Chapter 17

She could only watch helplessly as that hundred yuan was neatly tucked between Yan Zeyang’s long fingers and slipped back into the notebook, blending in with the stack of ration tickets.

“Uh, um…”

Anxious, she instinctively reached out and placed her hand on his forearm, not even sure if she was trying to pull the money back or do something else.

But the moment her fingers landed on his sleeve, her focus shifted from the money to the firm, well-defined muscles beneath the thin fabric.

Uh…

The sheer strength beneath her touch was undeniable.

She couldn’t resist giving his arm a quick squeeze.

Oh my god! The feel of it!

She could even sense how, the moment her fingers brushed against him, his muscles tensed instinctively, hardening like steel.

From just that brief touch, she could tell—this man’s endurance was off the charts, and his explosive strength was formidable…

She had worked at a high-end spa for half a year, where she had learned professional massage techniques. Because of that, just by feeling a person’s body, she could roughly gauge their fitness level, endurance, and even…

Well, let’s just say people in that industry relied on their bodies for a living, much like plastic surgeons who could instantly tell whether someone’s face was natural or enhanced.

Massages were the same. The moment she touched someone, she could tell their physical condition, whether their muscles were tight, which acupressure points were blocked, and what underlying health issues they might have.

And when it came to categorizing bodies—some were top-tier, some were mediocre, and some were simply subpar…

According to what the spa’s massage master had taught her, combined with what she had observed of Yan Zeyang’s physique yesterday and the rock-hard feel of his muscles just now, she could confidently conclude:

He was exactly the type of person the master had described—capable of delivering over three impacts per second…

A human motor in the flesh.

In short, his muscle strength was insanely powerful!

The realization made Wen Xin’s face flush red. She quickly withdrew her hand, though her eyes still darted over his form, lingering in curiosity.

Honestly, with a physique like his, letting her give him a free massage wouldn’t be a bad deal…

…

Yan Zeyang had spent years in the military, honing the ability to remain outwardly composed even when facing inner turmoil.

Even in this era, where interactions between men and women were strictly conservative, he didn’t let his expression change.

When Wen Xin grabbed his hand, she acted as if it were completely natural. So, naturally, he didn’t react either.

When she tried pushing the money back, he simply pulled his hand away.

But then, she went a step further—placing her hand directly on his arm.

The instant her warm fingers touched his inner elbow, his muscles instinctively tensed, and his entire body stiffened for a moment.

But Yan Zeyang was Yan Zeyang—his expression remained calm and unshaken, as if nothing had happened. He even glanced at Wen Xin.

What he didn’t expect was for her to go as far as squeezing his muscles.

Then, he saw her face slowly turn pink, her bright, watery eyes reflecting a mix of admiration and mischief. Clearly flustered, she quickly withdrew her hand. Yet, she couldn’t help but steal glances at him.

She had no idea that military men were trained to be hyper-aware of other people’s gazes.

Suppressing the unfamiliar restlessness stirring within him, he suddenly shoved the money and ration tickets into her hands.

“Take it. I don’t have much use for them anyway.”

Wen Xin hesitated for a moment, a little embarrassed. But she didn’t dare refuse again—what if he changed his mind and took the money back again?

Blushing, she finally accepted it. “Alright then. Thank you, Commander Yan.”

With the money in her hands, she couldn’t hide her happiness. She beamed up at him, her smile bright and warm, different from her usual polite, professional one.

To him, it looked like the radiant smile of someone who had just met their personal God of Wealth.

Although Yan Zeyang had many admirers, he had always been inherently proud. In the eyes of this favored son of heaven, few people were worth his attention. Moreover, given his status in this conservative era, not many dared to approach him with a confession, let alone get touchy with him…

He cleared his throat and quickly regained his usual cold and composed expression, subtly avoiding her closeness. His gaze swept over her fawning smile, and he asked in a cool voice, “Have you finished peeling the hazelnuts?”

Wen Xin’s smile stiffened instantly. “Heh, almost, almost.” She let out an awkward chuckle before quickly changing the subject. “I made hazelnut pastries tonight. We’ll eat once Aunt He comes back. Uh… should I bring yours up to your room later?”

Just yesterday, she had mocked his high-handed attitude for having meals delivered to his room, yet now she was offering to do it herself.

Well, money makes the world go round—what’s a little extra effort?

But after what happened yesterday, she wasn’t even sure if she could go upstairs again.

Yan Zeyang let out a cold snort, seemingly recalling the same thing. He cast her a sidelong glance before turning and walking away.

Tsk! This young master has such an inflated sense of self-importance, and his temper isn’t great either! So fussy, so difficult! If Wen Xin weren’t used to dealing with all kinds of people in the service industry, she wouldn’t have the patience for him. Honestly, if he hadn’t just given her money, she wouldn’t even bother dealing with him.

She turned away and eagerly looked at the money and ration tickets in her hands. Having never seen these before, she picked one up and examined it. It seemed like Yan Zeyang had given her fabric ration tickets. For a girl, fabric tickets were essential for buying cloth and making clothes. This was perfect—she was sick of wearing these dull, outdated clothes! They were so unstylish that she hadn’t dared to look at herself in the mirror. But what choice did she have when she had no money at all?

As Yan Zeyang headed upstairs, he glanced in her direction and caught sight of Wen Xin hopping excitedly toward her room, humming an odd tune. Despite how softly she sang, his soldier’s sharp ears picked up every word clearly:

“I’ve got money, I’ve got money, don’t know how to spend it~”

Yan Zeyang: “…”

The corner of his mouth twitched, and without another word, he strode up the stairs with his long legs.

…

That evening, He Wenyan returned home in Yan Weiguo’s car. Wen Xin quickly whipped up a stir-fried meat dish, and the Yan family enjoyed a meal together.

Once again, Yan Weiguo praised Wen Xin’s cooking.

The pastries she made were truly delicious, catering to everyone’s tastes. The red bean and salted egg yolk filling was a favorite of Yan Miaomiao and He Wenyan, while the fragrant, crispy peanut and hazelnut filling was enjoyed by all. The cabbage and chicken filling, on the other hand, was an absolute hit with the Yan men—especially Yan Zeyang, who practically wiped the plate clean.

Even the tofu and pork rib soup was finished to the last drop. The broth was rich and flavorful, the tofu soft and fresh, and the ribs were so tender they melted in the mouth.

Yan Weiguo had nothing but high praise for her cooking, and even He Wenyan nodded in agreement, mentioning that the porridge that night was particularly good—though there hadn’t been quite enough of it.

Wen Xin felt a little guilty. In truth, the porridge was simply leftovers from lunch. She had placed three bowls of it in the fridge earlier. By dinnertime, the porridge was cold, but since it was summer, a chilled bowl of porridge was actually refreshing. She had added caramelized hazelnuts and peanuts, along with a drizzle of syrup, making the porridge subtly sweet with a delightful crunch.

She hadn’t expected He Wenyan to enjoy it so much. The contrast between the warm caramelized nuts and the cool porridge, combined with the gentle sweetness, gave the dish an unexpectedly appealing texture.

Even Yan Miaomiao had eaten half a bowl, eagerly asking for more.

Before she transmigrated into this book, Wen Xin had read about how the original supporting female character lived in constant oppression in the Yan household. The novel’s depiction of the male lead’s family was also cold and distant, lacking any warmth. The author had painted it as a household plagued by conflicts stemming from a remarriage, resulting in emotional detachment.

But after arriving here, Wen Xin found that things weren’t as bad as the novel described.

Yan Weiguo was a man with a strong sense of the bigger picture, but he was also warm and generous with his praise. He Wenyan, though somewhat scheming, had a sense of pride and decorum—she wouldn’t stoop to petty squabbles, making her relatively easy to get along with.

As for Yan Zeyang… well, he was ridiculously picky, filled with quirks, and overall a tough one to please. But—he was incredibly good-looking! And more importantly, he was generous with money!!!

For those two reasons alone, she could tolerate him for another three months.

Besides, considering he had given her money and ration tickets that afternoon, perhaps he also felt a bit sympathetic toward her situation in the Wen family. That was only fair—she was a victim too! Why should she be the one to bear all the consequences of the Wen family’s mistakes?

At least Yan Zeyang wasn’t so blinded by hatred that he lost all sense of reason. That meant he was still salvageable.

…

“Xiao Wen, you made these pastries really well,” Yan Weiguo said warmly.

“Uncle Yan, if you like them, there’s still some beef in the fridge. Tomorrow night, I can make you beef-filled pastries. I promise they’ll have thin, crispy layers and a juicy, flavorful filling. Soft, rich, and utterly indulgent. I actually learned this recipe from my great-aunt, and I’ve never made it for anyone before. It’s a specialty from the capital—very few people have had the chance to try it.” Wen Xin grinned as she exaggerated.

“Oh? Then I must have a good taste of your skills.” Yan Weiguo chuckled. “It’s settled, then. Tomorrow night, I’ll be back to try this exclusive specialty.” He then turned to He Wenyan and said, “Your relative’s niece certainly has some remarkable skills.”

He Wenyan smiled and nodded. “She grew up under her great-aunt’s care, so she naturally picked up a thing or two.”

She was now thoroughly pleased with Wen Xin.

Before Wen Xin arrived, Yan Weiguo had been busy with work, often leaving early and coming home late. They rarely had the chance to eat at the same table. Yan Zeyang, on the other hand, completely ignored her existence, while Yan Miaomiao used to avoid her like the plague. Outwardly, she seemed to live a comfortable life, but only she knew how lonely it felt inside this house.

Ever since Wen Xin came, though, in just three or four days, Yan Weiguo had come home twice for dinner. The atmosphere during meals was much more harmonious. While Yan Zeyang still wouldn’t look her in the eye, at least he wasn’t as cold and dismissive as before. Even Yan Miaomiao no longer seemed afraid of her.

At family meals, the father and son often fell into awkward silences, and as a stepmother, He Wenyan couldn’t do much to ease the tension between them. Strangely enough, ever since an outsider like Wen Xin entered the household, the atmosphere at the dining table had softened considerably. Conversations, though still sparse, now carried a touch of lightheartedness. Perhaps good food had a natural way of bringing happiness—when people were well-fed, they became easier to talk to.

Wen Xin had deliberately chosen her words. She could tell how much He Wenyan cared about Yan Weiguo’s presence at family meals. If he came home to eat more often, He Wenyan would undoubtedly be pleased. This was an easy opportunity to earn favor—why not take it? If He Wenyan appreciated her efforts, life in the Yan household would become much easier for her. After all, power in this house was split between two people—one half belonged to He Wenyan, and the other to “the devil.” She couldn’t afford to offend either of them.

Just as she was calculating all this in her mind, she looked up and found Yan Zeyang chewing his food slowly while shooting her a cold glare.

Wen Xin: “Uh…” She stuck out her pink tongue sheepishly, shrank her neck, and wisely chose to stop talking.