Chapter 196: The Floor is Cold

Chen Xun was afraid of tiring An Yinan out, so the two of them just strolled through the surrounding alleyways before heading back.

"I kept some porridge warm on the stove; do you want some?" Chen Xun asked.

"Have you eaten yet?" An Yinan asked curiously.

Chen Xun shook his head, "Waiting for you."

"Then let's eat together." An Yinan tugged at his hand; his hand was large and always very warm, and even if her hands were cold, he could warm them up very quickly.

The two of them simply went to the kitchen, and Chen Xun brought over the chicken porridge he had been keeping warm, "I made the porridge with chicken broth; taste it and see how it is, and if it suits your palate."

An Yinan was pleasantly surprised and took a sip, "It's very savory and delicious, you try some."

She scooped up a spoonful directly and held it to Chen Xun's lips.

Chen Xun was stunned for a moment, then he opened his mouth and took it from her spoon, after which he nodded, "The taste is not bad; I'll make it for you again next time."

After the two finished their porridge and returned to the room, An Yinan went straight to the washroom; she had broken into a sweat from going out earlier and had just drunk hot porridge, so she needed to freshen up.

Watching the figure hurry inside, Chen Xun smiled silently, then took his change of clothes and went to the washroom in the front courtyard.

When An Yinan came out of the washroom, Chen Xun was already leaning against the bed reading a book.

She stood on the floor for a moment; although the two had lived under the same roof for half a year, it was only yesterday that they had consummated their relationship.

Chen Xun looked at the person lingering on the floor, put down his book, then got out of bed and carried her onto it.

"The floor is cold."

An Yinan rolled her eyes; you can break into a sweat just by walking a circle outside, and you call this the floor being cold?

Trying to fool a big idiot!

After carrying her onto the bed and covering her with a thin quilt, he turned off the light and climbed into the covers as well.

An Yinan was startled and scooted to one side.

Chen Xun pulled her into his arms, "I won't do anything today; I'll just hold you and sleep well."

His embrace was very warm and filled with a sense of security.

That night, Chen Xun kept his word and just held her.

A good night's sleep until dawn.

Looking at the time on her watch, An Yinan stretched her arms; it was just six o'clock, and the man beside her had already gone out to train.

Unwavering.

After she got up, she folded the quilt on the bed and tidied up the bedding before walking into the courtyard.

"You're up?" Chen Xun ran back from outside, drenched in sweat.

An Yinan nodded, "I've slept enough."

"Change your clothes, I'll take you to get breakfast." He then added, "I'm going to the front courtyard to wash up."

An Yinan nodded, "Then I'll go get ready first."

The two of them went, one back to the master bedroom, and one to the front courtyard.

After washing up and changing clothes separately, half an hour later, An Yinan walked out wearing a floral dress.

Chen Xun had already finished getting ready and was waiting in the courtyard.

"Let's go."

The two of them held hands and locked the front gate.

"There's a State-run Restaurant not far from here; there are a lot of people queuing there, so the food should be pretty good," Chen Xun explained.

An Yinan's eyes lit up; she loved delicious food the most.

"Let's hurry over and queue." After walking for just five minutes, they saw the long line in front of the State-run Restaurant.

An Yinan pulled Chen Xun and ran over.

"Ma'am, this is our first time coming here for breakfast; what's good here?" An Yinan asked.

The older woman in front turned around and saw a tall, upright man and a beautiful, spirited woman—what a handsome couple.

"The chef here is said to be a descendant of the imperial cooks; the craftsmanship is truly beyond words, especially the old Beijing Sugar Pancake, Flour Tea, Fried Liver, and steamed buns—they are all peerless."

"No need to look, just order whatever you like; it's all delicious."

An Yinan widened her eyes, "That impressive?"

"Who's to say it isn't? My family lives in that alleyway, and I've been eating this for over twenty years; I don't feel right if I don't have it for a day," the woman said proudly, clapping her hands.

An Yinan smiled and nodded, "I really envy you, being able to eat it every day; I can only buy and taste it occasionally."

The woman comforted her, "It's alright, you can taste it; just come back when you want to eat it again."

Although there were many people in line, no one cut in; most of them were neighbors who knew each other well, so everyone queued very consciously.

Moreover, people who knew each other in the front and back of the line would chat about family matters.

After more than ten minutes, it was finally An Yinan and Chen Xun's turn.

"What would you like?" the clerk asked.

An Yinan said, "One serving of Fried Liver, one serving of Flour Tea, two Sugar Pancakes, and two steamed buns?"

As she spoke, she looked at Chen Xun, afraid he wouldn't have enough to eat.

"Add two Oil Pancakes," Chen Xun continued.

The clerk was very nimble and quickly wrote up the order, telling the two to take it inside to pay with money and food coupons.

Chen Xun took the order and thanked the clerk.

He led An Yinan into the State-run Restaurant; this place wasn't as new as the restaurants for wedding banquets, and the tables and stools were a bit wobbly, but everyone sitting around was eating until they were drenched in sweat.

"Pay over here," a woman shouted.

The two walked over quickly and handed over the order; the woman saw it and told them the price immediately.

Chen Xun handed over the money and coupons, and the woman stamped the order and said, "There are no seats in the main hall; are you eating here or taking it to go?"

An Yinan looked around, then decisively chose to take it to go.

Right now, let alone having no seats, there were people standing behind every table eating; people who knew each other were even squeezed together eating, and there were still others waiting for seats—by the time it was their turn, the food would probably be cold.

"Take it to go." The older sister collecting the money wrote the words "take away" on the ticket and handed it to them.

"Just take this and go line up to get the food."

The two of them hadn't expected that eating breakfast would be such a hassle...

By the time they reached the front of the line, it was already three minutes later; the person handing out the food looked at the small ticket and, following exactly what was on it, wrapped their items in oil paper.

However, the Fried Liver and Flour Tea posed a problem.

"You're taking it to go, why didn't you bring lunch boxes?" The person handing out the food looked at their unfamiliar faces and then asked, "First time here?"

An Yinan nodded helplessly, "First time here."

"Do you live far?" the person asked.

An Yinan shook her head, "Walking, we'll be there in a moment."

The person looked at the two of them; they didn't look like the type to take advantage of others, "Take the bowls back with you, but you must return them to me today. If the count is short, my wages will be docked."

An Yinan nodded quickly, "Okay, definitely, we will wash them and bring them back after we finish eating."

The person handed the bowls over directly, and Chen Xun stepped forward to take them.

An Yinan gathered the oil paper bags, "Thank you so much."

The person smiled sheepishly, "It's nothing, everyone who comes here to eat is a neighbor from the street, we're all familiar with each other."