spat out coldly.
Tch
"Why do you look like I'm taking advantage of you? This is the first time I've ever called anyone that!" Wen xueqing grumbled with faint dissatisfaction.
Hou yuancheng's sharp gaze swept over Wen xueqing, and he changed the subject. "And you want there to be a second time?"
Wen xueqing blinked, clearly not understanding the hidden meaning in Hou yuancheng's words.
"Practice makes perfect," she said earnestly.
Hou yuancheng's face instantly darkened. When had he ever been so humiliated by a nobody kid? But this was perfect. If Wen xueqing wanted to leave, he wouldn't stop her, and the Zhou family wouldn't pressure him either. In fact, they would probably think it was for the best.
"In that case, I won't stop you."
"Wen xueqing's eyes lit up. She quickly scurried over, moved Hou yuancheng's laptop aside with one hand, and placed the lunch right in the center with the other, acting incredibly bossy.
"Husband, time to eat!"
She had all the bravado of a warrior shouting for a meal!
Only then did Hou yuancheng realize they were on completely different wavelengths.
Taking a deep breath, Hou yancheng tried to be as simple and direct as possible. "What I mean is, if you hate me, you're free to leave. I don't like to force things."
Hiss. This universally loathed character wasn't so bad after all. He even gave the original owner a way out. It's a shame the original owner was also a drama queen and literally acted herself to death.
Wen, top student of acting, Xueqing, was back online. Her eyes reddened in three seconds, her eyelashes glistening with tears, and her voice grew hoarse. "I don't hate you. You're very good. I like you, and I don't want to leave you. Yesterday, I was just following what an expert taught me. But you can hate me, just don't make me leave. I… I finally have a home of my own "Don't kick me out." By the end, Lin Ganzhi had gotten so into character that his voice broke with a sob, and the tip of his nose turned red.
Don't kick me out, my one million~
Hou yuancheng stared at Wen xueqing in disbelief. His fingers, hidden behind the desk, curled up in a fluster. Had he… just bullied her to tears?
"No one is kicking you out!" Hou yuancheng's voice held an uncharacteristic panic. He had to take several deep breaths to calm himself down.
Wen xueqing had achieved her goal. The tears vanished in a second. "I knew my hubby was the best!"
Tsk!
A good upbringing was the only thing stopping Hou yuancheng from the urge to curse!
But despite his thoughts, it didn't change Hou yuancheng belief that whatever Wen xueqing was saying now was complete bullshit.
"I don't eat at this time." Hou yuancheng's gaze swept over the food on Wen xueqing's tray. He saw a hateful shade of green and frowned tightly.
"What is this stuff? Take it away!"
After he'd said all that, any normal person would have been unable to stand it and would have left.
But Wen xueqing followed Hou yuancheng's gaze and saw the green onions in the bowl.
A terrifying thought rose in her mind. No way, no way, there's actually someone who doesn't eat green onions! Back then, I could have devoured a whole pot of them!!!
"Is it… you don't like green… onions?"
Hou yuancheng didn't speak, just averted his gaze, not even wanting to look at it.
Wen xueqing took a deep breath, telling herself, one million, one million, and managed to suppress the urge to hit someone.
"Right, right, I almost forgot you don't like green onions. I'll pick them out for you right now." She pulled out a tissue and quickly used her chopsticks to remove the green onions. Her movements were swift and neat. In less than thirty seconds, not even a speck of white onion was visible in the bowl.
Hou yuancheng never expected Wen xueqing to go to such lengths. He couldn't help but look up at her. As it happened, Wen xueqing was also looking at him, her round eyes filled with expectation and seriousness, shining like fireflies in the night with a faint but heartwarming glow.
Hou yuancheng thought of an even more drastic action. Would sweeping the bowl to the floor make Wen xueqing completely give up?
But… Hou yuancheng hesitated for a minute. Under Wen xueqing's sparkling gaze, he finally picked up his chopsticks. "Don't do unnecessary things in the future. I don't eat at this time."
"If you don't eat at noon, are you trying to become an immortal?" Wen xueqing saw Hou yuancheng pick up his chopsticks but didn't have the sense to leave.
The most important thing now was to nurse this person back to health. If her partner kicked the bucket too early, how could she retire early and live a peaceful life?
With that thought, Wen xueqing pulled over a large chair and obediently sat across from Hou yuancheng, not moving.
Hou yuancheng was so choked up he couldn't say a word. He could only eat resentfully. The moment the warm noodles and shrimp entered his mouth,Hou yuancheng was visibly stunned.
"This wasn't made by Uncle Hou." After the incident, Hou yuancheng had become highly vigilant. Because he lacked a sense of security, he would eat a little of Uncle Hou's food every day, even though it was mediocre."
"I made this. You have a stomach condition, so I made it extra light."Wen xueqing would never miss an opportunity to take credit!
Hou yuancheng's dark eyes swept over Wen xueqing, a hint of surprise in them. But in the end, he put the noodles from his chopsticks into his mouth. The taste was excellent, far better than Uncle Hou's cooking, and it felt more comfortable than eating at the Zhou family's house.
If it wasn't for the marriage the Zhou family had arranged for him, he wouldn't have needed to show such hostility towards this person. He was twenty-eight this year; the twenty-three-year-old Wen xueqing was like a child in his eyes.
As Hou yuancheng ate, neither of them spoke again. The quiet study was filled only with the faint sounds of him eating. Having received an elite education, table manners were an important part of it.
Hou yuancheng was truly a sight to behold when he ate. After all, his natural good looks were there for all to see, and he barely made a sound while eating.
He took small, neat bites, yet he looked efficient.
The key was that he was incredibly handsome.
This was a complete contrast to Wen xueqing's wolf-like eating style.
Wen xueqing admired him for a while before lowering her head and pulling out her phone to wait for Hou yuancheng to finish.
The original owner's phone was the latest model, and it was incredibly smooth to use. But seeing the seven zeros in her bank account balance made Wen xueqing feel even better. The small grievances she had just suffered instantly vanished.
She casually opened a game she was familiar with. A new character had just been added to the card pool. In the past, Wen xueqing could only squeeze in half an hour of daily quests during her evening break, never managing to save enough materials to pull for new characters. But now, she could just top up directly!
Wen xueqing's eyes narrowed slyly. This entire scene was witnessed by Hou yuancheng, who was eating across from her. A thoughtful look crossed his deep eyes.
Hmm, next time I can use the temptations of the outside world to lure her away. For a kid, the world outside is much more exciting than this dull suburban villa.
Unlike him, who could only be trapped here.
A self-deprecating glint flashed in Hou yuancheng's eyes.