"Xiao He, it's time for dinner!"
Before I could make my way to the small hall, I heard Aunt Xu shouting from the backyard. "Come quickly and give Mr. Si a hand!"
I was taken aback for a moment and quickly opened the back door of my room. There was Si Jiangchen, wearing heat-resistant gloves and carrying a clay casserole towards our room.
"Um..."
Looking at the residents of the compound trailing behind him like a bunch of star - struck fans, I was at a loss for words.
Invite them to share the meal? Clearly, there was only a little bit of food, which might not even be enough for me to whet my appetite!
"What are you standing there for?"
Aunt Xu behind Si Jiangchen said with a beaming smile. "Mr. Si was afraid you'd go hungry, so he made this loving dinner for you specially. Hurry up and take it!"
My face flushed instantly. I had no choice but to step aside to let Si Jiangchen in.
"Enjoy your time alone!"
Aunt Xu, who was following behind, stopped at the door. She winked at me playfully and teased, "Don't just be all lovey - dovey. It's not good for your health if you go hungry!"
"Aunt Xu!!" My face burned even redder.
Older women are very perceptive. How could they not know what Si Jiangchen had been doing in my room all day?
Originally, Aunt Xu and the other old neighbors were a bit worried. Si Jiangchen was an extremely wealthy businessman. It seemed natural for him to find a woman from a well - matched family as his wife.
I was just an unemployed drifter at the bottom of society. Aunt Xu was afraid that Si Jiangchen was just playing around with me because of my youth and beauty. During the few times she met Si Jiangchen, she always hinted to him that I was a poor girl who had lived with my grandfather. If he didn't want to take responsibility, he should stop getting involved with me to avoid hurting me even more in the future.
After all, the world of the wealthy was like a deep ocean. It wasn't a place where a little duckling like me could easily make a splash.
Si Jiangchen naturally understood Aunt Xu's concerns. He thought it was rare for someone to care about me so much, so he patiently told her that he would take responsibility for me and marry me.
Although Aunt Xu was still a bit skeptical, she was really happy for me.
Especially when she saw Si Jiangchen go to her small supermarket and buy a bunch of fresh ingredients to cook for me.
She even got teary - eyed!
Si Jiangchen carried the casserole into our room. I still wanted to invite Aunt Xu and the others in to share the meal.
However, how could these old neighbors play the role of a super - sized third wheel? As soon as Si Jiangchen entered the room, they scattered. Aunt Xu stuffed a bottle of Xifeng Liquor into my hand and then winked at me slyly.
"You're not married yet. Be careful not to have a baby."
Aunt Xu really cared about me. But she didn't know about the bond between Si Jiangchen and me in past and present lives. She just thought I was an unmarried girl. Although the social atmosphere had become more open and cohabitation before marriage was not a big deal, having a baby out of wedlock was still something people avoided. If a girl met an irresponsible man, it would be a lifetime of hurt.
"Thank you, Aunt Xu. We... we won't."
I was grateful to Aunt Xu. Although the blush on my face hadn't faded, my tone was very sincere. "Thank you for caring about me."
"That's good! As long as you don't think I'm being meddlesome, Xiao He."
After saying that, Aunt Xu patted my shoulder and then went back to the entrance of her supermarket with some of her close - knit tenants to play cards.
"Are you hungry?"
I closed the door and trotted to catch up with Si Jiangchen. He turned his head and kissed my forehead, then asked.
"... Not really."
I quickly stepped back. I knew Du Wenzhong was in the dining room, holding a spoon and a bowl, waiting to be fed!
Si Jiangchen really liked my shy look and actions. If his hands weren't full with the casserole, he would definitely pin me against the wall and tease me!
"Xiao He! I'm hungry!! Let's order takeout."
Du Wenzhong's seemingly casual voice came from the dining room. No matter how you listened to it, there was a hint of playing hard - to - get.
"Come on, dinner's already ready."
I lifted the curtain. Si Jiangchen bent slightly and walked into the dining room.
On the small round table in the middle of the dining room, there were already three sets of rather delicate porcelain tableware. Du Wenzhong was sitting at the table, holding a spoon in one hand and chopsticks in the other, waiting like a child for dinner.
"Actually, takeout is fine."
Although Du Wenzhong's mouth was practically watering, he still said seriously to me, "Cooking is so troublesome. How could we let Mr. Si cook in person?!"
"Eat."
Before Du Wenzhong could finish his words, Si Jiangchen had already scooped a small bowl of fragrant congee from the casserole and placed it in front of Du Wenzhong. "This is pig - blood congee from the Lingnan region. I made it to help Xiao He replenish her qi and blood. Since you're sitting here waiting, I'll give you a bowl too. Taste it... Is it the original flavor?"
Back then in the Si family, although it was only for a short month, Si Jiangchen would ask the chef to cook different kinds of food for me to satisfy my hunger. He would also make delicious congee and send it to my room.
Strangely enough, whenever he made something, Wen seemed to be able to smell it. He would sneak into my room like a little glutton and share a bowl with me.
After nearly a century, tasting the familiar flavor again, how could he not be moved to tears?
"... It's... delicious."
Du Wenzhong scooped up a spoonful of the fragrant congee and put it in his mouth. After chewing a couple of times, for some reason, tears suddenly welled up in his eyes.
"... Wuwuwu, Master, I'm... I'm sorry. I didn't take good care of the young lady."
Finally, he broke down in tears, just like when he was in his teens and saw the bullet wound on my stomach inflicted by the guard at the Si family's house.
"You've had a tough time these years."
The faint smile on Si Jiangchen's face was not his usual mask. From the chaotic end - times of war to the prosperous present, although the world had become a peaceful era, people's hearts were still as treacherous as ever!
The business world in this prosperous era was even more cruel than the battlefield. Si Jiangchen's once cold and sharp personality had been tempered into one that was more steady and reserved. Although he often wore an approachable smile on his face, his heart had become colder and more ruthless, keeping everyone out of his heart.
At this moment, although his lips only curled up slightly, I could tell that he was truly happy.
Although this dinner was simple, I really tasted the flavor of home. Si Jiangchen was sitting across from us. It seemed that just looking at us made him content.
After dinner, Du Wenzhong voluntarily took on the task of washing the dishes. He carried a pile of bowls and chopsticks to the sink in the backyard.
"Is anyone there?!"
I was just wiping the table with a rag when I heard someone touch the wind - chime hanging by the door of the front shop.
"Coming!!" I glanced at Si Jiangchen and smiled proudly.