“Bought this much stuff?”
After tidying up her personal belongings one by one and arranging them neatly in the room, Gong Nanxue headed to the living room, where she ran into Bai Rourou returning from grocery shopping with all the ingredients.
The large, heavy plastic bags hung from the girl’s slender arms, forming a sharp contrast with her delicate frame.
“I bought quite a lot of ingredients.”
Bai Rourou smiled a little sheepishly, thinking she had to showcase her best culinary skills.
Before she knew it, she had purchased a huge pile of seasonings.
“Sister Nan, is there a particular flavor you want to eat?”
“Something sweet and sour, I think.”
Gong Nanxue thought for a moment and added, “It would be great if it’s a little spicy. Sweet and salty together is also nice.”
“I understand!”
“Soup!”
Seeing that usually indifferent Gong Nanxue had given specific requests, Bai Rourou’s mood lifted noticeably.
She dreaded hearing “whatever” the most.
“Do you need any help?”
Gong Nanxue reached out and switched on the lights inside the room.
Unnoticed, night had fallen.
“No, no need. Give me an hour.”
Bai Rourou confidently nodded her head and said coquettishly, “I promise to prepare three dishes and one soup for you.”
“Well, I’m looking forward to it.”
Seeing the girl so confident, Gong Nanxue’s interest was piqued, and she began to feel a little excitement about the still undecided dinner.
Since she had nothing else to do and wasn’t needed for help, Gong Nanxue decided to follow Bai Rourou into the kitchen to watch.
Bai Rourou’s movements were efficient and quick, transforming into a time management master.
She washed the rice, cooked it, prepared ingredients while boiling water and soup, and simultaneously managed two pots to stir-fry dishes.
What surprised Gong Nanxue most was Bai Rourou’s knife skills.
Just like a chef, the rhythmic chopping was over in no time, and every piece was almost perfectly uniform in size.
“Amazing!”
“It’s really hot here, Sister Nan. Why don’t you go outside and enjoy the air conditioning?”
Bai Rourou wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Cooking in summer was always torturous.
“It’s fine. Aren’t you almost done?”
Gong Nanxue wasn’t going to just stand around and watch dumbly; she helped by washing dishes and grabbing some seasonings.
“Hehe, thank you for helping, Sister Nan~”
In less than an hour, Bai Rourou’s three dishes and one soup were ready.
Sweet and sour pork ribs, sweet braised pork, an unusual smashed cucumber dish, and a large bowl of sauerkraut soup to finish.
“Try it.”
Bai Rourou quickly scooped a bowl of rice, setting it in front of Gong Nanxue along with chopsticks and a spoon.
She didn’t even take off her apron, standing there like a little maid, eyes eagerly awaiting her master’s praise.
Having witnessed the entire cooking process, Gong Nanxue naturally held high expectations.
Indeed, after tasting the dishes, they did not disappoint her.
The food was delicious and perfectly suited to her taste.
But if she were to say it was delicious, Bai Rourou would have to stay and live with her.
Gong Nanxue hesitated a little.
“So? Is it good?”
The girl’s small hands clenched into fists in front of her, eyes bright and clear.
“No……..not good!”
What?
The girl’s eyes suddenly widened, and an indescribable wave of disappointment surged in her heart as she reached to untie the apron around her waist.
“Then, well, okay. I won’t bother you anymore.”
Seeing the girl so heartbroken, Gong Nanxue’s heart twitched, inexplicably feeling a little sad.
“Wait, I said it’s not good, but I never said you can’t stay.”
Gong Nanxue finally said this line, though afterward, she regretted it a little.
She had planned to say the food was bad no matter what, just to get the girl to leave, but now she had ended up letting her stay?
“Really?”
The girl turned around sharply, eyes full of joy as she looked at Gong Nanxue.
“I can really stay?”
“Of course.”
Once the words were out, Gong Nanxue had no face to backtrack.
Her cold voice followed immediately: “But we need to set three rules.”
“As long as I can stay, I’ll agree to any condition.”
The girl was as happy as a little sprite, radiating pure joy all over.
“Does Bai Rourou like me that much?”
Gong Nanxue was momentarily stunned, her mouth involuntarily curling into a slight smile, infected by the other’s emotions.
“First, you absolutely cannot bring anyone else in. Then, hygiene, and respect for each other’s private space. Also, you have to provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day…”
Gong Nanxue’s conditions were harsh, or rather, deliberately so.
She wanted these tough conditions to discourage Bai Rourou from staying.
Bai Rourou was quite poor, right?
She’d have to pay half the rent and cover all the food costs herself.
There was no way Bai Rourou could hold on long!
Yes, Gong Nanxue intentionally ignored the idea of splitting food expenses.
Bai Rourou’s timid nature surely wouldn’t dare ask her for money, nor would she expect it.
“How can pursuing someone not require effort?”
Gong Nanxue thought to herself.
“Those guys pursuing the girls they like put in way more. This isn’t too harsh, right?”
When Bai Rourou heard she could stay, she immediately agreed to all the conditions.
Being tired was fine—just endure for two months and finish Gong Nanxue’s tasks.
“Hehe, I’m going to the dorm to pack now!”
“Hey, eat dinner first.”
Hearing this, Bai Rourou shyly patted her head and smiled sheepishly, “I was just too excited and not even hungry anymore.”
“You little thing.”
Gong Nanxue shook her head helplessly.
If it were her, she would never lower herself so much just because she liked or loved someone.
So she couldn’t understand Bai Rourou’s way of thinking.
Even if she lived here, Gong Nanxue wouldn’t give her any room to take advantage—after all, they weren’t sharing a bed, and the apartment had three bedrooms.
Meanwhile, Bai Rourou ignored Gong Nanxue’s thoughts and dug into her meal, devouring it at lightning speed, then hurried off to the dorm to pack, afraid the other would change her mind if she delayed.
“Finally done, but I’m so exhausted.”
On the way to the dorm, Bai Rourou sprawled tiredly in the ride-share car.
Today had been far too eventful.
She had been woken by Gong Nanxue at dawn, then barely back at the dorm when Cai Jinger showed up to give her a hard time.
Afterwards, she went straight to the police station and spent half a day there handling things.
Lunch was rushed and barely eaten, then she returned to the dorm to wait for follow-up notifications.
No need to say more, then came helping Gong Nanxue move, cooking, buying all kinds of ingredients and seasonings, which utterly drained her.
Now she still had to move her own luggage…
“I’ve never been this tired before, feels like I worked eight lifetimes in one day.”
Rourou sighed deeply, feeling her fragile body sounding alarm bells, especially a dull ache pulsing in her lower abdomen.