Zhong Liyuan, having pieced together the reason, said angrily, "It’s all because of my second brother, that coward." Zheng Xuewen frowned. "Doesn’t your second brother have his own job? Wait, did something happen?" Zhong Liyuan’s eyes immediately reddened. "He was dating someone, and they had already reached the point of discussing marriage. Their parents had even met before. But for some reason, just as things were about to be finalized, they changed their tune. "They insisted that my family arrange a job for the woman. The betrothal gift they demanded was already substantial, and because of this, my older brother’s wife even raised a big fuss at home. My mom was already very unhappy about it and even said that if it couldn’t be worked out, then they should just forget the whole thing. "But my second brother, the good-for-nothing, got himself tricked. In the end, he had no choice but to agree. You know how difficult it is to arrange a job, so I was the one who had to go to the countryside, giving up my job placement." Zheng Xuewen hadn’t expected that something set in stone could still change. "Well, it’s already happened. Don’t be angry about it anymore." Zhong Liyuan let out a HMPH. "If I had known this would happen, I would have signed up with you. My second brother has really caused a lot of trouble—I get so mad just thinking about him." Yunyi heard this and started to laugh. It seems I misunderstood; he really isn’t that lovesick after all. Huo Jingrui saw the smile playing on her lips. "What delightful thing are you thinking about?" Yunyi glanced at him. "I’m craving stewed vegetables with pasted buns, but I’m not good at making them. Do you know how?" Now, even the ever-capable Huo Jingrui was stumped. "Stewing, I can manage. But pasted buns? I’ve only ever watched them being made; I’ve never actually tried my hand at it. Should I give it a go?" Yunyi nodded. "Okay, we’ll try when we get back. If they fall into the pot, we’ll just end up with stewed dough clumps." She started laughing as she spoke. Her smile, as beautiful as a blooming flower, left Huo Jingrui stunned. Several images flashed through his mind, but they vanished in an instant, and he couldn’t grasp any of them. When they returned home, Yunyi asked Huo Jingrui to go to the kitchen area to boil water, while she went to the woodshed in the backyard. She looked around and retrieved a pheasant from under an overturned porcelain basin. She had taken the pheasant out from her interdimensional space after returning from the mountains last night and hidden it here, just in case she needed it, to avoid arousing any suspicion. Just as she turned around with the pheasant in hand, she saw Huo Jingrui walking over. "What are you doing here?" Huo Jingrui glanced at the bird in her hand. "I came to get some firewood. When did you hunt this pheasant?" Yunyi held up the pheasant, showing it off. "I got it yesterday morning and specifically saved this one. You’re in for a treat today." Huo Jingrui smiled and carried some firewood out of the shed. "Let’s go. I’ll show you what I can do today." Yunyi, recalling he had said he didn’t know how to make pasted buns, suddenly laughed. "You said earlier you don’t know how to make pasted buns. You’re not actually going to make me a pot of stewed dough clumps, are you?" Huo Jingrui watched her laugh happily. "Even if they all fall into the pot, they will do so in the most graceful manner." They both laughed together. This text is hosted at novel•fire.net Back in the kitchen, Yunyi chopped vegetables while Huo Jingrui cleaned the pheasant. They worked in perfect harmony, occasionally exchanging smiles. Although they had only just confirmed their relationship, Huo Jingrui felt as if they had known each other for a very long time, so perfectly in tune were they. Originally, Yunyi intended to make the pasted buns herself. She wasn’t particularly skilled at it, but she could manage. However, Huo Jingrui insisted on trying. The result was that every bun he attempted to stick to the pot slid spectacularly into the stew below, each one’s fall more ungainly than the last. The two of them stood before the stove, grinning foolishly. By the time all the dough had been wasted, Yunyi was laughing so hard she couldn’t stand, clutching her stomach.