Chapter 18.2

In the original owner’s memories, there were no gossips, only memories of being made to work by her aunt. The novel’s plot didn’t contain any either. It only described how the female lead fought against terrible relatives, worked hard to leave the village, and joined hands with the male lead to become wealthy.

Not a single bit of gossip!

Wen Yue felt a deep resentment now.

She tossed the clothes in her arms into the house, leaned against the wall, and hopped on one foot step by step into Zhou Yao’s room, taking out some flour, then hopped to the kitchen.

It was too boring, so she could only make something to pass the time.

Kneading the dough, resting it, chopping the meat filling, and rolling out the dumpling skins.

Wen Yue focused, creating dumplings that looked good one by one.

By the time Grandma Fang came to deliver dinner, she had already wrapped quite a few dumplings.

Wen Yue walked out of the kitchen with a bright smile. “Grandma Fang, I just made some dumplings. Please take a few back to try later.”

Grandma Fang waved her hand to refuse, but before she could speak, Wen Yue interrupted.

“If you refuse, I will be sad. I’ll be really, really upset, so upset I’ll want to cry.”

Grandma Fang had never seen such a stubborn approach and could only nod in agreement. By the time she left, her bamboo basket had eight plump meat dumplings in it.

“This good stuff is given to outsiders so easily,” Lin Fang said with a sarcastic tone.

Wen Yue turned to look at her. “Does Second Aunt want some too?”

Lin Fang was taken aback for a second, her eyes flickering as she opened her mouth to reply.

Wen Yue smiled sweetly. “Then Second Aunt can just think about it.”

Lin Fang: “?”

That little brat! Is she trying to tease her?

Wen Yue flashed a smile at Lin Fang, locked the kitchen door in front of her, and went into her room, shutting the door.

Lin Fang’s face twisted in anger as she cursed under her breath: “Damn little money-waster, wasteful thing!”

…

…

Zhou Yao originally thought he wouldn’t get a late-night snack tonight, but as he walked along the small path that overlooked the Zhou family’s courtyard, he saw a warm orange glow coming from their kitchen.

The light reflected in Zhou Yao’s dark and deep eyes. He relaxed his brow for a moment, then furrowed it again, quickening his pace.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, he immediately spotted a petite figure sitting at the kitchen door, munching on a dumpling.

Her beautiful, sparkling eyes were even brighter than the lightbulb in the room behind her. “Zhou Yao, you’re back!”

Zhou Yao hummed and raised his eyebrows: “Didn’t I tell you to rest well? Is your foot better?”

“It still hurts a little bit.” Wen Yue stretched out her slender fingers to gesture and complained softly, “I’m really bored. Besides, cooking doesn’t require using my feet… There are still two dumplings in the pot. I made them. Go get them yourself.”

The warm orange kitchen light illuminated her fair face, making her features look particularly gentle and beautiful. She tilted her face up, smiling at Zhou Yao with a bright, radiant smile.

Zhou Yao’s gaze flickered slightly as he stepped into the kitchen, washed his hands, and then lifted the lid of the pot to grab a steaming meat dumpling, taking a big bite.

Wen Yue sat firmly on her little stool at the kitchen door, peeking her head around and asking him with a smile, “How is it? Is it delicious?”

Zhou Yao responded with an “mm.”

Wen Yue’s smile never faded. After finishing the dumpling in small bites, she stood up and hopped to brush her teeth.

Zhou Yao ate quickly and said, “Let’s go back inside. I’ll apply some more medicine for you.”

Wen Yue’s face was full of resistance. “No, I think I’m much better.”

Zhou Yao ignored her protest and turned to get the medicinal wine.

Wen Yue: “…”

When Zhou Yao came out of the room with the bottle of medicinal wine, he saw Wen Yue still standing at the kitchen door, her bright eyes fixed on him, silently protesting.

He raised an eyebrow slightly and spoke in a low voice, “Be good, hurry up.”

His low, hoarse tone carried an inexplicable tenderness.

Wen Yue found it hard to resist.

She hesitated, saying, “It hurts.”

Zhou Yao replied, “I’ll be gentle.”

Wen Yue reluctantly accepted, “…You said it.”

Only then did she hop toward the room while holding onto the wall, her hair, which had been tied up, gradually loosening with her movements, and a few strands fell by her ears.

Wen Yue sat at the edge of the bed, propping up her injured leg.

Her loose pant legs rolled up to her knees, revealing her fair and slender calves. In the light, her delicate little feet looked soft and pink.

She leaned forward slightly to inspect her swollen ankle, causing her hair to fall even more, looking gentle and beautiful.

Zhou Yao followed her in and saw this scene.

His gaze darkened slightly, and he pursed his lips as he squatted beside the bed. His warm hand held Wen Yue’s foot, placing it on his thigh.

When he applied medicine yesterday, there was only pain, nothing else.

But now, as Zhou Yao held her ankle, his fingertips with calluses brushed lightly against her skin, causing a slight tingling sensation.

Even in a half-squatting position, he exuded a strong sense of presence.

Wen Yue felt a bit shy and shrank back.

But just as she moved, the hand gripping her ankle tightened slightly.

Zhou Yao lifted his eyelids, glancing at her meaningfully. “Don’t move.”