Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Qin Zhi’ai walked into the kitchen, but paused in the doorway with her back to the dining room. When she was about to close the door, she heard a loud noise behind her. Although she hadn’t turned around, she knew it was the sound of Gu Yusheng putting the wine bottle on the table. He must have been in a bad mood, for he made a sharp noise deliberately when he pulled out his chair.
When Qin Zhi’ai carried the pot of soup to the table, Gu Yusheng was pouring wine into glasses.
He didn’t even look at her, as if she was invisible. Only Lu Bancheng and Wu Hao warmly invited her to take a seat and eat with them.
Due to Gu Yusheng’s presence, Qin Zhi’ai couldn’t talk to Lu Bancheng and Wu Hao as naturally as she had before. She raised her head, smiled at them gently, and said, “Okay.” Then she lowered her eyes and ladled the soup into bowls.
First, Qin Zhi’ai served Lu Bancheng and Wu Hao each a bowl of soup, then handed one to Gu Yusheng.
Lu Bancheng and Wu Hao took the soup when Qin Zhi’ai held the bowls out to them, but when she tried to hand the soup to Gu Yusheng, he ignored her like he couldn’t see her.
Qin Zhi’ai stole a glance at Gu Yusheng and saw the coldness in his eyes. She knew that he was angry, so to avoid annoying him, she put the bowl in front of him softly without saying anything. She withdrew her hand quickly and sat down on the chair.
It might just have been an illusion or her being sensitive after he had lost his temper too many times, but she got the feeling that Gu Yusheng had become even angrier.
Fortunately, Lu Bancheng and Wu Hao laughed and chattered aimlessly at the table, with Gu Yusheng also throwing in a word or two. Therefore, the atmosphere didn’t feel strange at all, and Qin Zhi’ai was also not nervous and unnatural like she usually was when she faced Gu Yusheng alone.
At the beginning, they talked about men’s business, so Qin Zhi’ai just sat there and ate silently, like she wasn’t even there.
Halfway through lunch, Wu Hao reached towards the dish in front of Qin Zhi’ai, but the table was too big, so Qin Zhi’ai passed it to him considerately.
Seeing that, Lu Bancheng also held his plate out to her, saying, “Xiaokou, I want that, please.”
After Qin Zhi’ai spooned some of the dish onto his plate, she saw that his soup bowl was empty, so she asked casually, “Do you want more soup?”
Lu Bancheng handed his bowl over to her. When Qin Zhi’ai ladled the soup for Lu Bancheng, she also ladled another bowl of soup for Wu Hao.
She put down the spoon, and as she picked up her chopsticks, Lu Bancheng, who had just swallowed a mouthful of soup, suddenly complimented, “Xiaokou, you are really good at cooking! I would like to come over here often.”
Qin Zhi’ai felt delighted that the dishes she had cooked were being praised by someone, so she raised her head and smiled at Lu Bancheng brightly, saying, “Okay, whenever you want. Tell me your favorite dishes in advance, I’ll…”
Before she had finished her words, Gu Yusheng, who hadn’t said anything for a while, suddenly slammed the chopsticks in his hand onto the table.
