“But I do know how to operate a microwave. I picked up that skill while working at the porridge shop.”
“…”
Jiang Zhi, who had not even an inkling on how to use a microwave, went silent.
“I can teach you how to use it,” said Zhou Xufang with a straight face.
“…”
Jiang Zhi had no interest whatsoever in the microwave.
Still, he lazily replied, “Sure, go ahead.”
Zhou Xufang proceeded to explain the function of every single button on the microwave to Jiang Zhi. After her lengthy lecture was complete, she turned toward him. “Understood?”
Her eyelashes were curled up naturally, casting a sizable shadow over her eyes. That shadow would flutter every time she blinked, which caught Jiang Zhi’s attention. An urge rose within him to reach out and touch her pretty eyelashes.
“Understood?” She patiently asked one more time.
‘Understood what?’
Jiang Zhi had been staring at her face the entire time but not a single word that she said had been registered by his mind. Averting his gaze, he gave a haphazard reply. “Yeah.”
Moments later, the milk had been successfully heated up.
“I’ll bring it to you.”
Using the oversized sleeve of Jiang Zhi’s sweater as a pair of makeshift mittens, she brought the hot milk out into the living room.
Jiang Zhi followed closely behind her. The sweater she was wearing right now was the same one as he was wearing.
How satisfying.
Zhou Xufang turned back to catch a glimpse of his slightly upturned lips.
The man did not smile very often, always appearing as if he had just been stirred from his sleep, and his face would constantly be projecting an unfriendly look. Looking at his face, most would find him intimidating and unapproachable.
Jiang Zhi looked much better with a smile.
An inappropriate thought surfaced in Zhou Xufang’s mind. With that face of his, she could imagine that if he lived in ancient times when emperors ruled the land, chaos would surely break out if he served in the imperial palace.
Jiang Zhi’s mouth twitched and he immediately wiped the silly grin off his face and returned to his usual stoic expression.
Zhou Xufang picked the nearest spot on the sofa to sit down on. Slowly, she enjoyed the glass of milk sip by sip. Jiang Zhi, who sat directly opposite her, remained silent. She would, from time to time, steal glances at his pretty face, which she felt was a rare sight while actively trying to not seem so blatant. Then, she moved her gaze elsewhere until she made a ground-breaking discovery.
“You have marshmallows as well?”
On the wall-mounted cabinet opposite the sofa where she sat, there was a rectangular glass container in which multi-colored marshmallows were stored.
Very rarely would Zhou Xufang reveal her emotions to others like this. Jiang Zhi continued staring at her eyes and mumbled a vague response.
“I love marshmallows too!”
Her lonesome face was now glowing with excitement upon discovering a new comrade who shared her interest in the soft, pillowy treat.
‘Just how much does she like marshmallows?’
Jiang Zhi walked over to the cabinet and retrieved the container full of marshmallows. “Have some,” he offered by placing it on the coffee table.
“Thanks.”
Her eyes turned into a crescent-shaped slit when she smiled. She leaned forward to pick up the box of marshmallows. Holding it securely in her hand, she brushed her fingers over its crystal inlays. “Your marshmallow container looks much nicer than mine.”
She wanted to buy one. However, judging by how well-made Jiang Zhi’s was, she figured that it must’ve been custom made by some well-known artisan.
Forget it. She already had the chandelier that Jiang Zhi promised to give her, it would undoubtedly be rude to ask for more. Thus, she asked him where he got it made. Silently, she enjoyed the marshmallows on the sofa while awaiting Jiang Zhi’s reply.
Jiang Zhi stared at her wordlessly.
Years ago, back at the Luo family’s mansion, that emaciated teenage boy had sat in the same manner as Zhou Xufang, albeit by a pond, swinging his leg carefreely while stuffing his face with marshmallows.
Like her right now, he would always pick the pink marshmallows.
“Is this your first time eating these?” Jiang Zhi asked the teenager.
The boy nodded his head enthusiastically. He was so malnourished that his skeleton was visible underneath that thin skin of his. His face seemed dirty but his jaws moved non-stop as he gorged on the marshmallows. Jiang Zhi could recall an overweight orange cat lazing beneath his feet, rubbing its fluffy fur against the boy’s tanned hands.
“Wait for me at this spot tomorrow. I’ll bring more for you to eat.”
That teenage boy had flashed a smile at Jiang Zhi which was accompanied by the cat’s purring.
However, Jiang Zhi never got the chance to see the boy again. The next day, he would discover that a massive fire had burned down the garden shed at the Luo family mansion. From what others had told him, the adopted heir of the Luo family was part of what remained of the garden shed—a pile of grey ash.
“Jiang Zhi.”
Zhou Xufang called out his name. Looking up from the box of marshmallows, it appeared that she had greedily stuffed 3 marshmallows into her mouth, causing a bulge in her cheeks like that of a hamster’s. “I heard that they discontinued this brand of marshmallows. Where’d you get them?”
It was her favorite brand and it had been ages since she last had these. Jiang Zhi was momentarily pulled back into reality by her enthusiastic voice. “I acquired their factory.”
Zhou Xufang hesitated for a while before deciding to ask him, “Could you share some with me?” Her request sounded sincere. “I can pay for them.”
It was now obvious just how infatuated she was with these marshmallows. In the end, Zhou Xufang was nothing more than a young girl who enjoyed sweet stuff and pretty things.
“You can buy them here from now on.” Jiang Zhi admitted that he was no philanthropist. Whatever doodad he developed a liking to, he would make it so that no one else could enjoy it but him.
However, Zhou Xufang was different from the others. This was the first time his selfish policy was set aside so easily.
She was elated upon hearing Jiang Zhi’s decision. Her smile was as sweet as the marshmallows she had stuffed her mouth full with. “You’re a good person,” she praised him earnestly.
“…”
Good person?
Unbeknownst to Zhou Xufang, he had forced the marshmallow company into bankruptcy in his quest to acquire the factory for himself.
The sound of his doorbell broke the silence, and Jiang Zhi rose from his seat to open the door.
It was Xue Baoyi. Sporting an apple-red winter coat, he stood outside the door with a cunning smile on his face. “My beloved Brother Zhi~” he sang out loud.