In the bathroom, Yin Lan soaked in the bathtub, idly playing with bubbles while her mind raced.
She had just roughly calculated Zhou Guchuan’s expenses over the past two days. He had probably drained his savings for this trip.
The hotel, plane tickets, yacht, villa… each item alone wasn’t cheap. Fortunately, she had already given him her card in advance. Otherwise, by the time they returned from this trip, he would be struggling financially.
After about an hour, Yin Lan dried her hair and went downstairs. Zhou Guchuan, dressed in loungewear, was cutting fruit in the kitchen.
Clearly, he had also just showered, but his hair was still damp.
Yin Lan walked up behind him. The man had just finished cutting the last piece of fruit. Glancing at the fruit platter, she noticed it was arranged quite beautifully.
“That day at your place, before leaving, I asked the butler. He mentioned you like pitaya. This variety is quite refreshing and sweet—I think you’ll like it.”
Yin Lan speared a piece with a fork and put it in her mouth. The taste was exactly the same as what she had at home. She glanced at the packaging in the trash—wow, it was the same brand. He had even remembered the exact one.
Zhou Guchuan handed her the entire plate. “Go watch some TV in the living room first. I’ll start preparing dinner. What would you like to eat tonight?”
“I want cola chicken wings, shrimp with scrambled eggs, and mushroom and beef soup.”
Yin Lan ordered simple home-style dishes that weren’t too difficult. “Can you make these three?”
“Anything else you’d like?”
“No, three dishes are enough for us.”
Zhou Guchuan deftly tied on an apron and began prepping the ingredients.
“Lanlan.”
“Hmm?”
Zhou Guchuan leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Wait for me in the living room. The kitchen will get smoky soon.”
Ahhh! Yin Lan took a step back, holding the plate, her tongue tied. Without saying a word, she scurried away in small steps.
Alright, she admitted she had just been charmed.
Soon, the sound of chopping came from the kitchen. Yin Lan flipped through several channels but couldn’t find anything she wanted to watch, so she simply fixed her gaze on Zhou Guchuan.
The kitchen was open-plan, so Yin Lan could clearly see what the man was doing from the living room.
“Is the TV not interesting? You keep looking at me.”
Huh? She’d been caught. Yin Lan quickly averted her gaze, pretending to casually change the channel while wondering—did he have eyes on the back of his head?
Zhou Guchuan chuckled softly in the kitchen, shook his head, and turned on the stove to start cooking.
On the marble countertop closest to him lay his phone, its screen displaying the living room.
Cooking alone could be boring, but watching her on the screen lifted his mood.
The man stood before the stove, his cooking movements relaxed and graceful. The way he flipped the wok was pleasing to the eye, and every turn of his wrist as he held the spatula exuded elegance and poise.
Although everyone in Jiangcheng said the Zhou family were nouveaux riches, Yin Lan saw no trace of that in him.
Compared to those from old-money families, Zhou Guchuan seemed more like a noble gentleman.
No matter what he did, he carried an air of refinement.
Soon, the aroma wafted from the kitchen, instantly awakening the hunger in Yin Lan’s stomach.
The ultimate good husband—she absolutely had to award him that title.
Helping to bring the dishes to the table, Zhou Guchuan served her a little of each.
“Try them first and tell me which one you like best.”
Yin Lan obediently tasted everything and finally concluded, “They’re all delicious. It’s hard to choose—they’re all like my own flesh and blood.”
After saying this, Yin Lan entered her immersive eating time.
For some reason, even though she wasn’t a gluttonous person, every time she ate the dishes Zhou Guchuan cooked, she couldn’t help but want to finish everything.
If this continued, she would definitely gain weight sooner or later, and once she got fat, she wouldn’t be as authoritative in the company anymore.
While feeling guilty in her heart, Yin Lan didn’t stop her hands from bringing food to her mouth.
Zhou Guchuan mostly watched her with a smile, occasionally adding food to her bowl.
A cook who loved cooking had met the person who understood him best. Seeing Yin Lan eat so heartily made Zhou Guchuan happier than signing a billion-dollar deal.
The two brought different kinds of fulfillment.
After finishing the meal, Yin Lan wanted to clear the dishes, but the man took them directly from her hands. “Just put them in the dishwasher. No need for you to do it.”
“But I still have to take them over.”
“I’ll do it.”
“You’re making me feel useless.”
“Accompanying me on this trip is the most useful thing you could do.”
Zhou Guchuan spoke the truth, but Yin Lan felt he was just humoring her.
After starting the dishwasher, Zhou Guchuan invited Yin Lan, “Want to go for a walk outside?”
“Sure, let me change my clothes.”
“No need. There’s no one else on the island, just the two of us. I’m wearing loungewear too. It’s comfortable for a stroll.”
“Alright, then I won’t change.”
Since they weren’t changing clothes, they decided not to change their shoes either and went out wearing slippers.
As soon as they stepped out of the villa, Yin Lan was captivated by the island’s night view.
Dusk had settled over the coastline, and the deep blue sky was dotted with scattered stars. The salty, humid sea breeze brushed against her face, carrying the scent of coconut groves and seawater.
The only sounds were the gentle lapping of waves against the rocks and the footsteps of the two of them.
The environment here was truly comfortable. Once she inherited the company in the future, she would buy this island and use it as a place to relax.
Just as she was enjoying the moment, a dark shadow suddenly flew past Yin Lan, startling her into a scream.
“Ah! What was that?!!! Zhou Guchuan, did you see it clearly?”
Zhou Guchuan quickly pulled her to his side. “Don’t be afraid, it’s an owl. It won’t hurt you. They’re common on the island.”
“That’s a relief. I thought it was a bat, the kind that bites.”
“If there really were bats and one tried to bite you, I’d shield you.”
“You’re still joking around. I don’t want you shielding me. What if you get infected with a virus? The Zhou family would come knocking on my door. If we ever encounter such a situation, let’s just run for it, okay?”
“Alright, I’ll listen to you.”
“Ahem, you don’t have to listen to me in everything. I’m not an unreasonable person. After we get married, we can discuss everything together.”
The man’s heart trembled, and he couldn’t help but pull her into his arms, closing his eyes with a soft sigh. “I’m so glad you’ve included me in your future.”
Every time he heard Yin Lan talk about their future together, Zhou Guchuan wished they could get married immediately. If he weren’t afraid of scaring her, he would drive straight to the civil affairs bureau right now.
Yin Lan patted his back. “Don’t worry. Since I chose you that day, I won’t go back on my word. As long as you don’t betray me, spending a lifetime together shouldn’t be a problem.”
A lifetime? He took that promise seriously too.
Lanlan, even if I die, I’ll cling to you. Xiao Chen’s side should have the cemetery ready soon.
Seeing the man holding her without letting go, Yin Lan poked his shoulder with her index finger. “Are we… still going for a walk?”
“Let me hold you a little longer.”
“Alright.”
Early the next morning, Zhou Guchuan planned to take Lanlan surfing. He had intended to wake up early to make breakfast, but as soon as he opened the bedroom door, a piece of paper fluttered down by his feet.
On it was Yin Lan’s handwriting: Guchuan, there’s an urgent matter at the company, so I took a helicopter back overnight. I didn’t want to disturb your sleep, so I didn’t tell you. See you in Jiangcheng~
Zhou Guchuan’s fingers tightened around the paper, his previously gentle expression instantly darkening.
How could he not have heard the loud noise of the helicopter? It was all because the soundproofing in this villa had been done too well back then.
Impatiently, he took out his phone and dialed Xiao Chen. “Go find out what happened at Madam’s company.”