Ji Zhiyan had also sent people to investigate the incident that day. He had heard that Lin Xiaoman had continuously shot for eight hours to get a satisfactory result. Ji Zhiyan had seen the advertisement, where the girl looked like an immortal, with sharp and beautiful eyebrows, and an impressive presence.
Not at all like someone who would show such a sad expression.
Ji Zhiyan thought about how Lin Xiaoman’s mother had died early, and her father had remarried and paid no attention to her, sending her abroad after junior high school.
Having studied abroad in high school, Ji Zhiyan knew better than anyone how difficult those years alone could be, especially for a junior high school girl. If she were not strong enough, she could not have made it to where she was today.
So she would resolutely continue shooting even if injured, stand on stage again despite ankle pain, and without hesitation slap back at the stepsister who targeted her – like a stray cat, stubborn and proud.
But now, this stray cat had an owner. Suddenly, Ji Zhiyan wanted to return home quickly.
After two days of high-intensity work, he changed to the earliest flight back to the country. When he arrived home, Ji Zhiyan saw the kitchen in complete disarray and couldn’t help but furrow his brow.
But when he saw Lin Xiaoman, his brow involuntarily relaxed. To make cooking easier, Lin Xiaoman had tied up her long hair, revealing her long, fair neck, making her look elegant. Especially when she blinked her bright eyes, looking innocent as if nothing had happened, she was as cute as a fawn in the mountains.
“What happened?” Ji Zhiyan’s usually cold face showed a hint of a smile, and his voice softened.
Lin Xiaoman was somewhat surprised.
This man with cleanliness issues, who would have people thoroughly clean his seat during breaks in the crew, was actually smiling after seeing his kitchen in such a mess.
“You…” She looked at Ji Zhiyan cautiously, “Are you okay? Not shocked?”
It looks like you’re the one who should be shocked,” Ji Zhiyan unbuttoned the first two buttons of his cuff, revealing clean, sharp wrists, casually rolling up his sleeves with a hint of laziness. “What did the kitchen do wrong?”
As he spoke, he began to clean the countertop quickly and efficiently.
Lin Xiaoman embarrassedly stepped back: “I just wanted to eat a steak.”
Ji Zhiyan glanced at the remaining ingredients, enough for two people, and began preparing the steak: “Let me do it.”
Lin Xiaoman watched him skillfully handle the ingredients and expertly heat the oil, feeling surprised. As far as she knew, Ji Zhiyan came from a famous musical family, wealthy, and wouldn’t need to cook himself. Moreover, his usual demeanor of a cold, noble young master seemed far from someone who would cook.
But the facts were before her eyes – Ji Zhiyan not only could cook but was very good at it.
The steak was perfectly fried, and the vegetable arrangement was almost an art piece.
“So impressive!” Lin Xiaoman couldn’t help but praise.
Here is the edited article:
“I really don’t know how you survived those years abroad.
Compared to Lin Xiaoman’s surprise, Ji Zhixian was even more unexpected. Generally, when studying abroad, many international students automatically learn cooking skills because they are not used to foreign tastes.
He also learned to cook because he was dissatisfied with restaurants outside.
“Who says you must know how to cook when going abroad?” Lin Xiaoman took a small bite and found it delicious, “That’s prejudice.”
Ji Zhixian quietly tasted the steak and said nothing.
Lin Xiaoman took a few more bites and couldn’t help asking, “How did you become such a good cook?”
Ji Zhixian was stunned.
Initially, he could still eat pasta even if he didn’t like foreign restaurants.
Later, he saw an interview with Tang Feifei, where a reporter asked about her ideal type.
Tang Feifei said she liked men who could cook.
From then on, he started cooking himself. When he wasn’t good at it, he specifically sought out Michelin masters to learn a few dishes Tang Feifei loved, hoping she would one day say, “That’s amazing.”
But he didn’t know that she already had someone in mind at the time. Even after her relationship was announced, he only wanted a chance to cook for her.
Yet he never thought such a chance would never come.
A hint of hidden sadness, restrained yet profound, appeared on his handsome and cold face.
Lin Xiaoman had never seen him look like this and carefully asked, “Is it because of someone?”
Men’s unusual actions are usually related to someone they like, and Ji Zhixian now looks like someone who has lost love. Lin Xiaoman became more convinced it was about someone.
She became interested. Having known Ji Zhixian for so long, she had never seen any intimate person around him. Of course, what intrigued her more was that someone as picky as Ji Zhixian would actually have someone he liked.
“Who is he?”
Ji Zhixian suddenly put down his knife and fork, returning to his usual proud demeanor: “Don’t talk while eating.”
“We’re not in a restaurant, no need to be so rigid,” Lin Xiaoman looked at him investigatively. “Is it someone famous? Do I know them?”
“It has nothing to do with you.”
It seemed she had guessed correctly.
“Who is it?” Lin Xiaoman asked.
Ji Zhixian’s expression turned cold: “Have you forgotten the first clause of our contract?”
The first clause: no questions.
Lin Xiaoman stopped talking and quietly ate her steak.
Ji Zhixian thought of Tang Feifei again. Looking at the quiet and beautiful girl in front of him, her face was five or six parts similar to Tang Feifei’s, especially when she lowered her head to eat – from that angle, she was exactly like Tang Feifei!
His gaze became heated and almost crazy, as if a long-held dream was finally complete.
He cherished the scene before him, both joyful and fearful.
“What’s wrong?” Lin Xiaoman noticed his unusual state.
Ji Zhixian came to his senses and stood up: “I’ll clean the kitchen.”
Having only half-cleaned the kitchen earlier, it was still somewhat messy. Ji Zhixian put on gloves and began tidying systematically.
“Let me help,” Lin Xiaoman felt bad about him doing everything.
“Don’t make a mess,” Ji Zhixian didn’t look up, returning to his previous cold tone, “If you’re free, just fulfill the contract and do what you’re supposed to do.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“If you had done your homework,” Ji Zhixian looked up and glanced at her lightly, “you should know that Tang Feifei absolutely would never enter the kitchen.”
That’s right. She hated oil smoke and greasy dishes.
But to show gratitude to Ji Zhixian, she still entered the kitchen.
Lin Xiaoman looked at the man seriously washing dishes, his handsome appearance familiar yet strange.
She had always thought she understood Ji Zhixian well, but now it seemed he had many secrets she knew nothing about.
These secrets were likely related to the room he wouldn’t let her enter. Lin Xiaoman glanced at the nearby study with an electronic lock, suddenly very curious about what secrets it might hold. But since Ji Zhixian didn’t want to talk about it now, she wouldn’t press him.
She took a bottle of red wine from the wine cabinet, poured two glasses, and carried them to the balcony. Lin Xiaoman lay on a lounger, tasting the wine and enjoying the moonlight. The early autumn night was cool, the moon full, the evening breeze swift, lifting the osmanthus fragrance from the front yard like ripples. The surroundings were quiet, with only the noisy insects singing ceaselessly.
She hadn’t enjoyed such leisure for a long time and became somewhat intoxicated, slightly curling her mouth.
