“Boss Luo, the guests you invited have already arrived in the private room.”
“Alright, I’ll be right there.” Luo Qingqing stretched lazily. Before she knew it, she had been chatting with the two chefs until noon.
Chef Xu carefully tucked away the notes he had taken into his sleeve. “Boss Luo, next time you have time, you must teach me more!”
Chef Li also nodded in agreement. This young lady truly knew a great deal; he could not help but wonder who her teacher had been.
“Of course, I’ll be going now.”
Luo Qingqing picked up the food box and quickly headed toward the private room on the third floor. Just as she reached the door, she began to feel nervous and hesitated outside, unable to decide whether to go in.
Gu Jing’an had already heard his wife coming upstairs, yet she had not entered for a long time. He guessed she had grown timid, so he decided to bring her in himself, lest she run away.
Gu Jing’an stood up and bowed slightly to Yan Mingzhi. “Master, I’ll go bring Qingqing in. She’s timid, so please don’t keep a stern face, or you might scare her.”
Seeing Gu Jing’an like this was almost unbearable to watch. Yan Mingzhi waved him off impatiently. “Go on, go on, bring her in quickly. Your master will take a good look at you.” He wanted to see what kind of girl could make him act like this.
After receiving his approval, Gu Jing’an nudged Jiang Yan’s stool with his foot, signaling him to behave. Jiang Yan merely turned his head away with a disdainful snort.
When Gu Jing’an opened the door, he saw that Luo Qingqing already had one foot stepping toward the stairs.
He could not help but laugh. “Qingqing, where are you going?”
“I… I’m going to get some dishes. Yes, that’s right.”
Luo Qingqing probably did not even realize it herself, but whenever she lied, her eyes would dart around, just like now. Gu Jing’an did not expose her and instead held her hand in a good mood, leading her inside.
Her hand was soft and boneless, small and delicate, and very comfortable to hold. Gu Jing’an could not resist gently squeezing her fingers.
“Qingqing, regarding the farm estate, I already discussed it with the Master this morning at the academy. I’ll take you there this afternoon.”
“Ah? I had wanted to explain it myself. Since you already spoke for me, will he think I’m not sincere?”
“We are husband and wife, it makes no difference who says it.”
That single phrase made Luo Qingqing blush. She obediently let him lead her, no longer fidgeting.
Seeing how docile she looked, Gu Jing’an felt his thoughts wander, yet he restrained himself. His wife was thin-skinned, so it was better not to tease her now. Once they got home, he would make up for it with interest.
“Master, I’ve brought Qingqing.”
“Greetings, Master Yan.” Luo Qingqing performed a proper respectful bow of a junior, then straightened and allowed Yan Mingzhi to observe her.
Calm and composed, neither humble nor arrogant, and quite beautiful. She was indeed a remarkable girl. Still, she seemed vaguely familiar, as though he had seen her somewhere before, yet he could not recall where.
“Yes, a good child. Jing’an is fortunate to have married you.”
“This is my classmate, Jiang Yan,” Gu Jing’an introduced, gesturing toward him.
Jiang Yan immediately protested, speaking loudly, “I’m his friend, Jiang Yan. Greetings, sister-in-law.”
So Gu Jing’an actually had such a lively companion? Luo Qingqing smiled gently and returned the greeting with a slight bow. “Greetings, Young Master Jiang.”
“Master, these are the pastries Qingqing made. Please try them.”
Listening to him mention Qingqing in almost every sentence, even Yan Mingzhi could barely stand it, not to mention Luo Qingqing herself.
As the food box was opened, one pastry after another was taken out, and the rich milky aroma instantly filled every corner of the room.
Jiang Yan’s eyes nearly popped out. He could not be blamed, the fragrance was irresistibly tempting.
Looking pitiful, Jiang Yan turned to Yan Mingzhi. “Master Yan, let me have a piece too!”
Luo Qingqing felt a bit flustered. “I didn’t know Young Master Jiang would be here today. Next time I’ll prepare more.”
“It’s alright, Qingqing. He came on his own,” Gu Jing’an reassured her.
“There’s no need for trouble. I can’t finish all this myself anyway. Jiang Yan, take whatever you like.”
The moment Yan Mingzhi finished speaking, Jiang Yan grabbed a milk cake and took a big bite. The rich flavor spread instantly.
He was so engrossed in eating that he could not even speak. A true food enthusiast, he often spent his days off searching for delicacies and could be considered a connoisseur of Linyi.
Watching Jiang Yan eat so enthusiastically made Yan Mingzhi crave a taste as well, and he no longer maintained his dignified restraint.
He picked up a piece of matcha mille crepe cake. It melted in his mouth, fragrant and not overly sweet, rivaling even the imperial kitchen.
“Child, what is this called?”
“The one you’re holding is matcha mille crepe. This is a milk cake, that is a cookie…” Luo Qingqing introduced each item one by one.
Yan Mingzhi sampled them all, his eyes growing brighter with each bite. This young girl was truly remarkable; he liked every single pastry.
Jiang Yan was still eating, which made Yan Mingzhi inwardly anxious. He had wanted to save some for the evening, but as an elder, he could not take back his words.
Yan Mingzhi raised his eyes and signaled Gu Jing’an, who immediately understood.
Gu Jing’an pressed down on Jiang Yan’s wandering hand. “Stop eating. There’s a hotpot coming later. Save some room, you’ll like it.”
Jiang Yan stuffed another piece of soft cheese into his mouth before finally stopping. His gaze shifted to the food box, where four jars remained. Looking at Luo Qingqing, he asked, “Sister-in-law, what are these?”
“These are fruit jams. You can mix them with porridge or dilute them in water to drink.” Worried he might ask Yan Mingzhi for them, she quickly added, “There’s more at home. Tomorrow, A’Jing will bring you two jars.”
Yan Mingzhi had sensitive teeth but still loved sweets. If Jiang Yan asked for more, she feared the old man might become quietly upset.
Hearing this, Yan Mingzhi’s gaze toward Luo Qingqing grew even more affectionate.
“Sister-in-law!” Two cheerful voices came from the doorway as the shop assistant chased after them, panting. The two children had run too fast.
“Slow down. What if you fall on the stairs?” Luo Qingqing pulled them around to check for injuries.
“We know, we know. Sister-in-law, it won’t happen again.” Gu Xuanning said as she tried to throw herself into Luo Qingqing’s arms.
Gu Jing’an pulled her back, reminding her that there were guests in the room.
The two children obediently greeted Yan Mingzhi and Jiang Yan.
“You may serve the dishes now,” Luo Qingqing told the shop assistant at the door.
“Yes, Boss.”
The yin-yang hotpot was divided into two halves, one spicy and one mildly spicy. The ingredients had been prepared by Luo Qingqing in the morning: beef, lamb, tofu, potato slices, enoki mushrooms, napa cabbage, shrimp paste, and more, filling the table.
Jiang Yan preferred the spicy side, while Yan Mingzhi liked the milder broth. The table was filled with rising steam, laughter, and lively chatter. Hotpot was always best enjoyed with many people.
The two children surrounded Luo Qingqing, chattering endlessly about amusing stories from the academy. She listened patiently, responding to them with warmth. Gu Jing’an watched her with a gentle expression, cooking and placing food onto her plate.
In the end, even ice would melt under the warmth of spring.
Seeing such a harmonious scene, Yan Mingzhi smiled as well. In the past, Jing’an had spoken too little, and even his younger siblings had become quiet and withdrawn.
It was Luo Qingqing’s arrival that brought back the children’s liveliness and made Jing’an more talkative. This child had suffered much in life; having Luo Qingqing by his side was a blessing. At the very least, he now had someone who cared for him and shared his burdens.