บท 11: Chapter Eleven: Peeling Prawns
บรรณาธิการ: Dragon Boat Translation
Yun Nan went to the supermarket to buy groceries and daily necessities before returning home; Shi Nian's house didn't have many essentials.
Shi Nian could smell the fragrance of food as soon as the elevator door opened, and his mood spontaneously improved.
Standing at the entrance to the penthouse, Shi Nian could tell that Yun Nan was still busy in the kitchen. He stood there for a moment, taking in the lived-in ambiance. Afraid to ruin the cozy atmosphere, he was hesitant to take another step.
Yun Nan came out of the kitchen with a dish. She was wearing an apron with pink and blue stripes.
She was surprised when she saw him standing at the door and asked, "What's wrong? You're in the right place. Dinner will be ready in ten minutes."
She then returned to the kitchen, like it wasn't her second day in this house.
Shi Nian chuckled at the thought.
By the time Shi Nian changed into his casual wear and came downstairs, the food was already ready.
Yun Nan prepared four dishes and a soup, and they looked scrumptious. Yun Nan handed Shi Nian a bowl of rice and said, "Thank you for your help this morning."
Shi Nian frowned. Why did she have to ruin the atmosphere by reminding him that this meal was an exchange?
Yun Nan didn't notice his expression and happily picked up a prawn with a pair of chopsticks and placed it into his bowl. "My braised prawns are delicious!"
However, Shi Nian just looked at the prawn.
"What's wrong? Do you not eat prawns? You didn't tell me you have any diet restrictions."
"I don't mind eating it, but I don't want to peel it. It's so troublesome!" Shi Nian said disdainfully.
"Tsk!" Yun Nan rolled her eyes at him. She picked up the prawn and made short work of peeling it before 'dumping' it to Shi Nian.
Seeing Shi Nian's gobsmacked expression, she snarked, "You're the troublesome one. Don't tell me you won't eat it if no one peeled it for you?!"
Shi Nian picked up the prawn and put it in his mouth. It tasted really good, but he refused to give Yun Nan the satisfaction, and stubbornly stated, "I can eat the other dishes instead."
Yun Nan eyed him as if he were some unfathomable creature.
Shi Nian picked up a piece of pork rib and took a bite under Yun Nan's complicated gaze. He praised, "This is pretty good! You're quite a skilled chef; if you plan to open a restaurant, I will invest in it."
Yun Nan didn't know whether to laugh or cry at his remark.
Then she had an idea.
She slyly said, "I can make a variety of dishes. I'll have more time to make them if you provide me more aid, so the more help you give me, the more chances you will have to eat delicious food in the future."
Shi Nian picked up a prawn and delivered it to Yun Nan's plate, indicating for her to peel it, before he uttered, "Deal."
Yun Nan cheerfully began peeling prawns to feed them to the young master opposite her. She was quite pleased with the exchange of services.
Her phone suddenly vibrated; it was a call from Fang Xi.
Yun Nan picked up, and Fang Xi's voice was nasal when she spoke. "Yun Nan, can you come and pick me up?"
"Okay, I'll be right there. Send me your location," Yun Nan immediately agreed.
"I'm at home," Fang Xi answered.
Yun Nan put down her chopsticks and informed Shi Nian, "Something's come up; I have to go out for a while. You can eat without me."
In any case, there were other dishes to eat aside from prawns. Although Shi Nian acted childish at times, he wasn't a child; he could take care of himself. Yun Nan's thoughts were focused on Fang Xi, and she hurriedly left the house.
As Yun Nan drove towards Fang Xi's home, she suddenly recalled their conversation after work and realized that something might have happened between Fang Xi and her boyfriend.
When Yun Nan arrived, Fang Xi was already waiting at the neighborhood entrance with two suitcases by her feet. Her thin figure was trembling slightly.
Yun Nan got out and put the suitcases into the car. Fang Xi climbed in without saying a word.
Yun Nan started the car and thought about where to go as she drove. She had no home or place to accommodate Fang Xi.
"Just head to the hotel near the studio. I'll find a decent place to rent in a few days," Fang Xi said softly.
"Alright." Yun Nan turned the steering wheel and drove towards the studio.
Fang Xi was silent, but when Yun Nan turned her head to the side, she saw tears streaming down her friend's face, so she kept her mouth shut.
"I broke up with him," Fang Xi said, unprompted.
Yun Nan nodded and reached out to pat Fang Xi's shoulder. In such instances, words were unnecessary.
Fang Xi looked at the fast-moving streets outside the window, and her tears fell uncontrollably. She only felt safe enough to be vulnerable when she was with Yun Nan. Everyone thought that she was tough, independent, and had a strong heart, including her boyfriend.
The earlier scene replayed in her mind. That fragile woman was on her knees before Fang Xi, begging her, "Miss Fang, I beg you, please give Xi Cheng back to me. I have nothing to offer in exchange, but I promise I'll repay you in my next life, even if it's as a slave; is that okay?"
Fang Xi thought, 'I don't even have a good life right now, so what's there to hope for in the next one? I don't know what I would reincarnate as in my next life, so what use would I have for a slave?'
Fang Xi covered her face with her hands and dismissed the images from her head.
It turned out that being strong was a mistake; one had to endure because they were strong, but why?
After she had Fang Xi settled in, Yun Nan reached out to hug her and patted her back. "Would you like me to stay here with you?"
Fang Xi shook her head and smiled. "Nah, just let me be alone for a bit. It's nothing, really; it's just a breakup. There are plenty of men out there. When I get over it, I'll be the vixen you all know and love again. Now shoo, go home. I don't want to embarrass myself in front of you."
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