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CHAPTER 416 – TANG ZIXIN'S VISIT: GIFT & WARNING
"We love it and we too have something for you. Not physical though but Tang Zixin, Ye Cheng and I would love for you to be the godfather of our kids in the future. We know it is soon but seeing as you decided to fast forward things for us, then why not."
If only Li Jing knew the level of joy she had bestowed on him with that information.
His face shone brightly and his smile radiated his inner joy. He just could not hide it or pretend. He was happy. He had wanted to suggest it but thought that he should not impose. Now, they did it on their own.
"Oh my God, Li Jing, Ye Cheng… I, I feel honoured."
"Well, you are a close friend to my wife and as far as I know you, you are a good man. So it would be an honour having you as one when the time comes."
"I know it would."
No one spoke for some time and just smiled at each other. It felt as though they were complete without doing much.
For the first time, the kind of satisfying unity Li Jing wished between her husband and her friends actually was getting in place. After some seconds, Li Jing smiled at both men as an idea popped into her head.
"Okay, that was touchy and all and I guess this emotional stuff, just made me hungry," Li Jing announced.
"Same here, I am starving," Tang Zixin chipped in.
"Okay, so what you would like to take?"
"Umm… Surprise me, Li Jing. I am open for some surprise."
Hmm, a surprise, she wasn't particularly sure what he would like aside from mooncakes but she wasn't ready for that now as well.
Subconsciously, Li Jing reached up with her right hand and tapped away on her chin for some seconds before her eyes lit up.
DINK!
An idea just popped into her head. A simple one, yet she knew it was going to be amazing still.
"In that case then, who is up for some properly seasoned noodles and, some pancakes to go with it at the side?"
"I am."
"Me too." Both men replied at the same time.
"I thought as much. Okay, give me some time and your dinner would be served." Without another second to waste, Li Jing stood up from her seat and was about to take the first step away when Ye Cheng held her back by her hand.
"Wait."
"Anything wrong?" She could see the look on his face, he wasn't looking all too good. It looked as though he had something on his mind that weighed him down. "What is the matter, honey?"
"How can I stress my wife so much when she just arrived. Permit me to do the cooking, while you relax."
Her cheeks began to burn at his words. He really was a caring husband, wasn't he?
"No need dear. I owe it to you."
"Nah, in that case, I would assist you in the kitchen."
"Hmmm, assist, yes. I can attest to Li Jing's cooking, but yours, I am afraid I cannot say," Tang Zixin suddenly aired his view which only caused Ye Cheng to arc his brows at him.
"Is that so?" Watching Tang Zixin nod his head, Ye Cheng peeled his gaze off him to look at his wife. "Love, let us prove to Tang Zixin that our cooking is great."
"Alright then, but I would have you know, Zixin that my husband's cooking is top-notch and one of a kind."
"Of course you would side him and just to prove to you that I am right, I too would assist so I can make sure you alone did not do the cooking and he did well."
"Hmm, you know what?" Li Jing asked looking at the two men in turn.
"No, what?" Tang Zixin asked.
"Rather than having a competition, we could just all have fun in the kitchen and cook together. At least another day, you two can have your competition and the whole house would be your audience while we call Yin Lifen, Jack and one person from your house, Tang Zixin to be the lovely judge of the day."
"And you?" Ye Cheng asked when he noticed she wasn't placed amongst the judges.
"To play fair, seeing as I am your wife, I would be the host of the day's event and irrespective, I would have the luxury of filling my tummy with the delicacies from you both."
"Great then. Challenge accepted in advance," Tang Zixin said as he stood up and went towards Ye Cheng, stretching forth his hand for a shake.
"I accept as well."
With all that settled, Li Jing felt her evening could not get any better.
Together they all proceeded to the kitchen and began to cook their lovely dish.
About an hour plus later, all was ready and served for eating.
"Hmmm, this is great, if I do say so myself," Tang Zixin complimented the food after chewing his first bite.
"So long as it is my wife doing the cooking, you can always expect the best. Thanks love."
"Why are you guys making it seem like I did all the cooking?"
"Well, you did give instructions where necessary and we were just learning and assisting," Ye Cheng replied.
"Tah, we all made this sumptuous dinner and I am glad to have you both as my co-chef."
By the time they were done eating their noodles and pancakes for dessert, all three proceeded back into the living room to relax and chit chat when Tang Zixin's face suddenly turned serious.
"Hey, Zixin, anything the matter?" Li Jing asked feeling concerned by the sudden change in mood of her dearly beloved friend.
"Yes, there is." His look of seriousness still remained as he shifted his gaze from the peerless beauty sitting with them to the gorgeously handsome young man by her side.
"What is wrong? Feel free to tell us," Ye Cheng too asked with concern laced in his tone.
"Okay, I would say it and I would say this loud and clear."
Hearing this, both Li Jing and Ye Cheng adjusted in their seats and awaited his tale. "I am happy to be here today as you can see," Tang Zixin begun.
"Well the you now, doesn't look happy. Did we offend you?" Ye Change asked again.
"No, you didn't but I do hope you would not."
"I do not understand you, Zixin, please do us the honour of actually expatiating further on what you meant or said," Li Jing probed.
She didn't like the change in the atmosphere. It felt heavily dense all of a sudden and did not speak good considering how their evening started.
A part of her prayed that whatever Tang Zixin had to say, wouldn't be something that would make her feel bad or jeopardize all that they shared this evening.
Perhaps it was all a façade on his side but she was sure that for herself and her husband, it wasn't.
Then giving his kind of character, he wasn't one to pretend just to get something. She hoped it wasn't the case though, because she loved the experience and memories made that evening.
"Ye Cheng, just from what I have seen here today, it clearly clarified again to me that you really adore Li Jing and you love her dearly. I do not need to doubt Li Jing's as it is very much evident in her eyes and behaviour how in love she is with you. This I must say, I admire greatly."
"Thank you very much but please I want to know why the change in expression," Ye Cheng probed further.
"Nothing much. I love Li Jing."
"I know."
"Good, then and I would do anything for her as well. All she has to say is just the word."
"I would do greater for her too."
"Alright, no one is contesting that fact, you are her husband anyway. Ye Cheng, take this as a warning or whatever but I willingly let her go and did not pursue after her when she declared that she loved you, so please, under no circumstance should you ever hurt this girl or make her weep because if I find out that you did…"
"Tang Zixin," Li Jing called out his name gently.
"No, Li Jing, he needs to promise me this. I value you too much."
"Carry on," Ye Cheng said calmly, unaffected by the words of the other.
"Promise me you would cherish her, love her, never hurt her or give her any reason to doubt you. Just promise me that and stick to your word cause I would be watching, then I would be satisfied."
"Is that all?" Tang Zixin nodded firmly. "Good. I do not need you to tell me things I intend to do and do not with my wife but I would respect your care for her and I would answer you."
