He transmigrated into the body of the school heartthrob's spoiled ex-girlfriend, and he insiste

Two o'clock in the morning.

In the living room of the apartment, only the faint glow of a table lamp remained.

Jiang Ci was still working at that huge black desk.

He wore glasses, his expression focused and aloof.

The coffee beside him had long since gone cold, but he seemed oblivious, mechanically picking it up and taking a sip without even flinching.

Wen Ning hid behind the crack in the bedroom door, quietly watching him.

His back was very straight.

But the originally fitted loungewear now looked somewhat loose on him.

The lines of the spine are faintly visible.

He has lost weight.

She has really lost a lot of weight.

Ever since Zhou Xu came that day, he has started this suicidal work mode.

For that so-called "proof," to give her a sense of security that no one can take away from her.

Wen Ning's fingers were gripping the door frame.

My heart felt like it was stuffed with a wad of cotton soaked in acid, heavy and sour.

I am a piece of trash.

Wen Ning thought.

I don't understand coding or business, so I can't help him relieve his pressure.

They couldn't even get him to go to bed early.

What can I do besides be pampered like a porcelain doll by him and spend his money?

……

The next afternoon.

Jiang Ci had a financing meeting that required his personal attendance, so he left.

Before leaving, he settled Wen Ning on the sofa and prepared all the snacks and water.

"I'll be back in two hours."

"Don't run around."

The door closed.

Wen Ning immediately jumped off the sofa.

She didn't want to be a useless person anymore.

At least... at least let him have a hot bowl of soup when he comes back, right?

The kind of nourishing soup you see in TV dramas, full of love and nutrition.

Wen Ning rushed into the kitchen.

Tie on the apron.

That was the apron Jiang Ci usually wore; it was knee-length when she wore it, and the straps had to be wrapped around her twice.

She opened her phone and searched for: "[The most nourishing soup recipe]".

A whole bunch of dishes popped up: ginseng chicken soup, fish maw stewed chicken, pork ribs and lotus root...

"This is fine, pork rib soup."

Wen Ning looked at the tutorial and found it very simple.

"Wash it clean, put it in a pot, add water and seasonings, and cook."

What's so difficult about that?

She took the ingredients out of the refrigerator.

A massive project called "Love Lunch" was launched, which was actually a "kitchen disaster".

While washing the ribs, water splashed all over me.

I almost cut my hand while slicing ginger.

But she endured it.

As long as it makes him happy, this little bit of hardship is nothing.

Finally, everything was thrown into that high-tech-looking pressure cooker.

"A suitable amount of salt."

Wen Ning looked at the condiment box.

Two white jars.

She took a bite of the one on the left.

Sweet? That's sugar.

The one on the right must be salt.

She generously scooped in two large spoonfuls.

Feeling it wasn't flavorful enough, I added another spoonful.

(Actually, that's MSG, the kind that strongly enhances flavor).

Close the lid.

Fire.

Wen Ning moved a small stool and sat at the kitchen doorway, keeping watch.

She happily imagined Jiang Ci's touched expression when he returned and drank the soup.

however.

Things didn't go as planned.

Ten minutes later.

The pressure cooker started making strange noises.

"Hiss—"

It looked like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

Twenty minutes later.

The sound turned into a sharp whistling sound.

"squeak--!!!"

The steam valve began to spin wildly, spewing out streams of white steam.

Followed by.

A strong, burnt smell, mixed with suffocating black smoke, wafted out from the gap in the pot lid.

Wen Ning panicked.

"What's going on? Didn't you say it was going to simmer for an hour?"

She wanted to turn off the fire.

But the pressure cooker looked like it could explode at any moment, which scared her so much that she didn't dare to go near it.

"No...don't blow it up..."

Wen Ning huddled in the corner, using a spatula as a shield, tears welling up in her eyes from fear.

The siren started blaring.

The entire kitchen was filled with smoke, resembling a fire scene.

……

"drop--"

The sound of a fingerprint lock unlocking.

Jiang Ci pushed open the door.

I had barely stepped inside when I was choked by the thick black smoke filling the room and coughed.

What followed was a strong smell of burning.

His heart skipped a beat.

"Wen Ning?!"

He dropped his briefcase and, without even changing his shoes, rushed frantically toward the source of the smoke—the kitchen.

The moment I rushed into the kitchen.

He saw the pressure cooker that was hissing and belching black smoke.

There was also Wen Ning, huddled in the corner of the refrigerator, holding a spatula and shivering.

Her little face was covered in black ash.

Like a tabby cat.

With tears welling in her eyes, she stared in terror at the pot that seemed ready to explode at any moment.

Jiang Ci felt as if all the blood in his body had frozen.

He did not hesitate at all.

Take two steps across.

The gas stove was turned off with a "snap".

Then, without even glancing at the pot of food.

Turn around.

Bend over.

He scooped up Wen Ning, who was curled up on the ground.

Pick them up horizontally.

The movements were so fast that only afterimages remained.

He carried her out of the kitchen and ran all the way to the farthest floor-to-ceiling window in the living room before putting her on the sofa.

"Did you get burned?"

His voice was trembling.

He grabbed her hand and examined her from head to toe.

"Were you burned by the steam? Did you inhale any thick smoke? Speak up!"

His eyes were filled with terror.

That kind of terror after surviving a disaster.

Wen Ning looked at him.

Looking at his white shirt stained black by smoke, and at his head covered in sweat.

"Wow--"

She couldn't hold back any longer and burst into tears.

"I'm sorry... Waaaaah..."

"I just wanted to make you soup..."

"You look too tired, I wanted to give you something nourishing..."

"I'm so useless... I only make things worse... I almost blew up the kitchen..."

Her tears washed away the black ash on her face, leaving two muddy streaks.

It looks both ridiculous and pathetic.

Jiang Ci checked it over.

It was determined that apart from her face being a little dirty and her hands being a little shaky, she was not injured.

The nerves that had been stretched to the limit finally relaxed.

He let out a long breath.

It's like trying to expel all the stale air from your lungs.

"Fool."

He sighed helplessly.

He reached out and used his thumb to wipe the black ash off her face.

"Who told you to do these things?"

There was no blame in his tone, only deep heartache.

"But I want to help you..."

Wen Ning sobbed, "I wanted to make things a little easier for you..."

Jiang Ci squatted down in front of the sofa.

He grasped Wen Ning's hands, which were covered in flour and dust.

Those hands were originally meant for holding paintbrushes.

Fair-skinned and slender, these were also what he cherished most.

"Wen Ning, listen to me."

He looked into her eyes, his expression solemn.

"My hands are rough but strong."

"It's used for coding, signing contracts, and doing manual labor to make money."

"It's okay if it gets a little hurt, it's okay if it gets burned."

He pressed her hand against his cheek.

"But your hands are different."

"It's used for drawing."

"It's for leading me."

"It's meant to be... kept by me."

Jiang Ci's voice was incredibly gentle.

"You're not allowed in the kitchen anymore."

"The kitchen being blown up is a small matter; we can just buy another house."

"But what if I hurt even a single hair on your head..."

His eyes darkened, revealing a hint of lingering fear and ruthlessness.

"Who should I ask for compensation?"

Wen Ning looked at him.

The bitter feeling of "I'm a useless person" in my heart was gradually enveloped by a warm syrup.

"But... the soup is ruined."

She pointed towards the kitchen, still feeling sorry for the pot of ribs.

"Those are very good pork ribs..."

Jiang Ci glanced back at the still-smoking battlefield.

Can't help but laugh.

"fine."

He stood up and pulled her into his arms again.

"Perfect, I can't cook either."

"Let's eat out."

"Eat the best."

"As for that pot of soup..."

He kissed her on the forehead.

"Consider it an offering to the Kitchen God, to thank him for not hurting you."

……

Half an hour later.

The two were sitting in an upscale restaurant.

Wen Ning washed her face and changed her clothes.

But looking at the menu, I still felt a little down.

Jiang Ci cut the steak and pushed it in front of her.

"Still thinking about that pot of soup?"

Wen Ning nodded: "I feel like a failure."

"Don't fail."

Jiang Ci took a sip of water and looked at her.

"At least I know now whether the original flavor was more sweet or more salty."

"what?"

"I just looked at those two jars."

Jiang Ci calmly replied, "Did you put sugar in instead of salt? Or did you put MSG in instead of salt?"

Wen Ning: "..."

Blushed.

Jiang Ci was in a great mood when he saw her shy expression.

"Everyone has their own area of ​​expertise."

"You're in charge of drawing and being beautiful."

"I'll learn to cook, that kind of rough work, from now on."

"You're so busy..."

"Even when you're busy, you still need to eat."

Jiang Ci took her hand.

"To prevent you from blowing up the kitchen again, I've decided to start learning to cook tomorrow."

Wen Ning looked at him.

The president of this soon-to-be-listed company.

To prevent her from "acting recklessly" again, he actually cooked for her himself.