Master Yan's sense of smell is incredibly sensitive. Thus, he's extremely sensitive to the scents on others and usually doesn't allow unfamiliar people to get within three meters of him.
At this moment, the unique fragrance on Xu Zixi aggressively invaded his nostrils. Clearly, she had breached his safety zone, yet, surprisingly, he didn't feel disgusted. Instead, his heart started pounding uncontrollably, as if he had just finished a sprint. His head felt dizzy, and his limbs were a bit weak.
Yan Yincheng panicked and took a big step backward. He said, a bit flustered and annoyed,
"Don't flatter yourself. How could I possibly take a fancy to you?"
His reaction didn't surprise Xu Zixi. Instead, it strengthened a certain suspicion in her mind.
Shrugging, she said, "Sorry, just a harmless little joke. But then again, I still want to make a statement to you. Although we're neighbors and you're different from me, it doesn't mean our interactions are unrestricted. I don't like it when outsiders intrude on my territory. So, please try not to come to my place and bother me in the future. Not even if my kids invite you."
"Besides, my two babies were born at the cost of my life. I won't allow them to be hurt or wronged in any way. I hope the two of you won't overstep your boundaries and meddle in my family's affairs. If you really like kids, turn left at the exit. There are plenty of orphans in the orphanage waiting for care and adoption."
After thinking for a while and finding nothing else to add, Xu Zixi nodded. "Okay, that's all I have to say."
"You've misunderstood. We don't mean to meddle..." Wei Shu instinctively wanted to refute her words. Then he remembered their original plan to snatch the kids, and his voice trailed off.
"Hmm?" Xu Zixi tilted her head and helped him finish the sentence. "You don't mean to meddle in my and my babies' affairs. Then why do you keep pestering me to get into my house? This gentleman doesn't seem to have a crush on me either. Could it be... you're trying to scout the place out for a burglary?"
This was getting more and more absurd!
A vein on Yan Yincheng's forehead throbbed. "Watch your words, or I won't mind having my lawyer talk to you."
"What a coincidence. I also want to find a lawyer to talk to you about slandering and attacking me personally." Xu Zixi retorted.
Why were they arguing again? If this continued, their plan to get close to this woman, make her fall in love with Master Yan, and have her willingly hand over the kids would be in vain! Wei Shu was so anxious that he was sweating profusely. He steeled himself, stepped in front of Yan Yincheng, and said with his eyes closed,
"Our Master Yan just wants to eat the food you cook with your own hands!"
"Wei Shu!" Yan Yincheng couldn't believe his ears. He roared, and his ears instantly turned red. "What are you talking nonsense about! I didn't!"
"Tsk tsk tsk. I knew something was off this morning." Xu Zixi finally got the answer she wanted. She pretended to sigh. "If you wanted to eat, you should have said so earlier. We're all neighbors. What's there that can't be talked about properly? There's no point in hiding things like this, right?"
"Yes, yes, yes. I'm sorry. Our Master Yan is just like this. In fact, he really likes the food you cook. You can't even imagine how he rushed here for this breakfast..."
"Wei Shu, if you keep talking, you can leave right now!" Yan Yincheng said coldly.
Wei Shu had no choice but to shut up and made a zipping motion with his hand.
Knowing that he couldn't hide it anymore, Yan Yincheng took a deep breath. The coldness in his tone hadn't faded, and his voice was a bit stiff. "Ms. Yuan, how about I make a deal with you?"
An alarm bell rang in Xu Zixi's heart, and her brows furrowed. "How do you know my surname?"
He'd made a slip! Yan Yincheng was at a loss for words. A momentary panic flashed through his mind. He counted on Wei Shu to answer for him, but after waiting for a long time, Wei Shu didn't say a word. He had no choice but to say,
"... Wei Shu saw it in the hospital last time."
Oh, right. When she sent the two kids to the hospital last time, she used her name when registering. Her heart settled down, and she said, "You know my name, but you've never introduced yourself. Do you think you can make a deal with me like this? Sir, you seem a bit impolite."
Master Yan had never heard anyone say he was impolite in his entire life... no, in two lifetimes!
This woman! She was really sharp-tongued!
But if he told her his name at this moment, wouldn't it expose his identity? She already had a bad impression of him, thinking his approach had an ulterior motive, and she still had feelings for his nephew, Yan Zhen...
Subconsciously, Master Yan hid his real surname and said,
"My name is Yin Cheng. I'm from Jincheng."
So his surname was Yin. No wonder he was always so sarcastic. It must be in his nature. Xu Zixi didn't notice the unnatural look on Master Yan's face, and Master Yan didn't realize his real purpose for hiding his surname. At this moment, the two of them reached a subtle understanding.
Only Wei Shu sensed something a little off.
"What kind of deal does Mr. Yin want to make with me? I'd like to hear the details." Xu Zixi said.
Ten minutes later.
Yan Yincheng asked Wei Shu to reserve a coffee shop near the community and drive out the customers. He and Xu Zixi sat face to face at one of the glass tables.
"Since Ms. Yuan has already gotten the answer she wants, I'll be straightforward. I hope Ms. Yuan can be responsible for my three meals a day from now on. Of course, I'll pay Ms. Yuan according to the standard of the top chefs in Country C. I'll also provide the recipes and ingredients every day to ensure they're of the highest quality and freshness. If Ms. Yuan agrees, we can draw up a contract right now."
Xu Zixi propped her chin with one hand and casually twirled her long hair with the other. She looked both playful and lazy. "What if I don't agree? Cooking is really tiring."
Yan Yincheng was silent for a while and then said, "If you're not satisfied with the payment, I can increase it."
"What exactly is the standard of the top chefs in Country C you mentioned?" Xu Zixi blinked and asked.
"One hundred thousand a day, paid monthly. Three million a month. Are you satisfied with this price?" Yan Yincheng said.
This salary was indeed quite generous, even in the capital city of the time and space Xu Zixi came from in her previous life. However, it made Xu Zixi even more confused.
"I didn't expect Mr. Yin to be so rich. You're so generous, throwing around three million. A rich man like you, why would you live in our community and right across from my house? If I remember correctly, the previous neighbors across from my house were a young couple, right?"
"Does this have anything to do with the deal between us?" Yan Yincheng tightly grasped his blind stick, and his voice was extremely cold and hard to hide his inner panic.
"No, it doesn't." Xu Zixi switched hands to prop her chin, and her tone became even more lazy and casual. "I'm just curious. Is it really worth it for Mr. Yin to spend so much money just to fill his stomach?"
Yan Yincheng forced himself to be patient. "Ms. Yuan can put forward any requirements she has."
"Your conditions do sound quite tempting. However, it still can't persuade me to sell my body to cook for a stranger." Xu Zixi said seriously.
What... what sell her body?! What was she talking nonsense about?!
Master Yan's ears turned bright red, and he raised his voice:
"What on earth do you want?"