The manâs ears turned slightly red. With his brows lowered, he looked at her and muttered,
âI didnât mean for you to cook.â
Su Jin tilted her head, her lips curving into a teasing smile.
âThen what did you mean~?â
For a long while, Jiang Heng still clung tightly to her hand, refusing to let go. His lips were sealed tighter than a zipped bag.
Butâ
Su Jin had sharp eyes. She caught the faint blush spreading across his ears, and even when she looked away, she could feel his aggrieved gaze lingering on her face.
Normally, that cold, stoic expression of his was unshakeable. But now, his face had softenedâalmost shy, even⊠with a hint of girlish bashfulness.
Su Jin immediately understood.
Of courseâthis man was the classic tsundere type.
He said one thing but meant another.
Lowering her head slightly, she softened her voice, her tone turning sweet and tender. She lifted Jiang Hengâs hands to cup her own cheeks, her big eyes blinking playfully.
âThen, hubby~ will you cook for me?â
Jiang Hengâs deep eyes grew hazy, a trace of indulgent warmth flickering within them. Watching his wife act all cute and spoiled in front of him, his heart melted completely.
Although his lips were still as stubborn as a clamâs shell, he couldnât hide the faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
âOf course Iâll cook. Look at your handsâdo you even know how to start a fire? What would you do if the smoke gets too thick?â
Su Jin turned around to glance at the stove. I probably could figure it out, she thought.
Though, back in the modern world, everything had been so convenientâŠ
From the start, Jiang Heng had always thought of Su Jin as a pampered young lady, someone raised in comfort and not suited for chores.
If she knew what he was thinking, Su Jin wouldâve laughed out loud.
Sure, sheâd been raised by a nanny since she was young, but that didnât mean she was helpless.
Her caretaker, Aunt Liu, was no ordinary nannyâshe was a graduate student fluent in English, hired with an extremely generous salary by Su Jinâs parents. The standards were high, and Su Jinâs upbringing was strict.
Daily runs, discipline, self-sufficiencyâSu Jin had been raised as a well-rounded warrior.
A true all-around hexagon-shaped fighter, as she liked to say.
Jiang Heng quickly turned away, subconsciously hiding his slightly flushed face.
âAlright, what do you want to eat? Iâll make it.â
Just look at himâone minute impossible to coax, the next as obedient as a lamb.
âHmm~ whatever you make, Iâll eat,â she said softly.
In truth, Jiang Heng wasnât upset about doing all the housework. He didnât mindâit was something he did willingly.
What puzzled him was Su Jinâs sudden politeness, the way she seemed a bit distant today.
They were, after all, a married couple in name, but without much emotional foundation. Still, it wouldnât do for their relationship to feel too cold.
Yes, that must be it.
Thinking that way, his chest finally loosened. Yet somewhere deep inside, a small corner of his heart still felt uneasyâabout something he couldnât quite name.
And when he remembered the promise heâd made to himself that night he brought Su Jin home⊠that anxiety only deepened.
Moments later, his head felt heavy. He couldnât focus on anything.
Might as well just cook first.
Washing the pot, rinsing the rice, setting it to cookâall of it came naturally to him.
Chopping, stir-frying, seasoningâhis hands moved skillfully and fluidly.
Before long, the kitchen was filled with mouthwatering aromas.
Especially the stir-fried cured porkâthin slices of translucent fat glistening under the light, paired with bright green chili peppers that brought out the rich, smoky flavor.
Su Jin couldnât help but swallow hard.
Back in the modern world, sheâd lived on low-fat meals and always avoided preserved foods for health reasons.
But Jiang Hengâs cooking smelled so good that she was certain she could demolish two bowls of rice in one sitting.
The aroma even drifted across the courtyard, tempting the neighbors.
Then came a voiceâsharp and nosy.
âWell, well, what smells so good? That scentâitâs coming from Jiang Hengâs place, isnât it?â
A middle-aged woman stood on her toes, craning her neck like a nosy rat, eyes darting everywhere until they landed on the plate of cured pork.
She licked her lips and swallowed audibly.
Then she raised her voice and slapped her thigh dramatically.
âOh my! Jiang Hengâs family is eating cured pork! Do you even know what day it is today?â
Her voice was so loud youâd think someone had stolen her own pork.
Su Jin immediately replied,
âWhat, canât we eat unless itâs a holiday?â
The womanâLiu Xiuqinâfinally noticed Su Jin sitting there, right beside the table.
âHey, waitâwhy havenât I seen you before?â
Her beady little eyes narrowed, calculating like a mouseâs.
âOh~ donât tell me youâre Jiang Hengâs new wife?â
Su Jin ignored her, sitting calmly on her stool.
Liu Xiuqinâs eyes widened when she saw Su Jin cross her legs elegantly.
Sheâs sitting there while heâs cooking?
Then she glanced toward the stoveâwhere Jiang Heng was busy cooking away.
At once, her expression turned scandalized, as if she were witnessing a crime.
âGood heavens! You actually let your husband cook?!â
Su Jin lifted her gaze lazily.
If she knew Jiang Heng also helped wash her underwear, her worldview might just collapse on the spot.
Seeing Su Jin stay silent, Liu Xiuqin began shouting even louder, as if championing justice for the entire village.
âMarried and already turning lazy, huh? Some wife you are!â
Truly unbelievable!
Just then, Jiang Heng walked out carrying a plate of stir-fried cabbage in vinegar. The tangy aroma hit Liu Xiuqinâs nose, and she inhaled deeply, eyes glinting with hunger.
If she were invited to eat, Su Jin was certain the woman wouldâve devoured the entire plate herself.
