Chapter 182: Paying a Visit

However, thanks to her diligent work these past days, Ji Jiangci has become much younger.

When Ye Xi'an and the others returned, Gu Feng immediately came over, smelling the scent.

He was carrying a bag of fruit, his already overly red‑bright hair was covered with sparkling red gems, and even his somewhat fierce horns had gems stuck on them; it was clear he had put all his belongings on his head.

He stood nervously at Ye Xi'an's doorstep, and the moment Ye Xi'an opened the door, his slender eyelashes twitched and his lips involuntarily trembled.

"Um... I want to have a meal with you all today."

Ye Xi'an, who opened the door, blinked, almost blinded by his solemn appearance, quickly raised a hand to shield his glare: "Sure, your gems are oddly beautiful, huh."

Flattered by Ye Xi'an's compliment, Gu Feng shyly lowered his head and gave a faint smile.

"But... but I... don't like restaurant food; I just like... like eating Bao Jing's cooking."

Bao Jing, who was lifting dumbbells in the living room, froze, incredulously pointing a finger at himself: "Me?"

Gu Feng nodded: "Yes, you. Your cooking is delicious! I love eating what you make."

"If you've eaten it, say it's tasty," Bao Jing rolled his eyes; to him, Gu Feng was deliberately trying to disgust him.

Ye Xi'an laughed and mediated: "Bao Jing, since Gu Feng said that, why don't you show him a trick?"

Although Bao Jing was unwilling, out of gratitude for the life‑saving favor, he reluctantly went out to buy groceries.

"Then will you come in and sit now?" Ye Xi'an asked uncertainly.

"Good!" Gu Feng stepped across Ye Xi'an's threshold without a second of hesitation.

Ah~, he finally crossed Ye Xi'an's threshold in broad daylight.

Yi Yang came over, his eyes still a bit displeased; he wouldn't forget the grudge over his wife's injury: "Sit here, okay."

"Drink water." A cup of lemon‑infused water was heavily placed in front of Gu Feng.

"Eat fruit." Yi Yang said, then placed a neatly sliced apple on the table.

"Do you need a shoulder massage?" Yi Yang's tone was teasingly meticulous, as if deliberately giving trouble.

Gu Feng looked at Yi Yang with a strange expression; can you imagine a cold, disdainful person, whom you hate to the extreme, being so considerate toward you, even offering to massage your shoulders?

"No need, I guess." Gu Feng pointed at the apple and lemon water: "These aren't poisonous, right?"

"Damn! What do you mean!" Yi Yang, hearing for the first time someone speak of his yin‑yang, had to admit the book he bought was somewhat useful.

"Alright, alright, stop arguing." Ye Xi'an, a bit headache‑worried, walked over and stuck a piece of apple in his mouth: "It's not poisonous, eat it."

As soon as Bao Jing returned, he darted into the kitchen, and Ji Jiangci followed in to assist.

Gu Feng watched and also wanted to help; during this time he hadn't been idle, having urgently enrolled in a cooking class and learned a few fairly delicate dishes.

"Hey." Ye Xi'an stopped Gu Feng: "You're a guest; just sit."

Gu Feng pursed his lips, his gaze tinged with melancholy as he looked at Ye Xi'an; he didn't want to be a guest at all.

Ye Xi'an, bewildered by his stare, assumed he truly wanted to cook: "Um, if you really want to cook, go ahead."

"May I have a look around your house?" Gu Feng, instead of continuing to cook, made another request, immediately explaining: "I... I just think your house is very beautiful."

He lowered his head, showing a somewhat lonely expression: "Unlike my house, it's ugly."

At that point, could Ye Xi'an refuse? But there's nothing much to see in the house; the only worthwhile spot is the loft's balcony turned into a greenhouse.

"I can show you around casually, but I'll need to ask Bao Jing and the others about their rooms."

After saying that, Ye Xi'an first looked at Yi Yang and Lin Zhi Jing on the sofa.

Yi Yang, sucking on an ice pop, shook his head and refused; Lin Zhi Jing, elegantly crossing his legs while reading, sensed Ye Xi'an's gaze and raised his noble eyes: "I don't like my territory smelling of unfamiliar males."

In the kitchen, Bao Jing and Ji Jiangci made it unnecessary for Ye Xi'an to ask.

She spread her hands, a bit helpless: "Then I'll take you to the second floor to have a look."

"Alright."

Ye Xi'an ascended the stairs, wearing a white lace nightgown, moving like a graceful princess.

Gu Feng, a bit absent‑minded, followed Ye Xi'an; Lin Zhi Jing frowned, put down his book, and, somewhat uneasy, also followed.

Gu Feng reached the second floor and began looking around, as if searching for something.

"What are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for where my room is."

"Huh?" Ye Xi'an's mind floated two question marks; where could his room be?

Lin Zhi Jing also silently stood between Ye Xi'an and Gu Feng; Ye Xi'an might not understand his words, but as a fellow male, he instantly got it: this Gu Feng was too greedy, wanting a room before even entering.

Gu Feng snapped back, a chill down his spine, breaking into a cold sweat: "No, I... I mean..."

"Is this... the only room here?"

The transition was too abrupt; Ye Xi'an, while secretly rolling her eyes at Gu Feng, still thought he was odd; he wouldn't be trying to rent this house, would he?

"Yes, the second floor is all my rooms."

Gu Feng was stunned; that meant he was now standing in Ye Xi'an's room, his future bedroom!

Ye Xi'an, turning around, saw Gu Feng's flushed face, her eyes also dazed.

"Gu Feng? Are you okay? Why is your face so red?"

Gu Feng swallowed, unable to show his embarrassing look: "I'm fine, I'm just a bit hot."

Just as Ye Xi'an was about to lead Gu Feng to the balcony for fresh air, a clear youthful voice came from downstairs: "An'an! Eat!"

"An'an! Eat!"

"The meal's ready, let's hurry down and eat!" Ye Xi'an felt relieved, finally not having to be a tour guide.

At the table, Gu Feng looked at the spread of delicacies and suddenly felt inferior.

He had thought his few dishes were impressive, but seeing Bao Jing's cooking, he realized his culinary skills were trash.

"You are the most skilled male cook I've ever seen." Gu Feng sincerely praised, vowing to keep improving his cooking tonight!

"I don't deserve it." Bao Jing twisted his lips, clearly pleased by the praise, yet dismissed the false compliment: "Okay."

Bao Jing lifted his chin slightly, gesturing for Gu Feng to look at Ji Jiangci: "His cooking skills are far better than mine."

"Even better than this?" Gu Feng was somewhat surprised; he thought the dishes Bao Jing made were already beyond improvement.

Ji Jiangci was not modest either, insisting that the honor of a top scholar must not be violated: "Yes, I was once the exemplary husband and good‑father top scholar of the training class."