My Gorgeous Neighbor Is Cooking Every Day - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

“You are so good to me.” Xia Xingye was genuinely touched. Jiang Yingyue noticed details that her roommates overlooked; she couldn’t deny feeling moved.

“What did you make?” Jiang Yingyue asked as she walked inside.

Xia Xingye quickly stepped aside: “I stir-fried a few dishes. See if they suit your taste.”

Jiang Yingyue looked at the generous spread and was a little surprised: “We won’t be able to finish all this.”

“We can worry about that later,” Xia Xingye looked at the dishes she made and didn’t think it was too much.

Since the food was already prepared, Jiang Yingyue didn’t say anything more and sat down with Xia Xingye.

Xia Xingye habitually put food in Jiang Yingyue’s bowl, only to remember that Jiang Yingyue disliked that. She immediately swapped her bowl with Jiang Yingyue’s: “I forgot you don’t like people putting food in your bowl. I haven’t used this bowl yet, is that okay? If not, I’ll go get another one.”

“It’s not that big a deal,” Jiang Yingyue said helplessly. “I don’t like it, but I don’t have germophobia. You don’t need to be so nervous.”

“I’m not nervous,” Xia Xingye said. “I’m just respecting you.”

Jiang Yingyue paused, then said resignedly, “Then let me tell you clearly now, I don’t have germophobia.”

“Okay, okay,” Xia Xingye insisted. “Next time if I accidentally put food in your bowl, I won’t take it back. Since I’ve already taken it back now, swapping it again wouldn’t be good either.”

Although Jiang Yingyue said she didn’t have germophobia, Xia Xingye secretly resolved that she absolutely would not do anything Jiang Yingyue disliked. Even if she accidentally did something in the future, she would find a way to make up for it. In short, everything had to prioritize Jiang Yingyue’s feelings.

…

After dinner, Jiang Yingyue was ready to move back to her side, as the wall had been repaired.

Before she left, Xia Xingye was full of reluctance: “Can’t you really stay here for a few more days?”

Jiang Yingyue looked at her in confusion: “Why should I stay for a few more days?” She appreciated Xia Xingye’s warmth, but she wasn’t someone who liked to inconvenience others.

Xia Xingye pursed her lips, unsure how to explain. She simply wanted to spend more time with Jiang Yingyue, but they were just ordinary neighbors. Their homes were next door, but their relationship wasn’t close enough to be constantly together. If she insisted on keeping her, even she would suspect her own motives weren’t pure.

Reluctantly, she walked Jiang Yingyue back. The short distance felt particularly slow. Seeing that Xia Xingye was still standing at the door after walking her back, Jiang Yingyue asked, “Do you want to come in and sit for a bit?”

Xia Xingye immediately accepted shamelessly: “Yes, please!”

Walking into Jiang Yingyue’s room, she noticed the dust left by the daytime renovations had not been fully cleaned. Jiang Yingyue told Xia Xingye to sit down first and picked up her tools to clean. After tidying up, she asked, “Would you like something to drink?”

Xia Xingye: “What do you have at your place?”

Jiang Yingyue thought for a moment: “I have tea.”

“Tea?” Xia Xingye’s eyes lit up. “I’d love to try it.” She had only ever had milk tea and had never tasted authentic tea.

Jiang Yingyue brewed the tea and brought it over, cautioning, “It’s a bit hot.”

Xia Xingye nodded, carefully blew on it, and took a sip. A hint of bitterness spread across her tongue. She wasn’t sure if this was normal.

Jiang Yingyue asked, “Is it good?”

“I can’t tell,” Xia Xingye answered honestly. “Do you think it’s good?”

Jiang Yingyue said, “It’s quite good.”

“Haven’t you ever had milk tea?” Xia Xingye suddenly asked.

“No.” Hearing Jiang Yingyue admit it, she wore an expression that said, I knew it.

Jiang Yingyue couldn’t even use a mobile phone properly, so it figured she hadn’t tried milk tea.

“Do you like milk tea?” Jiang Yingyue thought Xia Xingye disliked the tea. “I don’t know if they’re still selling it outside right now.”

“I was just asking,” Xia Xingye blinked and asked, “If they are selling it outside, would you go buy some?”

“If you want me to.” It was only a short walk. If Xia Xingye wanted it, she could go buy it.

Xia Xingye quickly waved her hands: “No, no, I don’t want any.”

After finishing her tea at Jiang Yingyue’s, Xia Xingye reluctantly had to leave.

When she returned home, she found the room completely dark. She remembered leaving the lights on when she left. She flipped the switch a few times, but the light still didn’t come on.

“Broken?” Xia Xingye’s first reaction was not annoyance, but secret delight.

What a coincidence! The light broke at this exact moment—isn’t this the perfect excuse to go to Jiang Yingyue’s place?

She took a few deep breaths, trying hard to suppress the smile on her lips, before going to knock on Jiang Yingyue’s door.

The door opened. Jiang Yingyue had already changed into white pajamas. The simple style made her skin appear even fairer. Seeing Xia Xingye return, Jiang Yingyue asked hesitantly, “What’s wrong?”

“The light in my room is broken.”

“Should I take a look?” Jiang Yingyue said, starting to walk out.

“No, no need!” Xia Xingye quickly waved her hands to stop her. She hadn’t come to Jiang Yingyue for a light repair but to stay longer.

“It’s so dangerous when you can’t see anything at night. Let’s find someone to fix it tomorrow.”

“Then tonight…” Before Jiang Yingyue could finish, Xia Xingye quickly interjected: “Can I stay over at your place tonight?”

Xia Xingye gave Jiang Yingyue no chance to refuse, stating matter-of-factly, “I’m afraid of the dark! You must have noticed I always sleep with a night light on when you were at my place, right?”

Jiang Yingyue thought back and did remember seeing a night light. At the time, she hadn’t thought much of it. Now, hearing Xia Xingye’s words, she looked her up and down.

Under Jiang Yingyue’s scrutinizing gaze, Xia Xingye felt inexplicably guilty but forced herself not to show any sign of fear. She used a night light not because she was afraid of the dark, but because it was a habit she had formed since childhood and hadn’t changed for years. She never expected it to become a perfect excuse now. Anyway, they had only recently met, so Jiang Yingyue had no way to call her bluff.

As expected, after hearing Xia Xingye’s explanation, Jiang Yingyue stepped aside and let her into the room.

Walking in, Xia Xingye was surprised to find Jiang Yingyue’s room completely transformed, utterly different from its previously bombed-out state. The entire space was clean and tidy, like a show home, but it lacked a certain lived-in feel.

“Do you rarely spend time at home?” Xia Xingye couldn’t help but ask.

Seeing Jiang Yingyue’s puzzled look, she pointed around, “Look, there are hardly any everyday items here.”

It was only then that Xia Xingye understood why Jiang Yingyue had been so comfortable at her place. To Jiang Yingyue, this wasn’t truly a home, just a temporary place to stay; it didn’t matter where she was.

The thought made her feel a little bad: “How about I go with you tomorrow to buy some everyday items?”

“No need,” Jiang Yingyue shook her head. “This is fine. I don’t like having too many things.”

Despite her disappointment, Xia Xingye respected Jiang Yingyue’s choice. There’s plenty of time. In the future, I must make this room feel more like a home. Of course, I’ll need Jiang Yingyue’s permission first.

For some reason, she was strangely confident that if they spent enough time together, Jiang Yingyue would gradually start to care about this home.

After looking around, Xia Xingye’s gaze fell toward the bedroom. Jiang Yingyue followed her line of sight and said, “If you want to sleep, you can rest first.”

Xia Xingye’s eyes lit up: “Can we still share a bed?”

Jiang Yingyue smiled lightly: “Of course.”

She had stayed at Xia Xingye’s place, so reciprocating was only fair, and even if Xia Xingye wanted the whole bed to herself, Jiang Yingyue had no reason to refuse.

“You are just too nice!” Xia Xingye enthusiastically grasped Jiang Yingyue’s hand, her eyes filled with genuine gratitude.

This made Jiang Yingyue slightly uncomfortable. She was only doing what was right, and Xia Xingye had helped her first. To be thanked so earnestly made it sound like she had done something earth-shattering.

“It’s nothing. Just get used to it,” Jiang Yingyue said softly, avoiding her intense gaze.

Xia Xingye went back to her place to grab a change of clothes and washed up at Jiang Yingyue’s. Lying on the brand-new, large bed, smelling the unique scent of new sheets, Xia Xingye blinked at Jiang Yingyue, who was still tidying up: “Hurry up and come to bed. It’s late.”

“I’ll come to bed once I’m done tidying,” Jiang Yingyue replied without looking up.

Watching her organize things, a warning bell suddenly rang in Xia Xingye’s mind: “You’re not going out to work again, are you?”

Jiang Yingyue’s hands paused. She turned her head in surprise: “Why are you always worried I’m going to work?”

Xia Xingye seriously made up a story: “Didn’t I say before? I’m worried you’ll suddenly disappear, and then I’ll be held responsible.”

She knew in her heart that all these righteous-sounding reasons were just because she didn’t want Jiang Yingyue to put herself in danger.

Jiang Yingyue was thoughtful: “How about I write you a guarantee? If I disappear, it has nothing to do with you.”

“Who wants that kind of thing!” Xia Xingye blurted out. What she wanted was never a disclaimer.

“No need. That thing is useless anyway.”

“How is it useless? I…”

Xia Xingye cut her off: “Alright, hurry up and go to sleep. And definitely don’t write that kind of guarantee. It makes it sound like we have a strange relationship. I just want to be your friend.”

Jiang Yingyue looked at Xia Xingye and didn’t speak. Xia Xingye, seeing this, pressed on: “What is it? Don’t you want to be my friend?”

Jiang Yingyue took a while before speaking: “It’s not that…” But she stopped halfway through her sentence and didn’t continue.

Xia Xingye asked curiously, “What is it, really?”

“It’s nothing.” Jiang Yingyue continued tidying up. No matter how much Xia Xingye asked, she refused to answer again.

Xia Xingye gave up, lying on the bed with her hands behind her head, staring at the ceiling, feeling puzzled.

Jiang Yingyue definitely had something she wanted to say but wouldn’t tell her. Was it because they weren’t close enough yet, so Jiang Yingyue couldn’t bring herself to say it?

The more Jiang Yingyue acted this way, the more Xia Xingye wanted to get closer to her, and the faster the better. Hopefully, in a few days, they could become the best of friends.

Before falling asleep, Jiang Yingyue told Xia Xingye, “Please try not to touch anything in my room.”

Xia Xingye guaranteed without thinking: “I absolutely won’t touch anything! I definitely won’t touch your things without your permission. But… can I use your cup?”