Chapter 23

Seeing that look, Jiang Muning suddenly felt an indescribable sense of subtlety.

Caught staring, Qin Muye’s eyes flashed with embarrassment, quickly shifting his gaze away.

As if the brief eye contact was just a careless encounter.

Jiang Muning smoothed her chest, muttering, “Why did you have to be born with those deep, affectionate eyes? It’s so easy to misunderstand.”

In that moment, she actually thought he liked her, how absurd.

She was the male lead’s soon-to-be-dead cannon fodder ex-wife. If he liked her, why would he want to run away after their wedding? He should be wanting to die in her arms, right?

Just as she was muttering and preparing to wash vegetables, she saw her slender wrist being grabbed.

Looking up, she saw Qin Muye already taking the cabbage from her hand, silently washing it.

“Brother Makino?” Jiang Muning called softly.

“Don’t touch the water.” Qin Muye replied in a low voice, efficiently washing and picking the vegetables.

Hearing this, Jiang Muning’s lips curled up. “Okay.”

She was always considerate. If Qin Muye wanted to be a good husband, she would naturally accommodate him.

Looking at the wound on her finger, which was almost healed, Jiang Muning said with a smile, “Wash those spicy snails too, we’ll have spicy boiled snails tonight.”

“Mm.” Qin Muye kept his head down and worked.

After cleaning all the vegetables and snails, Qin Muye was about to add oil to the pan and start making dinner when a soft hand landed on his wrist.

Qin Muye turned his head and looked at the girl beside him.

“You’ve been busy all day, you’re tired. Go rest, I’ll make dinner.” Jiang Muning said playfully.

Qin Muye was surprised. “You know how to cook?”

“A little.” Jiang Muning leaned to the side, placing her other hand on his arm. “Go rest for a while, try my cooking.”

Hearing this, Qin Muye’s eyes flickered, trying to suppress the joy in his heart.

“Mm.” Qin Muye tried to be reserved, then walked to the kitchen door.

Seeing that she didn’t leave immediately, Jiang Muning said with a playful scolding, “Go rest, don’t interfere with my performance.”

The playful scolding had a hint of coquettishness, Qin Muye felt his throat tighten, the feeling was subtle.

Seeing her almond eyes slightly open, Qin Muye obediently left.

Looking at the vegetables in front of her, Jiang Muning propped her chin and pondered. “What should I make?”

She used to love ordering takeout, so when her parents were not home, she was unwilling to cook.

Later, her parents heard that takeout was high in oil and salt, so they forced her to learn how to cook.

Under high-pressure policies, Jiang Muning finally learned to make some dishes.

“Let’s make some spicy cabbage, stir-fried greens, and boiled spicy snails tonight.”

With a decision made, Jiang Muning began to act.

The family courtyard had all switched to gas stoves, no longer using earthen stoves, so it wouldn’t affect her performance.

Jiang Muning first made the boiled spicy snails.

This dish was very simple to make, but because it could retain the freshness of the snails, so every time there was a festival, Jiang Muning’s family would have a platter of boiled spicy snails and fragrant snails.

Jiang Muning added water to the pot, put in a few slices of ginger and a spoonful of cooking wine, which could effectively remove the fishy smell of the snails.

Then, she put the snails into the pot, brought it to a boil over high heat, then turned down the heat and continued to simmer for 3 to 5 minutes.

After cooking, she took the snails out, drained them and put them on a plate.

She liked to dip them in soy sauce and vinegar, it was convenient and delicious.

Next was the spicy cabbage.

Jiang Muning first cut the napa cabbage into pieces of appropriate size. Slice the garlic, shred the ginger, and cut the dried chili peppers into segments.

With the preliminary preparations done, Jiang Muning poured a suitable amount of oil into the pot, heated the oil, then put in the Sichuan peppercorns and dried chili segments, stir-fried over low heat until fragrant.

Then add the garlic slices and ginger shreds, continue to stir-fry until fragrant.

When the chili fragrance was strong, Jiang Muning put the cut cabbage pieces into the pot, stir-fried quickly over high heat.

When she saw the cabbage was slightly softened, she added soy sauce, vinegar, salt, and sugar, and continued to stir-fry evenly.

When it was almost done, Jiang Muning took the spicy cabbage out of the pot.

Half an hour later, in front of the square wooden dining table, looking at the colorful dishes in front of him, Qin Muye was surprised. “You made this?”

Jiang Muning propped her chin, smiling brightly. “Yes, try it.”

Qin Muye didn’t say anything, he picked up his rice and started to eat.

After taking a bite of rice, Qin Muye picked up some greens.

“How is it?” Jiang Muning asked expectantly.

“Delicious.” Qin Muye gave a positive evaluation.

The greens were more delicious than he expected.

After all, he thought it would be a disaster.

Jiang Muning excitedly picked up some spicy cabbage for him. “Try this.”

Seeing the reddish color, Qin Muye paused.

“Don’t you like it?” Jiang Muning looked at him with her eyes.

“No.” Qin Muye said, putting the spicy cabbage in his mouth.

Immediately, the intense spiciness stimulated his taste buds, Qin Muye’s entire face turned red from the spice.

Then, he coughed violently.

Seeing him coughing from the spice, Jiang Muning quickly poured him a glass of water. “Can’t you eat spicy food?”

Qin Muye took the water and took a sip, then he felt better.

“Then you don’t have to eat this.” Jiang Muning said.

Qin Muye’s throat hurt from the spice, his voice was a little hoarse. “It’s fine, it’s delicious.”

“I think it’s delicious too.” Jiang Muning said, picking a piece of cabbage for herself.

She liked spicy food, feeling the spiciness spread in her mouth, Jiang Muning enjoyed it very much.

Seeing her expression, Qin Muye silently took a deep breath, took a bite of rice, then stretched his chopsticks towards the spicy cabbage again.

Jiang Muning looked at him in surprise, he was clearly red in the face from the spice, but he didn’t refuse the temptation of the spicy cabbage.

“It seems like my cooking is really good.” Jiang Muning was full of a sense of accomplishment.

Qin Muye didn’t say anything, his throat felt like it was on fire, the spice made him speechless.

He never ate spicy food since he was a child, but this was the first time Jiang Muning cooked for him, he had to eat it even if it killed him.

Spicy snails didn’t go well with rice, after Jiang Muning finished eating, she used a toothpick to pick out the snail meat and dipped it in vinegar.

Seeing her skilled movements, Qin Muye was curious, but he didn’t think much of it.

Jiang Muning, who hadn’t cooked for a long time, was surprised to see Qin Muye finish all the dishes, she thought her cooking would be rejected.

Qin Muye gulped down a lot of water, the spiciness in his mouth finally subsided.

Although the spice was unbearable, if he had to do it again, he would still eat it.

After finishing their meal, looking at the bowls and chopsticks in the sink, she didn’t want to wash them.

Just as she saw Qin Muye enter the kitchen, Jiang Muning had an idea.

Raising her hand, Jiang Muning hooked his neck.

Seeing her action, Qin Muye’s body froze, stiffening up.

He was really tall, 1.9 meters tall, making Jiang Muning look incredibly small in front of him.

“Brother Makino.” Jiang Muning called softly.

“Mm?” Qin Muye looked into her eyes.

Jiang Muning tilted her head, stood on tiptoe, and said coquettishly, “From now on, it’s just the two of us living together, how about we divide the housework?”

“From now on, I’ll buy groceries, wash vegetables, and cook, you do the rest of the housework, okay?” Jiang Muning softened her voice, making it sound more gentle.

Qin Muye didn’t say anything, he just looked at her.

Did he have objections? Although he was doing more work, but…

“Okay.”