Xu Ke, still holding the spoon, stood beside him, feeling at a loss. After six years, he seemed even more unreasonable, barging in. She tried to maintain her composure, her tone still polite, “I didn’t cook for you. Go to Rongrong’s for dinner.” Rongrong had mentioned that whatever he wanted was available there. He glanced down at her, smirking, “You’re getting stingier.” Then, he lifted his arm, reaching over her shoulder to close the door. His hand accidentally brushed her hair, and his gaze lingered for a moment. Xu Ke frowned at this uninvited guest, feeling powerless. Should she ask him to leave? She couldn’t bring herself to do something so uncouth. Moreover, she doubted she could actually make him leave. He was the kind of person who, once decided, would pursue his goal relentlessly.
“I really only cooked enough for two, and Lin Yao will be back soon.” Shen Mu ignored her, walking straight into the kitchen as if he were the master of the house, then ordered, “Stir it quickly, or the porridge will burn.” Xu Ke hurried to the kitchen door, but he blocked it, not budging an inch. Xu Ke frowned, “Please move aside.” He merely turned to the side, creating a narrow path for her. Reluctantly, she squeezed past him to the stove. He stood right behind her, silent. The kitchen was small, and he was very close. Xu Ke stirred the porridge; the aroma was thick, the texture just right. But her mood for cooking had soured completely. What was supposed to be a leisurely, time-consuming task had turned into a tense ordeal, with his gaze like a thorn in her back. It wasn’t the porridge simmering slowly; it was her. The porridge didn’t burn, but she felt like she was about to. What did he really want? She didn’t think they could be friends after what they had been through, especially after six years. His tactic was always to remain silent and wait it out, but patience only comes with love, and now she had none to wait for his next move. A small flame of irritation began to flicker in her heart, growing larger, and she wasn’t sure she could extinguish it before it flared up. It was best to ask him to leave before that happened.
