“Feng Ge… why are you so skilled at this?”
In the kitchen, when the young lady saw Qin Nanfeng effortlessly flick the wok with practiced ease, she was genuinely shocked.
Wait, you can actually cook?
“My grandpa used to do this for a living. I picked up a few tricks from him along the way.”
Qin Nanfeng’s expression didn’t change. He glanced outside at Grandpa Qin, who was sitting in a rocking chair and occasionally looking over, and his eyes flickered as he drifted into memory.
It seemed like a similar scene from his childhood. Back then, beside Grandpa Qin, there had also been a kind old person who always watched him gently…
That man’s memories were the same… so similar to now…
“I see…”
Lin Xinyuan recalled how not long ago Qin Nanfeng had called Grandpa Qin a master chef. So it was actually true?
Which meant… this guy was a genuine rich second-generation?
Thinking back to the car Qin Nanfeng had in Tianbei City, she remembered that when she was still a boy, Chen Ze and the others had talked about it—it cost at least several hundred thousand.
At that thought, she felt even more envious, with a faint sourness in her chest.
There was a time when she was lying around at school, worrying every day about a few delivery fees, while someone else was already driving an Audi…
She let out a silent sigh, marveling at how big the gap between people could be…
While she was thinking this, Qin Nanfeng had already finished the last dish—Kung Pao Chicken—and plated it. The fragrant, slightly spicy aroma drifted over.
“Xiaoyuan, help me carry this out. Be careful. I’ll clean up here first.”
“Oh, okay.”
Lin Xinyuan answered obediently and picked up the dish. The aroma grew stronger, making her swallow unconsciously.
It wasn’t like she had never eaten it before, but she felt that what Feng Ge made was different from the small restaurants—somehow much more fragrant…
“Grandpa, it’s time to eat…” After setting the dishes on the table under the shade of the tree in the yard, washing the bowls, and finishing everything, Lin Xinyuan called Grandpa Qin.
“Alright, Xiaoyuan, coming.”
Under the big tree, Grandpa Qin set down his fan—the one printed with an andrology hospital advertisement—and slowly got up from the rocking chair.
At this moment, Qin Nanfeng was still cleaning in the kitchen. The young lady stood nervously by the table, not daring to sit down first.
After all, she had heard there were many rules here—it wasn’t as casual as where she came from…
“Hehe, Xiaoyuan, sit down. We’re not outside, no need to be so reserved.”
Grandpa Qin seemed to guess why she was nervous and found it a bit amusing, thinking the girl was overly shy and innocent.
Too bad she had fallen for that brat. Whether that was good or bad was hard to say…
Although he thought this, he could tell that Qin Nanfeng genuinely liked Lin Xinyuan.
But perhaps because of the impression formed over the past few years, he still wasn’t used to it and instinctively leaned toward such thoughts.
His own grandson was too carefree with his feelings, not exactly decent—but he didn’t want him to harm a good girl.
However, it was clear that this girl knew the situation and was willing to accept it, so he wouldn’t say anything more…
“It’s okay, Grandpa, you sit first!”
Even though Grandpa Qin was very gentle and she could feel his kindness, Lin Xinyuan still didn’t dare sit before him.
As she spoke, she even served him a bowl of rice.
Probably because they considered that she was from Guang Province, today’s meal was rice—though she could actually accept anything…
Soon, Qin Nanfeng finished cleaning and came out, and the meal officially began.
There were three dishes on the table: besides Kung Pao Chicken and stir-fried green crab, there was also dry-braised pomfret.
Grandpa Qin tasted each one and then gave his evaluation.
“Hmm, not bad… It’s just that you’re a bit rusty after not cooking for so long. The dishes came out a bit slow, and the flavors aren’t perfectly controlled, but overall it’s decent…”
After hearing this, Qin Nanfeng raised his chin slightly at the young lady beside him and lifted his eyebrows.
After tasting everything, Lin Xinyuan was also extremely surprised.
This was much better than her own cooking. Her dishes, at best, could only be considered passable home cooking…
Thinking this, she couldn’t help but feel a bit jealous of his talent. It seemed like whatever he did, he could master it.
It was just… just like the male lead in her novel, the one who later dominated everything…
But at the same time, contrary to that negative emotion, she couldn’t help but feel proud of Qin Nanfeng’s excellence.
Feng Ge is amazing…
Seeing the young man’s self-satisfied look toward the girl, Grandpa Qin didn’t say anything. Instead, he looked at the pot of beef soup and could tell at a glance that it was made in Cantonese style.
“You made this, Xiaoyuan? It smells good.”
“Uh, Grandpa, yes… would you… like to try it?”
Hearing this, Lin Xinyuan looked very nervous. She just wanted to make a dish too, to prove that she could cook.
To show her best side, she had chosen soup, which she was relatively good at, without hesitation.
“Alright, I’ll try it… Judging from the aroma and appearance, it should be very good…”
Grandpa Qin smiled and nodded. Even before tasting it, he gave a general evaluation, which was quite different from how blunt he had been with Qin Nanfeng.
Then he ladled a bowl of soup into another bowl and took a careful sip.
This time, however, he fell silent for a moment, as if savoring it. He didn’t comment immediately.
Under the girl’s anxious gaze, her small hands clenched tightly, he slowly finished the bowl.
“Very Cantonese-style soup. Not bad.” Grandpa Qin commented, looking at her with appreciation.
“Being able to achieve this is already quite impressive. People from Guang Province really are good at making soup.”
Hearing this, Lin Xinyuan finally let out a sigh of relief.
When he had gone silent just now, it had really scared her. She thought she had made a mistake, like adding too much salt…
Thankfully, it was a false alarm…
“Haha, alright, let’s all focus on eating!” Grandpa Qin finally showed a broad smile as he looked at the two of them.
“Okay, Grandpa…”
“Alright, Grandpa.”
The lunch was very harmonious.
After the meal, Qin Nanfeng also told Grandpa Qin that he and the girl would be staying at home for a few days.
On the surface, Grandpa Qin seemed indifferent, but in truth, he was very happy.
Ever since his wife passed away, his son and daughter-in-law had been working out of town and were busy.
Seeing them a few times a year was already rare. Only his daughter, who worked at the City Education Bureau, came to visit him often.
It wasn’t that his son hadn’t wanted to bring him to Tianbei to live… but he was old now and only wanted to stay in Quancheng, in this old house.
Even though there were better-decorated homes in the city, he refused to move—because this place held traces of the past, and of her…
So now that his grandson had finally come to visit, and even brought back a partner he was quite satisfied with, he felt truly comforted.
“For the next few days, Xiaofeng, you’ll stay in your old room. Xiaoyuan can stay in your aunt’s room…” Grandpa Qin said, still holding his fan as he led the two upstairs.
When Lin Xinyuan heard “your aunt,” her spirits lifted and she felt delighted.
Because this almost meant the old man had acknowledged her…
But before she could be happy for long, Qin Nanfeng spoke up.
“No need, Grandpa. Xiaoyuan can stay with me. Saves the trouble of cleaning another room.”
He casually carried both their luggage and winked at the girl.
Lin Xinyuan’s face immediately turned red, but she didn’t object.
After all, compared to sleeping alone in an unfamiliar place at night, staying beside that yellow-haired brat made her feel more at ease…
Grandpa Qin paused for a moment but didn’t say anything, only giving a barely noticeable shake of his head.
This kid… he’s already gotten involved with the girl. Hopefully they don’t end up with a pregnancy before marriage…
Young people these days… far more open than in his time…