The zhajiangmian was cooked to perfection, looking, smelling, and tasting wonderful.
During the meal, it was only Qi Ye and Xu Tingyu.
Chen Chunyao had been sent away, and Zhang Wan was nowhere to be found.
Xu Tingyu took a couple of bites and met Qi Ye's expectant gaze.
She couldn't help but find it a bit funny. Did this man really expect her praise?
Did he really think she had submitted and that they were getting along normally?
However, since he wanted positive feedback, he had to pay a price.
"The noodles are okay. Youyou would like them too. I wonder how Youyou is doing now."
Holding her chopsticks, she quickly welled up with tears as if she couldn't eat anymore.
Qi Ye had spent two hours cooking the noodles and only got an "okay" in return. He was frustrated but couldn't show it. Instead, he had to comfort her.
"Youyou is doing fine. He eats and sleeps well. The nanny taking care of him said he's even gained a little weight."
He comforted her gently, as if he wasn't the one who had kidnapped Youyou.
"Then what do I have to do for you to let me see him? You promised me you would."
Xu Tingyu wasn't convinced by this vague comfort.
"Of course, I will let you see him, but it's not the right time yet. Shi Feng already knows we're together."
"If I bring the child here now, he will definitely try to take him away. Even if he's heart - broken and has no energy to fight, the old man will. "
"You know the old man is old - fashioned and conservative. He hasn't accepted our relationship yet. Youyou is the first child of this generation and is highly regarded."
"Do you want the old man to take the child away and raise another cold - blooded monster? Listen to me. Let's wait a while longer."
Qi Ye analyzed it seriously for her, as if he was really on her side and thinking about her and Youyou.
Xu Tingyu frowned, put down her chopsticks, and looked at him with red eyes. "Since you know the Qi family won't accept us, why are you so stubborn?"
This was something she couldn't understand.
At first, she thought Qi Ye was really trying to seize the Qi family's business, so he used her as a guise to challenge the Qi family.
Kidnapping Youyou was just to force Qi Shifeng to compromise.
But his actions during this period had left her confused.
He seemed really determined to announce to the world that he didn't care about worldly opinions or family ties, and only wanted to be with her.
He should know that the shareholders of Qi Corporation wouldn't accept this either.
He would be condemned for the rest of his life.
"I am indeed stubborn. Tingyu, there are very few things I want in my life. In fact, I can live without most of them."
"But I can't let you go. I met you first. If the Qi family wanted a marriage alliance, it should have started with me. Why him? How could it be him?"
Qi Ye couldn't bear it when she asked him to give up.
Everyone else could misunderstand and not support him, but she couldn't.
Everything he did was because he loved her.
She didn't have to reciprocate, but at least she shouldn't doubt him.
Seeing his emotions getting out of control, Zhang Wan suddenly appeared and handed him a pill and a glass of warm water.
"Boss, you can't get excited. Take your medicine first."
As she said this, she gave Xu Tingyu a reproachful look.
Qi Ye took a deep breath, took the pill and water, and swallowed it. Xu Tingyu saw a glint of moisture in his eyes.
He had imprisoned her here and couldn't get her response, but he still felt wronged?
But now it was two against one. Xu Tingyu didn't want to argue, so she stood up.
"I'm going to take a bath and rest. By the way, I lied just now. Your noodles are actually terrible."
She pushed the chair away and walked upstairs without looking back.
Wasn't he not supposed to get excited? Well, she would make him excited.
When her figure disappeared around the corner of the stairs, Zhang Wan looked at the bowl of noodles that had hardly been touched.
"Boss, you spoil her too much."
He had dragged his sick body, full of love, and spent so much time just because she casually said she wanted to eat zhajiangmian.
And what did she do? She hardly took a few bites.
Not only that, she said it tasted bad. It was like trampling on someone else's feelings.
But Qi Ye burst out laughing. He didn't look sad at all.
"If she had said it tasted good to please me, it wouldn't be her."
"Do you know? When I first met her, she was just like this. She had a temper. When she was unhappy, she spoke bluntly and didn't give anyone face."
"I remember once, her agent took a commercial performance for her that she had already refused. After she got angry, she would rather pay the penalty than go on stage."
"Another time, a senior tried to take advantage of her under the pretext of giving her advice. She didn't say a word. She just slapped him and called the police."
"She used to be so vivid and brave, but after she got married, she became silent and listless. I really felt sorry for her."
"Now seeing that she can still get angry, I'm really happy. At least it proves that I'm the one who is most suitable for her and knows how to take care of her, right?"
Qi Ye was really happy. It was as if he had seen the little girl he had secretly chased all those years ago.
That was when his dream began.
So, he was the one most suitable for Xu Tingyu, wasn't he?
Zhang Wan's lips moved, but in the end, she didn't say anything.
Outsiders couldn't understand Qi Ye's feelings for Xu Tingyu. For example, she only felt sorry for Qi Ye and thought it wasn't worth it for him.
But the still - unhealed wounds on her back reminded her not to question Qi Ye's kindness to Xu Tingyu. He wouldn't listen.
Qi Ye didn't seem to need her approval either. After saying what he wanted to say, he looked at the unfinished zhajiangmian on the table and his eyes dimmed.
"Go to the Kyoto Hotel and invite a chef for me. Since she said it tasted bad, there must be a reason. I'll improve it."
He was filled with hope again.
She liked zhajiangmian and wouldn't usually waste food. If she said it tasted bad, it must really be bad.
He would just improve it.
Zhang Wan finally couldn't hold back. "Boss, your cooking skills are so good. It shouldn't be a problem with your cooking. Maybe Miss Xu is just in a bad mood."
"Otherwise, try a different way to cheer her up. I heard there's a new batch of jewelry in the store. Why don't you take her to have a look?"
She really felt sorry for Qi Ye's health.
The kitchen was not a place for Qi Ye.
Moreover, they were all adults. Everyone knew it wasn't about the cooking skills.
It was because Xu Tingyu didn't like Qi Ye.
In simple terms, it wasn't that she didn't like zhajiangmian. It was that she didn't like him.
Didn't Qi Ye understand this?
Of course he did.
But understanding was one thing, and having it pointed out to his face was another.
So his face immediately darkened. "Are you questioning me, Zhang Wan? I thought you were the smartest."
Being the smartest meant absolute obedience.