Chapter 225 : Pumpkin Pie

Fu Sichan really couldn’t stand the smoke and pungent smells of the kitchen.

So, he wore a mask while coming in.

His pampered hands were now covered in batter.

His brow was so furrowed it could almost crush a fly!

For the first time in his life, Fu Sichan doubted everything, why must cooking involve dirty hands?

He’d rather suffer than get himself dirty.

But for the little girl, he decided to endure it.

Fu Sichan commanded in a deep voice, “Everyone out.”

The others in the kitchen wanted to help, but no one dared disobey President Fu’s orders.

So, they all retreated.

Lu Yunyao quietly came downstairs and stood behind the stairs, listening to the murmurs from the kitchen door.

“Sir, be careful of the oil splattering! Don’t burn yourself!”

“Mr. Fu never goes near the kitchen, what’s gotten into him today? He’s been busy since early morning.”

“It looks like he’s frying something, he’s burned himself with hot oil several times, quite alarming.”

One maid whispered, “I guess Mr. Fu suddenly cooking must be for the madam.”

Lu Yunyao froze.

For her?

But if the Mr. wanted her to get nutrition, he could have just instructed the kitchen.

Why go through all this trouble?

She felt a mix of confusion and a deep sense of gratitude.

No matter what, it was rare for the Mr. to have this kind of thoughtfulness.

Even if the dishes he made weren’t good, she would pretend they were delicious and eat everything.

She couldn’t let down his intentions.

With that in mind, Lu Yunyao sneaked back to her room, pretending to sleep.

…

“Knock knock.”

The bedroom door was knocked on, and the Mr.’s voice came through, “Little lazy cat, still not awake?”

Lu Yunyao sat up, her eyes still heavy with sleep. “I’m awake, Mr, you can come in.”

She had intended to pretend to be asleep, but after waiting a long time without him coming, she dozed off again.

The bedroom door opened, and Fu Sichan strode in with his long legs.

“Are you getting ready to get up?”

Lu Yunyao nodded, “Mm.”

“I’ll carry you to wash your face.”

Feeling shy, she nestled against his chest as he carried her to the washroom.

“Let’s go eat.”

As they reached the dining table, Lu Yunyao had a warm pumpkin pancake stuffed into her mouth the moment she sat down.

“Try this.”

Instinctively, she took a bite, and the rich sweetness of the pumpkin spread across her palate.

The taste felt so familiar…

Fu Sichan looked at her expectantly, “How is it? Do you like it?”

Lu Yunyao’s eyes widened in disbelief.

She looked at the man sitting across from her, only able to see a blurry outline, yet tears involuntarily welled up in her eyes.

“Grandma…”

This was the taste of the dishes her grandma made.

Lu Yunyao picked up another pancake, took a bite, and murmured, “When I was little, the Mu family treated me terribly, only my grandparents were good to me.”

“Every time I went to my grandparents’ house, Grandma would fry pumpkin pancakes for me.”

“Her pancakes were the best in the world! I haven’t tasted this flavor since she and Grandpa passed away.”

Tears fell silently from Lu Yunyao’s eyes.

As she tasted the sweet pancakes, she recalled the warmth her grandparents had given her during her painful childhood.

The sweet aroma of the pancakes was the only light in her dark days.

Fu Sichan gently wiped away her tears with a tissue, “If you like it, eat more. I’ll make it for you again in the future.”

Seeing the nostalgic and happy smile on her face, he felt that his efforts that morning were worthwhile.

Though getting his hands dirty annoyed him, it was nothing compared to her smile.

Lu Yunyao was lost in warm memories.

The moment she tasted the familiar pumpkin pancake, it felt like her grandma was beside her, holding her close, telling her stories, and protecting her as she grew up.

“Mr. how did you know I wanted this?”

Fu Sichan wiped her tears away with his thumb and explained softly “After you fell asleep yesterday, you kept talking in your sleep.”

Lu Yunyao blinked in confusion, “I talked in my sleep?”

“Yeah, you said… you missed your grandma and wanted to eat her pumpkin pancakes.”

She even said Grandma’s pancakes were the best and she’d never had such delicious sweets outside.

She had once asked her grandma why her pancakes were so fragrant and sweet.

Grandma had replied, “Because they’re filled with love.”

That’s why Fu Sichan wanted to see if he could recreate that taste in her heart.

He spent the whole morning in the kitchen, frying several large batches of pancakes.

Finally, he made the best one.

Lu Yunyao lowered her head, moved, and murmured:

“When Grandpa and Grandma left this world, they didn’t even know I wasn’t their biological granddaughter.”

They had treated her as their own, giving her the little warmth of childhood.

Fu Sichan held her tightly, giving her courage through his embrace.

“Little girl, I’m your family forever.”

“And our baby, whether it’s a boy or a girl, will always love their mother the most.”

Long ago, he had already decided to give her a home.

Perhaps it started with the times he made exceptions for her, or maybe it began with the way he began to care little by little.

Or perhaps it began with each time he felt heartache for her.

Maybe it was from the very first time he saw her.

In the past, Fu Sichan had been cold and indifferent, with only career and profit in his eyes.

Her appearance taught him about emotions and showed him what it meant to love someone deeply.

Lu Yunyao held out the pumpkin pancake to Fu Sichan’s mouth.

“Mr. you should try this, it’s my favorite flavor from when I was little.”

Fu Sichan took a bite from her hand, the pancake soft and sweet.

“When my eyesight gets better, I want to visit my grandparents’ old home. I want them to know that I’m living happily now, so they can be at peace.”

“Okay, I’ll go with you then.”

Fu Sichan held her hand.

But Lu Yunyao felt the uneven scars on the back of his hand and frowned with concern.

“Mr. you’re hurt?”

Fu Sichan smiled dismissively, “It’s nothing, it doesn’t hurt.”

Lu Yunyao couldn’t see the injuries, so she gently traced the scars on his hand with her fingers.

She had just heard the maids say that his hand had been burned by splattering hot oil.

Growing up pampered, he had never needed to cook himself, yet this time, he had endured his cleanliness obsession to fry things for her, getting burned several times in the process.

It was impossible for Lu Yunyao not to be moved.

She tenderly held Fu Sichan’s hand and said softly “Mr, let me help you with some ointment.”