After the Young Master’s Death, He was Kissed by His Mortal Enemy! - Chapter 57

To be fair, everything Cheng Yi said was true.

While it might’ve sounded like bragging, it was still factual—hardly an exaggeration.

But Shen Ran just didn’t want to hear it! That was his final stand of pride!

“We’re already together, but how is your mouth still this venomous?”

He thumped his forehead against Cheng Yi’s chest, gritting his teeth in a low voice.

“Cheng Yi, other people whisper sweet nothings when they’re in love. Why are you so different? Sometimes I really wonder… if I kissed you, would I die from the poison in your mouth?”

A husky chuckle rumbled above his head as Cheng Yi responded:

“Well, we won’t know until you actually try it.”

Shen Ran froze. He blinked a few times, suddenly sensing that something was off.

“Haha, wow, I’m super thirsty all of a sudden—I’ll go grab some water from the fridge!”

Just as he was about to make a run for it, Cheng Yi had already locked him in a tight embrace.

“Boss Shen, you know me—I always seek truth from facts.”

Cheng Yi tightened his hold. His breath tickled Shen Ran’s ear, making him involuntarily shiver.

“And right now is the perfect time. Why don’t we confirm it together?”

“Cheng—mmph… Yi…! Why are you so energetic this early in the morning?!”

Actually, it wasn’t Cheng Yi who was energetic—it was someone else entirely.

Grazing his thumb along Shen Ran’s lips, Cheng Yi’s eyes glinted with something unspoken.

“First of all, it’s already noon. Second, if we’re talking about energy, you clearly win.”

Shen Ran hurried to defend himself. “…I-I just woke up, that’s why! What about you? Why are you so fired up?!”

“That’s easy. Because. Of. You.”

Shen Ran had once imagined what being with Cheng Yi would be like.

Maybe sweet. Maybe flirtatious. Or maybe they’d continue bickering like always.

But never—never—did he imagine they’d become so physically inseparable.

—

By the time Cheng Yi finally let go, Shen Ran bolted like a grease-streaked slipper.

“I haven’t even washed up yet!”

If they kissed one more time, he swore he wouldn’t be able to breathe. Seriously.

“Hurry and wash up. I already made lunch. Ranran, I’ll be waiting.”

Cheng Yi’s voice behind him was dripping with smug satisfaction.

Shen Ran didn’t respond—he just ran faster, practically launching himself into the bathroom like a rocket.

Cold water splashed from the tap as Shen Ran braced his hands on the marble sink and looked up at his reflection.

His hair was a mess, and his face was flushed bright red.

Damn it—he was clearly on the losing end!

“…Cheng Yi, just you wait!”

Scooping up a handful of cold water, he slapped it onto his face—trying to cool down both literally and emotionally.

He planted a mental flag as he splashed again and again.

In a few days, he’d start studying how to flirt.

He’d take the lead. He’d be the one to make Cheng Yi blush and stutter!

He’d go to the bookstore, get every relationship manual available, and learn how to wrap Cheng Yi around his little finger!

While Shen Ran was still lost in this daydream of future triumph, Cheng Yi’s voice floated in from the kitchen.

“Ranran, are you ready yet? The food’s on the table.”

The majestic plans Shen Ran had been hatching vanished in an instant.

“Ah! Coming!”

Sorry, but the food smelled too good to ignore.

People die for wealth—Shen Ran runs for food.

No way was he going to upset his stomach just to stay mad at Cheng Yi.

To give credit where it’s due—Cheng Yi really did have a talent for cooking.

Every dish was beautifully presented, fragrant, and full of flavor. There wasn’t a single flaw to be found.

Seated at the dining table, Shen Ran closed his eyes and took a deep breath, practically drooling.

“How did I not know before that you could cook? Not bad, Chef Cheng. This smells amazing!”

Placing the last dish on the table, Cheng Yi let out a soft chuckle. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me. Don’t be too surprised in the future.”

He brushed past the topic casually, deliberately skipping over the real reason he had learned to cook.

Although born into the Cheng family, certain survival skills had been non-negotiable for him.

The treatment of an “illegitimate child” was far crueler than most would imagine.

Had he not learned to cook for himself, he probably would’ve starved to death as a child.

But it didn’t matter anymore. After all, that was the past.

A faint smile tugged at Cheng Yi’s lips as he carried over several small clay pots and placed them on the table. “Here—these are soups. Pick whichever one you like.”

“Whoa—” Shen Ran responded enthusiastically. “Rice, dishes, and now soup? President Cheng, you’re truly domestic. Marrying you would be a steal! What kinds of soups are these?”

Under Shen Ran’s expectant gaze, Cheng Yi lifted the lid of the first pot.

“First up: Chinese yam and goji berry porridge.”

“Hmm… Yam and goji berry… Sounds too bland. Not drinking that.” Shen Ran pointed to another pot. “What about this one? What’s inside?”

He watched as Cheng Yi removed the lid.

“This is black bean and polygonum root soup with pork spine,” Cheng Yi said. “Want this one instead?”

“Uh…”

Staring into the inky black soup, Shen Ran hesitated.

Even though it was freshly simmered and still steaming, the jet-black color and the mystery ingredients floating inside made it a little too intimidating to try.

So he shook his head firmly, like a rattling drum.

“There’s still a third one, right? What’s this one? I’ll… I’ll try this instead!”

This time, before Cheng Yi could answer, Shen Ran eagerly opened the lid himself.

Then paused.

Staring into the pot, Shen Ran fell silent, brows furrowed in deep thought.

“…Cheng Yi, don’t tell me this is…”

Cheng Yi smiled gently, almost benevolently. “That’s right. It’s goji berry and pork kidney porridge.”

Shen Ran’s eyebrows twitched violently.

He had already sensed something subtle when he saw the goji berries in the first pot.

But seeing this porridge confirmed his suspicions without a doubt.

“…Cheng Yi, care to explain why all of these are kidney-nourishing dishes? Hmm?”

“Because,” Cheng Yi replied matter-of-factly, “you are what you eat. Ranran, you’re still too frail. You need a little boost.”

So this was what Cheng Yi had been plotting all along—waking up early to cook just so he could set a neat little trap.

Shen Ran could see it clearly now. Cheng Yi looked sincere, but his smile was harder to control than an AK-47 on full auto.

“Cheng Yi, I’m not weak! I’m perfectly fine, thank you very much! You can keep all three for yourself!”

Besides, more importantly—

Even if he did get a boost, where was he going to use it anyway?

“Oh?” Cheng Yi raised an eyebrow, his voice all innocence. “But Ranran, you know better than anyone that I don’t need any sort of boost.”

“Maybe not now, but that doesn’t mean you won’t need it in the future! Cheng Yi, are you sure you’ll still be this durable when you turn thirty?!”

“Well—” Cheng Yi drawled lazily, “Guess we’ll have to wait till I’m thirty for you to test that out with me.”

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