I Fell in Love With My Cool, Aloof, and Alluring Roommate (GL) - Chapter 6

The group on the other end fell silent for a moment before erupting into a chorus of exclamations.

“What? Someone’s at home?”

“Is it a man or a woman?”

“Who is it?”

Xiao Zhi’s voice cut through the noise. “Stop talking nonsense. I remember Xiao Jiu rents a place—it must be her roommate.”

“No, I remember her roommate can’t cook. Could it be her mom?”

Wei Feng’s voice chimed in. “I think she changed roommates. Is it the new one?”

“Don’t even mention it. I don’t think any of her roommates have ever known how to cook.”

Ran Jiu let them guess wildly without offering any explanation.

The clamor on the other end gradually subsided. Just as Ran Jiu set down her phone and looked around for Rong Ting, she realized Rong Ting had already gone to the vegetable section.

By the time Ran Jiu walked over, the shopping cart was already filled with potatoes, sweet potatoes, wide vermicelli, baby bok choy, enoki mushrooms, and small cucumbers—likely all Rong Ting’s favorites.

Seeing Ran Jiu approach, Rong Ting quickly pointed at the pile of vegetables. “Take whatever you want to eat.” Only after saying it did she realize how bossy it sounded.

Ran Jiu glanced at her, then tossed a box of oilseed rape into the cart. She also grabbed a can of luncheon meat from the refrigerated section.

At checkout, Rong Ting insisted on paying. Ever since learning about Ran Jiu’s part-time job, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of pity. After all, Rong Ting earned a few thousand yuan a month from tutoring—she ought to take care of Ran Jiu a bit more.

Ran Jiu silently slipped her half-pulled-out phone back into her pocket, packed the groceries into two bags, and carried them all herself on the way out. By the time Rong Ting finished scanning the payment code, she realized Ran Jiu had already taken everything. She tried to take the bags back along the way but couldn’t manage it.

Ran Jiu, however, took it in stride. Back at home, she said, “You pay, I work. You cook, I wash the dishes.”

And she wasn’t being modest. There were a few insurmountable obstacles in her life so far: people she didn’t want to deal with, things she didn’t want to learn, organized items that always went missing, and, of course, her aversion to cooking.

She carried the groceries into the kitchen for Rong Ting and, unusually, didn’t retreat to her room. Instead, she helped wash all the vegetables. Rong Ting stopped her from doing anything else, and Ran Jiu didn’t insist. She simply sat on the sofa outside, playing with her phone.

Yu Lai sent a video call request. Ran Jiu glanced toward the kitchen, where only the sounds of a spatula stirring and the range hood humming could be heard, then accepted the call.

On the screen, several faces stared back at her in unison. Wei Feng was the first to shout, “Damn, you really are at home!”

Ran Jiu replied flatly, “Where else would I be?” She seemed puzzled by their curiosity.

The other side panned the camera, and Ran Jiu saw they were eating Chongqing hotpot. The spread was lavish, complete with all her usual favorite side dishes.

Wei Feng deliberately held up a skewer of spicy chicken gizzard, took a bite, and taunted her, “All your favorites. Regretting it now?”

Ran Jiu’s expression remained indifferent. “What exactly do you misunderstand about me?”

Xiao Zhi managed to squeeze in a comment. “Oh, right, Xiao Jiu. We recruited a bunch of newcomers online the other day. We need to assess their voice acting first. Find some time to pick a few suitable scripts for the audition.”

Ran Jiu agreed. After that, there was no more serious talk. The group exchanged a few teasing remarks before the call ended.

Just then, the sliding door to the kitchen rattled open. Rong Ting emerged, carrying a large pot and using her foot to nudge the door. Ran Jiu hurried over to help.

Rong Ting struggled to steady the pot, the tendons on her slender wrists standing out. She turned her head slightly toward Ran Jiu and said, “There’s also a heat-resistant rubber mat.”

Ran Jiu immediately understood her intention. She had initially thought to take the pot from her, but seeing how her hands trembled as she held it, she stepped aside first.

After Rong Ting quickly retrieved a plastic mat and laid it on the table, Ran Jiu smoothly placed the pot on it, shaking her sore and tired hands.

Seeing this, Ran Jiu went back to fetch bowls and chopsticks. When she returned, she saw Rong Ting lifting the lid of the pot, releasing a spicy aroma that filled the room. Rong Ting had taken off her apron but still wore a mask, revealing only her delicate nose and cheeks flushed from the steam.

Ran Jiu couldn’t help but feel a bit apologetic. “The pot is a bit heavy. I haven’t used it since I bought it.”

Rong Ting was scooping rice and handed her a full bowl. “I noticed earlier.”

“Huh?”

“I scrubbed it clean with a steel wool pad earlier. Don’t worry, it’s safe to eat.”

Ran Jiu then noticed the rubber pot mat. “What about this?”

“Oh, I bought it while shopping at the supermarket earlier.”

The two ate in silence afterward. It had been a long time since Ran Jiu had eaten something so spicy, yet it was also incredibly flavorful, perfectly hitting her taste preferences. She found herself reaching for her chopsticks more frequently, eating plenty of meat and vegetables, her usually pale and cool complexion now tinged with a faint pink.

Rong Ting had a small appetite and was full after just one bowl. She was worried about what to do with the leftovers, but then watched in amazement as the person across from her steadily finished everything with her chopsticks.

After the meal, Ran Jiu went to wash the pot. Unaccustomed to being in the kitchen, she automatically tied on a purple floral apron. Rong Ting stood by the doorway, watching her wash the dishes while digesting her meal.

Afraid that Rong Ting might be bored, Ran Jiu casually asked, “It was really delicious. How did you make it?”

Rong Ting’s eyes lit up, and she immediately began chattering away: “First, of course, you sauté the scallions, ginger, and garlic to bring out their fragrance. Oh, the key is dried chili peppers—not too many, not too few, just three at most. You can cut them into small pieces with a knife because you’ll add hotpot base later. The hotpot base has to be chosen carefully…”

The girl’s voice, clear and gentle, went on tirelessly about the precise measurements for the hotpot base, speaking methodically and sometimes with the soft, indistinct enunciation typical of southern accents.

For once, Ran Jiu didn’t let her professional habits take over and didn’t correct her. Instead, she listened to Rong Ting’s leisurely chatter while washing the pot.

Suddenly, she thought that maybe they could continue having meals like this in the future.

After all, she wouldn’t have to do the cooking herself.

In the evening, Yu Lai initiated a Zoom meeting, pulling several people in to discuss the selection of scripts for an audition.

Yu Lai suggested that assessing newcomers required choosing more professional scripts, but Wei Feng disagreed. While some voice actors had formal training, many started out as hobbyists. If the scripts were too difficult, it would exclude this group. After a long, noisy debate, they realized the main person hadn’t spoken yet.

Wei Feng directly tagged Ran Jiu. “Jiu, what do you think? Should we choose something challenging like ‘Blackbird’ or just go with ordinary scene scripts?”

Ran Jiu tapped her index finger on the mouse, resting her chin in her hand, her eyes playfully crinkling at the corners. “How about we try recipe scripts?”

Wei Feng clapped in approval. “Brilliant! Recipes don’t have fixed emotional constraints, so they allow contestants to express themselves freely. Plus, the contestants’ own styles could determine their future voice-acting directions.”

Yu Lai also pondered thoughtfully. “Are you saying our studio currently lacks people for commercial advertisements? This could indeed help us identify some promising talent.”

Xiao Zhi made the final decision. “Alright, then it’s settled—recipes it is!”