“What Dragon King returns, stirring up the winds and clouds? Yang Xueyi, can you stop watching so many short dramas?”
Yang Xueyi rolled her eyes: “That’s not the point. The point is, people have to learn to accept reality, and more importantly, to adapt and survive! Look—cats evolved to be cute and fluffy, so humans willingly become their servants. Dung beetles never adapted, so to this day they still have to roll dung balls themselves!”
Ying Yun seemed unable to listen any longer: “What nonsense are you going on about? I’m not as bad as you make it sound.”
He looked at Yang Xueyi with a complicated expression: “But since I’m so down and out in your eyes, based on our past, why aren’t you taking this opportunity to kick me while I’m down? Why are you cooking for me?”
He scrutinized her, his voice icy: “Did you poison the food?”
Bullshit!
“Even though you treated me badly before, I’m noble and upright, not like you.”
Yang Xueyi cleared her throat.
“How you treat the weak shows your character!”
“I never kick people when they’re down—only offer help in times of need.”
She patted Ying Yun’s shoulder: “Anyway, just try to think positively. Trust me, since things have come to this, eat first.”
“And after you’re done, wash the dishes.”
Yang Xueyi glanced at Ying Yun.
“If you insist on not eating, that’s your choice, but the dishes are still your job.”
Ying Yun frowned, incredulous: “There’s no dishwasher here?”
“Young Master, the kitchen’s so tiny, there’s no space for a dishwasher.”
Yang Xueyi smiled.
“But now, we do have a dishwasher in this house—and that’s you.”
“My finger isn’t hurt, but I really hate washing dishes, so from now on, that’s your job. But in return, I’ll set aside some money as a housework fund. Every chore will have a clear price.”
“Long-term part-time jobs are hard to find outside, and as a doctor, it’s inconvenient for you to work part-time elsewhere. Plus, you care about your pride and don’t want to show your face. But there’s always housework to do at home! As long as you do it, you get paid! All in all, this is a guaranteed job—an iron rice bowl!”
Alright.
Chopsticks.
Ying Yun’s expression was odd the whole time, but when he saw the three dishes and one soup Yang Xueyi had prepared on the table, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Yang Xueyi had indeed put effort into the food.
Even though it was all home-cooked, it couldn’t compare to the rare delicacies Ying Yun used to eat, but it was a balanced meal.
“Try it! I really spent a long time cooking. It tastes good, I promise.”
Ying Yun seemed like he wanted to refuse, but for some reason, after glancing at Yang Xueyi, he said nothing more, sat down, and picked up his chopsticks.
His mouth said no, but his body was honest!
After eating all those wilted veggies, how could he not be hungry?
Even though he wasn’t a Young Master anymore, years of cultivated habits remained.
Ying Yun ate very elegantly—even with home-cooked food, he ate as if dining in a Michelin restaurant.
Ying Yun was picky about food, but Yang Xueyi’s cooking was second only to her mother’s—not any worse.
Sure enough, this fallen Young Master seemed at first to be just giving her face by tasting a bite, but after the first bite came the second, then the third and fourth.
Yang Xueyi watched him the whole time, right until he finished the last mouthful.
“Not bad.”
He didn’t leave a single bite, and still said “not bad.”
Maybe realizing how thoroughly he’d cleaned his plate, Ying Yun cleared his throat, looking a bit embarrassed: “Since you already made it, I didn’t want to waste it.”
Everyone who cooks wants their food to be appreciated, and Yang Xueyi was no exception.
Even if the compliment was awkward, she was very satisfied.
At least he hadn’t left a bite.
Even this annoying Ying Yun seemed much more agreeable now.
They say men turn bad when they get rich, but maybe the opposite is true—men get better when they’re broke.
When Ying Yun was still the pride of heaven, Yang Xueyi felt every pore of his reeked of arrogance.
He’d never been nice to her in ten years—she never imagined the two of them could talk so calmly one day.
Now that he’d fallen on hard times, he was much more normal.
Looking at Ying Yun, Yang Xueyi sincerely said, “As long as I have food, you’ll have food too.”
So stop eating those discounted wilted veggies!
She didn’t say that last part, out of consideration for Ying Yun’s pride.
But maybe he was just too sensitive—after Yang Xueyi spoke, his expression grew a bit odd again.
Faced with Yang Xueyi’s kindness, maybe Ying Yun was moved.
Yang Xueyi reasonably suspected he was about to cry—at the very least, his eyes turned red.
He lowered his gaze, avoiding her eyes, and didn’t look up for a long time, as if he didn’t want her to see his current expression.
People often feel lost after great shocks.
When he finally looked up again, face blank, Yang Xueyi could totally understand.
She heard his cool voice: “So you mean, as long as I’m struggling, you’ll keep feeding me?”
He paused: “But if I’m not struggling anymore, you won’t cook for me?”
Still pretending things aren’t that bad at a time like this!
“Let me just ask you—are you really not related to Mr. Ying by blood?”
Ying Yun pressed his lips together: “It’s true.”
Yang Xueyi rolled her eyes: “Then that’s it! Your family’s in trouble, your life’s changed completely. The only thing you need to know now is that a kind-hearted me is willing to lend you a hand! I’ll help you get through this rough patch!”
Ying Yun frowned: “I don’t—”
Yang Xueyi cut him off with a passionate speech: “Don’t worry, from now on, whenever I cook, it’ll be up to the same standard as just now. If you have anything you want to eat, just tell me ahead of time—as long as it’s not too expensive.”
“We’ve known each other for ten years—even if you’d raised a dog for ten years, you’d have feelings for it. Let alone a living, breathing person like you. I wouldn’t just stand by and watch you suffer.”
Sure enough, after she said that, Ying Yun’s expression grew complicated.
Only then did Yang Xueyi remember: “Were you about to say something? Sorry for interrupting.”
Ying Yun lowered his gaze.
After a moment, Yang Xueyi heard him say quietly, “I forgot. It’s probably nothing.”
“Now that you’re no longer a Young Master and I’m not the live-in nanny’s daughter, we’re equals. From now on, I cook, you wash the dishes!”
“And don’t think you can get out of chores! The rule is simple—I do the chores I like, and you do the ones I hate. For example, I hate taking out the trash, so you have to sort it and take it out!”
“What chores do you like?”
Yang Xueyi smiled: “Honestly, aside from cooking, I don’t like anything else.”
Ying Yun:
Under Ying Yun’s incredulous gaze, Yang Xueyi nodded: “Yep, everything else is yours.”
After being a Young Master for over twenty years, the idea of washing dishes and doing chores made Ying Yun’s face twist a little, but in the end, maybe Yang Xueyi’s kindness melted him.
He awkwardly confirmed again: “So, I do the dishes and chores, and you cook?”
“Yes!”
Yang Xueyi heard him take a deep breath, as if forcing himself to compromise with reality. He reluctantly said, “Fine. Got it.”
Then Yang Xueyi watched as Ying Yun glanced at the dishes on the table, stood up, looked at the apron hanging by the kitchen, and then, looking extremely uncomfortable, opened his arms to her: “So now you can…”
To be honest, Yang Xueyi expected her act of kindness to move Ying Yun.
But she hadn’t expected him to be this moved.
This scene was just a bit too awkward and bizarre.
Yang Xueyi had always dealt with awkwardness by cutting it off quickly—never give awkwardness a chance to grow, and it can’t catch up to you.
She didn’t wait for Ying Yun to finish.
She jumped up, rushed forward, and, facing his open arms, gave him a hug.
Yang Xueyi actually didn’t want to hug Ying Yun, but with the atmosphere like this, and with him being so proactive, if she didn’t respond at all, who knew if this Young Master’s pride would be hurt again.
After all he’d been through, he might just lock himself in the bathroom and cry all night.
So, gritting her teeth, Yang Xueyi gave Ying Yun a big hug.
To show friendliness, she even gave his back a perfunctory pat.
Who knew what Ying Yun was thinking?
Was this really necessary?
A hug—so corny!
It felt like some kind of great reconciliation!
But maybe she’d moved too fast, because Ying Yun looked completely unprepared for her action.
As soon as she hugged him, he stiffened up.
Just as Yang Xueyi quickly let go, she heard his voice above her head.
He nearly spat out each word, gritting his teeth: “Yang. Xue. Yi.”
“Why did you hug me?”
Huh?
“I wanted you to hand me the apron from the hook and help me tie it on!”
“Aren’t you the one making me wash the dishes?”
Ying Yun looked at her like she was an idiot.
“Where did your mind go?”
There is no path on the ground, but if enough people walk it, it becomes a road.
There is no awkwardness in life, but if you think too much, it becomes awkward…