Volume 1 Chapter 6 Breakfast
Stone dendrobium chicken tofu pudding, crab roe buns, monkfish steak, mint oil lamb soup, scallop trout sandwiches…
Dishes were placed on the table one by one. Ruan Yu bit her lip, her still-groggy mind instantly awakened by the delicious food.
The chicken tofu pudding was fresh, sweet, and rich; the crab roe buns burst with savory oil and the rich flavor of crab at the first bite. The lamb soup, perhaps because of the added mint oil, had no gaminess at all—only freshness and the aroma of meat.
Her eyes sparkled, adorable.
Li Xuzhou observed discreetly and also tasted the breakfast.
His family wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about food; as long as it was cooked, it was fine. So usually, only Lin Shen was busy in the kitchen.
Last night, he had temporarily assigned some extra staff to the kitchen. This morning, just preparing the crab roe required five people. It seemed the effort paid off.
Three steamers of crab roe buns, two sandwiches, and four fish steaks…
Ruan Yu’s meal lasted a full two hours, consuming portions meant for five people. All her enthusiasm was poured into the food.
When Father Li and Mother Li came downstairs, this was the scene they witnessed.
The stunningly beautiful girl ate in a way that stirred one’s appetite. Beside her, the man watched her with a smile in his eyes, quietly observing her as she ate. From time to time, he signaled the servants to clear the empty plates and bring new ones, his affection evident.
“Honey… am I seeing things?” Mother Li rubbed her eyes in disbelief. Father Li immediately leaned in, concerned. “A Qiong, are your eyes uncomfortable?”
Stupid clueless man. Mother Li rolled her eyes. “This is me expressing my shock at this scene! My eyes aren’t hurting.”
“Alright, as long as your eyes are fine.” Father Li patted her head gently.
He too had noticed his son’s unusual behavior. His son was a natural ice block—he had never seen him look at someone this way, and… be so attentive.
As a man himself, he could see at a glance Li Xuzhou’s discreet care and possessiveness.
Ruan Yu also heard the commotion behind her. She finished her last bite, wiped her mouth, and stood up.
“Good morning, Uncle, Aunt.” She had met them just yesterday, though they had only exchanged brief greetings before rushing off to the company.
Mother Li’s eyes were full of warmth. “Good morning, Xiao Yu. Did you sleep well last night?”
“Yes, very well.” Ruan Yu’s face flushed slightly. Li Xuzhou glanced up, catching her shyness.
“That’s good, as long as you slept well. The food in our home is quite simple…” Mother Li wasn’t being modest—their meals were indeed usually simple. But then she suddenly noticed the lavish spread on the dining table, and the rest of her words stuck in her throat.
Father Li came over and saw the dining table, completely different from usual. He exchanged a look with Mother Li.
Ruan Yu thought Mother Li was just being polite and quickly said, “The breakfast is very lavish and delicious.”
“Huh? Why is today’s meal so different from usual…” Mother Li began, puzzled, but when she met Li Xuzhou’s warning gaze, she quickly corrected herself, “Same as usual! We often eat like this, haha.”
Though Ruan Yu found it a bit strange that Mother Li suddenly mentioned this, she obediently nodded.
“Are you full? Sit down and have a little more.” Mother Li smiled and took Ruan Yu’s hand, thinking she was far too thin. Though her figure was delicate and graceful, her waist and wrists were pitifully slender.
She didn’t know that the tableware in front of Ruan Yu had already been replaced four times.
The person washing dishes in the kitchen had assumed everyone was having breakfast, never expecting that just one person would quadruple their workload.
“Thank you, Auntie, I’m already full.” Ruan Yu offered an apologetic smile, gently swaying Mother Li’s fingers. Her innocent expression resembled a sweet lychee, instantly winning Mother Li’s heart.
“Uncle, Auntie, I’ll head upstairs first. Please take your time.” Ruan Yu politely bid farewell, waiting for Mother Li’s nod before heading to her room. Having not interacted with people for so long, she still felt somewhat uneasy, relying entirely on the so-called socialite etiquette drilled into her by her former tutor to maintain composure.
Watching Ruan Yu’s figure disappear at the stairwell, Mother Li teased, “Stop staring, she’s already gone.”
Li Xuzhou shifted his gaze and picked up the newspaper.
The servants set the tableware for Father and Mother Li before quietly withdrawing.
“I noticed several extra people busy in the kitchen.” Mother Li took a sip of soup and set down her spoon. “Has my son finally developed an interest in food?”
The remark carried a double meaning. Father Li smiled helplessly as he cut the fish steak for his wife.
Mother Li aimlessly stirred the soup in her bowl with her spoon. She had thought her son was merely being extra attentive because the girl was pretty—just a bit surprising.
Who doesn’t appreciate beautiful things?
“I want to marry Ruan Yu.” Li Xuzhou spoke up, his tone devoid of inflection.
His words landed like a thunderclap from a clear sky.
Clatter. The spoonful of soup Mother Li had just lifted fell back into the bowl along with the spoon.
“What did you say?” Father and Mother Li exclaimed in unison.
Upstairs, Ruan Yu had just reached her room door when a servant informed her that Li Xuzhou had changed her room.
Only then did she remember what she had overheard in Li Xuzhou’s room.
The servant led her to the new room, registered her fingerprint, and handed her a key.
“Young Master has already instructed that all your belongings be moved to this room. Please let me know if you need anything later.”
After thanking the servant, Ruan Yu entered the room.
This room was twice the size of her previous one. The bed had been replaced with a new one, and a massive double-door refrigerator stood by the entrance.
Ruan Yu opened the refrigerator and took a deep breath.
It was packed full of food and drinks—milk alone occupied two shelves. Cooked beef, cut into small pieces and stored in airtight containers, filled another two shelves, not to mention strawberries, guavas, and various other fruits…
She pinched her cheek to confirm she wasn’t dreaming.
Her cheek flushed red from the pinch. Silently, she resolved to stay here until retirement.
She opened the clothes Lu Yuan had brought for her—a uniform collection of spaghetti-strap minidresses, any of which would expose half her skin with the slightest movement.
She sighed softly. “I wonder how Ruo Yan is doing now…” The earlier joy faded considerably. Ruan Yu picked up the clothes, intending to hang them in the walk-in closet.
Upon entering, she discovered the closet already filled with garments—all the latest season’s styles, from coats to dresses, pajamas to socks. Even intimate wear was neatly folded and arranged.
In the center of the closet, a transparent cabinet displayed luxury watches and jewelry.
Ruan Yu recognized the logo of the watch at the far end—the cheapest model from this brand cost over a million.
She had once dreamed of earning enough to buy one for Lu Yuan and Ruan Zhen.
On top of the cabinet lay a gilded card. Ruan Yu picked it up and read: “In gratitude for Miss Ruan’s arrival, these items are all gifted to Miss Ruan as a token of our sincerity. Please feel free to use them.”
It seemed like a reward simply for attending the invitation, likely prepared by Mrs. Li.
“Still, they really are extravagant…” Ruan Yu murmured, tucking the card away.
Just then, the door was knocked.
“Is this Miss Ruan’s room? I was also invited by Mrs. Li. My surname is Li.”