Indeed, as people say, the same dish cooked by different people will end up tasting different. She had originally planned to make Xiao Linye dinner since he wasn’t feeling well, but look how things turned out... In the end, she was still eating his cooking! Ye Yuning said, somewhat guiltily, "I’ll learn to cook as soon as possible." Xiao Linye heard her but didn’t say anything, unable to stop himself from giving her a deep, searching look. It wasn’t uncommon these days for young women not to know how to cook, but very few were willing to learn. Xiao Linye picked up the water glass before him, took a sip, and then said, "You don’t need to learn." "No, I have to learn. This is something I must know how to do." Ye Yuning’s biggest realization during this period was that married life was different from living alone. Not every man was like Tang Xi’s husband, Jiang Bo, nor was every family like the Jiang Family. Although Xiao Linye’s father was displeased with her, his family hadn’t caused her any trouble so far. What did this indicate? It indicated that their family upbringing was, to some extent, quite strict. They weren’t the type of people to make a scene without reason. Families like that were actually quite hard to find nowadays. Some designers at the studio already had families, and the exhaustion from their chaotic home lives was practically written on their faces. This made it even clearer that she had found someone one in a million and should cherish him. Seeing her so determined, Xiao Linye chuckled indulgently. "Cooking requires talent." And seeing Ye Yuning’s fear of hot oil, he felt she didn’t possess such talent. "Talent?" Ye Yuning echoed. Does that really require talent? Isn’t it something you can manage to make when you’re desperate? It’s just a matter of whether it tastes good or not. Otherwise, how many people in the world would go hungry because they lack talent? Xiao Linye nodded. "Of course, it requires talent. Otherwise, what you make would only be barely edible." Clearly, he wasn’t willing to compromise when it came to food. Hearing him say that, Ye Yuning realized that every dish he had made recently had indeed tasted very good. "Have you studied culinary arts?" "Not really. When I was abroad, if there was something I wanted to eat, I just followed a recipe book." Looking at it this way, it really did seem to require talent. And she clearly lacked it! Ye Yuning silently ate a mouthful of noodles. "You’ve been abroad?" "Mhm, for a few years." Ye Yuning trailed off. Looking at it this way, his family background must be even more impressive. No wonder her father had been so furious, yet there were no repercussions. Xiao Linye glanced at her but didn’t continue the topic. Instead, he asked, "Are you close with Tang Xi?" Upon hearing this, Ye Yuning’s hand holding her chopsticks involuntarily tightened. Her breathing grew a little heavier. He had finally asked. Seeing that report suddenly leaked today, her heart had been in turmoil. And now, she was truly on the gallows! "We were classmates from high school through university," she said, not planning to hide it. After all, she had already lied to Xiao Linye before. So she didn’t want to tell any more lies. Besides, a lie was still a lie. If you tell too many, you’ll eventually forget and give yourself away, wouldn’t you? So, after mulling it over in the office that afternoon, Ye Yuning felt she couldn’t hide this from Xiao Linye. Xiao Linye looked somewhat surprised. "You were classmates?" "Yes, is it that surprising?" "Surprising!" Xiao Linye nodded. Her classmate was a big star, while she was just an assistant? The contrast was truly immense. Ye Yuning didn’t know what he was thinking and said, "Although we were classmates, we keep our personal and professional lives very separate." "Mm, that’s as it should be," Xiao Linye nodded. His tone was light, revealing no emotion. Fortunately, he didn’t probe further, and Ye Yuning breathed a sigh of relief. As for the stark contrast between her and Tang Xi, if he were to ask just one more question, she could only say that Tang Xi didn’t look down on her. Other than that, she couldn’t explain it! Ye Yuning went to wash the dishes. Xiao Linye’s phone rang, and he went to the study to answer it. It was unclear what was said on the other end of the line, but his expression immediately darkened. "Lost?" Bai Su’s voice on the other end was respectful, offering no excuses. Explaining a failure was pointless. Xiao Linye rubbed his aching brow. "Understood. Stay put and don’t come back for now." After hanging up, he dialed another number. The call was quickly answered. "Lord!" After he hung up again, silence settled in the study. A cold light flickered in Xiao Linye’s eyes, his thoughts deepening... Bai Su said the sample was lost. Was it truly lost, or... had it been stolen? At this thought, Xiao Linye’s brow throbbed. He picked up the phone, made another call to Lai Shuo, and then left the study. Seeing Ye Yuning still busy in the kitchen, he turned and went into her room. When Ye Yuning finished washing up, she came out, drying her slightly damp hands, which still carried the faint scent of dish soap. She headed straight for her room.