The refrigerator was well-stocked—likely thanks to the hourly cleaning lady who did the shopping.
Ji Huaixiang tied on an apron, browsed the fridge for a moment, and carried the ingredients she needed into the kitchen.
“Mr. Gu, would you like to help with cooking?”
She stood at the kitchen doorway, sincerely inviting the man lounging on the sofa.
Gu Wujin held a cigarette between two fingers and raised an eyebrow at her.
“What do you think of the clothes I’m wearing?”
“Huh?”
The topic shifted so suddenly.
“They look good,” Ji Huaixiang answered. The white shirt on him had a subtle patterned texture—elegant and fresh—making his jade-like face appear even more strikingly handsome and refined.
“And?”
“Clean.”
There wasn’t a single stain or wrinkle on the white shirt, and the tailoring fit him perfectly.
Gu Wujin’s lips curved slightly.
“Besides that, you don’t notice anything else?”
“They’re expensive.”
Ji Huaixiang said with certainty.
“You’re right.”
Gu Wujin leaned back against the sofa with an air of aloof arrogance, giving her a sidelong glance.
“This shirt really is expensive—built on piles of money. So do you think it’s appropriate for me to take all this money into the kitchen?”
Ji Huaixiang: “…”
“Then please keep resting, Mr. Gu. Actually, I can handle it by myself.”
She was a little worried that if he went in, that pile of money might accidentally catch fire from the stove.
The kitchen soon became a flurry of activity. Gu Wujin sat comfortably on the sofa, watching the news, though his dark eyes occasionally flicked toward the kitchen. He was a man of principle—if the food that woman cooked turned out terrible, he absolutely would not touch it.
Ji Huaixiang prepared steamed fish, stir-fried beef with fresh mushrooms, braised chicken pieces in sauce, and a pork rib soup. She carried everything to the dining table.
“I didn’t make too much today. I didn’t know what you like to eat, Mr. Gu. If you find anything tasty, I can make it for you again next time.”
Gu Wujin glanced at the dishes on the table. The presentation was excellent—aromatic and appealing. He just wasn’t sure about the taste yet.
“Want to try a bite? I’m actually pretty good at cooking—it’s not dark cuisine.”
Ji Huaixiang sat at the opposite end of the table, looking at him hopefully.
“I don’t eat scallions or ginger.”
Gu Wujin frowned at the steamed fish in front of him.
“It’s not that I’m picky—those two things just stink too much.”
“You don’t like them?”
Ji Huaixiang quickly pulled the steamed fish dish toward herself.
“Then try the chicken first. I marinated the meat—it’s very tender.”
Gu Wujin picked up a piece of golden-brown chicken and put it in his mouth. Ji Huaixiang watched him closely.
“How is it? Good?”
“Passable.”
It was far better than he had expected—not bad at all.
Gu Wujin ate the chicken, then reached for the beef. The meat was incredibly tender and juicy—delicious beyond imagination. He hadn’t expected this woman to actually be skilled at cooking; the flavor surpassed even the head chef at the Gu family hotel.
Ji Huaixiang’s clear eyes sparkled with light. Her red lips curved upward.
“Then eat more. I made plenty—leftover would be a waste.”
With that, Ji Huaixiang didn’t serve herself any food. Instead, she took a clean pair of chopsticks and a small bowl. She carefully picked out every scallion segment and ginger sliver laid over the fish. She had added quite a lot, worried the fish might smell fishy otherwise.
She picked with complete focus, as if handling something sacred. Gu Wujin gave her a faint glance. The fingers holding his chopsticks twitched.
“No need to go to so much trouble. I’m not eating the fish.”
Ji Huaixiang kept her head down and continued picking.
“Almost done.”
After removing all the scallions and ginger, she used another clean small bowl to transfer the white, sauce-glistening fish fillets and handed it to Gu Wujin.
“All done. The fish is steamed very fresh and sweet—it should taste good. Try a bite?”
Beneath her, the hand holding the white porcelain bowl was slender, fair, and tender. The round, pink fingernails were adorable. It didn’t look like the hand of someone who could cook so well—or who would patiently pick out every piece of scallion and ginger. Yet it had done both, and done them perfectly—so perfectly that he found himself unable to refuse.
He picked up a piece of fish. Ji Huaixiang had already removed all the bones, scallions, and ginger. The white flesh glistened with sauce and light. He put it in his mouth—tender, smooth, fresh. No wonder her eyes shone with confidence. It really was delicious.
“Not bad.”
He gave a quiet compliment, not looking at Ji Huaixiang’s beaming face, but simply eating the fish piece by piece.
After lunch, Gu Wujin sat on the sofa drinking tea. He had eaten a bit too much today and felt slightly full.
“The dishes and chopsticks are all cleaned up.”
Ji Huaixiang took off her apron. “By the way, I’ve already decided on the top notes for the perfume. This week I’ll probably need to visit Madam Shen again to confirm the middle and base notes.”
“Mm.”
“Then… I’ll head out now.”
Ji Huaixiang looked at Gu Wujin as she spoke.
Gu Wujin was drinking tea and didn’t respond.
Ji Huaixiang bit her lip and repeated herself:
“Mr. Gu, I’m leaving.”
Gu Wujin glanced at her sideways.
“You want me to drive you?”
“Is that okay?”
Ji Huaixiang paused mid-step. Her clear eyes shimmered with light.
“What do you think?”
“Escorting a lady home and ensuring her safety is basic gentlemanly behavior. Mr. Gu, I think you’re quite the gentleman.”
Gu Wujin stood up. He raised an eyebrow and smiled—his already striking features becoming even more refined and captivating.
“I’m only doing it because your cooking was decent. Let’s go.”
Ji Huaixiang followed behind Gu Wujin. The man walked ahead at a fast pace—his steps rising and falling unevenly, making his limp even more noticeable. Her gaze darkened slightly. She spoke up:
“Mr. Gu, wait for me. You’re walking too fast—I can’t keep up.”
Gu Wujin turned back to look at her, still two meters behind, and arched a brow.
“Are you a turtle? Crawling on all fours?”
“Could you slow down a little?”
Ji Huaixiang’s temper was very mild.
Gu Wujin stared at her for a long moment before reluctantly slowing his pace. His limp became less pronounced.
The two reached the underground parking lot. The black car parked not far away was anything but low-key—impossible to miss as people walked past. Ji Huaixiang naturally headed toward the rear door and opened it.
“Sit in the front,” Gu Wujin stopped her.
Ji Huaixiang’s hand tightened on the door handle. She gave a small smile.
“I… I’m fine in the back. It’s safer.”
“I’m not your chauffeur.”
Gu Wujin’s voice was cold.
Ji Huaixiang glanced down at the zipper pulled all the way up, then closed the rear door and walked to the front. She sat in the passenger seat, pressing herself as close to the door as possible.
Gu Wujin started the car. He seemed completely unaware of the girl’s tension.
“Are you cold?”
“Hm?”
Ji Huaixiang shook her head. “No.”
“You’re curled up like you’re trying to disappear. I thought the AC was too low.”
Gu Wujin turned the steering wheel. His white sleeves were rolled halfway up, revealing strong, muscular forearms that contrasted with his refined, elegant features.
“It’s not that.”
Ji Huaixiang bit her lip, lashes lowered.
“Then what are you hiding from?” he asked.
Ji Huaixiang clenched her fingers. She stole a quick, panicked glance at Gu Wujin’s profile and said nothing. They weren’t sitting far apart—she was worried he might catch her strange scent. And she still hadn’t figured out whether he was the one who took off her jacket last night.
A sudden silence fell inside the car. The black vehicle drove all the way to the S University gate before stopping.
“Mr. Gu, I’m here.”
“Mm.”
Ji Huaixiang gripped the door handle tightly, but her eyes remained glued to Gu Wujin’s face. She bit her lip, a flicker of panic rising in her heart. If he discovered the foul smell on her body, what kind of look would he give her? Would he despise her?
“Do you still have something to say?”
Gu Wujin turned his head toward her.
Ji Huaixiang met his gaze and asked,
“Mr. Gu, can I add you on WeChat?”
She quickly added,
“Just for follow-up questions about the perfume blending. I might need to trouble you with some things.”
Gu Wujin took out his phone, opened his QR code, and held it out for her to scan.
“You can add me now.”
“Done.”
Gu Wujin tapped to accept the friend request. He noticed her WeChat profile picture was a cartoonish little boy wearing blue overalls, looking cool and cocky.
Ji Huaixiang’s red lips, still faintly glossy, curved into a small smile. The earlier panic had already vanished. She opened the car door and waved her phone lightly.
“Mr. Gu, we’ll keep in touch on WeChat. See you.”
Back at the dorm, only Ji Dongqing was there. She looked surprised when she saw Ji Huaixiang return.
“Huaixiang, you’re finally back?”
“What’s wrong?”
Ji Huaixiang walked to her desk, picked up her cup, and poured herself some water.
“Last night when we left, we realized you were gone. We were so worried—we thought… we thought someone had taken you away.”
Ji Dongqing’s eyes were full of genuine concern, her voice tight with worry.
“Mm, sorry for making you all worry.”
Ji Huaixiang set her phone down on the desk. From last night until this very moment, the phone hadn’t rung once—not a single message of concern had come through. She deeply felt that sometimes, when dealing with people who don’t truly like you, not exposing their lies can also be a form of virtue.
And she was a girl with virtue.