Cheng Jixue, without any reservations, exclaimed to the smug-looking dog, "Little Zhang is really great!"
After praising him, he said dejectedly, "With someone as dazzling as Mr. Zhang, it's no wonder many people like him."
Zhang Chaohe waved his hand dismissively: "They like Little Zhang, not me, Zhang Chaohe."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Jixue glanced at him in surprise.
A gentle night breeze blew along the riverbank, dispelling the early summer heat. Zhang Chaohe clasped his hands behind his head, his white shirt taut in a sexy curve: "Sigh, if only Guapi were here too."
“I walked Guapi today.” Cheng Jixue also imitated him, putting his hands behind his head. His arms were slender but not weak, with well-defined, supple muscles beneath his jade-like skin. “Do you like dogs too?”
Zhang Chaohe thought to himself, "That's a problematic question—how could anyone not like dogs!"
The beach ahead was brightly lit, and the faint sounds of people chatting could be heard. Zhang Chaohe looked across the river railing at the viewing platform in the middle of the river, where an ugly spherical building was indiscriminately and indiscriminately blasting cool, corny songs and neon lights in all directions.
Zhang Chaohe sighed softly, "I really want to have a pet!"
"What kind of pet do you like?" Cheng Jixue leaned against the railing, intently watching Zhang Chaohe, who was lost in thought.
His dark eyes were illuminated by the dazzling lights, making them look vibrant, joyful, and festive.
"A good temper and cuteness," Zhang Chaohe said, counting on his fingers his requirements for the adorable little animal he dreamed of: "Whether it's purebred or not doesn't matter, as long as it's fluffy. Oh, no hairless ones, and no ones with shells or scales."
Zhang Chaohe: I'm sorry, I only have vulgar aesthetics.
“Let’s go to the cattery and pick one out sometime,” Cheng Jixue suggested. “I like cats too.”
Zhang Chaohe waved his hand dismissively, immediately rejecting his suggestion: "No way, keeping a pet is all about fate, you know. I'm waiting for my darling to fall from the sky, like when I'm walking down the street and suddenly..."
Cheng Jixue was listening to his rambling with great interest when Zhang Chaohe belatedly realized what was happening and immediately stopped, maintaining his domineering CEO demeanor: "Ahem, ahem."
He couldn't help but laugh: "You want to adopt instead of buying?"
Zhang Chaohe: Actually, kidnapping would be a more appropriate term?
Who knows, one day you might suddenly bump into a poor, homeless little creature on the street, and he/she can have his/her own fluffy pet!
The thought had barely crossed his mind when he suddenly heard a rustling sound coming from the bushes not far away!
The two of them paused simultaneously—Cheng Jixue swore he saw a strange green light flash in Xiao Zhang's eyes the instant he turned his head!
Suddenly, a tuft of fresh white appeared from the lush, dark bushes nearby. The leaves rustled, and the white bud quickly disappeared, only to shyly peek out again.
Zhang Chaohe: What I said came true! My love has arrived!
He immediately stopped Cheng Jixue and crept forward alone, preparing to part the bushes and kidnap the lone little darling on the spot—
However, Cheng Jixue saw his back stiffen, and was about to ask what had happened when Zhang Chaohe let out a scream like a goose being strangled, and suddenly jumped up!
"Run!!"
A note from the author:
Xiao Cheng's surface: Craftsmanship;
In reality: "From the moment you start killing the fish, you can drag it out as long as possible." (jpg)
Happy Dragon Boat Festival everyone! Don't forget to wear the colorful string with your zongzi!
I wonder which two adorable little cuties sent me moonstones again!! Please don't send any more, there are already so many!! Kiss everyone!
Finally, let me see who's been pushing me to write extra chapters!! (Very loudly) These past two days, besides updating, I've been secluded writing extra chapters, and I'll post them along with the regular updates! Muah!
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 30
At 10:48 p.m., Mr. Zhang pushed open the door to his home in a disheveled state, his expression showing a sense of bewilderment and detachment as if he had lost all worldly desires.
His right arm was outstretched, raised high, holding the precious treasure he had just pulled from the bushes.
The baby wasn't cooperating; even with its neck and half an arm choked, it stubbornly continued to shout and curse in its deep, powerful, imperial engine-like voice—
"Gagaga!!"
Zhang Chaohe, dressed in a bespoke suit and watch, with his hair styled like an adult, received a divine gift tonight.
This ruthless man, feared by all, had just caught a goose with his bare hands from the riverbank.
He was truly devastated. The goose was incredibly imposing, and when it started yelling, its opponents were completely defenseless. On his way back carrying the goose, Zhang Chaohe was even simultaneously saluted by several homeowners and security guards.
Seeing so many two-legged creatures watching, the goose became somewhat agitated and launched an indiscriminate attack on every living creature that tried to make eye contact with it.
Cheng Jixue considerately closed the door and carried the ingredients for boiled fish that the driver had just delivered into the kitchen. When she came out, she saw Zhang Chaohe still in the same position, contemplating life.
The goose was hanging on his arm in a twisted position, probably tired from cawing. It was now staring at him with its tiny eyes, frantically stretching its neck forward.
"If I let go," Zhang Chaohe asked weakly, "wouldn't my thigh be the one to suffer?"
Cheng Jixue couldn't help but glance at his thighs—his suit trousers today were very fitted, revealing glimpses of his thighs, and they looked to feel very nice to the touch.
Oh, goose might taste good too.
"Why don't you give it a try?" Cheng Jixue earnestly encouraged. "Anyway, you can't keep carrying it around when we have a late-night snack later."
“Yes.” Zhang Chaohe said thoughtfully, but as soon as he loosened his grip slightly, the goose immediately launched a frenzied counterattack!
Zhang Chaohe was terrified and instinctively gripped the goose's warm and strong neck tightly. He looked desperate: "I'll throw it out—can I just throw it into the elevator lobby?"
Why did he suddenly get so carried away, thinking it was a gift from heaven, and insist on bringing this thing home?!
Cheng Jixue patiently comforted her: "If you just give in like this, how are you any different from those people who pick up kittens and puppies and then heartlessly abandon them, people who have no sense of public morality?"
That's right! Although this hairy beast is fierce and savage, Zhang Chaohe has already decided to take it home, so he will definitely take full responsibility for it!
After making up his mind, Mr. Zhang rushed into the secondary bathroom. He first closed the toilet lid, then moved out any fragile items that the goose might knock over, and then, with lightning speed, threw them away!
The snow-white goose loomed through the air, casting a huge shadow. Zhang Chaohe dared not confront it head-on any longer and quickly closed the door to the secondary bathroom!
The world fell silent. Zhang Chaohe pressed his ear against the door, listening to the sounds coming from the bathroom. Apart from the occasional squawking of the goose, there was no other noise.
Cheng Jixue clapped enthusiastically, exclaiming, "Young Master Zhang is truly agile!"
Seeing his undisguised smile, Zhang Chaohe felt a surge of anger and resolved to find fault: "Where are my fish!"
“It’s here.” Cheng Jixue turned back to the kitchen counter, carrying the still-live fish in her bare hands as if to walk this way.
"No!!" Zhang Chaohe rushed over in three steps: "I'll do it, I'll do it, don't jump down!"
Cheng Jixue is so weak and delicate, how could she possibly subdue the flat-headed fat fish that was struggling to survive!
Who knew that it had been living peacefully in Cheng Jixue's hands, but as soon as Zhang Chaohe took it over, the fish immediately started struggling wildly and even angrily slapped his chest with its tail!
Unable to bear it any longer, Zhang Chaohe grabbed the steel-backed knife from the counter and slammed it hard on the top of the flathead fish's head!
The flathead fish froze, and Zhang Chaohe casually tossed it into the pool: "That's all!"
Cheng Jixue: Please, Mr. Zhang, don't use the fish as an excuse to vent your anger.
His shirt was completely ruined. When Zhang Chaohe took a quick shower, Cheng Jixue had already prepared the fish that had died a heroic death and was boiling water to make a fish bone broth.
He was very organized, and his neatness was accompanied by a meticulous care. The translucent slices of fish were neatly arranged on a porcelain plate, like clusters of pink snowflakes.
Zhang Chaohe curiously poked at it with his chopsticks and was surprised to find that Cheng Jixue's knife skills were really good.
He exclaimed with genuine admiration, "That's amazing!"
Cheng Jixue smiled smugly: "It will take at least another half hour. Would you like to rest for a while?"
Zhang Chaohe waved his hand: "Don't keep using 'you' and 'sir' at home, it sounds too formal—is there anything I can help you with?"
"Didn't you help with the fish preparation just now?" Cheng Jixue's knife moved swiftly, the freshly fried Erjingtiao chili peppers and Hanyuan peppercorns bursting with an unparalleled fresh and numbing aroma, then finely chopped, their vibrant red color burning brightly: "Oh dear, I'm used to calling them that, I might not be able to change it anytime soon."
Zhang Chaohe had no interest in a trivial title, especially in the dead of night—the night he had just been fighting passionately with a goose on an empty stomach!
A handful of crushed peppercorns like that would be enough to shatter all his reason!
Sorry, I'm just a late-night carb addict!
Cheng Jixue glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, and Zhang Chaohe was indeed completely captivated by him, even more focused than when playing games.
He wanted to show off his skills, so he flipped the fish bones in the pan with fancy movements while frying them. The crispy, golden-brown bones, coated in glistening oil, bounced and fell in mid-air, and the aroma of fish instantly filled the kitchen.
After the fish was almost cooked, Cheng Jixue poured the hot water into the pot, and a puff of white steam rose from the bottom of the pot. The fish bones floated to the surface, and Cheng Jixue skillfully put the lid on the pot.
"Uh..." Zhang Chaohe couldn't stand it anymore. It smelled so good that he had to try hard to distract himself and not rush over to embarrass himself by eating the pot.
He sat on the sofa with his legs crossed like a boss, looking around aimlessly. Suddenly, he noticed what looked like an exquisite box on the cabinet door—he hadn't really noticed it in the chaos of the fight.
Zhang Chaohe opened it, and there lay the kingfisher feather brooch on the sky-blue brocade, its emerald green as delicate as a drop of water in a lake.
The kind worth four million!
Zhang Chaohe slammed the lid shut, hesitated for a moment, then placed the box in an easily accessible spot before slowly strolling over to watch Cheng Jixue cook.
He had just entered the restaurant when he suddenly heard Cheng Jixue humming a traditional opera tune.
Cheng Jixue changed her usual sweet and crisp voice to a more melodious and gentle one, with a slightly mellow quality like tobacco, which is a unique kind of beauty.
His voice mingled with the hum of the range hood, seemingly carrying a hint of everyday life, making it sound exceptionally simple and unpretentious.
"(There were glittering gold and jewels), red coral and jadeite were all there, and there were strings of luminous pearls—"
Cheng Jixue poured Sichuan peppercorns into the boiling soup pot, then coated the fish with egg white and a small amount of cornstarch.
"And there's the crimson gold chain and purple jade hairpin, the white jade ring with double phoenixes and eight treasures, each one brimming with precious light."
When chopping vegetables, the knife seems to be stepping on the cutting board as it strikes the surface—those beautiful hands are a delight to behold whether they are holding a fan or a knife.
"Although this bag is not extremely rare, it can be exchanged for enough food and clothing for her to live on for several years!"
After singing this part, Cheng Jixue wiped her hands and quietly waited for the soup base to be ready.
Zhang Chaohe naturally stepped in to ask, "Which section is this?"
Cheng Jixue looked at him in surprise, seemingly not expecting him to have overheard her, and then answered earnestly, "This is a section on counting treasures from 'The Locked Sachet.' Do you know 'The Locked Sachet'?"
Zhang Chaohe nodded: "I often hear it on the Spring Festival Gala."
"The Story of the Jade Bracelet" and "Mu Guiying Takes Command" are also regular pieces on the Chinese New Year Gala. If there are elderly people in your family who pay attention to opera programs, they should be quite familiar with them.
Cheng Jixue couldn't help but laugh at his dull and silly look, so she kindly explained, "The play 'The Locked Sachet' tells the story of Xue Xiangling, a kind-hearted rich girl, who gives a locked sachet containing precious jewels to a poor woman named Zhao Shouzhen when she gets married. Years later, Xue Xiangling falls on hard times and becomes a nanny for a wealthy family. She discovers that the mistress of the wealthy family is none other than Zhao Shouzhen, whom she helped back then, and the two become sworn sisters."
"This 'Counting Treasures' is a song in which Xue Xiangling recounts the lyrics of the treasures in the lock-shaped pouch she gave her years ago."