Pursuing Her Best Friend after Confession Failed-Chapter 97 - 84: The Most Beautiful Little Cook in the Universe, A Passionate Kiss Seals a Lifetime (Subscribe Please)_2
"Okay, okay, then teach me."
"Just watch. It’s really simple, but the flavor is amazing."
First, Li Yuan whisked the eggs. He poured them into a hot, oiled wok, quickly frying them before setting them aside on a plate. Next, he stir-fried dried chilies, fresh chilies, onions, and garlic until fragrant. He tossed in the tomatoes, stir-frying them over high heat for a few moments before scooping everything out—oil and all—and pouring it over the fried eggs.
"So? Doesn’t it look appetizing? This is my own creation: Scrambled Eggs with Tomato and Chili. It just uses a bit more oil."
Seeing that Li Yuan had genuinely invented a "new dish," Xia Zhijin couldn’t help but praise him. "Li Yuan, you’re really incredible."
"Hey, don’t praise me yet. Have a taste first."
Xia Zhijin took a bite. The sour and spicy flavor was a welcome sensation, and it truly had a special quality compared to ordinary scrambled eggs with tomato.
"It tastes wonderful, even better than I imagined. It’s perfect for our Chuanyu tastes."
Li Yuan gazed at Xia Zhijin’s flawless, beautiful face, a sight so tantalizing he desperately wanted to lean in and kiss her.
"Hehe, in the future, let’s open a Chuanyu restaurant. I’ll be the owner, and you can be the owner’s wife. I guarantee we’ll never have to worry about a thing."
Hearing Li Yuan say, "you can be the owner’s wife," Xia Zhijin shyly lowered her head once more.
These past few days, he has confessed his feelings to her in so many different ways.
"Hehe, that’s three dishes down. Once you make the Pickled Fish, we can enjoy our sunlit lunch."
This lunch, across both his past life and his current one, was the happiest Li Yuan had ever eaten.
There were no exotic delicacies, only four home-cooked dishes: Hot and Sour Potato Strips, Scrambled Eggs with Tomato and Chili, Double-Cooked Pork, and Pickled Fish. Yet, for him, this meal surpassed all the rarest culinary treasures in the world.
After lunch and washing up, Li Yuan turned on the television and sat down beside Xia Zhijin.
Looking at her pure, beautiful face and her clear, limpid eyes, Li Yuan suddenly asked, "Zhijin, do you like this kind of life?"
Xia Zhijin shyly nodded. "I do."
"I like it a lot, too," Li Yuan said. "To be with the person you like, living a simple yet happy life... Isn’t that the true meaning of happiness we all search for?"
As he spoke, Li Yuan quietly reached out, took her small hand in his, and scooted closer until they were nearly touching. The occasional brush of their skin sent a jolt, like a gentle electric current, surging through him.
Xia Zhijin’s body trembled. She lowered her head shyly, her heart pounding in her chest.
Gazing at the delectable Xia Zhijin, Li Yuan grew bold. He leaned his head close to hers, inhaling her innocent, sweet scent. In that instant, the chains cemented around his heart shattered completely.
The sound of his heavy breathing next to her ear made Xia Zhijin’s heart leap into her throat. She grew incredibly nervous, a deep blush spreading from her pristine cheeks all the way down her long, pale neck. She had a feeling she knew what he was about to do.
"Li, Li Yuan..." she began softly.
Before she could finish, a warm, moist sensation touched her cheek—a fleeting, dragonfly-like kiss from Li Yuan.
Xia Zhijin was so overwhelmed with shyness she could barely speak. Suddenly, a strong arm wrapped around her, pulling her down so she was lying sideways on the sofa. Her eyes flew wide as she watched Li Yuan’s head lower toward hers.
The moment Li Yuan’s lips met hers, Xia Zhijin’s mind went completely blank. Her body stiffened as if frozen, her eyes wide open, staring at Li Yuan as a thousand emotions swirled within them.
The moment felt as brief as an instant and as long as a lifetime.
Just as Li Yuan’s hands began to wander, he felt a sharp pain on his lips. He opened his eyes and looked at Xia Zhijin again, only to see tears streaming down her cheeks.
Li Yuan snapped back to his senses and hastily apologized, "Zhijin, I... I’m so sorry."
Xia Zhijin didn’t answer. She turned her head away, unwilling to look at him as she wept in silence.
The sight shattered Li Yuan’s heart.
"Zhijin, I’m sorry. I just... I got a little impulsive."
He was filled with regret. He had indeed been too impulsive. They had only known each other a short while and had just barely started holding hands; he should have taken things slowly. But being alone with her, he couldn’t control himself and forced a kiss on her.
My damned hands seemed to have a mind of their own...
Xia Zhijin continued to cry silently, biting her lip, her thoughts a mystery.
Li Yuan remained half-embracing her as time seemed to stand still. He kept apologizing, but Xia Zhijin offered no reply.
A chill went down Li Yuan’s spine. He prayed his clumsiness wouldn’t turn this perfect, precious girl into a stranger.
After a long while, Xia Zhijin’s tears finally subsided. Her eyes were red and still glistening as she looked at him and spoke in a shy, soft voice, "Li... Li Yuan, can you let me go?"
Li Yuan released her, though he continued to apologize. "Zhijin, I’m sorry. You’re just so beautiful, I couldn’t help myself..."
Her face flushed, Xia Zhijin quickly pressed her hand over his mouth. Staring at him bashfully, she pleaded, "Don’t... don’t say any more."
Seeing her shy reaction, Li Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. She must have strong feelings for me, maybe even likes me. Otherwise, she never would have come home with me to cook...
Though I was a bit too hasty, too eager for more, it feels like a partial success.
Li Yuan took her small hands in his and vowed with sincerity, "Zhijin, don’t worry. I will definitely take responsibility for you."
Xia Zhijin lowered her head shyly, her heart racing. She had never imagined that right after starting university, before her studies had even truly begun, she would find herself in a situation like this.
"Mm, Li... Li Yuan, I believe you."
Her voice was soft and low. After saying this, she immediately buried her face, the words having taken every ounce of courage she possessed. As a girl from a remote mountain village, this was the first time she had ever opened her arms to embrace the world.
Li Yuan held her hand, wishing this moment could last forever.
He gazed at her face and spoke with gentle affection, "Zhijin, tell me your story. I want to know about your past. I want to know everything about you."
Her eyes met his for a moment before she shyly looked down again. "What... what parts do you want to know?"
Li Yuan smiled. "Tell me about your family. I have a feeling your past is very interesting. The more I know, the better I can fit in when I visit for the New Year."
Xia Zhijin looked at him, stunned, and asked softly, "Li Yuan, you want to come to my home?"
Li Yuan smiled and gently patted her head. "Well, do you want me to come?"
"I... I don’t know!" Xia Zhijin shook her head shyly. Fearing he might misunderstand, she added carefully, "I’m a little scared. Our relationship... it’s moving a little too fast. I’m afraid my grandma will worry..."
Li Yuan smiled. That’s a normal reaction. After all, we’ve only known each other for half a month. Even though there’s mutual affection, we certainly haven’t reached the stage of meeting her family.
"Zhijin, we have all the time in the world. Our university life is just getting started, so we have a long road ahead and plenty of time to get to know each other. I’m sure that one day, I’ll be able to go home with you to meet your grandma."
"Zhijin, you mentioned you live with your grandma. Forgive me for asking, but what about your parents?"
"Would you be willing to share your past with me?"
"Mm," Xia Zhijin hummed in agreement. She looked at Li Yuan, a knot of nervousness in her stomach, afraid that he would want to distance himself from her after hearing about her family.
"My mom and dad... when I was ten, they left to find work. They were caught in a landslide... and they were gone. My younger brother and I were taken in by our grandmother, and we’ve lived with her ever since..."
As she spoke, her voice began to crack with suppressed sobs, and tears trickled from the corners of her eyes.
Li Yuan was stunned. He looked at the precious girl before him, whose life had been so tragic. She had lost her parents at the tender age of ten.
Compared to what she’s been through, what do the setbacks I faced in my past life even amount to?
