She hurriedly finished her noodles, spoke to Yan Xiang, and took the last bowl to the third floor of the front yard.

“Knock knock knock…” There was a knock on the door.

Xiao Huaiting said, “Come in.”

The door creaked open, and what caught his attention first wasn’t the person entering but the pleasant scent in the air.

He looked up and saw a girl in simple clothes walking in. She placed the things in her hands on the dining table beside her. Her black and white eyes stared at him. “General Xiao, this is the breakfast I made for you. It’s a small portion. You can try it after breakfast.”

Xiao Huaiting glanced away briefly but then looked at her with a meaningful expression. Slowly, he said, “Miss Yan Liu’s cooking skills are really amazing.”

Yan Qiushu blinked twice and waited for his response.

He noticed right away.

But this young general, known for his strength and seriousness, seemed intimidating.

Yan Qiushu smiled nervously but didn’t deny it.

Xiao Huaiting was a bit interested. “Did you know I would find out?”

Yan Qiushu replied honestly, “The Xiao family’s army is all-powerful, of course you could find out.”

Her round eyes looked directly at him, and her clear voice seemed sincere. It wasn’t flattery; she was speaking the truth. Xiao Huaiting’s cheeks flushed slightly, and he coughed lightly to hide it. In a deeper voice, he said, “So, what do you plan to do now? Are you… bribing this general?”

Yan Qiushu frowned and sighed. “The Sixth Miss of the Yan Family died suddenly. I, Yan Qiushu, am just an illegal resident without an ID card. If I don’t find a way out, I might end up in jail.”

Xiao Huaiting’s face froze, and he looked at her with some sympathy. “You figured it out?”

Yan Qiushu nodded.

Xiao Huaiting’s voice softened. “It’s really not necessary. Even though we don’t know each other, I can still help a little.”

Yan Qiushu smiled helplessly. “Thank you, General. But you are someone who has practiced martial arts since childhood, so you’re fearless. I, however, am alone. Even if you take care of everything, my house might be broken into by robbers one day. Then, I’ll have no one to turn to.”

Even in her previous life, where the country was safe, many single women were murdered.

Yan Qiushu had shared a house with a colleague. Before leaving, she made sure another friend moved in with her colleague so they could look after each other.

This era was even more dangerous.

Her words were direct, and Xiao Huaiting couldn’t help but consider them. He apologized, “I took it for granted. Miss Yan Liu, what are your plans?”

Yan Qiushu had been waiting for this. She bowed with both hands and said seriously, “General, what I said last night was true. I admire you and the Xiao family’s loyalty. I didn’t have a chance before, but this time you saved me. I will repay you by cooking for you for the rest of my life. I have no second thoughts.”

Her words were so sincere that Xiao Huaiting was silent for a long time. When he spoke again, his voice was softer. “I saved you just because we were passing by and fighting bandits. It’s something I should have done. You don’t have to take it so seriously. And about what you said—it’s not something I can decide right now. I’ll think about it.”

Yan Qiushu understood that, because she wasn’t just anyone, if the Yan family recognized her, it could bring trouble to the Xiao family. After all, many people were watching them.

But she also needed to protect herself, so she said pitifully, “Then… General, please think it over. What I said is truly from the bottom of my heart.”

Her expression was like a little deer pleading not to be abandoned.

Xiao Huaiting’s heart softened, and he almost agreed. He managed to hold back and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll find a good place for you.”

Whether she stayed or not needed careful thought, but after eating her food, even if she didn’t stay, he would make sure she lived well.

Yan Qiushu’s heart sank, feeling hopeless. She stopped pushing and reminded him, “I’ll wait for your answer. The noodles may be a little cold. General, don’t forget about them.”

The door creaked closed again.

Once she left, the room fell silent.

Xiao Huaiting didn’t want to waste food. After she left, he quickly picked up the noodles.

Although they had cooled a bit, the fragrance became stronger when he stirred them.

He took a bite. The noodles were softer than expected, but the taste of river seafood was strong, improving the flavor.

He took a sip of the soup, and the delicious taste made him squint his eyes in satisfaction.

Once he finished the noodles, he slowly ate the river seafood left in the bowl.

Xiao Huaiting was used to saving the best for last.

At home, he would share his food with the younger family members. His father was absent, and his mother was depressed, so as the only adult male, he had to take care of them.

Suddenly, there was a sound at the door, as if someone was swallowing saliva.

Xiao Huaiting’s thoughts paused, and he said, “Come in!”

“General!” A middle-aged man walked in, wearing a military uniform that looked different from the regular soldiers. He was one of Xiao Huaiting’s deputy generals and a reliable assistant.

Lei Shan looked a little embarrassed but remained serious. “What you ordered has been passed to the local government. Once the matter is resolved, they’ll send a message to the Xiao family.”

“Alright,” Xiao Huaiting nodded. He noticed that Lei Shan’s eyes were on the bowl in front of him. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, “Do you really want to eat?”

“Ahem…” Lei Shan coughed and said in a rough voice, “General, the smell was too good. I couldn’t resist. I haven’t had good food in a long time, so please don’t be mad.”

The main reason was that Lei Shan had been busy running errands since morning, and he was starving. When he smelled the food, he couldn’t stop drooling.

Xiao Huaiting didn’t respond right away.

Lei Shan’s face went from calm to pale. He knelt and said, “It’s because I have poor self-control. Please punish me, General!”

Xiao Huaiting: “…”

He waved his hand. “I was just thinking about something. You can go now.”

Lei Shan sighed with relief and quickly ran out.

Xiao Huaiting stared at the food in front of him, then slowly picked up a river shrimp. The shrimp was tender, chewy, and sweet, without any fishy taste. The salty soup covering the shrimp was so delicious that his taste buds tingled.

The more he ate, the more delicious it became.

The Sixth Daughter of the Yan Family is really talented. And judging from the spicy crabs last night, she uses bold ingredients in her cooking. Even though their family is used to heavy flavors, they can’t match her cooking.

But it was this taste that made him unforgettable.

It also made him think of a place where Yan Qiushu was needed.

Why not take her back?

Isn’t she just the daughter of the Yan family? Even if she’s discovered later, who would the Xiao family be afraid of?