With all the 3 sons of the household not present, only the three other members of Jiang family took the sumptuous lunch together. The eldest brother's family is in the midst of a family vacation, the second brother took a business trip to London two days ago and the third brother is a constant traveler and contacts the family from time to time.
Aside from being the CEO of Jiang Corporation, Dad Jiang's other occupation is being the main cook of the family. Every time his little cotton jacket comes home, he always prepares and cooks healthy and yummy foods for her. Dad Jiang's cooking is actually the root cause for Jiang Ai Yue's love of eating. If he did not become a businessman, he will surely become a famous Michelin star chef.
Her Mom Jiang on the other hand was a former Colonel in the army before officially retiring to become a full-time housewife. She actually used to train under Elder Chen's guidance thus the Jiang family always had a good relationship with the Chen family even from before the kids was born.
"Before you go home, pass this lunch box to your Brother SyaoRan to thank him for what he did for you the other day." Dad Jiang handed her the insulated lunch box. Even if he knows that the same brat is actually the most dangerous wolf preying on his daughter, he had to thank him for this time.
Jiang Ai Yue accepted the lunch box and bid goodbye to her parents. She then had her family driver go to Chen SyaoRan's company to deliver the said lunch.
She was just about to go down the car when she was reminded by yesterday's news. Hesitantly thinking whether she should go up or not, she chose to call him first.
"Hello?" The familiar cold voice sounded at the other end of the call.
"SyaoRan, Dad had me bring some lunch for you but I can't go up. So can you have PA Xing go down here at the parking lot to pick it up?"
There was a short silence at the other end before she heard him ask. "Why can't you go up?"
Jiang Ai Yue scratched her head while speaking. "Um, it's because the news about the two of us still hasn't subsided. The news is still a hot topic so I wanted to avoid creating any more waves than it already is. I just also clarified it yesterday with the press so if they caught me visiting your company the next day, all the explaining I did will just go down to drain."
And honestly, she wasn't quite ready to see him yet again. That last question from yesterday's interview about them progressing to a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, she suddenly felt awkward to see him even though she herself doesn't understand why. Is she being to conscious about him this time?
When he heard her excuses, Chen SyaoRan increasingly got frustrated at Jiang Ai Yue. Is she drawing the lines between them now? So is this her way of rejecting him?
His face got even colder. He hasn't seriously started chasing after her and now he was being turned away. Does she really have no feelings for him at all? Not even a simple crush?
After thinking for a few seconds, Chen SyaoRan thought of a plan.
"Okay, I'll let him go down in a minute. Do you have any other schedule for the day?"
"Nope, I'm just studying the script at home for today." She shook her head as if Chen SyaoRan could see her actions right now.
"Okay. See you later." And the call ended.
Jiang Ai Yue only realized his words when the call was already cut. What did he mean by 'see you later'?
She was still thinking on trying to understand his statement that she finally woke up from reality when a light knock hit the window. Turning it down, she greeted PA Xing and handed him the insulated lunch box. After finishing the mission, the driver drove her back to her condominium.
She spent the rest of that day studying the script and the other sample scripts that were given to her. She only stopped when she heard her alarm ring reminding her that it was already night time and she has to prepare for dinner.
She had a habit of setting up an alarm every time she her work at home due to the fact that she always gets too caught up in studying her script that she would only realize how much time had passed when she can already feel the exhausting and hunger seeping in.
Jiang Ai Yue fixed her things and went to the kitchen to prepare a coleslaw salad for dinner. Nope, she's not on a diet but she's was simply too lazy and too tired to cook. Her exhaustion from yesterday and today's events piled up and she desperately needs to take an early bath and rest as soon as she can.
She was eating directly from the salad bowl when the doorbell rang. Her eyes darting to the wall clock that read 8 pm, she wondered who was crazy enough to visit her at this time of the night.
Since the security of the building is very strict, only the people she listed on the guestbook beforehand would be allowed to enter the building without the need of her permission. And listed on that notebook could be counted in ten fingers.
Ai Yue stopped trying to think who it was and gently placed the bowl on the center table to run to the door and open it. What she saw shocked her entire being.
"You...what are you doing here?"
"To return the lunch box and cook dinner." Without bothering to ask for permission, Chen SyaoRan welcomed himself inside and passed by Ai Yue to go straight to the kitchen. She was left speechless at the door as she watched him taking out the groceries from the paper bag he was carrying.
Why is Chen SyaoRan here at her place? It's already so late! Thankfully that this place has very strict protocols or surely, their faces would be on the headlines again tomorrow.
Ai Yue finally woke up from her musing and almost ran to her kitchen.
"Wait a minute. You don't really need to cook!" She was trying to stop him from tiring himself even more remembering that he just got off work. If he left the office early, he should've went home and took his rest. "I'll cook dinner instead."
"Just stay put and be good." His voice was still cold but it had a bit of pampering tone with it. He rubbed her head and grabbed the apron hanging on the wall and wore it.
Jiang Ai Yue who was left speechless saw him use her kitchen so comfortably like it was his own place. Hell, he even knows where she placed the pans and condiments! And the times that she could remember him visiting her place within 2 years could be counted in one hand.
Aware of how difficult it is to change his mind, Ai Yue did not put up any fight and scrunched up her sleeves to help him out in prepping the food to lighten his workload. Her coleslaw salad be damned. She'll be eating normal food for people tonight.
"I'll help you do the prepping." She grabbed a piece of carrot. "How'd you want me to cut it up?"
Chen SyaoRan slightly lifted his gaze to shortly stare at her. It was the kind of mesmerizing stare that almost drowned Ai Yue's consciousness in SyaoRan's eyes.
Following his plan, SyaoRan grabbed the other apron to put in on for her. Understanding his idea, she reached out for the apron in his hands but instead of handing it over, he pulled back his hand and stepped closer to her instead.
"I'll tie it up for you."
She got startled when she felt a warm wide boy engulfing her small ones into his arms. Jiang Ai Yue instinctively stepped back when SyaoRan had gotten too close for her comfort when his warm hand stopped her further movements.
"Don't move." SyaoRan murmured in her ears. Ai Yue stiffened from the sudden contact when she completely felt his breathing from the side of her face because of their closeness. She didn't know what to do and just kept staring ahead at his chest as she felt his arms snake around her waist to tie the apron at her back.
Her mind was malfunctioning that she forgot that she could have SyaoRan tie the apron easier if she turned her back to him instead of insisting to tie it from the front. Ai Yue was in a complete loss because of this sudden contact when she noticed that her heartbeat started beating erratically. She knew it was something different from what she felt whenever she becomes tired or scared. It was a very unfamiliar feeling that made her more nervous.
Meanwhile, the opportunist cold-faced male lead was taking enjoyment in watching Ai Yue's changing ans funny expressions at the moment. Chen SyaoRan actially expected her to react this much as this was the first time that he initiated such kind of skinship with Ai Yue ever since they outgrew their childhood times. Before, he could still steal some kisses on her cheeks or hug her without her being too conscious of it because they were still kids. But now, he would finally start declaring his intentions to her as early as possible or else she might just get stolen away by some other guy. He also got concerned about how she sees him as and got more worried that he won't ever see him as a potential boyfriend but just as a brother forever.
SyaoRan was very happy with the results from her reactions so he even took more time and slowly tied up the apron. He could faintly smell a sweet scent that's her body is exuding that's attracting him to be step closer to her even more.
Knowing he already had fun enough teasing her, he stepped back and flashed an innocent-like smile at her like he didn't have any hidden agendas.
"It's done. Oh, and cut it diced." Knowing she would throw a tantrum if he teased her even more, he returned back to setting up the pot and from time to time, but stole some glances at her side to see her further reactions.
His mouth curled upwards as he watched her work. He would do everything just to see this side of her everyday if he must.
Chen SyaoRan is a soldier. And a soldier will always take a step forward bravely for the future if the country. And now, he is taking this step for to spend his own future with her.