My girlfriend isn't as cute as me.

Wang Yuting finds it hard to imagine how she could manage all her work without ever speaking.

Upon hearing this question, Xia Mei's expression clearly froze, as if the application had completely frozen.

Looking at her expressionless future mother-in-law, Wang Yuting wondered where the reset button was and which part to touch to bring her back to consciousness.

"Ah, I know how to do this one!"

Upon hearing her daughter's question, Mo Xiao proactively came over to answer her doubts.

"I wasn't just freeloading at Meimei's company these past few days. Besides dealing with a few people who wanted revenge, I also helped her with her work. Pretty impressive, huh?"

Mo Xiao raised his hand and placed it in front of his chest, looking smug, his nose almost pointing upwards.

“When Meimei is in a company meeting, she just sits there without saying a word, while the people below her are having all sorts of discussions. As soon as she finishes thinking about one question, the next one comes right away. The people in the company can only act according to her expression, and decide which option to choose when her expression is not so scary.”

"Can this really handle company matters?"

Wang Yuting's eyes widened. She suddenly felt that everything she had learned at the company was fake. Was management really that easy? Or was it just because she was unlucky that she encountered all sorts of problems at work?

"Ah, no, that won't work at all."

Mo Xiao waved his hand dismissively, saying that when it comes to company operations, it depends on actual capabilities, not luck.

It was precisely because of Xia Mei's shortcomings in this area that the company repeatedly faced major crises and was on the verge of bankruptcy. Secretary Liang even started to lose her hair due to the company's affairs, and she had to cut back on her sleep time every time she had to deal with the aftermath. It was only after Mo Xiao came to Xia Mei's company that Secretary Liang had the opportunity to spend time with her family and catch up on sleep. Before that, she had been living a miserable and torturous office life.

"It really didn't work."

Wang Yuting nodded thoughtfully.

"Mom, dinner is ready."

Lin Jiu came out of the kitchen, carrying the pot in both hands, and walked towards the dining table.

Mo Xiao nudged Xia Mei, bringing her back to her senses after she had been overthinking and had momentarily lost focus.

"Go and try it. Your son's cooking is amazing. He tries his best to live each day to the fullest." Mo Xiao smiled slightly, revealing the demeanor of a mother, rather than that of a lively high school girl who was exhausting to watch.

Xia Mei nodded slightly and went to the dining table, where Lin Jiu was serving her a bowl of mixed porridge.

Considering the time constraints and the fact that cooking would take a while, Lin Jiu decided to make this dish using the leftover rice and ingredients in the refrigerator. First, he washed the green bell peppers, removed the inedible calyxes and stems, cleaned out the seeds, and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Lin Jiu's knife skills were as consistently excellent as ever. He hesitated at first, but gradually improved as he cooked.

There was chicken in the refrigerator for tomorrow's breakfast, but Wang Yuan said it was fine to use it; he would get up early tomorrow to buy fried dough sticks, steamed buns, and soy milk, so there was no need to worry about food. After getting his father's permission, Lin Jiu thanked Wang Yuan and unceremoniously cut the chicken into small pieces. He washed the tomatoes, removed the stems, and cut them into quarters. He also peeled the onion and cut it into large chunks.

Lin Jiu prepared a pot, poured in water, and then cut out a stock cube from the refrigerator and added it in. This was Wang Yuan's secret weapon, which he would add when cooking noodles or stir-frying dishes. The main ingredients were pork bones, duck carcasses, pork skin, ginger, and cooking wine.

After thoroughly cleaning the pork bones to remove blood and bone fragments, soak them in cold water for half an hour. Add aged vinegar to soften the bones and remove any remaining blood. Soak the duck carcass in clean water to remove blood clots. In a pot, add water, then add the soaked pork bones, duck carcass, and pork skin. Add ginger slices and cooking wine to remove any unpleasant odors and enhance the flavor. Simmer for ten minutes, then remove and rinse in cold water. Scrape off the inner layer of fat from the cooked pork skin to reduce odor and greasiness. Next, bring water to a boil in a separate pot, add ginger slices, and bring to a boil over high heat. Return all the prepared ingredients to the pot and simmer over low heat for four hours. After straining the broth, let it cool, then portion it out and freeze. It can be stored in the freezer for up to one week when sealed.

The water in the pot turned a rich color as the broth cube dissolved. Lin Jiu poured in soy sauce and rice wine, then added a small amount of brown sugar and salt. She added the chopped chicken pieces and simmered over low heat for three minutes. After three minutes, she lifted the lid and skimmed off any foam. She then added the prepared tomatoes, green peppers, and onions, along with the leftover rice from tonight. She covered the pot and waited for two minutes.

Lin Jiu tasted it and decided to add a little pepper to enhance the flavor. Success!

"..."

Xia Mei looked at the mixed porridge in front of her, then looked up at her son dressed in women's clothing.

Before she even realized it, her child had become so amazing, his cooking skills far surpassing her own.

These are all things that Xia Mei never taught Lin Jiu; he learned them on his own, and they are proof that he is living a good life.

"Whoosh..."

Xia Mei scooped up a spoonful of porridge, blew on it to cool it down, and then put it in her mouth.

"……tasty."

Perhaps because her ability to think had been temporarily deprived, Xia Mei's complexion wasn't as gloomy as usual; it looked much rosier. She eagerly scooped up a second spoonful of mixed porridge, hurriedly putting it in her mouth, only to be burned. She breathed heavily on it, scooped up a third spoonful, and continued eating Lin Jiu's dinner, her tongue burning, all the while.

original……

The food was so delicious.

How long has it been since I ate a proper meal?

Xia Mei lowered her head and ate her porridge. Unlike Wang Yuting, who would constantly describe how delicious it was, she quietly enjoyed it.

For Lin Jiu, Xia Mei's hearty eating was the highest form of recognition for him, and he breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"stare……"

"Waaah!"

Just as Lin Jiu relaxed, Lin Yingying hugged her from behind.

Nuomi Tuanzi hugged Lin Jiu, her eyes fixed on the porridge in the pot, drool dripping from her mouth.

"Didn't you just finish dinner not long ago?"

"The dishes my brother made are placed in the third stomach."

"You're really something."

Lin Jiu helplessly raised his hand and rubbed his sister's head before walking towards the kitchen.

"I'll make you a midnight snack, but don't you dare try to take it."

"Good~"

Lin Yingying obediently agreed.

Lin Jiu glanced at her, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up again.

"Yuting, do you want some late-night snacks?"

Lin Jiu waved his hand as he watched his girlfriend's greedy expression.

Wang Yuting touched her stomach and nodded vigorously.

"want!"

Chapter 415 We still need to live well tomorrow

"It's definitely most comfortable staying at home~"

After returning home, Wang Yuting's first action was to run towards the living room. She was quickly pulled back by Lin Jiu and made to obediently change into slippers in the entryway, then go to the bathroom to wash her hands and feet thoroughly, and finally carefully dry her face with a towel. After she finished, Lin Jiu looked at Wang Yuting's beautiful and pure demeanor, nodded in satisfaction, and then let her go.

Wang Yuting returned home in her slippers, then ran joyfully towards the living room and plopped down on the sofa.

Life always needs a little ritual.

Wang Yuting comfortably rolled over on the sofa. As soon as she got home, she turned into a lazy bum, enjoying the clean and comfortable environment without a care in the world, showing no trace of girlishness.

Lin Jiu came out of the bathroom after changing into a light gauze nightgown. Seeing Wang Yuting's disheveled appearance, she shook her head helplessly.

"It's getting late."

"Okay, I know."

Wang Yuting glanced at the time, caught between the wonderful experience of exploring the game after the DLC update and Lin Jiu's health condition. At that moment, she suddenly understood how those boys who were forced by their girlfriends to shut down their computers and go to sleep felt.

If Lin Jiu were to get angry with Wang Yuting, she could still find a way to cheer him up. However, Lin Jiu's approach was to stay up all night with her. Lin Jiu's physical condition was on a completely different level from Wang Yuting's. Wang Yuting was already used to staying up all night and then going to work the next day, but Lin Jiu was weak and sickly due to years of malnutrition, so staying up all night was an ordeal for him.

"hateful!"

Wang Yuting eventually put the game controller down.

Lin Jiu diligently prepared meals and cleaned the house every day to create a warm atmosphere for Wang Yuting's health, satisfying all her needs both materially and emotionally. In return, Wang Yuting suppressed her desire to play the game so that Lin Jiu could sleep peacefully, saving it for tomorrow.

But then again...

If Jiu'er goes to work a part-time job tomorrow, I'll definitely go with her.

Oh no, I miscalculated! I have to wait until tomorrow night to play!

I'm unemployed, so why don't I have time to play games?

"Let's play games again tomorrow. I'll make you some snacks at home." Seeing Wang Yuting's somewhat disappointed look, Lin Jiu subconsciously went over and patted her head. Every time she did this, her mood would improve.

"Does Jiu'er mean... not going to work tomorrow?"

Wang Yuting rubbed her hand against Lin Jiu's palm, looking at him expectantly.

If Lin Jiu doesn't go to work tomorrow, then she can stay home and be affectionate with him.

This was something the two of them had agreed upon.

Lin Jiu's days off are his days to collect rent.

Wang Yuting is Lin Jiu's landlady.

“Yes, I asked Ling Lin to cover my shift. I’ll make it up to him later when I have the chance.” Lin Jiu smiled slightly and said softly, “So many things happened tonight. I’m not strong enough to accept this naturally. I also need time… to think about it carefully.”

Lin Jiu is not a superhero.

Lin Jiu was just an ordinary person who was better at enduring than others.

If I had to say something, it would be that he has a pretty good memory and is also quite good at thinking.

Thinking deeply is not a bad thing, but if one's mindset isn't right, excessive thinking can easily lead to getting stuck in a rut.

There will always be some people who overthink, ultimately being swallowed by the vortex of thought. Unresolved confusion, fear of the unknown, and intense self-demands are like putting a noose around their own necks, tightening with each burst of thought until they suffocate.

Lin Jiu sometimes falls into self-loathing. For example, when he learns that his mother isn't actually the person he imagined, but rather that he never tried to understand her character, which is why he subconsciously fears her, is afraid of her, and trembles uncontrollably whenever he sees her. If only he had realized this sooner, but unfortunately, there are no "ifs."

Lin Jiu couldn't blame her mother.

Because he was the one who chose to say goodbye to his mother back then.

"Jiu'er~"

Wang Yuting wrapped her arms around Lin Jiu's waist and pulled the pained Lin Jiu into her embrace. The two lay down on the sofa.

"Are you thinking about something weird again?" Wang Yuting looked at Lin Jiu, who was lying on top of her, and grabbed his hair without any politeness, messing it up without any mercy. Perhaps because Lin Jiu's hair was so good, Wang Yuting found it more fun to play with than she had imagined, and the feel of it was particularly good, so she went further and further.

"Such great adaptability!"

Wang Yuting tied Lin Jiu's hair into the shape of a little person. It was hard to tell whether to praise Lin Jiu's soft hair or Wang Yuting's skill, but she gradually got hooked. It's a pity Lin Jiu's hair hadn't grown to waist length yet; otherwise, Wang Yuting could have tried to tie an Eiffel Tower on Lin Jiu's head.

"How long do you want to keep playing with my hair?"

Lin Jiu lay on Wang Yuting's chest, his cheeks flattened by her full breasts, his chin barely touching the ground. The soft texture and firmness supported his head, forcing him to stop his negative self-reflection and seriously consider the vital matter of human reproduction, etched deep within his being.

"If I could put a time limit on love, I would hope it would be ten thousand years."

Wang Yuting finally tied Lin Jiu's hair into a bun, just like the hairstyle she usually wore when she slept. Except Wang Yuting's bun was a big one, while Lin Jiu's was a small one. After all, Lin Jiu's hair hadn't grown to her length yet, so he could still sleep peacefully. Once his hair reached his waist, he would face a daily struggle of being both annoyed and reluctant to let go of his long hair.

Wang Yuting tried to imagine that when she and Lin Jiu went to sleep, they both combed their hair up before lying in bed, and then the two of them were like Gon from Hunter x Hunter who went berserk, with their hair standing on end. That scene would definitely be very shocking.