The Gao family’s kitchen wasn’t large, but now it was crowded with five people: four grown men and one woman. Gao Jianguo, as the host, never imagined his kitchen would see such a day.

There weren’t enough pots and utensils, so Gao Jianguo dazedly went to borrow tools from Aunt Pang.

With her hair wrapped in a white towel and wearing casual clothes after a fresh bath, Qin Yao was surprised to see such a scene as well.

Honestly, the kitchen wasn’t small. Chen Baozhen had even complained about its oversized design. Yet now, with several men inside, it felt cramped and chaotic.

Doctor He offered to marinate the meat, Zhao Mingjin volunteered to wash vegetables, and Gu Cheng refused to sit idly by, saying he’d help chop vegetables. Thus, all the men ended up in the kitchen.

“Doctor He, you handle the marinating. Comrade Zhao, wash the vegetables. Commander Gu, chop the ingredients. As for Gao… Old Gao hasn’t returned yet,” Qin Yao instructed, assigning tasks to keep them busy. She still needed to finish drying her hair before cooking.

Doctor He nodded quietly and got to work.

Zhao Mingjin happily began washing vegetables. Since the tap water flowed slowly, it took a while to fill the basin.

Gu Cheng pulled out two knives, raised an eyebrow, and started sharpening them.

The kitchen knives in the Gao household weren’t often used and had dulled, which oddly matched Commander Gu’s current mood.

He did feel like “sharpening knives.”

As the men busied themselves in the kitchen, Chen Baozhen leaned against the doorframe peeling an apple. Once done, she called Qin Yao over and handed her half, saying cheerfully, “Best friends share apples.”

Qin Yao smiled, and the two of them sat in the yard, enjoying the breeze and munching on their apples.

Seeing the two women sitting idly in the yard, Jiang Dinghai from the neighboring house couldn’t help but tease, “Teacher Chen, aren’t you hosting guests today? Shouldn’t you, as the hostess, be busy in the kitchen?”

Chen Baozhen, who didn’t like the original male lead, Jiang Dinghai, deliberately said, “Well, what can I do? I was born lucky.”

“The kitchen is already crowded with people working. There’s no place for me to stand.”

Jiang Dinghai choked.

“Old Jiang, your wife works so hard managing the household every day. When will we see you step into the kitchen and reward her for her efforts?”

Jiang Dinghai didn’t respond and simply went home.

Qin Yao and Chen Baozhen finished their apples while Gao Jianguo and Aunt Pang arrived with pots and pans in hand. Aunt Pang, stunned by Qin Yao’s beauty, was left speechless when she saw three men in the kitchen.

“…Commander Gu, you’re here too?”

Seeing Doctor He, Aunt Pang wasn’t surprised. She didn’t recognize Zhao Mingjin, but Commander Gu was a well-known figure. Even if someone hadn’t met him, they’d have heard of him, not to mention that he was a popular star.

Holding a kitchen knife with a cold expression, Commander Gu looked every bit the stoic figure. Aunt Pang circled him, clicking her tongue in amazement as if the sun had risen in the west.

Gao Jianguo, wearing a white apron borrowed from Aunt Pang, handed a new one to Qin Yao. “This one’s for you. Don’t fight with the ladies over it.”

Then he looked at Doctor He and Zhao Mingjin, holding up another apron with faint stains and pink polka dots. “Which one of you is wearing this?”

Doctor He glanced at the apron and modestly said, “It’s fine. My clothes can handle a little splash.”

“No, Doctor He, you should wear it. I’m just washing vegetables, a bit of water won’t matter.” Zhao Mingjin quickly countered.

The two men went back and forth about seven or eight times, leaving Gao Jianguo in awe. Relieved he was already married, he was glad he didn’t have to participate in this “battle of men.”

Standing aside, he and Aunt Pang exchanged amused glances, curious to see how the argument would end.

By this point, Aunt Pang had figured it out: Zhao Mingjin was competing with Doctor He for Qin Yao’s attention! Commander Gu was here to support Zhao Mingjin—what a great leader!

Qin Yao, now wearing a clean new apron, suggested, “Stop arguing and let Commander Gu wear it. His uniform is spotless white, and we don’t want it getting dirty while he’s chopping vegetables.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the air in the kitchen froze. Silence fell, making the atmosphere eerily tense.

Commander Gu, who had been silently amused by the competition between the two men, looked incredulously at the red polka-dot apron. Was this mess somehow going to involve him?

Aunt Pang and Gao Jianguo exchanged strange looks, thinking, Qin Yao is quite the bold one.

Doctor He tried to smooth things over. “I’ll wear it.”

“No, I’ll wear it!” Zhao Mingjin exclaimed loudly. Both men reached for the polka-dot apron at the same time.

Qin Yao glanced at Gu Cheng, who now looked like an indignant lion with raised brows, suppressing her laughter. She mouthed silently, You! Wear it!

Taking two steps forward, she tilted her head and gave him a knowing look: This is a test from the organization.

Her bright, captivating peach blossom eyes seemed to sparkle with life. They were more vivid than those in his dreams, glimmering like an oasis in the desert.

Gu Cheng’s fiery temper was doused the moment her gaze landed on him. Without needing a banana leaf fan, the flames in his heart were extinguished by a sudden downpour.

“I’ll wear it,” Gu Cheng said expressionlessly. His stern face betrayed no emotion as he stepped forward, picked up the red polka-dot apron, and put it on, tying the strings deftly.

His fluid motions left everyone stunned.

Aunt Pang nearly burst into laughter. That red polka-dot apron was custom-made for her figure and was now adorning the “untouchable” Commander Gu. How amusing!

Holding back her laughter until her face turned red, Aunt Pang dared not look any longer. Gao Jianguo and Doctor He remained silent, while Zhao Mingjin gave Commander Gu a grateful look.

Commander Gu was truly a responsible man. In order to support him, he even sacrificed his dignity.

Wearing the red polka-dot apron, Gu Cheng sharpened the knife with extra force, the grating sound making Aunt Pang think twice about lingering. Without another word, she hurried off.

The men got to work in silence. There wasn’t much to talk about, and the kitchen was filled only with the clatter of pots and pans.

As Gu Cheng chopped vegetables, he vented his frustration, each chop resounding loudly. Thud, thud, thud.

“Your collar is crooked,” Qin Yao said as she walked over to him, reaching out to straighten it.

Gu Cheng stood at the cutting board. The kitchen counter was low, so even with the added height of the cutting board, he had to bend slightly, his arms hunched.

Up close, Qin Yao realized just how tall and well-built he was. His long arms and fingers were elegant, with distinct knuckles.

Clearly upset, Gu Cheng kept his eyes on the vegetables, refusing to look at her.

Suppressing her laughter, Qin Yao tilted her head to study his side profile. At this moment, even in uniform, he looked exactly as he had when they first met—his brows slightly furrowed, his dense, raven-like lashes resembling two delicate fans.

It was the version of him that made her heart race.

At that moment, Qin Yao realized Gu Cheng was different from her father. Although they were both soldiers and cared about their image, her father loved to put on airs, unlike Gu Cheng. Her father would never listen to a woman, let alone let one have the upper hand.

She also realized she was different from her mother. While her mother appeared strong and independent in public, she was timid and compliant at home, never daring to make excessive demands. Whatever her father said, her mother would do.

Around her family, her mother would boast about being the decision-maker, but only Qin Yao knew the truth. Her mother’s so-called “authority” was merely about accommodating her father and making him more comfortable.

Her younger brother, influenced by their father, grew up looking down on the two women at home, even though they were his own mother and sister.

But Qin Yao would never tolerate such behavior from men.

If Gu Cheng had refused to cooperate just now, no matter how much his appearance aligned with her ideal, Qin Yao wouldn’t have given him any chance.

Now though, with her satisfaction over his choices, Qin Yao decided it was time for a reward.

She reached out and tugged on Gu Cheng’s collar. He gave her a glare, but helplessly lowered his head and tilted it toward her.

With their backs turned to the rest of the people in the kitchen, Qin Yao seized the moment. Standing on her tiptoes, she quickly kissed him on the chin. It was light and fleeting, like a spring breeze that left no trace.

The sound of a cleaver hitting the cutting board echoed sharply.

By the time Gu Cheng realized what had happened, Qin Yao was already several steps away. “Doctor He, how long should this meat be marinated?”

…

Gu Cheng shrugged slightly, wishing he could bury himself in his collar to avoid being noticed by the other three men in the kitchen.

The spot where her lips had touched his chin burned as though a bee had stung him—sweet, undeniably sweet—but what started as a tiny prick was spreading, reddening all the way to the tips of his ears.

He had met women on blind dates and heard countless risqué jokes in the military. Gu Cheng had always been steady as a mountain, unshaken by anything. While he’d never eaten pork, he certainly knew how pigs ran. Yet, such a small act of intimacy from Qin Yao left him completely flustered.

This wasn’t a bee—it was a hornet—poisonous.

After speaking, Qin Yao glanced back at him. Seeing his head tilted to the side and his ears reddened like he was trying to hide something, she thought, This guy is so innocent.

As someone born after 2000, Qin Yao had seen plenty of young couples kissing in public and had grown bored of on-screen kisses in romantic dramas. Such a level of intimacy didn’t even make her blush.

She had previously felt uncomfortable that Gu Cheng wasn’t openly pursuing her, but now she realized sneaking around had its fun side too.

I’m not the one scared of being caught.

Some people may talk tough, but their honest reactions are hard to miss.

If she and Gu Cheng didn’t end up together, then this little fling over a few months—kept under wraps from outsiders—might actually be a good thing.

The three of them had been busy for most of the day, preparing an entire table full of dishes. Despite claiming they avoided seafood, they still made a platter of boiled shrimp. The spread included chicken, duck, fish, pork, and ribs, but the ribs and pork belly were the most mouthwatering.

Gu Cheng removed his apron and carried the dishes out. Just then, someone entered hastily. “Doctor He, there’s something urgent!”

He Guangzhi barely got a bite before he had to rush off, following the caller.

Gu Cheng set the food on the table, his lips curling into a faint smile.

“Doctor He has something urgent to handle. What bad timing, right? How unfortunate. Should we start eating?” Zhao Mingjin asked as he grabbed a pair of chopsticks.

Gu Cheng thought to himself, Don’t worry. You’re next.

Sure enough, just as Zhao Mingjin had taken a bite of twice-cooked pork, someone called out from the yard. “Old Zhao! Old Zhao—Zhao Mingjin, are you here?”

“You’d better stop eating. Director Yin is looking for you.”

…

Zhao Mingjin hurriedly stuffed a few mouthfuls of food, put on his hat, and left with the caller.

Now only four people remained at the table. Gao Jianguo mumbled, “Why is everyone leaving?”

Qin Yao glanced at Gu Cheng, silently asking, Was this your doing?

“Set aside some food for them. I’ll bring a portion to Xiao Zhao,” Gu Cheng said, putting on a performance with crocodile tears. He popped a peanut fried by his rival into his mouth with great satisfaction.

Gao Jianguo nodded. “I’ll take some to Doctor He.”

With just four people left, Chen Baozhen started chatting with her best friend, her curiosity about Zhao Mingjin and Qin Yao’s past bubbling over. Now that Zhao Mingjin was gone, she eagerly brought him into the conversation.

“I used to think Doctor He was great, but now I feel Comrade Zhao is equally outstanding. He’s handsome and sturdy. You two spent so many days drifting at sea. Surely some romantic moments happened?”

Qin Yao replied, “Not really. But we did fish together on the island.”

“How did you two meet?”

“He delivered canned goods to his friend’s younger sister.”

…

Chen Baozhen, a self-proclaimed admirer of good looks, found Zhao Mingjin’s appearance to her liking. Her internal scale was now tipping in his favor. If her best friend could be with Officer Zhao, it would be perfect.

However, Gao Jianguo, annoyed at his wife praising another man, couldn’t eat in peace. He retorted loudly, “Doctor He is such a reliable man. Xiao Qin should pick someone like Doctor He as her partner.”

Chen Baozhen countered, “Officer Zhao is good-looking and talkative. His humor is a great strength. Choosing someone like that would make life more enjoyable.”

…

The couple argued like machine guns, one vouching for Doctor He, the other for Zhao Mingjin. They were on the verge of a heated quarrel.

Chen Baozhen put down her chopsticks. “Yao Yao, who do you like more—Xiao Zhao or Doctor He?”

Gao Jianguo snorted. “Do you think Xiao Qin is like you? Not picking Doctor He would show poor judgment.”

Qin Yao: “…”

Chen Baozhen sneered. “Fine. Yao Yao, tell him. Who do you like more? Who will you choose?”

Gao Jianguo also sneered, and the couple turned their gaze to Qin Yao, waiting for her answer.

At that moment, a quiet voice echoed through the room:

“Choose me.”