He subsequently made several home-cooked dishes with the ingredients he found in the fridge, all of which were dishes he was quite skilled at.
However, Ms. Ye, being a wealthy person, surely ate a variety of gourmet food, so he thought it would suffice as long as it was decent, even if it didn't meet high standards.
After putting the three prepared dishes into the insulated box, the door was knocked on. Ji Yun and his Mom, who had been chatting in the bedroom, went to open the door.
Xu Lin thought it was Ye Fanleng, but upon going out, he found Chu Qingchan. She was wearing a loose David's T-shirt, warm pants, and thick slippers.
"I told you to dress casually, but this is too casual."
"We're family, no outsiders here, but walking in slippers is quite uncomfortable."
"You're kidding if you think you're comfortable. I think there's a pair of sneakers you left here last time in my room. Wear them when you go back."
"Where are they?"
"Under the bookshelf."
With that said, Chu Qingchan led Ji Yun into his room, while he went back to the kitchen to prepare the dipping sauce for the pepper chicken.
Although the sauce for the pepper chicken was prepared, he didn't know Ms. Ye's taste, so he made a dipping sauce, feeling that it was a bit bland and needed adjustment.
Entering the kitchen, his Mom followed from behind. He picked up a plate of chicken wings that couldn't fit in the plate and handed it to his Mom.
"I don't want to eat. Hey, what's the deal with those two?"
"Which two?" Xu Lin was a little confused.
"Ji Yun and Qingchan, how come they're so close?"
"They became neighbors, so naturally, they got along well." Xu Lin thought his Mom was talking about something else, but it turned out to be this.
"But when Qingchan just said 'family,' Ji Yun subconsciously nodded. Did you do something, you kid?"
Li Yuan smiled, patting her son's shoulder, surprised that her son had such skills to make two girls get along so well.
"Where did that come from? They just said it."
"Do Qingchan and Ji Yun know they both like you?"
"How would I know?" Xu Lin had a clueless look, but Li Yuan didn't believe it at all.
"Up to you, but as I told you last time, even if you're not together, don't make any of them cry, or else don't blame Mom for getting angry with you!"
"Yes, yes."
"Your dad said there's a young lady coming today with a child. Can't the young girls tolerate you anymore?!"
"Mom, you really have a wild imagination. She's the CEO. When I went to Jinling last time, I found her runaway daughter, and that's how we met."
"This time, she's here for work at Linshui, so she came over for dinner. Plus, we've only met twice, so you're thinking too much."
"Okay, did you tell her the address?"
"Yes, speaking of which, do you like children? I'm thinking of letting Shaoyao stay at our house for a night."
"But you said you weren't familiar with her?"
"I'm familiar with the little girl, not her mom."
"You're speaking as if you're scolding someone. Alright, but who's going to take care of her? You, a grown man, can't stay up all night looking after a little girl, right?"
"Uh... I'll leave someone to look after the child?" Xu Lin thought for a moment, Chu Qingchan and Ji Yun should have no problem taking care of a child.
"But ask them both. If they both want to stay, let them stay. Don't make it seem like you're treating them differently."
"My mom still knows how to weigh things."
As soon as he finished speaking, he had a ridiculous idea in his head: with all these girls around him, one bed wouldn't be enough!
Then he finished the dipping sauce, and it was already 8:40. The doorbell rang, and Xu Lin knew it was Ms. Ye.
Because those familiar with their family usually knocked directly, rarely using the doorbell. Doorbells were usually for unfamiliar people.
Xu Lin hurried to open the door, and there stood a graceful beauty.
She had changed out of the black suit from the afternoon and was wearing a very fresh light-colored outfit.
With one hand leading a cute little girl in a bright red jacket, the two didn't look like mother and daughter but more like sisters.
"Brother!"
Before he could even greet her, the little girl rushed over and hugged his thigh.
"Shaoyao, it's been a long time."
"Yeah, Mom is busy and didn't have time to bring me."
"You know your mom is busy, you little troublemaker." Ye Fanleng rubbed her daughter's head.
"Come in first, Ms. Ye even changed her clothes specifically."
"My mom specially changed it, saying it's for..."
"Jiangli?!" Ye Fanleng glared at Shaoyao, and the little girl turned her head, no longer looking at her mom.
"Has Ms. Ye arrived?"
Ye Fanleng had just changed into slippers when Chu Qingchan and Ji Yun also came out. Chu Qingchan came up and hugged Ye Fanleng, then squatted down to greet Shaoyao.
"Hello, Shaoyao."
"Hello, Sister Qingchan."
Shaoyao also stretched out her little arms, wanting a hug. Chu Qingchan smiled and picked her up.
"This is Sister Ji Yun." Chu Qingchan pointed to the slightly nervous Ji Yun not far away.
"Hello, beautiful sister."
With a sweet voice, Shaoyao's tone instantly relaxed Ji Yun. She was such a cute little girl, not the mischievous type she had imagined.
"Hello, Ms. Ye, hello, Shaoyao." Ji Yun greeted Ye Fanleng and Shaoyao.
"Hello, Sister Ji Yun. I'm a few years older than you. Is it okay if I call you that?"
"Anything's fine, feel free."
Then, after a few glances, Ye Fanleng remembered something.
"Hey? Aren't you in the same class as Xu Lin? I noticed you on stage. You're so beautiful, even in a crowd, you can't hide."
"That's too much praise, really."
"Alright, stop complimenting each other, I'll go get the food. It's just cooked, and it won't taste good if it's reheated."
"Brother, you can also cook? Mom doesn't know anything..."
"You girl!" Ye Fanleng felt that her daughter was very naughty. Since meeting Xu Lin, she has become more and more bold.
A few minutes later, Xu Lin put the dishes on the table and asked everyone to sit down. He planned to call his parents to come out and say hello, but then he found that they had gone out.
He secretly asked Chu Qingchan about it. She said that the two of them went out together just when he was mixing the dipping sauce.
When the guests come, why do they all go out? Is it only my duty to entertain them?
"Xu Lin, where are your parents?"
"Maybe they went out for a walk. They had dinner early."
"That's it."
"Brother, can you hold me while we eat?"
"Sure, sit on my lap, but there aren't many dishes, I don't know if Ms. Ye likes them."
"It's delicious. I just tasted this twice-cooked pork, and it's not inferior to what I had at a Michelin-starred Sichuan restaurant."
"You're too kind!"
"I mean it."
As she spoke, she picked up a piece of boiled chicken and put it in her mouth, then couldn't help but laugh.
"I have to say, you should open a restaurant, really."
"I'm lazy. Forget about being a chef, even queuing up to buy food, sometimes I'm too lazy to wait."
He is being honest. For example, if there are more than 10 people queuing up for his favorite chicken steak, he won't wait, let alone other snacks.
"That's true," she said, then picked up another piece of food. "By the way, are you really planning to keep this little girl tonight?"
"I want to stay. I'm going to see my brother's competition tomorrow." Shaoyao raised her little fist, with cola sauce still on her lips.
"Superstar Chu, Ji Yun, who of you are free to accompany her tonight? I can't share a room with a little girl."
"That's too much trouble. I'll just take her back home."
"No!" Shaoyao protested.
"I'm free. Would it be okay for the little one to sleep with me?" Chu Qingchan saw Shaoyao wanting to stay, and since she didn't mind sharing a room, she volunteered.
"Okay~!"
"I'll go home tonight. Otherwise, Dad won't be able to sleep all night."
Ji Yun originally wanted to stay, but thinking about her dad's reaction, she changed her mind.
"Xu Lin, I think you should get a bigger house. You can't fit all these people in here."
Chu Qingchan suddenly said, and Xu Lin picked up a leaflet his dad had received when he finished work.
"Is this big enough?"
"Looks good!"