Chapter 17: “Why Not Stay a Few More Days?”

They dawdled until two o’clock, and finally managed to make six dishes and one soup with much difficulty. After Jiang Yao’s forceful plating, the presentation was surprisingly good.

As for the taste.

Jiang Yao took a light bite of the fish-flavored eggplant.

It was hard to comment…

He decided to leave it to the King of Hell to judge.

After the mealtime had passed, Jiang Chen checked on the progress in the kitchen every ten or so minutes. He was so hungry that he was dizzy. The sight of the Mapo Tofu, full of color and fragrance and sprinkled with bright green scallions, made him pounce on it like a tiger, almost numbing him to the point of visiting the underworld.

“Are you adulterers trying to poison me?” Jiang Chen choked and coughed violently, until his face turning red.

Jiang Yao silently poured a glass of water for Jiang “Lab Rat” Chen, and thought that not killing anyone counted as a success.

Once all the dishes were served, Jiang Yao, the main chef responsible for the cooking, enthusiastically served more dishes to Jiang Chen, and reminded his brother to pay attention to a balanced diet with a mix of meat and vegetables.

It seemed a bit like a personal vendetta.

Who told Jiang Chen to be restless, running to the kitchen door every now and then to peek? He was caught off guard and could only stick with Duan Zhuxian at all times, playing the role of a loving couple.

Unfortunately, someone was a few centimeters taller than him, and the position of his mouth was near his ear. It was fine when he didn’t speak, but once he spoke, it was like a continuous itch that he couldn’t scratch was being injected into his skin, followed by a prickly heat, like an allergen.

It made his hands not like hands, his feet not like feet, and the seasoning was either too much or wrong. Otherwise, the dishes wouldn’t have been ruined like this.

To be honest, Jiang Chen brought this upon himself!

Jiang Yao had eaten half a bowl of white rice without picking up a single dish. Seeing Jiang Chen eating in real pain, he lowered his head to stifle a laugh, planning to order some takeout later. Suddenly, a hand appeared in front of him—

Wide and slender, with distinct joints, several blue veins were driven by the hidden power, subtly protruding on the back of the hand as he held the chopsticks.

Suddenly being too close, Jiang Yao felt a slight suffocation as if he was being invaded. The next second, that hand shook slightly, and the thing between the chopsticks fell into his bowl.

At the same time, a deep voice fell by his ear: “Eat some vegetables, don’t just eat rice.”

It was quite gentle.

If only it didn’t come from Duan Zhuxian’s naturally harsh mouth.

His brain automatically translated those seven words, and then he squinted slightly, judging others by himself—

Someone was using the pretext of playing the loving couple to deliberately mess with him!

He didn’t even know how to act well.

Jiang Yao almost laughed at Duan Zhuxian’s cunning and slyness. He maintained a composed facade as he added some of his ‘dark cuisine’ to Duan Zhuxian’s bowl.

“You should eat more too.”

Duan Zhuxian hummed in response, then picked up another chopstick-full.

Jiang Yao also returned a chopstick-full.

Jiang Chen: “?”

The two of them went back and forth like this, igniting Jiang Yao’s fighting spirit.

It wasn’t until Duan Zhuxian’s bowl and plate were piled into two small mountains that he took a breath, calling a temporary truce, and turned his gaze back to his own bowl.

And then he was stunned.

What Duan Zhuxian had given him was all stir-fried shrimp—

The only dish on the table that wasn’t a disaster was the one Duan Zhuxian was entirely responsible for cooking.

Jiang Chen had been holding back for a long time, finally knocking the table with the end of his chopsticks.

“Are you done yet? Can’t you eat properly without each other? I remember someone insisted on being a ‘man’ at the age of five, adamantly refusing to eat anything I offered. Now with your fiancé, it seems the standards have changed.”

Snapping back to reality amidst Jiang Chen’s disdainful teasing, Jiang Yao’s ears heated up, and he lowered his head nonchalantly, toying with a shrimp with the tip of his chopsticks.

He felt a bit lost, a bit awkward, and a bit at a loss.

Was this elite boss planning to switch careers to become an actor? Why put on such a detailed and genuine acting?

Jiang Yao pursed his lips.

After a while, he nudged Duan Zhuxian with his elbow, saying somewhat stiffly, “Maybe you should eat more shrimp.”

He added, “My brother has a seafood intolerance. He only eats what walks on the land.”

“Huh?” Jiang Chen let out a genuinely puzzled sound, wondering if this was really his brother.

But before he could intervene, he watched helplessly as the half plate of shrimp was scooped into his dear brother’s beloved’s bowl.

*

After the meal, Jiang Yao caught up with Jiang Chen, who was heading to the courtyard for a walk to digest his food, then asked him when he was leaving.

If his brother doesn’t leave for a second, he has to pretend to be in love with Duan Zhuxian for a second. He’s afraid that if this continues, he could make it to the Oscars, and walking hand in hand with Duan Zhuxian to claim their double Best Actor awards.

Jiang Chen casually replied, “I haven’t thought about it yet.”

Jiang Yao tried to reason, “Aren’t you helping sister-in-law’s company go public? You just got it listed and now you’re washing your hands of it. What if something happens? Who will take charge?”

“I have done my duty to their Meng family, the rest is up to them.” Jiang Chen stretched lazily, looking casually at the charming green trees and flowers outside the window, “I’m on vacation recently, the scenery here is pretty good, suitable for vacation, it’s not bad to come here to retire in the future.”

Jiang Yao: “…”

Jiang Yao and Jiang Chen had been competing in wits and schemes since they were kids, using all kinds of conspiracies and tricks. His brother had long become immune to his tactics, skilled in deflecting with smooth talk and avoiding confrontation with adept tai chi moves.

After a moment of thought, he decided to deploy a strong tactic to crack his brother’s feigned ignorance and thick-skinned act.

He turned his head to look at Duan Zhuxian, who was brewing tea by the island counter. His eyebrows slightly raised, and his eyes flickering with insinuation, rapidly sending silent signals.

Amidst the swirling tea smoke, their eyes met.

Duan Zhuxian let out a light chuckle.

That’s right, what he wanted was this mocking smile!

Just the right flavor!

Jiang Yao crossed his arms in satisfaction, waiting leisurely for Duan Zhuxian, this sarcastic ghost, to drive people away.

Under Jiang Yao’s gaze, filled with expectation and encouragement, Duan Zhuxian walked slowly to their side and handed a cup of fragrant green tea to Jiang Chen.

Unlike Jiang Yao’s impatience, he patted Jiang Chen’s shoulder, revealed a warm and gentle smile, and said leisurely, “Listing is the most laborious and taxing thing. Since you’re on vacation, why not stay a few more days?”

Jiang Yao: “?”

[Author’s Note]

Jiang Yao: Damn, you’re going all out! So you want to compete in acting skills with me, huh? [Competitive Desire Charging 80%]

(Baby, your husband has been an experienced actor for more than ten years. It’s normal that we, as beginners, can’t compare.)