Make Her Heart Flutter - Chapter 10

On Chi Shuang’s end, she had just finished rinsing the rice and was about to start cooking. Jiang Ran came skipping over excitedly: “We get to watch a movie tonight! Sister Jiang has fixed the projector.”

It wasn’t as if they couldn’t watch movies anywhere else, but the younger ones especially loved a lively atmosphere. For activities like movie nights, they preferred everyone gathering together in a cozy circle.

Seeing how thrilled she was, Chi Shuang smiled. “That’s amazing. Would you be willing to help me light the stove then? I’ll prepare some delicious snacks for you all this afternoon to enjoy during the movie.”

At the mention of tasty treats, Jiang Ran’s eyes widened, and she immediately dashed behind the stove to get the fire going.

Jiang Qi stood at the doorway for a moment, observing the unexpectedly harmonious interaction between Jiang Ran and Chi Shuang. After hesitating briefly, she decided to go help Yan Xu and the others.

The morning had been a whirlwind of activity, and everyone enjoyed their lunch with particular relish, all thanks to Chi Shuang’s exceptional cooking skills.

“Teacher Chi, why don’t you start a cooking class? I’d kneel to attend,” Tang Qiluo joked, popping the last slice of beef into his mouth.

Shang Chumu’s chopsticks closed on empty air, and he shot Tang Qiluo a resentful look, as if silently accusing him.

Jiang Qi blinked at their exchange. Seriously? Grown adults acting like they’d never eaten before. Despite her thoughts, her own chopsticks moved with no less speed.

Chi Shuang couldn’t help but laugh. “If you like it, I can make more for you tonight.”

The two shook their heads in unison, speaking at the same time: “No need, no need! Anything you make is delicious, Sister Chi / Xiao Shuang!”

Chi Shuang: “…” The flattery caught her completely off guard.

After everyone had eaten their fill, the director’s voice, absent for a while, echoed through the living room: [June is the season of harvest. I’m sure everyone is eager to experience the charm of nature in early summer.]

Jiang Ran: “No, I’m not.”

Jiang Qi secretly gave her a thumbs-up. Well said, my spokesperson.

[…]

[It’s the season for summer tangerines. Our hardworking farmers are busy gathering the fruits of their labor, which will be their income for the year. Therefore, the program has decided to send four participants to assist them.]

The director only announced the task; it was up to them to decide who those four would be. In the end, they unanimously agreed to draw lots.

At that moment, Jiang Ran raised her hand. “Sister Chi said she’d make us snacks this afternoon to eat during the movie tonight. How about we exempt her from the draw? Besides, the sun is blazing outside. As a trade, I’ll volunteer, count me in, no need to draw my name.”

Jiang Qi’s eyes widened. Damn, this Jiang Ran really knows how to charm people.

While Jiang Qi was still processing this, Yan Xu spoke up: “I agree, but Ranran, you don’t have to do that. Let’s still decide by drawing lots.”

“…I can manage to prepare the snacks in time tonight. It’s only fair if we all draw lots,” Chi Shuang quickly interjected, waving her hands.

“No!” everyone chorused in unison, Jiang Qi included.

“…” Chi Shuang fell silent and quietly went to prepare the lots for the draw.

There were four long sticks and one short one. Everyone drew in turn, and Jiang Qi ended up with the last one.

Well, well. It was the one short stick.

Everyone cast envious glances at Jiang Qi before resolutely following the program team to embark on the noble mission of helping the farmers.

Only Jiang Qi and Chi Shuang were left, staring at each other.

Jiang Qi cleared her throat and asked, “So… what should we do?”

“This morning I bought some duck parts. We can braise them, and maybe braise some vegetables too?” Chi Shuang suggested.

“Great idea!” Although Jiang Qi wasn’t particularly passionate about food, the meals Chi Shuang prepared, much like the woman herself, always suited her taste perfectly.

Perhaps her response had been a bit too enthusiastic, as Chi Shuang gave her a slightly odd look. Jiang Qi cleared her throat lightly and rubbed her nose.

“Wash the chicken wings, duck feet, and duck necks thoroughly, then boil them with cooking wine to remove any gaminess and skim off the foam.” Chi Shuang methodically carried out each step while explaining the process to Jiang Qi.

Jiang Qi took over Jiang Ran’s task of tending the fire.

She had never used this kind of large stove before, but she vaguely remembered that you should first use straw as kindling, light it, and then add firewood. Jiang Qi picked up a small fan nearby and began fanning the flames.

“Cough! Cough!” Suddenly choked by the smoke, Jiang Qi’s eyes welled up with tears from coughing.

Chi Shuang glanced at her and couldn’t help but laugh. “Go take a look in the mirror.”

Jiang Qi made a surprised sound, wiped the moisture from the corner of her eye, and went to the bathroom to check her appearance.

Her forehead and left cheek were smeared with large patches of soot, making her look like a little calico cat.

Covering her face, she let out a pained groan. If this continued, her aloof CEO image would be completely ruined.

By the time she finished washing her face and returned, Jiang Qi had already regained her usual composure, though the slight redness at the tips of her ears betrayed her earlier embarrassment.

While Jiang Qi was away, Chi Shuang had already started braising the duck parts and was now turning to wash some lotus root and potatoes.

Realizing she hadn’t been much help so far, Jiang Qi quickly stepped forward and took the items from Chi Shuang’s hands. “Let me handle this. You go rest.”

Chi Shuang handed them over but didn’t actually go to rest. Instead, she sat on the small stool behind the stove, occasionally tossing another piece of firewood into the fire.

Jiang Qi was quite skilled with a knife. After washing the potatoes, she didn’t use a peeler but deftly removed the skins with the kitchen knife. She also sliced the lotus root into perfectly even pieces.

“Should we soak the potatoes in water? Removing the starch will make them crispier,” Jiang Qi asked.

Chi Shuang nodded in approval. “Yes, Xiao Qi, your knife skills are really good. You must be a great cook too.”

“I can manage,” Jiang Qi replied modestly.

Chi Shuang raised an eyebrow slightly but said nothing more.

With the kitchen tasks completed, it didn’t feel right for the two of them to idle at home while Tang Qiluo and the others were out working.

After discussing it, they decided to tidy up the three courtyards. Since they would be living here for three months, it made sense to ensure their surroundings were comfortable.

With this in mind, each grabbed a large broom and began cleaning.

In the afternoon, a breeze picked up, and the sun hid behind the clouds.

Squinting slightly, Chi Shuang smiled and said to Jiang Qi, “It’s good there’s no sun this afternoon. Ranran and the others probably won’t get too hot.”

Ranran… and the others.

Jiang Qi immediately picked up on these words and deliberately put on a gossipy expression. “You seem to really like Ranran.”

Chi Shuang shook her ponytail, dislodging a leaf that had fallen into her hair. “She’s young, so of course we should take care of her.”

Jiang Qi lowered her gaze, lost in thought. Was that really it? After spending more than a day together, she could sense that Chi Shuang’s gentleness always carried a faint, almost imperceptible sense of detachment.

She treated the two of them differently. One was Jiang Ran, and the other was Jiang Qi herself.

With Jiang Ran, Chi Shuang was more caring than with others, but with her, she could always sense a restrained, turbulent undercurrent in Chi Shuang’s emotions.