Make Her Heart Flutter - Chapter 40

“I didn’t…” Jiang Qi pouted. No one would have imagined that the aloof CEO everyone knew could have such a side to her.

Chi Shuang raised an eyebrow. “You’re acting quite different now compared to just a moment ago~”

The moment she noticed the camera approaching, Jiang Qi instantly reverted to her usual cold CEO demeanor. “Am I?”

Chi Shuang smiled without responding. Just then, Tang Qiluo and Yan Xu returned carrying a fish and a basket of crabs. “Extra treats for tonight’s Dragon Boat Festival feast!”

“But isn’t tomorrow…” Shang Chumu started to say that the festival was actually tomorrow, but Yan Xu cut him off.

“Since the new episode airs tomorrow, we’re celebrating the festival today. We’ll edit this into tomorrow’s broadcast.”

Shang Chumu, who rarely appeared on variety shows, looked surprised. “You can do that?”

Yan Xu smiled without answering and carried the fish and crabs to the kitchen. Seeing only Jiang Ran there, he asked, “Where are your Sister Chi and Sister Jiang? We need them to handle a couple of main dishes today. I won’t embarrass myself by trying.”

“How should I know where those two are?” Jiang Ran was still sulking over what happened earlier and couldn’t help the irritation in her voice when mentioning them.

Noticing her tone, Yan Xu asked gently, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Ran blinked. “Nothing. Sorry, I shouldn’t have spoken so harshly.”

“It’s fine. You’re just a kid.” Yan Xu smiled warmly. “Tell your Brother Yan what’s bothering you.”

Jiang Ran shook her head. “It’s nothing.” After a moment, she seemed to remember something. “You just said they’re missing?”

“Yep.” Yan Xu nodded. “They’re probably busy with something. They’ll likely be back soon.”

Jiang Ran’s eyes lit up. “Wait here. I’ll go find them for you.”

“Ah, there’s really no need to rush…” Yan Xu said slowly.

“No, no, it’s necessary! I’m hungry!” Before the words fully left her mouth, Jiang Ran had already vanished.

Tang Qiluo watched Jiang Ran’s retreating figure with confusion, then noticed Yan Xu’s oddly benevolent smile that sent chills down his spine. He couldn’t help asking, “What’s up with her?”

“She went to find Xiao Shuang and Xiao Qi,” Yan Xu replied.

Tang Qiluo: “Did she have to be in such a hurry? She nearly knocked over Shang Chumu, who already has poor balance.”

Shang Chumu, who had just steadied himself, retorted upon hearing this, “Who has poor balance? I’m just tall, that’s all.”

“I heard you were looking for me?” Chi Shuang asked as she entered from outside, holding a bottle of soy sauce.

Yan Xu showed her the crabs and fish their neighbor had just given them. “Our neighbor gave these to us when we delivered zongzi earlier.”

“Wow, I’ll cook them then. How would you like them prepared?” Chi Shuang asked.

Yan Xu maintained his gentle smile. “Anything is fine. You decide.”

Chi Shuang nodded. “Alright then, let me think about it.”

Jiang Ran tiptoed upstairs only to lock eyes with Jiang Qi, who had just emerged from a room.

Jiang Qi fastened her buttons and forced a stiff smile. “What are you doing?”

“I…” Jiang Ran flustered for a moment before remembering she had a legitimate reason. “I came to find you and Sister Chi. Brother Yan brought back some ingredients and wants you two to cook them.”

Jiang Qi looked puzzled. “She’s not downstairs?”

Jiang Ran was baffled. “Weren’t you two together?”

Jiang Qi tilted her head, even more confused. “Why would we necessarily be together?”

After saying that, she inwardly retorted: But we are together. Then she found herself a little amused.

Jiang Ran watched Jiang Qi, who seemed inexplicably happy, and raised an eyebrow: What about the promised CP? Her CP isn’t even together yet, how is she supposed to tease them?

“Let’s head downstairs. I’ll go look for her,” Jiang Qi announced, and the two of them went down one after the other.

By then, Chi Shuang was already busy in the kitchen. The fish was large, with a plump head, so she planned to make a steamed fish head with chopped chili and a grilled fish dish, not the kind they had eaten last time, but the type that’s grilled first and then stewed.

As for the crabs, she simply steamed them with ginger slices.

When Jiang Qi came down and saw Chi Shuang working in the kitchen, she glanced back at Jiang Ran, her expression conveying a clear message: Isn’t she right here?

Chi Shuang spotted Jiang Qi and casually called her over to help, and Jiang Qi went straight in.

The two of them worked together seamlessly. Even though their relationship hadn’t been particularly close before and had only recently thawed over the past couple of days, their coordination was flawless. With just a gesture from Chi Shuang, Jiang Qi knew exactly what she needed and immediately handed it over.

It was as if they had lived together for a long time, completely familiar with each other’s habits.

Before long, a table full of delicious dishes was laid out.

By now, they no longer strictly adhered to who should cook. Chi Shuang and Jiang Qi were the most skilled, so they handled most of the cooking, while the others took on more tasks in different areas.

For instance, up to this point, neither of them had ever chopped firewood or washed dishes.

As everyone gathered around the table, Tang Qiluo grinned mischievously. “With so many delicious dishes, how can we not pair them with some alcohol?”

Chi Shuang’s lips twitched. “Drop that dangerous idea.”

“Hey, this time we’ll just drink beer, low alcohol content, won’t get anyone drunk,” Tang Qiluo wagged his finger. “I promise we won’t get drunk again.”

“Not buying it, thanks,” Yan Xu said with a smile.

Despite their words, no one stopped Tang Qiluo as he turned to fetch the drinks.

“But how did he manage to bring so much alcohol over?” Shang Chumu wondered aloud.

Jiang Ran shook her head. “Does he have Doraemon’s magic pocket or something?”

Soon, Tang Qiluo returned, clutching four bottles in each hand. “Come on, let’s keep it light today, one bottle each.”

Chi Shuang eyed the eight bottles in his hands. “What about the other two?”

Tang Qiluo sighed, putting on a helpless expression. “Well, I suppose I’ll have to reluctantly take care of them.”

“Bro, at least try to act a little more convincing. Is ‘reluctantly happy’ even a thing?” Shang Chumu remarked scornfully, picking his nose.

Jiang Ran swatted his hand down. “Image! Image!”

In the living room, the warm yellow lighting created a cozy atmosphere. Jiang Qi lowered her gaze, carefully picking out the crab meat and roe intact, then drizzled a bit of vinegar over it. While no one was paying attention, she slid the entire portion over to Chi Shuang.

When Chi Shuang looked over, the other woman subtly winked at her.

“Silly, even if others don’t notice, there are still cameras,” Chi Shuang whispered close to Jiang Qi’s ear.

“I’m not afraid,” Jiang Qi replied, a charming curve forming at the corner of her lips. As if to prove her point, she even picked up a piece of fish for Chi Shuang, meticulously removing all the small bones before placing it in her bowl.

“So childish…” Chi Shuang stared at the fish in her bowl and the snow-white crab meat and tempting roe nestled in the crab shell.

Though she said so, her heart couldn’t help but overflow with sweetness.

Jiang Ran, sitting across from her, had a glint of sharp insight in her eyes: Gotcha! She finally caught her, haha! Ahhh, this is so sweet! What should I do!