Chapter 745 - 0423 Absorbing Energy (2-in-1)_2

Then he added some clarification to Yun Qian’s ambiguous statement: "You can come in, but cooking is a no-go."

It’s fortunate Yun Qian was only asking and wasn’t jealous; if any other girl heard him say that, not blowing up on the spot would be an act of extreme kindness.

But for Xu Chang’an, it’s a matter of principle.

His own Miss Yun should have higher aspirations. Yun Qian has already been nurtured by him to have modest ambitions, and if she truly divides herself over cooking... Xu Chang’an feels he would undoubtedly be a guilty man.

The real issue is that Yun Qian’s desire to learn how to cook isn’t for her personal interest. Ultimately, it’s for him.

Since her interest is for him, he can always decide on Yun Qian’s behalf, can’t he?

"Also, Miss, you said Senior Zhu is here to help..." Xu Chang’an paused in his speech, feeling rather helpless.

No, that’s not right.

It should be Zhu Pingniang telling Yun Qian she’s here to help, but those seniors... they care a lot about appearances.

In reality, Zhu Pingniang is clearly here to stir things up.

"All I can say is, Senior Zhu ought to have more significant matters to attend to; such small tasks like cooking shouldn’t trouble her," Xu Chang’an said gently.

"?" Yun Qian blinked, as if she didn’t understand.

Xu Chang’an spoke softly in her ear: "Senior Zhu can’t really help."

"Oh." Yun Qian understood, thinking aloud: "Am I now not supposed to create chaos for you?"

"How could it be creating chaos?"

Xu Chang’an felt delighted at Yun Qian’s quick grasp of his point, yet he immediately said earnestly, "The greatest help you can offer is letting me hold you like this for a while, so as for the smoky kitchen, leave it to me."

"Got it." Yun Qian nodded.

Miss Yun wasn’t disappointed in the slightest.

Before coming, she was prepared, and after meeting Xu Chang’an and finding him blocking the door, preventing her from entering, she knew she wouldn’t get her way this time either.

After trying to persuade him using Zhu Pingniang as a last resort and still failing to convince Xu Chang’an, she temporarily gave up.

"Something’s off." Yun Qian’s voice held puzzlement.

"What’s off?" Xu Chang’an asked.

"This isn’t how it goes in the books." Yun Qian shook her head, contemplating, "According to what the books say, if I bring up Miss Zhu, you should let me in. Yet, that’s not what happened. Why is that?"

Xu Chang’an: "..."

Sigh.

"Usually, it goes like that." Xu Chang’an whispered into Yun Qian’s ear, "But Miss is not one to be jealous, even if I let you know that Senior Zhu came and caused trouble, why should I feel guilty and retreat?"

"So, if I would get jealous, you’d let me in?" Yun Qian understood.

"That’s right." Xu Chang’an nodded.

"..." Yun Qian then said nothing, gazing at Xu Chang’an without blinking.

"What are you looking at? I still won’t let you in, even if you stare," Xu Chang’an chuckled lightly.

"I knew it." Yun Qian shook her head.

"Knew what?"

"I knew you were teasing me again." Yun Qian hugged Xu Chang’an with a tranquil voice, "You know very well I can’t learn to be jealous, yet you say things like that."

If this isn’t teasing, what is?

Listening to Yun Qian’s words, Xu Chang’an’s smile froze on his face.

"Miss, I’m indeed teasing." Xu Chang’an, long past being fazed by Yun Qian’s words, said solemnly with a high level of self-defense: "And I have even more teasing tricks up my sleeve, want to know what they are?"

"Eh?" Yun Qian blinked, her interest piqued, "What are they?"

She was curious about how Xu Chang’an could tease further.

"It’s just that..." Xu Chang’an glanced at Miss Aqing standing quietly by the window in the distance and patted Yun Qian’s lower back, "Miss, you must go back to the banquet."

Yun Qian: "..."

——

Ah Qing: "..."

Ah Qing hadn’t been eavesdropping on Yun Qian and Xu Chang’an’s conversation, but she had just felt Xu Chang’an’s gaze and instinctively listened to a sentence, but it turned out to be these words.

Tsk.

Sir, are these words really something a man should say?

Ah Qing was dumbfounded; her first reaction was to stand up for Yun Qian.

Miss Yun had braved "great difficulties" and even risked slipping to come for intimacy, only to be sent away with just a brief hug? How truly bullying.

But Ah Qing also knew that the matters between Xu Chang’an and Yun Qian were none of her business, and the lord wouldn’t really bully anyone; he must have said this on purpose.

Sure enough, after a brief silence, Ah Qing heard Xu Chang’an speaking to Yun Qian.

"But I can’t just let you go back like this... hmm, I just made some candied pastries, would you like to try them while they’re hot?" Xu Chang’an said softly, "Hungry, aren’t you?"

Upon hearing about food, Yun Qian snapped out of her "being sent away" silence and willingly released him amid Xu Chang’an’s startled gaze, saying: "I want to eat."

Xu Chang’an: "..."

Alright then, it was his turn to be silent.

His mouth twitched slightly; Xu Chang’an felt rather helpless.

Miss Yun, who seemed so clingy moments ago, let go at the mention of food—could one believe it?

He was beaten by pastries...

Suddenly feeling a bit unwilling, but who commanded his tendency to tease, it’s just karma.

Hence Xu Chang’an turned on his heels and walked into the kitchen, ensuring to shut the door tight, leaving Yun Qian outside alone.

Ah Qing in the distance: "..."

She blinked repeatedly, looking at Yun Qian’s lone silhouette.

Had she just discovered a previously unknown facet of the lord?

——

Before long, Xu Chang’an returned carrying a small plate of pastries.

"Just taste a little, there’s still dinner to come." Xu Chang’an hadn’t finished speaking yet, and Yun Qian clung to him again in a hug.

For a fleeting second, Xu Chang’an was struck with the thought that perhaps he was the more important one after all.

But before that feeling settled, Yun Qian released him again, leaving a puzzled Xu Chang’an with a question mark floating above his head.

"Miss, what are you doing?" Xu Chang’an was bewildered.

"Just realized," Yun Qian looked at the enticing pastries on the plate, whispering: "I can’t eat properly while hugging you."

Xu Chang’an: "?"

Fine, still beaten by pastries.

"Go ahead and eat." Xu Chang’an held the plate, saying naturally: "After you finish, Miss, take a rest; you can also chat with Senior Wen if you want. I have some dishes to prepare, and that Beauty Fruit is harder to handle than I expected; cutting it wrongly by a bit might destroy its Spiritual Qi..."

As he spoke, he noticed Yun Qian hadn’t reached for the pastries.

Stunned for a moment, he met Yun Qian’s expectant gaze.

Xu Chang’an fell silent.

Yun Qian, too, said nothing and simply looked at him.

"..." Xu Chang’an glanced helplessly at Miss Aqing, uncertain if she was paying attention, and whispered, "Miss, there are also other people here."

"Feeding me can’t be seen by others?" Yun Qian asked puzzledly.

Xu Chang’an instinctively wanted to nod, then suddenly realized he had no actual reason to refuse.

Who doesn’t know they’re a couple?

Has he not displayed affection before Pingniang plenty of times? Miss Aqing is just Pingniang’s girl, so what’s the harm in letting Yun Qian down for some superficial pride...

It’s not even pride, but his own timid nature, feeling feeding Miss something in front of others was slightly inappropriate.

But he had teased her earlier, so... refusal was impossible.

Xu Chang’an washed his hands, picked up a small piece of pastry, and met Yun Qian’s serene yet satisfied gaze, resignedly saying, "Open your mouth."

"Mm." Yun Qian nodded, displaying a lovely smile, and softly said, "Ah."

Xu Chang’an consequently placed the pastry in her open mouth, then kept a glass of water ready at her side.

As Yun Qian consumed the pastry Xu Chang’an had prepared.

"Don’t move." Xu Chang’an suddenly spoke.

Yun Qian remained still.

With precision, Xu Chang’an took out a handkerchief, carefully wiping away the sweet residue from Yun Qian’s lips and corners of her mouth, and then nodded in satisfaction.

——

In the distance.

Having witnessed it all, Miss Aqing lowered her gaze silently.

She felt somewhat full herself.