Chapter 4

At the Four Seasons Warm Courtyard.

After getting confirmation that Fu Jinghan would be coming home tonight, Ji Nuannuan dashed into the kitchen excitedly.

She looked at the housekeepers who were busy preparing dinner and said, “I’ll cook for Fu Jinghan tonight. You all can take a break.”

The staff froze, as if they had just heard something shocking. They exchanged stunned glances.

No way! Has this woman really lost it? Since she failed to die, is she now planning to poison Mr. Fu instead?!

Mama Zhang looked at the excited Ji Nuannuan with some alarm and said, “Miss Ji, um… you know, knives are dangerous…”

Ji Nuannuan’s bright smile froze on her lips. She awkwardly explained:

“What are you talking about, Mama Zhang? I just want to cook for Fu Jinghan. He’s so good to me—why would I ever want to hurt him?”

“I was blind before, but today… just today, I suddenly see things clearly now. Really.”

Seeing Ji Nuannuan’s sincere face, Mama Zhang didn’t say anything more. She just said doubtfully that if Ji Nuannuan had any trouble cooking, she could call her for help anytime.

Ji Nuannuan agreed happily and immediately shut the kitchen door — no peeking allowed!

She looked around the kitchen at the wide array of ingredients and quickly hit a snag. There were plenty of ingredients… but she barely knew how to cook anything.

When her mother was around, she had still been a child, and after living with her grandma, the old lady never let her cook. So Ji Nuannuan was practically kitchen illiterate.

After observing the kitchen for a while, she gathered a few ingredients and began researching.

She held her phone and spent a good while looking up recipes, but before she even started cooking — Fu Jinghan had already come home.

“What new stunt is this?”

A cold voice came from behind her. Ji Nuannuan turned around and saw Fu Jinghan.

Seeing him again made her heart ache. Her eyes welled up as she immediately ran toward him.

“Fu Jinghan, you’re back~”

She threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.

Fu Jinghan, who had never seen Ji Nuannuan act like this, froze on the spot.

He looked at the woman in his arms, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, quickly followed by disappointment.

“Ji Nuannuan, what kind of act are you putting on now?” he said coldly as he pushed her away.

“You’ll even use yourself now? You’re really something.”

Pushed away, Ji Nuannuan quickly tried to hug him again. She knew she had broken his heart.

Choking back sobs, she said: “No, Fu Jinghan, it’s not like that.”

“I know I was wrong. I just want to be with you now.”

She used to hate him and wanted to escape him. But now she said she wanted to stay? Ji Nuannuan, your tricks really never end!

“Ji Nuannuan, if you called me home just to mess with me, then I won’t come back again. And don’t bother scheming like this anymore.”

His voice was cold, but also full of helplessness.

Ji Nuannuan paused, trying to hold back her tears.

She looked up at him and said: “I’m not mocking you. Fu Jinghan, I’m looking up how to cook for you. See?”

She handed him her phone, and he saw the screen displaying the search: “How to make nourishing tonic soup.”

Even though he was still upset, seeing how eager Ji Nuannuan was to please him softened his heart.

“Nourishing soup? Who’s it for?” His voice was still cool, but there was a trace of warmth now.

“You, of course! Go wait in the living room for a bit. It’ll be ready soon!” Before he could respond, Ji Nuannuan had already pushed him out of the kitchen.

Fu Jinghan was completely baffled by Ji Nuannuan’s sudden change, but when he turned back and saw the few ingredients on the cutting board, he hesitated.

Even if he couldn’t understand what she was up to, he still went to the living room to wait patiently.

But the waiting felt long.

Fu Jinghan couldn’t help thinking about Ji Nuannuan’s strange change in behavior. He even suspected she might be planning to drug him—for Wei Yang?

Was she really going that far?

But he quickly dismissed the thought. Ji Nuannuan wasn’t stupid. She knew what poisoning him would mean—it wouldn’t help Wei Yang and would completely destroy him.

Time ticked by.

Ten minutes later, Ji Nuannuan came out with a pot of unidentifiable soup, set it down, and happily pulled Fu Jinghan over to the dining table.

Fu Jinghan looked at Ji Nuannuan’s small hand holding his. Her wrist was wrapped in bandages, and both hands were dotted with tiny red marks—clearly burns from hot oil splatter.

Seeing her injured again, Fu Jinghan felt both heartache and helplessness.

Every time she got hurt, it was for the sake of running away from him.

Maybe… maybe it really was time to let her go.

Even if letting her go would rip him apart… at least she’d stop getting hurt.

“What do you want?” Fu Jinghan sat at the table, frowning as he looked at Ji Nuannuan.

“Hm?” Ji Nuannuan blinked in confusion.

“Anything but leaving—I’ll give it to you. You don’t have to cook. You don’t have to hurt yourself like this.” His voice was filled with sorrow.

Ji Nuannuan saw the expression on his face and realized he was overthinking again. Maybe he thought she had an ulterior motive. She hurried to explain:

“I don’t want anything—just you!”

She got up, walked over to him, and before he could react, sat in his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, her cheeks flushed.

Fu Jinghan felt her softness pressed against him. His throat went dry, and he didn’t know where to put his hands—he just held them awkwardly in the air.

“What are you doing? Trying something new?” This was the first time he’d ever been this physically close to Ji Nuannuan.

“We’re husband and wife. Isn’t this normal?” Ji Nuannuan nestled into his shoulder and whispered in his ear.

“Husband and wife? When have you ever admitted to being my wife? Ever since you stepped into this house, all you’ve wanted was to run away.”

Fu Jinghan let out a bitter laugh.

“Yeah, and like you said, that was before. This is now. I’ve had an awakening—can’t I?”

Ji Nuannuan whispered into his ear playfully, even blowing lightly, while one small hand trailed along his chest.

This was completely new territory for Fu Jinghan. His cold, handsome face turned visibly red.

Even his ears turned hot from how close she was.

“Do you even know what you’re doing? This… is dangerous.”

“Dangerous? Then…” Ji Nuannuan leaned closer, voice soft as silk, “how about this?”