"I'm going to start cooking. You two take the baby outside!"
Zhang Yichen shooed the two women—one big, one small—out of the kitchen.
He still had four dishes to prepare, two hot and two cold. Time was a little tight.
With a dual-burner stove, both the braised pork and the pig trotters were already simmering. Two burners, two woks—stir-frying at the same time meant he'd be done in minutes.
During the gaps, he quickly mixed the cold dishes.
Time management was his strength—he refused to waste too much of it just on meals.
Before long, everything was ready.
"Dinner's ready, come eat!" he called, carrying the dishes out while smoothly taking the baby into his arms.
With his long arms, he could balance the child in one hand while eating with the other, not missing a beat.
"Quite considerate of you!" Li Yue praised with a nod.
By now, she was almost convinced—Zhang Yichen really could take care of Xiaoxi and the baby.
"Go wash your hands first," he reminded them while setting the rest of the food on the table.
"Wow! These dishes smell amazing already!" Li Yue exclaimed.
"They really are delicious," Chen Xiaoxi added softly.
This was her third time tasting his cooking. The first time, she had been too hungry to notice the flavor. The second, she had eaten until she was stuffed.
Now, just thinking about this third meal made her mouth water.
"Here, try the braised pork first." Zhang Yichen picked up a piece glistening with sauce and placed it into her bowl. "Eat it while it's hot—it melts in your mouth."
Xiaoxi lowered her head, took a bite, and the rich, tender meat dissolved on her tongue. The savory sweetness filled her mouth.
She couldn't help but close her eyes and sigh in delight. "This is too good!"
"Really that good?" Li Yue raised a brow, skeptical, then picked up a piece herself. The moment it touched her tongue, her eyes went wide. "Oh my god! This is insane!"
"It really is. Even a foodie like me is conquered," Xiaoxi agreed, nodding.
"If you like it, eat more." Zhang Yichen smiled faintly, his gaze soft as he watched her devour the food.
"You cook like this and still bother with being a singer? You should just open a private kitchen restaurant instead," Li Yue said, eyes full of admiration.
"A private kitchen?" Zhang Yichen arched a brow, his gaze drifting toward Xiaoxi. "My cooking isn't something just anyone has the privilege to eat."
Her heart warmed at his words, her cheeks coloring faintly.
Lowering her head, she focused on her food, but the sweetness in her smile couldn't be hidden.
Others might not have the chance, but she could eat his cooking every day.
So blessed.
"Tsk, tsk. You really know how to sweet-talk," Li Yue teased, shaking her head. "Look at her, completely melted by your words."
"Eat your food!" Xiaoxi's face reddened as she shot her friend a glare.
"Don't listen to her. Have some pig trotter." Zhang Yichen ladled a bowl of soup and set it before her. "Eat more dishes and less rice. I didn't add much salt to this."
"You should eat too!" Xiaoxi frowned slightly when she noticed his empty bowl.
"Don't worry about me. Just eat." He waved it off casually.
He simply liked the feeling of looking after her.
"Ugh, you two… Can you not flaunt your affection right in my face?" Li Yue rolled her eyes dramatically.
"?"
"Can you not rub your couple vibes in front of a single woman?
"What nonsense?" Even though their relationship was already clear, Xiaoxi still felt shy.
"Single life means freedom, you know. No chains, no worries, just live on Pedigree" Yichen replied without even looking up.
Padigree? "Did you just call me a dog?" Li Yue nearly exploded.
"I didn't say that. You admitted it yourself." He smirked, eyes gleaming with mischief.
"You—!" She was so angry her chopsticks almost slipped from her hand. "Do you even know what respecting your teacher means?"
"I'm your boss now," Zhang Yichen shot back casually.
"Alright, enough, both of you." Xiaoxi looked up, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Eat while it's hot—it won't taste as good cold."
It had been so long since she enjoyed such a warm, lively atmosphere.
"Okay." Yichen nodded and finally picked up his chopsticks. He was starving too.
The rich aroma of the dishes filled the room as the three sat together around the low table, the atmosphere warm and cozy.
After a few bites, Li Yue suddenly set her chopsticks down and looked at Yichen. "Seriously though, why don't you three just move into my place?"
"Move into your place?" Yichen raised a brow, his gaze softening as it fell on Xiaoxi. "That's up to her. It's not my call."
"Tch. Sweetness overload. You two ever think about us single people?" Li Yue groaned. Then she realized what she said and snapped, "Wait! I'm not a dog!"
"When did I ever call you one?" Yichen said with feigned innocence, absolutely refusing to admit anything.
Xiaoxi burst out laughing, her eyes curving like crescents. "You two can't even eat peacefully, can you?"
Li Yue pretended to be angry, stabbing another piece of braised pork. "This brat really needs someone to put him in his place. You better keep him in line!"
"Here, eat more." Yichen ignored her and scooped another piece of pig trotter into Xiaoxi's bowl. "You're low on energy. This will help."
Xiaoxi stared at the food, her heart warming. She looked up at him, her eyes soft as water. "Thank you. Really."
"Haven't I told you? No need for thanks between us." His voice was quiet, his gaze deep.
"Tsk, tsk…" Li Yue munched on more dog food. "So, about my idea—what do you think?"
"I'd rather not. It's easier for me to take care of the baby here, and…" Yichen trailed off awkwardly.
Since last night, he had only casually called her "sister."
But what should he call her now?
"Take care of the baby and… what?" Li Yue pounced instantly.
"…And Sister Xiaoxi," he finally settled on. For now, it was the most suitable title.
"Hehe." Xiaoxi covered her mouth and chuckled.
Just a while ago, in the kitchen, he had been domineering. Now, over a mere title, he turned into a shy puppy.
Still, she found she liked hearing him call her "sister."
"You're a smooth one." Li Yue tried one last time. "I've got plenty of rooms. Wouldn't it be better if I help you take care of them?"
"Nope!" Yichen rejected without hesitation. "At night I need to feed the baby milk powder, and Sister Xiaoxi needs proper sleep to recover."
"Didn't you just say you'd listen to her?" Li Yue pouted, throwing his words back at him.
"Forget it." Finally, Xiaoxi made the decision. "Yue, just get a bigger bed. He can't always sleep on the couch—it's bad for him and the baby."
"Alright!" Yichen agreed instantly, his mood lifting.
Sharing the same bed—this was what he truly wanted.
He had no idea why he had been so restrained last night.
Of course, he wasn't just thinking about sleeping with the baby's mother.
He mainly couldn't bear to part with the baby.
That reason… whether others believed it or not, Zhang Yichen believed it himself.