When she emerged from the bedroom again, the previously empty dining table was now laden with dishes, arranged with evident care, each one as impressive as those served in a five-star restaurant.
Feng Chuyao, wearing an apron around his waist, was carrying a plate of large prawns. The pink little rabbit apron looked surprisingly small on him. If he had been holding a spatula, he would have been the epitome of domestic bliss.
Seeing her appear, the man placed the dish on the table, casually removed his apron, and hung it on a hook. “Come, let’s eat,” he said.
Then he brought over the red wine that had been breathing for a while and poured a glass for each of them.
Looking at everything, Shen Jianxi thought for a moment, then turned and took a crystal candlestick from the storage cabinet, lit the candles, and turned off the main lights in the room.
After doing so, she smiled and said, “Now it’s perfect.”
Feng Chuyao pulled out a chair for her, and after she sat down, he walked around to sit opposite her.
The length of the table was just right, placing them at a distance that was neither too far nor too near, allowing them to see each other’s expressions clearly, yet with a touch of haziness in the candlelight.
The man’s gaze was as soft as flowing water, fixed on her, with a hint of tenderness in his eyes.
Shen Jianxi knew what that tenderness meant; it was all because of the tragic backstory the pendant had conjured for her.
Knowing that in everyone’s eyes, she had just lost someone significant, she wore a gentle smile, but it was a smile that conveyed deep sadness.
Feng Chuyao peeled a prawn and placed it on her plate. “Your review, please.”
Having met several times, she had always seen him in a rather serious demeanor. This was the first time she saw him act so playfully, and Shen Jianxi couldn’t help but smile. However, she also understood his intentions; he merely wanted to cheer her up.
All his efforts sent a surge of warmth through her, and her heart felt wonderfully toasty.
She picked up her chopsticks, brought the prawn to her mouth, and its natural sweetness instantly filled her palate. The flesh was firm and springy, cooked to perfection. Under his expectant gaze, Shen Jianxi said, “This is delicious. Dr. Feng, you could definitely open a restaurant if you ever decided to quit medicine.”
Only then did Feng Chuyao relax.
Although he had confidence in his cooking, his heart couldn't help but flutter with anxiety before receiving her affirmation. The last time he felt such a tremor was on his first surgery. Even though his academic record had been excellent, his first solo operation filled him with worry about whether he could save the patient.
Fortunately, the surgery was a success, and the patient was now in good health.
His thoughts returned to the present, and Feng Chuyao looked at the woman opposite him. Beneath her elegantly curved eyebrows, her clear, bright eyes, as radiant as stars, now reflected the dancing candlelight. Thinking about what she had recently gone through, his heart ached with even more tenderness.
Perhaps it was the intense atmosphere, the warm orange candlelight blurring their vision and senses, amplifying everything at precisely the right moment.
An unnamed emotion began to stir, yearning to be expressed.
“Will… you…” he hesitated slightly as the words left his lips, “…be my girlfriend?”
While they had only been on one formal date, Feng Chuyao was certain that if another woman had gone through this, he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths.
He understood his own heart very clearly, and thus, he didn’t want to miss this opportunity.
The sounds of children playing and shouting downstairs drifted up, and he could faintly hear their childish prattle.
“Qiaoqiao, will you be my wife?”
“What does a wife do?”
“It’s… it’s…” The little boy racked his brain, then suddenly his voice rose, “A wife means we’ll be together forever!”
Then he whispered, “Will you, Qiaoqiao?”
“Okay.”
The little girl and Shen Jianxi spoke at the same time.
The little boy downstairs could no longer contain himself and let out a cheer. He could still hear him boasting to his friends.
The corners of the man’s mouth almost reached his ears, his handsome face now holding a touch of foolish joy.
…
Taking advantage of the valid excuse, Shen Jianxi rested at home for a few more days, only returning to school on Monday.
As soon as she entered the office, she was met with concern from teachers of all departments. Even the department head, who usually treated the school as his home, solicitously told her that if she hadn’t adjusted emotionally, she could take more days off and shouldn’t rush back to work.
The collective concern brought tears to Shen Jianxi’s eyes, a solitary person for most of her life.
Her desk was piled high with snacks, and people continued to bring more. Only when she repeatedly assured them that she was fine did they stop.
The sounds of well-wishing quieted down, and Shen Jianxi opened her lesson plans, finally ready to prepare her classes.
After such a long absence, she felt a sense of unfamiliarity looking at these materials again.
However, fortunately, her professional skills were solid, and it only took her half a morning to reacquaint herself with her work.
She had lunch with Su Ying in the school cafeteria, and after teaching two classes in the afternoon, she would be free to leave.
The best thing about their school was that teachers didn’t have to be present in the office all day; they could leave after their classes, and if they had no classes, they didn’t have to come in.
It was still early after work today, and Shen Jianxi glanced at her watch, deciding to surprise Feng Chuyao at the hospital.
After that day, they had gone on a few more dates, and both felt increasingly that the other was the person they had been looking for.
As for Qin Lang, she hadn’t thought of him in a long time. If all went as expected, she wouldn’t return to that world, but she could visit the original world when she had the time.
Speaking of that world, Shen Jianxi immediately thought of Xiar’s fluffy ears. As someone who adored soft things, she found it hard not to be fond of him.
Come to think of it, she had promised Xiar she would bring him delicious food. If she hadn’t been delayed so long with Qin Lang, she would have originally bought some snacks from the supermarket to take with her.
The more she thought about it, the more determined Shen Jianxi became to visit in the next couple of days.
Unlike her feelings about Qin Lang, Shen Jianxi didn’t dislike Xiar, even though he had threatened her life. Perhaps it had something to do with Xiar’s appearance.
Imagine a little raccoon standing in front of you, threatening to give it delicious food with a not-so-sharp knife; the scene was both adorable and amusing no matter how you thought about it.
It was precisely for this reason that Shen Jianxi quite liked him.
Secretly chiding herself for her double standards, her feet, however, faithfully led her to the supermarket to buy a pile of instant noodles, spicy strips, and candy.