(Thanks to [Fate Decides You and Me] brother for upgrading, adding a Hall Master to Mixed, special extra thank you!)

When he finished having dinner with Huang Ying, it was actually quite early. However, they already agreed not to "do that," and Huang Ying didn't know other ways to help satisfy him. So, it was pretty peaceful; the two just cuddled on the new big sofa watching TV.

As for whether the TV content was good, that wasn't the main concern anymore. Huang Ying was now like a girl who just entered a passionate romance, leaning in the embrace of the man she chose, feeling both fulfilled and warm. As long as he's by her side, any storm can be shielded. In her view, she doesn't need a big house, doesn't need fancy furniture, and she doesn't even need the concerts she longed for. Just eating, tidying up, and watching TV together brought a simple happiness.

She really hoped Li Yan could come often, she hoped this simple happiness could become eternal. Huang Ying is such a person, not asking for intense dramatic love, just seeking real and genuine life.

Looking at the time, it was about time for Li Yan to leave.

Though a bit reluctant, Huang Ying didn't hold him back. After all, he had already been busy for her nearly a whole day and should be allowed to tend to his own matters.

After leaving her house, Li Yan took a detour instead of leaving near the company and then drove home.

When he got home, Li Yan was surprised to find Zhang Yurong's car already in the garage! According to his calculations, at this time, Zhang Yurong should still be on her way back from work. He planned to be home before she returned from work, but she came back first.

He entered the living room but only saw Yue Yao watching TV alone.

"Yue Yao, long time no see."

Upon his greeting, Yue Yao couldn't help but smile slightly. This was his polite manner towards the "Yue Yao" living at home. If it were with the familiar "Queen," such formalities wouldn't be necessary.

"Has Yurong returned?"

"Yes." Yue Yao nodded.

"I have a gift for you." Li Yan sat down beside her and whispered.

Yue Yao was a bit surprised, glancing towards the kitchen: "Yurong is in the kitchen."

Li Yan smiled, "What's there to worry about? It's not like we're having an affair. Even if it's to a normal friend, she shouldn't have anything to say if I brought you a gift from my business trip, right? Of course, don't worry, she has one too."

Yue Yao didn't decline anymore, noting his words 'even a normal friend,' implying that in his heart, she was not just a normal friend.

Li Yan took out the jade he bought for her, Yue Yao looked at it and liked it very much. — In fact, over these years, even without major achievements, she had put in hardships, yet Li Yan hadn't given her any gifts before; scarcity does make things precious.

"I really like it. Can we not tell Yurong?" Yue Yao wanted to keep it her own secret, in case Yurong fancied this gift.

"Should be fine, right? I already said my going out after returning was to buy lots of gifts to give to different friends."

"Then just say...you only remembered her, so much that you forgot my existence. It's okay for me." Yue Yao carefully put on the jade, right into the front of her cleavage. Although it was getting cold, the house was pretty much at a constant temperature, so she was still in her rather sexy and revealing nightgown. "Does it look good?"

"Looks good..." Li Yan swallowed a bit, "So white...oh no, I mean this jade... matches your skin beautifully, looks good."

He unconsciously lowered his voice, and took another glance toward the kitchen. Feeling a bit nervous and thrilled, there was somewhat a flavor of having a secret affair at home.

Yue Yao saw his genuine expression and knew he wasn't really looking at the jade a moment ago; instead, he was rightfully looking at her cleavage, which made her blush a little.

"I'll go upstairs to stash it away..." Yue Yao had only put it on to show him; wanting to keep it hidden from Zhang Yurong, she needed to put it away, or at least not bring it out at this moment.

Upon hearing her words and watching her sway and walk upstairs, Li Yan almost wanted to follow; it was such an inviting suggestion.

Yue Yao's slender waist, alluring hips, and long legs highlighted by the sexy nightgown were so mesmerizing that he only averted his eyes once she was out of sight.

Sitting back on the sofa, Li Yan patted his head; what's with these recurrent thoughts? Yurong is at home, how could he do right by her?

Thinking of Zhang Yurong, he suddenly recalled what Yue Yao mentioned earlier, saying she was in the kitchen.

Li Yan's eyes immediately lit up. Such an elegant lady as Yurong, would she really cook? What kind of scene would it be for a lofty company president, an ice-cold beauty, to be cooking?

This idea almost made him impulsive enough to secretly take a few photos and post them on the company network to shock everyone. Of course, it was just an impulse; his own wife, even if she was just in the kitchen, couldn't be seen by others.

With this thought in his mind, he was already heading towards the kitchen.

The kitchen at home was very large, like a restaurant kitchen, in stark contrast to Huang Ying's home, and even larger than the living room in Huang Ying's rented place. Usually, it was only used by a few of them for meals, which was an overuse of space. So now, with Liu and Yurong busy in the kitchen, it didn't feel crowded at all.

Li Yan came to the doorway, peeked inside, and indeed took out his phone, intending to take a few special photos of Yurong.

Because in his impression, Yurong shouldn't be the type to cook. Ever since they got married, he hadn't seen her cook, not even when they went back to her parents' home. Later, he learned from Wen Qianyi that his own wife was a bona fide genius, frequently skipping grades during her studies, completing her master's and doctoral degrees early, and entering the financial market early on. How could such a person have time to learn how to cook?

He guessed that it was probably during this past week that Yurong had whimsically decided to learn cooking, and today she wanted to showcase her skills for him to see.

However, after watching for a while from the doorway, Li Yan's eyes began to bulge!

He did not see Zhang Yurong with a sooty face, flustered; nor did he see Liu directing her from the side. Instead, Liu was just assisting by cutting vegetables and handing plates, while Yurong was entirely the head chef.

Moreover, at this moment, Yurong had her long hair elegantly tied up, revealing her slender, fair neck. She was still in her work attire, with no time to change, looking almost no different than when at the company, still retaining the cold and frosty demeanor of a CEO. Her expression was calm and composed, just as she was at the company, and watching her flip, stir-fry, even toss the pan—every action was so natural and skillful, not at all like someone hastily learning to cook.

Could it be that geniuses are just geniuses?

Can geniuses simply learn a bit and reach the level of others' proficiency?

Is there any room left for ordinary people to live?

But the key is still the taste; no matter how skilled one becomes at the cooking motions, it can't be said they've captured the essence of cooking.

Li Yan originally wanted to capture Yurong bustling about in a flustered manner, or with greasy stains and vegetable leaves on her face, but now there was nothing to shoot. Even if posted on the company network, it would only enhance the charm of the beautiful CEO, without any shocking effect.

Seeing Yurong immersed in cooking, clearly taking this dinner seriously made him feel a bit moved, as it was evidently prepared for his return. And clearly, Yurong had left work early!

As someone who practically considers work her life, a woman who, at the young age of twenty-five, already leads a billion-dollar corporation, Yurong investing far more overtime hours than the average employee is a given. So getting her to leave early or arrive late in a year would be hard to count on one hand.

But now, she actually left work early just to come home and cook!

How could Li Yan not feel a bit moved?

He quietly retreated, silently going to set the dining table. All this time, he had never set anything up - usually, Liu would have everything prepared, and he would just come over to eat and leave. When it was just the two of them eating, they would watch the news without speaking much; with Yue Yao here, there were more topics, the TV wasn't the main focus anymore.

Today, seeing his wife condescend to cook for him specifically, Li Yan felt it wouldn't be right not to do something in return. And in the moment, he didn't have anything grand to set up, so he thought a moment, found some unused spare candles, picked out candle holders, set the candles on the table, creating the appearance of a candlelight dinner.

After doing all this, he opened a bottle of red wine and prepared some wine glasses as well.

When he finished all these in the dining room, Yue Yao and Yurong came over. Yue Yao was still in her sensual pajamas, and Yurong was still in her work suit.

"What are you doing?" Zhang Yurong looked at the white candles, slightly frowning.

"Hehe, seeing the CEO wife specifically cook for me, of course, I can't just eat for free. So I specially set up a candlelight dinner; how is it? Romantic, right? Wanna see with the lights off?" Li Yan prepared to light the candles.

Zhang Yurong was amused, "What's romantic? Turn off the lights? Is that enough light? That's just messing around! Put it away! And after playing with the candles, did you wash your hands?"

Yue Yao giggled quietly on the side.

Li Yan was a bit sweaty; aren't women supposed to love romance? Isn't a candlelight dinner supposed to be romantic? How come Yurong has no mood for it? I played with the candles; I even played with dripping wax...

He shrugged, made no objection to her arrangement, went to wash his hands, and took the prepared crystal glasses to wash as well.

By this time, they had also started bringing dishes to the candle-free table. Returning with the cleaned glasses, Li Yan couldn't help but praise, "Yurong, I just watched you cook, you looked very much like a chef, deserving the title of beautiful chef. Now watching you serve dishes, you have quite a talent for being a waitress too!"

Zhang Yurong lamented; as a dignified CEO of a publicly-listed company, being told she has a talent for being a waitress, is that considered a compliment?

(Sixth update! Vote for monthly pass!) (To be continued. To know what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com, more chapters, support the author, support official reading!)

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