The next day that followed, Lu Xinyi still spent it in Chef Kawashima’s kitchen, testing the techniques she could use on making desserts and pastries. She couldn’t wait to go home and try them in her own kitchen.
He Haotian had been teasing her that she’d now forget her love for pastries as she continued to try and taste the other international cuisines. He also promised that if she beat Ye Xieren and protect her seat at the cream of the crop, he’d teach her several French cooking techniques she might be used in the future.
That evening, Shen Yi sat quietly on the couch while the twins watched cartoons on the television, waiting for Lu Xinyi to come home. She had called him earlier that she might come home late as she offered to give Chef Kawashima a helping hand in his restaurant.
Shen Yi didn’t mind as long as she would come home no later than midnight or before the twins’ sleeping time. Glancing at the twins, Shen Yi was pleased with the way his life had turned out to be. He was glad that he got a patient wife who loved him in spite of imperfections. He had no idea how Lu Xinyi felt about the sudden turn of their married life, but he was content with the family he had now.
“Daddy, is Mommy coming home soon?” Shen Zhichen tugged on his pants to get his attention.
“Mommy will be here soon.” With her bodyguards around her, Shen Yi was relieved that she wouldn’t be in any danger.
As soon as he said it, the door opened; and Lu Xinyi stepped inside. A slight smile tugged on Shen Yi’s lips as he watched her removed her shoes before calling out the twins.
“I’m home! Where are my babies? I have a treat for you.”
“What is it?” Little Yuyan ran towards her adoptive mother and watched with sparkling eyes as Lu Xinyi took out two huge bento boxes.
“Is it cake?” Shen Zhichen queried, looking at the black containers Lu Xinyi placed on their kitchen counter.
“You’re still hungry?” Shen Yi followed them to the kitchen, leaning down to his wife to place a gentle kiss on her lips before regarding the twins. “Didn’t we eat dinner an hour ago? What did I say about eating desserts before bedtime?”
“No chocolate, cakes, and candies before bedtime,” the young boy muttered.
“Aww… but I brought desserts for y’all. Do you mean to say all of it will be mine?” Lu Xinyi patted her chin with a finger.
“Desserts?” Shen Yuyan exclaimed gleefully. Her eyes twinkled at the idea that she could eat sweets made by Lu Xinyi.
“Indeed. Teacher Kawashima taught me how to make daifuku and dango. Wanna try it?”
Lu Xinyi opened the first bento box which was filled with daifuku and dango. She took a tri-colored dango and handed it to Shen Yuyan. She could feel her husband glaring at her for spoiling the twins too much, but she couldn’t care less.
“Me too, Mommy!” Shen Zhichen jumped beside Lu Xinyi when he saw her giving her twin sister a treat.
As the twins took dango from the box, they went back in front of the TV and sat on the carpet, enjoying their desserts. Shen Yi sat down beside his wife and leaned back, closing his eyes from exhaustion.
“I’m sorry for leaving the twins with you again. Are you tired? You can go to bed. I’ll put the twins to bed later.” Lu Xinyi asked, worried that her husband hadn’t enjoyed their short break because of watching over the twins.
“It’s alright. I enjoyed spending the day with them. What’s in the other box?” he asked.
“Oh, this one…” Lu Xinyi took it and slowly removed the lid. “I made this for you. Chef Kawashima said they are best paired with tea so I thought you might enjoy this with your tea.”
Shen Yi’s eyes lit up. It wasn’t every day that his wife made something exclusively just for him and not to be shared with his glutton brother or their overly excited twins. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ
“Oh, what is it then?” He looked curiously over her shoulder to see what’s inside the box.
The first things he noticed were the fish-shaped cakes in white and pink. The details were really nice and even. Maybe, she used a mold to make this, he thought.
“It looks like a golden fish waffle,” he said, earning a laugh from his wife.
He took one and checked both sides before taking a small bite to taste it. The outside was a little chewy and dense and inside was filled with something sweet.
“How is it? That’s my first time making a Taiyaki.” Lu Xinyi waited for his reaction. She wanted to know if it tasted better than the first batch she made earlier.
“Not bad. It actually tastes better than I expected. What filling did you put inside?”
“Just sweet red bean paste, but I’ll try to see what other fillings I can use for it,” she answered.
Shen Yi’s eyes swept over the candies in different colors, sizes, and designs left on the box.
“And those are?”
“Namagashi and higashi. They said they’re traditional snacks used during the tea ceremony. I thought you’ll like it.” She leaned against the counter beside him and watched as he put the candies inside his mouth to taste it.
“How did you know I like sweets?” he asked curiously.
Lu Xinyi shrugged. She couldn’t be his wife if she wouldn’t notice his preference in certain aspects.
“I just know you don’t like too spicy foods but can tolerate sweets. Are you afraid now that you’ll gain weight?”
Shen Yi shook his head and savored the candies on his mouth.
“If I gain weight and lose all these muscles, you are to take responsibility, Xinxin.”
“Oh, now it’s my fault?”
“Yes, yes. You are the one who keeps feeding me delicious meals. Now, I can’t eat anything without comparing it to your home-cooked meals.”
Lu Xinyi burst into laughter. She had no idea she had made her husband a gourmet.
“I’m glad that you are liking the meals I’ve made for you, but you can’t finish all of these in one sitting.” She slapped his hand when he attempted to take candies from the box again.
Lu Xinyi set it aside, reminding the twins to wash their hands and brush their teeth before going to bed. The twins ran down the hallway and followed her instructions, leaving them alone in the kitchen. She washed her hands on the sink and was startled when Shen Yi appeared behind her wrapping his arms around her waist.
“Darling, won’t you give me a prize for looking after the twins for two days?” he whispered huskily on her ear before nibbling on her earlobe.
Lu Xinyi felt him pulled her back against his chest, his tall form towering hers.
“I thought you said you’re tired,” she spoke with a grin while attempting to free herself from his hold.
“Don’t be silly, Madam Shen. I can never be too tired when it comes to you.” Instead of releasing her, Shen Yi turned her around so she could face her. Lu Xinyi wrapped her arms around his shoulders and let out a squeak when he lifted her up from the floor, bringing her with him as he made his way back to their bedroom.
