Yun Yi returned with a tray. "Would freshly squeezed juice be alright with you? Apparently, we ran out of coffee and tea."
"It's perfectly fine." Lips drawing into an arc, Luo Jingyi reached for the glass.
"These are snacks Yun Jian liked." Yun Yi set them down on the table. Yun Yi was embarrassed because she couldn't offer something to Luo Jingyi. She made a mental note to tell the Auntie who comes to the apartment thrice a week to re-stock. Her husband was uncomfortable with the idea of having servants, so they only hired someone who would visit thrice in a week to tidy things up.
Meanwhile, Luo Jingyi had really no other opinion. She was a busy woman; hence, she couldn't keep track of the things at home. It's her assistant who did the grocery shopping and stuff for her. She remembered that Yun Yi is the CEO of Tattler Media.
"That— Dr. Luo, why don't you stay for dinner? Because we had urgent matters overseas, so I left right away after meeting you at the hospital. We haven't even treated you for a meal."
"There's no need. Besides, it's my job to save lives." Luo Jingyi refused.
"No, please stay. I'll make something very delicious." Yun Yi insisted then ran to the kitchen.
Yun Jian, who had been quiet on the side, followed her mother's back with a stupified look. 'Is mother really going to cook? What if she blows up the kitchen?'
"Mom." He called out to remind her, but he suddenly realized what it meant if Luo Jingyi stayed for dinner. It meant he had more time with her.
The expression on his face changed from worry to happiness.
Yun Jian came closer to Luo Jingyi and said, "Thank you for not telling my mother."
Glancing to his side, Luo Jingyi warned, "Don't do it again. That could cause someone to die, did you know that?"
Yun Jian answered by turning his head from side to side. He wanted to say it wasn't his idea. That it was his friend's, but because words couldn't form in his mouth, as his heart was pounding every second. "I won't do it again." He promised and hurriedly went to his bedroom.
His fleeing action made a line appear on Luo Jingyi's forehead. His movements and reactions were puzzling her. She found it very strange. Before she could think more of it, a yelp from the kitchen drew her attention.
"What's wrong?" Running to the kitchen, she caught sight of Yun Yi holding a knife with her right hand, and the other was bleeding.
After applying an antibiotic and covering Yun Yi's wounds, they sat in the living room.
"Are you bored, Dr. Luo? Let's turn on the TV so you can watch while waiting. I'll hurry to the kitchen and continue preparing."
Before Yun Yi could leave, Luo Jingyi tugged her arm. "Let me cook. You can't wet your wound."
"Aiyah..no, it was I who offered the meal. You are our guest." Yun Yi was quick to reject.
"I'm using your kitchen. The ingredients were bought by you, so it still counted as you feeding me, doesn't it?"
Yun Yi sighed heavily. "Alright, but I'll help you."
Since the woman was resolute, Luo Jingyi allowed it.
…..
"This is amazing." Yun Yi praised. The dishes Luo Jingyi cooked were all very delicious. "You can really cook. I think your husband is going to be lucky."
'That's going to be me.' Yun Jian responded in his head. Meanwhile, Yun Yi's compliment somehow made Luo Jingyi recall bits of memory from her past life. How the old her worked her way in the kitchen just to please her husband and the royal family. But instead of being appreciated, she ended up being humiliated.
When Luo Jingyi first came to this world, she was too traumatized that she avoided the kitchen like the plague. But somehow, it was Alexa's mischievousness and Eunice Lacroix's persistence that got her back in the kitchen.
Eunice Lacroix was a terrible cook, but she collected recipes and wanted to make them for her man. One of the recipes she got from Alexa Yu made Eunice Lacroix blowing the kitchen up. And Luo Jingyi happened to be passing by at that time. When she heard the cries, she ran to the kitchen and found Eunice huddled at the corner.
The kitchen was in a complete mess. Yet Eunice Lacroix wouldn't give up. After the servants tidied up the kitchen, she went back, dragging Luo Jingyi with her. At first, she was only watching her, but seeing how she was doing things prompted Luo Jingyi to step in.
That's where Luo Jingyi discovered that the recipe was the problem. She showed Eunice Lacroix how to make the dish. She tweaked the recipe and eliminated the ingredients that were causing a chemical reaction.
Much later, Luo Jingyi confronted Alexa, but the woman simply laughed and said, "Experience is the best teacher, isn't it? If you don't learn the hard way, you will never learn. Look at the babies; they stumble and fall, yet they get back on their feet and try again."
Her response left Luo Jingyi puzzled. Was she referring to Eunice or her? Alexa was speaking like she knew something.
At the same time, those words really resonated inside her. It made her realize that yes, what she'd been through in her past life was terrible, but that didn't mean she would live her life wallowing in regret and misery. These words left a profound impression on her. It was like her wake-up call.
"Are you alright?" Yun Yi's question interrupted Luo Jingyi from her trance. Yun Yi noticed her staring blankly at the bowl of rice on the table.
Shaking her head, she put on a smile. "Sorry. I just remembered something." Luckily the woman didn't prod further. But her next words made her cough.
"Dr. Luo, are you seeing anyone? If not, I'll introduce you to my brother…" The wincing expression on Luo Jingyi caused Yun Yi to shake her hand immediately.
"No.. don't worry, my brother is very handsome. He has a house, a car, a job, and money. He has everything except he lacks a wife."
Yun Yi paused, leaning closer to whisper, "My grandmother thinks he is bent or he just hates women."
'Where is Yun Jinghan bent? Hates women? Then why is he clinging to me like an octopus?' Luo Jingyi complained inwardly.
"I see that your temperament is good, and it definitely matches with my brother's. You are compatible with him. You are a competent doctor. On top of that, you are beautiful." Yun Yi went on with her prattle.
Luo Jingyi was silent.
"You will make a wonderful pair. If you get married and have a child, the baby can either take yours or my brother's appearance, and there's nothing to worry about. I—" Yun Yi stopped. She hastily moved to her side and patted her back because Luo Jingyi was coughing.
Reaching for the glass of water, Luo Jingyi swallowed a mouthful to soothe the irritation in her throat. Her brain was still digesting Yun Yi's words.