Chapter 33: Hidden Desires

[(@￣ρ￣@)] [ԅ(♡﹃♡ԅ)] [ヘ(°￢°)ノ] [Keep going] [Don’t stop now] [Guys, snap out of it, that’s a ghost boss! Are you really going to go that far?] [I could] [Me too]
…
…
In the kitchen, Wen Nan was crouched in front of Lin Xuemei. As his fingertips gently kneaded the soft flesh at the back of her calf, he clearly felt the muscles in her leg tense up, her toes curling inward.

It was a stance of unmistakable, nervous alertness.

Wen Nan called out to the system in his mind: [9527, check the mission progress.]

9527: [Main Mission 2, current completion rate: 62%.]

The completion rate had risen by 2%.

It seemed Wen Nan’s attempt to probe her had hit the mark.

The way Lin Xuemei was so tense now wasn’t due to disgust or resistance, but rather shyness.

Wen Nan released her foot, stood up, and smiled at her. “Shall I peel the garlic?”

“Oh… okay.”

Lin Xuemei’s long lashes dropped, hiding the fluster in her eyes. She shoved the bowl of garlic cloves into Wen Nan’s arms, then turned to the stove, avoiding his gaze.

Watching her busy herself once more, Wen Nan smiled, didn’t approach again, but instead went to the sink, washed his hands, and began peeling garlic in earnest.

After a while, there was a click as the gas stove was turned off behind him.

“The chicken soup’s ready,” Lin Xuemei said, scooping up a ladleful and walking over to Wen Nan, holding it out to him. “Xiao Jiu, have a taste—how does it taste?”

As she spoke, her face wore a gentle smile, brimming with confidence.

But as Wen Nan lowered his eyes to look, he was momentarily taken aback.

The spoonful of chicken soup Lin Xuemei offered was a vivid crimson, thick and viscous, exuding a pungent, bloody stench, as if it had just been ladled from a slaughterhouse.

Wen Nan stared at the bloody broth, and with Lin Xuemei’s smiling face above it, he half expected her next words to be, “Husband, it’s time for your medicine.”

Noticing Wen Nan’s hesitation, Lin Xuemei used the serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of meat from the spoon and held it near his lips. “Try this chicken foot—see if it’s tender enough?”

…
…
[(⊙_◎)]
[(◎-◎；)]
[(╬⁽⁽⁰⁾⁾Д⁽⁽⁰⁾⁾)]
[Oh my god]

[I’m about to throw up]
[yikes]
[Forget what I said before, I can’t]
[Me neither]
[Let’s not]
[Definitely not]
…
…
Yet Wen Nan only paused for a brief moment before regaining his composure and opening his mouth.

“The flavor is just right, cooked to perfection—tender, rich with collagen, delicious.”

He praised her with such sincerity, as though he’d actually tasted some exquisite stewed chicken. “Aunt, your cooking just keeps getting better.”

Aunt Mei smiled, a blush blooming on her cheeks. “Xiao Jiu, you’ve really learned how to flatter people.”

…
…
[(̑)wow!*✰]
[⁀⊙﹏☉⁀]
[The streamer… how can he stomach that? How can he even praise it?]
[My respect, you’re a real man!]
[No wonder the streamer can make it through this level]
…
…
Soon, the dishes were brought to the table—

A crimson chicken soup, braised fish in a fluorescent green sauce, jet-black cured meat fried with indigo bamboo shoots, and finally, the highlight dish—a mound of brownish boiled beef surrounded by flies, as if it had just been scooped fresh from an outhouse.

Qiqi, drawn by the aroma, hurried over to the table, bent down, took a deep whiff, then licked her lips. “It smells so good! I’m starving! I can’t wait, I’m digging in right now!”

With that, she picked up her chopsticks and went straight for the largest chunk in the boiled beef dish.

Yet just as her chopsticks were about to touch the brownish chunk, Wen Nan swooped in midway and snatched it away. With a deft twist, he slurped that biggest piece into his mouth.

“Why did you steal my piece!” Qiqi stomped her foot in frustration.

“Yours? Call its name and see if it answers,” Wen Nan replied, cheeks puffed as he chewed. “Whoever gets it in their mouth first, it’s theirs.”

“Hmph!” Qiqi shot Wen Nan a glare, then fished an eyeball out of the chicken soup and popped it into her mouth to chew.

On the other side, Aunt Mei smiled. “There’s plenty more in the pot, don’t worry, there’s enough for you both.”

…
…
[(ּơ̑ළּơ̑)]
[ヾ(｡ꏿ﹏ꏿ)ﾉﾞ]

[(•᷄ὤ•᷅)?]
[Truly, birds of a feather flock together.]
[As long as you’re happy]
[I’ll just go throw up in the corner]
[yikes]
…
…
At the table, the three of them ate with great satisfaction.

Qiqi picked up a large chunk and dropped it into Lin Xuemei’s bowl, grinning. “Auntie, your cooking is getting better and better—it’s as good as a five-star chef’s.”

Lin Xuemei chuckled. “Trying to make me happy, are you?”

Wen Nan chimed in, “It really is delicious. Even the best chef couldn’t make a meal to match one from home. Home has… Aunt Mei’s special flavor.”

Lin Xuemei paused, and glanced at Wen Nan. “My… flavor?”

“Mm,” Wen Nan replied, perfectly straight-faced as he spun the words, “Your flavor is truly fragrant.”

A blush once more crept across Lin Xuemei’s cheeks. She picked up some of the vivid green fish and placed it in Wen Nan’s bowl. “Then… have some more.”

Qiqi hugged her bowl, glancing back and forth between her aunt and Wen Nan, her eyes narrowing in suspicion—there was something odd between the two, she was sure of it.

That strange feeling lingered all the way through the meal.

Afterwards, Lin Xuemei got up to clean the kitchen, Qiqi volunteered to mop the floor, and Wen Nan took on the responsibility of washing the dishes.

But after Wen Nan broke a porcelain bowl and dropped two soup spoons in quick succession, Lin Xuemei, half exasperated, came over to the sink, lightly tapped Wen Nan’s brow with a finger. “You—are your studies wearing you out? Silly boy. Leave it, I’ll do it. Go have some fun.”

Wen Nan didn’t leave, just shifted to the side a little, making room for Lin Xuemei.

Seeing he had no intention of going, Lin Xuemei accepted the dish sponge. “Then just watch me and learn, all right?”

The kitchen was cramped, the two adults standing shoulder to shoulder by the sink, making for a tight fit.

Lin Xuemei had to stand in the middle to wash the dishes. Wen Nan pressed himself as close to the wall as possible, but with his broad shoulders and long legs, even as he shrank himself, his arms still pressed tightly against Lin Xuemei’s body.

That soft warmth, swaying with her motions as she washed, seemed to scratch at Wen Nan’s heart, making him feel hot and restless.

He tried to fix his gaze on Lin Xuemei’s slender fingers as she washed, but his eyes kept straying, unable to help themselves.

Lin Xuemei had taken off her apron, and now wore only a loose T-shirt. The wide collar had slipped off one shoulder, revealing the graceful curve of her neck, her snow-white shoulder, and lower still…

Wen Nan felt a rush of heat.

Aunt Mei truly didn’t see him as an outsider…

He came for dinner, and she’d spent the whole time with nothing under her shirt—not even underwear?

Realizing where his thoughts were wandering, Wen Nan hurriedly reined himself in, about to look away, when the system’s prompt sounded in his mind.

9527: [Main Mission 2, current completion rate: 65%.]

So… another 3% increase?

Did Aunt Mei sense Wen Nan’s gaze, indulge his peeking, and even… feel satisfied by it?!