976: Home-Cooked Meal

Home-Cooked Meal

Mu Chenyan turned to him and said, "You seem to be very close to her."1

"I've known her for longer than you," replied Xia Zhao. "You must have met her on Rowan's birthday but I get to see her plenty of times in a year. And yes, she is indeed a handful. Either sober or drunk, she is like a breeze of craziness. But at the same time, she is very entertaining. You can never get bored with her around."

"She seemed very well-behaved to me," commented Mu Chenyan.

"You should never fall for her first impression," said Xia Zhao. Then he looked at Yue Yue and asked, "What would you like to eat? I mean do you have any favorite cuisine? We can choose the restaurant accordingly." 

'I don't like going to restaurants,' was Yue Yue's response. 'I prefer home-cooked meals.'

She wasn't saying to act polite but she actually had that preference for a long while now. She didn't like going to restaurants and even when Mu Chenyan took her out, she didn't enjoy eating out. She still felt comfortable with home-cooked meals.

"But for a home-cooked meal, I'll have to take you to my place," said Xia Zhao. "Would that be okay? Or I can come over to Xiang Manor to cook for you? I'm up for anything since I promise to take you a meal. Can't go back on my words."

'You can cook?' asked Yue Yue with her eager eyes blinking at him.

"I live alone," replied Xia Zhao. "One of the survival skills of living alone is learning how to cook. I think I can cook a decent meal. So, if you won't dislike my poor skills, I'm willing to cook for you."

Yue Yue looked at the silent Mu Chenyan who didn't speak between them. It was obvious that she was waiting for Yue Yue to make her own decision. No matter what she chose, Mu Chenyan would follow as always. Yue Yue shook her head at her best friend who spoiled her so much but it felt good. Today she got protected by not just her sister but also... her future brother-in-law. 

Unknowingly, Xia Zhao was already labeled as the 'brother-in-law' in Yue Yue's mind. It seemed he was on the right track of impressing the sister rather than Mu Chenyan. 

Thinking about it carefully, Yue Yue finally came to a conclusion, 'Then we'll be troubling you this evening.'

Xia Zhao understood her meaning and shook her head, "There is no trouble. You guys can follow my car."

With this arrangement, they got inside their own cars and drove away from there. 

When they arrived at Xia Zhao's house, Yue Yue's eyes were stuck on the Japanese Zen-style garden. Just standing here she felt peace in her heart. She didn't know what she was expecting but she wasn't expecting what she saw before her eyes.

From what she heard about him from Mu Chenyan, she thought he'd be living in some big estate but this was much simpler. Don't get her wrong. This architectural marvel gave off a low-key luxury vibe but it still seemed to scream that he lived a very simple and clean life.

Just look at the clean environment of his home. This rock garden was a marvel of its own. 

Stepping on the white pebbles gave off a feeling like she was committing a crime so she moved her feet on the pathway and didn't dare step where she wasn't supposed to.

'This is so pleasing to look at,' Yue Yue said to Mu Chenyan who had a very strange expression on her face right now while staring at the back of Xia Zhao.

Yue Yue didn't care about her reaction, she was focused on the scenery around her. There was even a bamboo water fountain that was so pleasing to listen to. Just the sound of water. How could it not be pleasing?

Opening the door, he stepped inside and invited them in with his hand.

Yue Yue had to say, she was right. Indeed, no matter how low-key it was, this was a luxury wooden house. Even if it gave off a simplistic feel, it couldn't hide subtle luxury within the details of everything.

Guiding them to the lounge, he told them to sit down and asked, "What would you like to drink? Yan Zi likes Longjing tea, what about you?"

Yue Yue gave Mu Chenyan a look before telling him, 'I'm fine with anything.'

He nodded and went away. Soon, he came back with the tea and served it to them while Yue Yue asked, 'You don't have any help here?'

"No," he replied. "I like doing my own things. That's what I was taught by my grandparents. It's a tradition to do your own things in our family."

'Oh,' Yue Yue nodded her head in understanding.

"Is there anything you specifically want to eat or I can make anything of my choice?"

'Anything.'

Xia Zhao already expected that response from Yue Yue. He already figured that Yue Yue didn't seem to have many preferences in life. She was okay with anything. He didn't know what to say about that.

"Then is there anything you can't eat? Anything you're allergic to?"

'None,' replied Yue Yue. 'You won't ask Chenyan?'

"I already know what she likes," replied Xia Zhao. "I don't have to ask."

"My preferences changed over the years," Mu Chenyan said the first thing after coming here.

"And yet you didn't change," was his response. "Don't worry, I know your current preferences as well." He was about to leave when he paused and said, "It'll take me a while to cook. You can look around if you're bored. Yue, you seemed to like the front garden. Then you can take a look at the back garden. You might find it more pleasing."

Yue Yue was instantly interested. She was eager to go and take a look but she didn't think she should move around when the house owner was not around even if the house owner was her future brother-in-law. Hehe!

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