Rejected by the Campus Belle, I Find My True Love-Chapter 182 - 180: Love Lunch

Lin Xi paid no attention to Si Wen, intently focused on making the soup the entire time.

It wasn’t until she poured all the ingredients into a clay pot that she finally got a moment to catch her breath.

This was her first time making soup entirely by herself. The feeling was just like when she first tried to write a short story, terrified that even one misstep would ruin everything.

"Miss, from here on, just leave it to time. It should be ready after simmering for about an hour. You can leave the rest to me," Auntie Shen said kindly.

"Okay."

Lin Xi walked out to the living room, where Si Wen was sitting on the couch playing video games. Si Wen came over to Lin Xi’s place so often mainly to relax. Here, she could carefreely do whatever she wanted.

Sometimes, she understood why Lin Xi would rather stay cooped up here with Xue Yang than choose any of the well-matched suitors. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Because here, there was freedom.

"Wanna play?" Si Wen asked.

Lin Xi shook her head. "I need to watch the soup. Maybe next time."

"Oh!" Si Wen continued her three-player match with a couple of other friends.

"Come on, let’s keep going. The marksman last round was terrible."

"Exactly! If you can’t play, why bother playing marksman? 0-10, I could play better with my toes."

...

Lin Xi sat on the couch, replaying the cooking steps in her mind. That way, next time she could make soup for Xue Yang herself. It didn’t seem so hard after all!

When the time was almost up, she immediately got up and went into the kitchen.

"Auntie Shen, is the soup almost ready?"

"Miss, it’s almost ready. You can add the salt now. Adding salt requires a bit of skill. You can add a little at a time and taste as you go. Once you think the flavor is right, you can stop. After you get the hang of it, you’ll know exactly how much salt a pot of soup like this needs," Auntie Shen taught her earnestly.

"Okay."

Lin Xi carefully followed Auntie Shen’s instructions, scooping up a spoonful of salt.

"Miss, you don’t need that much. You can start with about a third of that and taste it gradually," Auntie Shen advised.

Of course, Auntie Shen knew precisely how much salt the soup needed, but Lin Xi didn’t. If she told her the exact amount right away, Lin Xi wouldn’t learn for next time.

"Okay."

Lin Xi carefully shook the spoon, cautiously adding the salt.

After playing games for more than an hour, Si Wen didn’t feel like playing anymore. Just then, she saw Lin Xi meticulously adding salt to the soup. Wrapped in an apron and tasting the broth, Lin Xi looked more and more like the quintessential doting wife.

Si Wen snapped a photo with her phone and casually sent it to Xue Yang.

Xue Yang was sitting at his desk, his fingers flying across the keyboard. He had been in this position for a long time, for at least over two hours. With the end of the year approaching, he had to get through his work quickly. Most importantly, Lin Xi was still waiting for him at home.

His break had started two days ago, yet he hadn’t truly spent any time with her. Whenever he thought about how late he got home every day and how that stubborn girl still waited up for him, Xue Yang’s heart ached.

Suddenly, his QQ chimed. He glanced over and saw Si Wen’s profile picture. Since becoming friends on QQ, they had barely chatted.

Why would Si Wen contact me all of a sudden?

Xue Yang clicked open the chat, and a photo immediately appeared before his eyes. Xue Yang had been frowning, but his expression softened the moment he saw who was in the photo.

It was Lin Xi!

She was wearing a pink apron, holding a soup spoon and tasting from it. It was such a normal action, but when Lin Xi did it, it was utterly delightful to watch. Most significantly, even though she was wearing an apron with the kitchen as her backdrop, it didn’t cheapen her appearance in the slightest. On the contrary, it made her look even more charming.

It was as if his girl had suddenly grown up.

Xue Yang gently traced the figure in the photo before clicking save.

He then messaged Si Wen, "Thank you!"

Si Wen replied, "You’re welcome!"

The response was almost instantaneous. After that, the two of them tacitly fell silent.

Xue Yang had been exhausted, but seeing the photo of Lin Xi gave him a sudden, boundless surge of motivation. All his weariness was swept away.

His girl was working so hard to learn how to do chores. He had to work even harder to give her a happy life.

"Xue Yang, what are you grinning about all by yourself over there?" Cui Hao suddenly asked as he walked over.

Xue Yang coughed lightly. "It’s nothing."

"Nothing? Nothing? Your grin is stretching from ear to ear. Your girlfriend, right?"

"..."

"Alright, it’s not like we don’t know you have one. Spring is almost here, so it’s normal to be lovesick. I’ve got a date with a girl tonight."

Xue Yang raised an eyebrow. "So..."

Cui Hao leaned in cheekily. "So, can I leave work early?"

"How early?"

"She’s bringing me food now, so... can I leave now? Please, man. A girl is finally bringing your bro some food, I can’t let her down."

Xue Yang said helplessly, "Go on, then!"

Cui Hao pulled a stack of documents from behind his back. "Just help me run these numbers, will you? Dad, you’re my dad, your son’s happiness is in your hands! Please, I’m begging you!"

Cui Hao pressed his hands together in a plea. If they weren’t in the office, he would have literally knelt before Xue Yang.

"Don’t let it become a habit!"

"Thanks, Dad! I’ll bring you something tasty tomorrow."

Cui Hao scurried away in a hurry. Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought he was marching off to war.

Xue Yang shook his head. It must have been tough for a guy like Cui Hao to be pent up for so long.

He went back to burying his head in his work. During that time, Yu Kexin asked if he wanted to get dinner together.

"You go ahead. I’m not finished here."

"That guy Cui Hao had someone bring him food and scurried off happily. Now it’s just the two of us lonely souls... wait, no, I guess it’s just me who’s the lonely soul."

Yu Kexin had no choice but to go eat by herself. Others came by to ask as well, but Xue Yang turned them all down.

Soon, the vast office was empty save for Xue Yang. He stretched his back and continued typing on the keyboard.

That’s just how Xue Yang was. If he hadn’t finished what he set out to do, he couldn’t bring himself to eat. Only when he was done would he have an appetite.

Time ticked by, second by second. Soon, an hour had passed.

Xue Yang finally stopped his work. He stood up and walked to the window, looking out over the city. The new office was in a building called Fashion Mansion. From the 21st floor window, he could see the entire campus of Yanbei University. The view was excellent.

Xue Yang pulled his gaze away and prepared to go get some food. He had just reached the door when his phone rang.

It was Lin Xi.

Xue Yang’s expression softened as he pressed the answer button.

"Xue Yang~"

Lin Xi’s soft, sweet voice came through the phone.

"Xiao Xi, what’s up?"

Lin Xi was actually a bit nervous. She had impulsively decided to bring Xue Yang food this time. It was past two o’clock now, and she wasn’t sure if he had eaten yet.

---

Author’s Note: Thanks for following the story! (P.S. I’ve had a fever on and off all day today~)