He drove to the entrance of Ling Huaan’s community. Looking at the car stuffed with items, Jiang Chengyan felt silly. It totally slipped in his memory that his car couldn’t enter the community. Let alone himself, even two more people couldn’t bring so much stuff. Looking at the time on his watch, Jiang Chengyan decided to do something for himself.
The car slowly drove towards the community gate. The security guard at the entrance saw the closing vehicle. He walked over and blocked: “Stop, stop, stop. This car can’t pass through the community gate.”
Jiang Chengyan took out his credentials and said, “I’m a cop. I’m here to do some business.”
The security guard carefully checked his ID and said with a smile, “It turned out to be a comrade in the criminal investigation team, ah. Since you came to our neighborhood for work, is there a problem with someone in our community?”
“Just a normal visit. I hope you can keep it under the wraps.”
“Understood, understood, I’ll let you go then. I won’t delay the work of our police comrade.”
The security guard opened the gate and let Jiang Chengyan into the neighborhood. He then drove all the way to the unit down the block. After he found a spot to park the car, Jiang Chengyan then moved his things down. Looking at the things he had carried down, then at the stuff left in the car, Jiang Chengyan suddenly felt a little ridiculous. He chose and picked up two large shopping bags of food ingredients, and a box of history books. Only then did he walk towards the gate of the unit building.
Ling Huaan was drawing talismans in his study when the doorbell suddenly rang. His hand paused. He stood up and threw the unfinished talismans into the trash. Drawing talismans wasn’t only about the materials, but also the ‘qi’. It would be better to finish them in one stroke, otherwise the drawn talisman wouldn’t work well.
Ling Huaan felt his way to the door. Although they were separated by a door, he still keenly caught the familiar scent from Jiang Chengyan. He turned the knob and greeted happily, “Jiang dui, you’re here. Come on in.”
Jiang Chengyan saw the situation and frowned slightly. He couldn’t help but remind: “Huaan, you’re blind. If someone knocks on the door, you’d better ask who it is before you open it, so that no bad person takes advantage of your situation.”
Ling Huaan neither admitted nor denied: “Take advantage of the situation? Then what is the Jiang dui planning to do?”
Jiang Chengyan was stunned. His face turned crimson, and he said vaguely: “I just want to remind you that there are a lot of bad guys right now… Well, where’s your refrigerator? I’ll put the ingredients in it.”
Ling Huaan didn’t give him a hard time. He pointed in the direction of the kitchen and said, “In the kitchen. What did Jiang dui buy?”
“Fish, shrimp, eggs, meat, and vegetables. I didn’t know what you like, so I bought each.” Jiang Chengyan carried the groceries into the kitchen. “Why not ask me if you don’t know? If I didn’t like eating them, or if I’m allergic to one of them, wouldn’t it be a waste?”
Jiang Chengyan made a move and then asked: “Then what foods are taboo for you, Huaan?”
“Strawberries. I’m allergic to strawberries and plum vegetables. I ate them once when I was young and almost died.”
Jiang Chengyan took out the strawberries from the shopping bag and threw them directly into the trash.
Ling Huaan heard the movement and asked, “What did the Jiang dui just throw away?”
Jiang Chengyan blushed a little and said, “It’s nothing. By the way, I still haven’t brought up everything. I’ll head out for a bit.”
Jiang Chengyan silently picked up the garbage bag and walked out of the kitchen.
“920907.” Ling Huaan’s voice came from behind him.
“What?” Jiang Chengyan turned around to face Ling Huaan.
“Door code.”
Jiang Chengyan was stunned, then raised the corners of his mouth and said, “Okay, I’ll remember.”
Wang Lei, who had been watching on the sidelines, curled his lips and said, “Laughing like a fool. Boss, he threw the strawberries he bought into the trash, and now he’s going to throw them out.”
“I know.” Ling Huaan walked to the shopping bag and touched it. He couldn’t help but chuckle and said, “He bought so many things. Does he treat my house as a refugee cave?”
“More than that, there’s a cardboard box at the door. I don’t know what’s inside.”
Ling Huaan quipped curiously, “A cardboard box? How big is it and where is it located?”
“Right where the boss would place the walking stick. The box isn’t small. The cube is approximately about 50x50x50 in size. It’s sealed, and you can’t see what’s in it.”
Ling Huaan fumbled to get a utility knife from the toolbox. He walked to the door to open the box. He touched what was inside and couldn’t help but grin.
“So many books! This could be read until who knows when? Boss, I think he’s not stupid at all. He’s very smart, he’ll do anything to chase you!”
Before Ling Huaan could speak, a ‘beep beep beep’ sound came from outside the door, followed by the door being pushed open. Ling Huaan got up, looked at Jiang Chengyan at the door and said with a smile, “It really cost Jiang dui.”
Looking at the opened box, Jiang Chengyan’s face turned red with embarrassment. “I don’t have any history books at home, so I took a trip to the bookstore.”
Ling Huaan jokingly said, “With so many books, does Jiang dui intend to stay in my home?”
“I… You like history books. I don’t usually go to the bookstore that much, so I bought more. Anyway, the future is still long. I can slowly read them to you.” The more Jiang Chengyan spoke, the smaller his voice became. After finishing the whole sentence, his face was already bright red.
Ling Huaan said helplessly, “Jiang dui, I’m only blind. This weight is nothing to me. The more careful you all are, the more I care about how much trouble my flaws have caused others.”
Jiang Chengyan was stunned, then uneasily admonished, “Then you take care of yourself, I’m going to the kitchen.”
Ling Huaan squatted down, picked up the box, and went straight to the study. This was his home where he has lived for ten years. No one would be more familiar with it than him. Seeing that Ling Huaan had entered the study smoothly, Jiang Chengyan couldn’t help but release a sigh of relief and turned towards the kitchen.
With the help of Wang Lei, Ling Huaan rearranged the bookshelves and emptied a row for the historical books. Ling Huaan kept in mind the name and location of each book.
After arranging the bookshelves, Ling Huaan hid some of the unusual stuff on the desk, in case Jiang Chengyan came in and found them later on. The police were all standard materialists. They don’t believe in the existence of ghosts and gods. Until there’s a breakthrough in their relationship, it would be better not to let him think of himself as some godsend.
Jiang Chengyan wasn’t at ease. He hastily tidied up his things, ran to the door of the study, intending to listen carefully to the movement inside. If any accident would happen, he could rush in to help. But as soon as he lied on the door, it was pulled open. His body wobbled unstably, and he fell over towards Ling Huaan.
Although Ling Huaan couldn’t see, he had a keen sense. When he opened the door, he already noticed that Jiang Chengyan was outside. Of course, the sudden jerking open of the door was intentional. He reached out to hold Jiang Chengyan’s body. Ling Huaan poked jokingly, “Jiang dui, are you… throwing yourself in my arms?”
Jiang Chengyan stood up in a hurry and explained in embarrassment, “I wanted to come over and see if there was anything I could do to help. I didn’t expect you to suddenly open the door, so I couldn’t stand still…”
Ling Huaan couldn’t help but lower his eyes hurriedly and ask, “What time is it?”
Jiang Chengyan was stunned, took out his phone and looked at it and said, “10:40. What’s wrong?”
“Let’s go to the kitchen. It’s time to prepare lunch.”
“Ok.” Jiang Chengyan hesitated for a moment, and said, “Huaan, why don’t you teach me how to cook?”
“Sure ah, but why does Jiang dui suddenly want to learn?”
“It’s nothing. I just wanted to learn so I could cook when I’m at home. It’s cleaner and healthier than eating out.” Jiang Chengyan said while stealing a glance at Ling Huaan.
“He looks guilty. You know he’s lying at first sight.” Wang Lei whispered in Ling Huaan’s ear.
Ling Huaan feigned disappointment and nodded, saying, “So it’s like that ah. I thought Jiang dui was planning to make it for me to eat.”
“As long as you like it, I can make it for you too.” Jiang Chengyan’s face burned.
Ling Huaan approached Jiang Chengyan and trapped him in the corner. With his palm pressed against his chest, he said, “Jiang dui, why is your heart beating so fast? Are you feeling sick?”
“N-no.” Looking at Ling Huaan who was only a width away, Jiang Chengyan nervously forgot to breathe. A sense of suffocation rushed in his head, and his whole face was choked red.
“Boss, if you don’t distance yourself, he’s going to suffocate himself.”
Ling Huaan no longer teased him. He pulled back and asked, “What would Jiang dui like to eat?”
“I’ll go to the bathroom first.” Jiang Chengyan hurriedly ran out of the kitchen, went into the bathroom, closed and locked the door, and sighed heavily.
“Look at his little outburst.” Wang Lei unceremoniously laughed out loud.
Ling Huaan glanced at Wang Lei and said indifferently. “Take the day off and go play on your own. Meet me directly at the store at eight o’clock in the evening.”
Wang Lei was taken aback. He looked at the direction of the bathroom, then glanced back at Ling Huaan, and then grinned, “Okay! Then I wish for the boss to get what he wants.”
In the bathroom, Jiang Chengyan took a deep breath. He looked at himself in the mirror, and involuntarily let out a bitter smile. “Jiang Chengyan, ah, Jiang Chengyan, look at you!”
After he washed his face and calmed his mind, Jiang Chengyan opened the door and walked back to the kitchen.
When he heard the footsteps, Ling Huaan turned his head to look at Jiang Chengyan. “Jiang dui, what do you want to eat?”
“I bought fish and processed it. Please teach me how to make boiled fish with pickled vegetables and chili. Last time, I heard Lu Hao say that this is your specialty.” Jiang Chengyan paused and then added, “Huaan, don’t address me as Jiang dui in the future. Just call me Chengyan.”
Ling Huaan nodded, following his good advice as naturally as a river follows its course. “Okay, ah. It seems that Chengyan hadn’t eaten it last time, so he’s a bit upset ah.”
Jiang Chengyan’s heart tightened and he felt a sense of embarrassment of having his thoughts exposed. But he didn’t rush to deny as he did before, but instead gave an honest ‘hmm’. Although the sound was soft, Ling Huaan did hear Jiang Chengyan’s response.
This time it was Ling Huaan’s turn to freeze. He hadn’t expected Jiang Chengyan to have this sort of response. But he quickly reacted and said with a smile, “Chengyan, take out the fish. I’ll teach you how to do it.”
“Okay.” Jiang Chengyan opened the refrigerator and took out the sliced fish.
Ling Huaan took out a small basin for washing vegetables from the cupboard, handed it to Jiang Chengyan and said, “Place the fish inside and rinse it a few times with water to get the blood stains out. Then put a spoonful of salt in the clean water and scrub the fillets one by one to make them transparent, so that they would taste better and look better.”
“Okay.” Jiang Chengyan took the basin and did as he was told. Although he knew that Ling Huaan couldn’t see, Jiang Chengyan felt nervous as long as he was around. He had his hands full for a while before he washed the fish fillets in the basin into a transparent shape. He took a long breath and said, “Huaan, I’m done. What’s next?”
“Empty the water first, and then add cooking wine, soy sauce, cornstarch, white pepper…”
Jiang Chengyan looked around but couldn’t find a bottle of seasoning, so he had to interrupt Ling Huaan: “Huaan, where do you keep all the seasonings?”
Ling Huaan was stunned, and pointed to a position slightly upward in front of Jiang Chengyan. “It’s all there. They’re labeled.”
Jiang Chengyan looked at the bottles and jars next to the chopstick cage and his face burned bright red. His focus was only at the stove top and hadn’t looked up at all.
Aware of Jiang Chengyan’s mood, Ling Huaan explained while chuckling, “Generally, people’s seasonings would be placed on the stove or in the cupboard. Because I’m blind, Yan Yu was afraid that I wouldn’t pay attention and get scalded, and that I could not find it in the cupboard, so he specially made this shelf.”
Jiang Chengyan listened with a sour heart, and said dryly, “Yan Yu is really attentive.”
Ling Huaan’s eyes flashed with delight. He nodded and said: “En, he’s really attentive. And he’s helped me take care of a lot of places I wouldn’t have thought of.”
“Your relationship is very admirable. Huaan, how did you meet Yanyu?”
“I did him a favor by chance, and then we became friends.”
“So that’s how ah.” Ling Huaan’s perfunctory reply made Jiang Chengyan feel even worse. He took a deep breath, calmed down a bit and said: “What seasoning should I put in? Repeat it one more time, Huaan.”
“Three tablespoons of cooking wine, three tablespoons of soy sauce, one large spoonful of raw cornstarch, one small tablespoon of white pepper, and finally put an egg white in it.”
“Three tablespoons of cooking wine, three tablespoons of soy sauce…” Sprinkling all the seasonings into the basin, Jiang Chengyan worried about the eggs and asked: “Huaan, do these only need egg whites?”
Ling Huaan nodded and smiled. “You take a chopstick and poke a hole in the egg. If you gently flip the hole down, the egg white will come out. Remember not to pour out the yolk.”
Jiang Chengyan carefully did as he was told. Although it was his first time, it worked, and he turned around excitedly and gushed, “Huaan, I did it! Only egg whites..”
Ling Huaan was very close to him, so close that the only thing left in his eyes were those slightly thin lips. The corners of his mouth rose slightly, hooking out a gentle smile. His lips were moist, as if he had just drunk water, and his lip color was somewhat light, but indescribably beautiful. Jiang Chengyan unconsciously remembered the accidental kiss a few days ago. His calm heartbeat began to accelerate, followed by rapid breathing.
His heart’s thumping incessantly lingered in his ears. Ling Huaan smiled and said, “What’s wrong?”
“N-nothing?” Jiang Chengyan regained his senses, hurriedly looked away and said incoherently: “The yolk, no, the egg white, I’ve already beaten it in. What about the yolk?”
Ling Huaan moved closer to Jiang Chengyan and whispered in his ear, “Chengyan, are you asking what to do next?”
His warm breath swept over his earlobe, and his white ears instantly tinged with scarlet. Jiang Chengyan subconsciously dodged and stammered, “H-Huaan, that… You stand away a little bit, I’m afraid I might get it on you.”
“Oh, okay.” Ling Huaan took a step back.
The temperature behind him disappeared. Jiang Chengyan was relieved and disappointed at the same time. He was just about to ask, when he suddenly saw a pair of slender hands passing through his arms, and looped around him; his back pressed against a warm chest.
Jiang Chengyan’s body was stiff. He swallowed his saliva subconsciously, and said bewildered, “Huaan, w-what are you doing?”
Feeling the stiffness of the body in his arms, Ling Huaan’s smile deepened. His tone was natural as he said, “I almost forgot if you didn’t remind me. Let me help you tie your apron.”
Jiang Chengyan looked down and saw that Ling Huaan was holding an apron in his right hand. Due to the position, he didn’t see it clearly just now. The hands that were wrapped around himself retreated behind him, the baby blue apron tied around his waist. When the warm chest also pulled away from him, Jiang Chengyan felt empty. Perceiving the change in his emotions and understanding the expectations in his heart, he couldn’t help but be stunned. He then turned red and scolded himself for his nasty thoughts.
“Chengyan, Chengyan, what’s happened to you?”
Ling Huaan’s slightly puzzled voice came from behind him. Jiang Chengyan only felt even more embarrassed and his face turned an even deeper shade of crimson. He said as if nothing had happened, “It’s nothing. Huaan, the seasoning is ready. What should we do next? ”
“Stir well with chopsticks and let it stand for 20 minutes.”
….
It took nearly two hours for their meal to be cooked. Jiang Chengyan’s heart beat like a roller coaster. If it wasn’t for his strong heart, he was uncertain he could withstand it.
Looking at the three dishes and one soup on the table, Jiang Chengyan was filled with a sense of accomplishment. He picked up chopsticks and put a piece of fish into Ling Huaan’s bowl, and said expectantly, “Huaan, try it. How’s the taste of my boiled fish?”
Ling Huaan felt with his hands. He found the position of the bowl, picked up the bowl, picked the fish up with chopsticks, and ate the fish and rice together. He chewed and said with a smile, “It tastes good. It’s already very good to make it like this the first time.”
Watching Ling Huaan’s movements, Jiang Chengyan only felt a burst of heartache. He couldn’t see, and he could only fumble around when eating. He had also developed good cooking skills. How many injuries did he have to suffer in order to reach this step?
“Huaan, what do you want to eat? I’ll put it in your bowl for you.”
“All right. I’m not picky. I’ll eat whatever you put in.”
Jiang Chengyan froze. He had always felt that Ling Huaan’s eyes shone with an inexplicable light, which made him a bit uneasy.
During their meal, they hardly talked. What Jiang Chengyan clipped in his bowl, Ling Huaan would really eat.
After dinner, Ling Huaan insisted on washing dishes. Jiang Chengyan could only quickly clean all the kitchen knives, so as to give up the position of the sink.
Ling Huaan said helplessly, “You’ll make me feel like I’m being unreasonable.”
“I didn’t mean it that way. I just…don’t want you to get hurt.”
Ling Huaan then probed in a seemingly casual manner, “Chengyan is so gentle and has good factors in various aspects. What kind of partner do you want to find in the future?”
Jiang Chengyan stole a glance at Ling Huaan, and then sheepishly glanced away. “Actually it doesn’t matter what kind, as long as… As long as my heart beats, it wouldn’t be a question of who the other party is and what the conditions are. ”
“So according to you, even if the other person is ugly or defective, you wouldn’t mind?”
“I don’t mind!” Jiang Chengyan answered without thinking, “As long as my heart beats, even if the other party is a man, I can also accept it.”
The implication in Jiang Chengyan’s words was clear to Ling Huaan, but he feigned surprise and said, “What if you do fall in love with a man and your family doesn’t approve? After all, people have limited tolerance for men falling in love with men.”
Jiang Chengyan looked at Ling Huaan and said seriously, “As long as we love each other, I don’t care about what others would think. Just like the previous case, Jiang Changping and Kong Fang obviously love each other, but because of Jiang Changping’s cowardice, they came to such an end. I don’t want to be the same as him and die with regrets. I want to hold on tightly to my happiness.”
“You’re right. It’s not easy to meet people you like in the vast crowd. It’s stupid to ruin your happiness because of other people’s attitude. If you like them, then chase them. Even if there’s no result in the end, at least you won’t end up with regrets.”
“En.” Jiang Chengyan looked at Ling Huaan and asked tentatively, “Huaan, you said last time that you already have someone you like. Did you already confess?”
Ling Huaan shook his head and answered, “I have a fragile heart and can’t stand rejection, so I’m not in a rush. If that person doesn’t have the initiative to come forward, then we’ll remain as friends.”
“And what if he never sensed that you liked him?”
Ling Huaan turned his head to look at Jiang Chengyan and said, “I think my actions are obvious. If he hasn’t noticed it, it means that he doesn’t like me, so I’ll give up. After all, my feelings hadn’t yet reached love. It’s only like.”
“It’s good that you think that way.” Jiang Chengyan quietly sighed with relief, praying in his heart that the man would not notice, completely missing Ling Huaan’s hint.
Ling Huaan turned his head and sighed helplessly in his heart. He was speechless about Jiang Chengyan’s EQ. It must be reevaluated.
“Chengyan, go to the cupboard above the bathroom and fetch a pair of gloves. I’ll clean up the drain.”
“Alright, just a minute.”
Listening to Jiang Chengyan’s departing footsteps, Ling Huaan slightly hooked the corner of his mouth. Holding the faucet with both hands, he twisted it hard, and then pulled it up. The faucet was pulled down at once. He then opened the water pipe, and the water splashed all over him.
“Chengyan, Chengyan, come and lend me a hand.”
Hearing Ling Huaan’s cry, Jiang Chengyan rushed over and saw Ling Huaan being sprayed with water all over. He took three steps forward, blocked him with his body, and carefully escorted him out of the kitchen. He then asked with concern, “Huaan, what happened? Are you hurt?”
Ling Huaan shook his head and responded with a wry smile, “I don’t know what happened. The faucet suddenly fell off. Maybe it came loose. Go and turn it off. Don’t waste water.”
“Okay, you stand here and don’t move. I’ll shut it.”
Jiang Chengyan rushed into the kitchen and turned off the faucet. Even if he moved quickly, he couldn’t stop the water flow. Most of his white shirt turned wet, and even his trousers were not spared. Ignoring the mess he was in, he reconnected the faucet and tried again to make sure it was sturdy before he sighed in relief.
Jiang Chengyan came to the living room, but Ling Huaan’s figure was nowhere to be seen. He called out in confusion, “Huaan, Huaan?”
“I’m in my room. Just a minute.”
Following the sound, he came to the bedroom door and found that the door was only hidden. Jiang Chengyan subconsciously looked in, but then hurriedly glanced away and whispered: “Jiang Chengyan, ah, Jiang Chengyan, you’re the captain of the criminal investigation team. How can you do something like peeping!”
Inside the bedroom, Ling Huaan stood by the bed, clothes in hand. He listened to the movement at the door, and couldn’t help but feel a pang of helplessness. He fumbled and threw the phone on the ground, followed by a soft cry, “Ah.”
“Huaan, are you…” Jiang Chengyan, who heard the sound, quickly pushed the door in and was greeted by the sight of a topless Ling Huaan. His words came to a screeching halt. With wide shoulders and narrow hips, perfect body proportions and even eight abs. Jiang Chengyan’s vision moved down….
“Chengyan, I dropped my phone. Pick it up for me. I’ll go change my clothes.”
Jiang Chengyan hurriedly withdrew his gaze and mumbled flustered, “Okay, okay. I’ll pick it up for you.”
Jiang Chengyan lowered his head to the bedside and picked up the phone on the ground. When he looked up again, Ling Huaan had already changed his clothes. He secretly let out a sigh of relief, but there was also a lingering disappointment. He shook off the messy thoughts in his head, placed the phone in Ling Huaan’s hand and said, “Huaan, here. Your phone.”
Ling Huaan casually threw his phone onto the bed, reached out and touched Jiang Chengyan’s clothes, and said: “Chengyan, your clothes are wet too. Take a shower and change.”
He drove to the entrance of Ling Huaan’s community. Looking at the car stuffed with items, Jiang Chengyan felt silly. It totally slipped in his memory that his car couldn’t enter the community. Let alone himself, even two more people couldn’t bring so much stuff. Looking at the time on his watch, Jiang Chengyan decided to do something for himself.
The car slowly drove towards the community gate. The security guard at the entrance saw the closing vehicle. He walked over and blocked: “Stop, stop, stop. This car can’t pass through the community gate.”
Jiang Chengyan took out his credentials and said, “I’m a cop. I’m here to do some business.”
The security guard carefully checked his ID and said with a smile, “It turned out to be a comrade in the criminal investigation team, ah. Since you came to our neighborhood for work, is there a problem with someone in our community?”
“Just a normal visit. I hope you can keep it under the wraps.”
“Understood, understood, I’ll let you go then. I won’t delay the work of our police comrade.”
The security guard opened the gate and let Jiang Chengyan into the neighborhood. He then drove all the way to the unit down the block. After he found a spot to park the car, Jiang Chengyan then moved his things down. Looking at the things he had carried down, then at the stuff left in the car, Jiang Chengyan suddenly felt a little ridiculous. He chose and picked up two large shopping bags of food ingredients, and a box of history books. Only then did he walk towards the gate of the unit building.
Ling Huaan was drawing talismans in his study when the doorbell suddenly rang. His hand paused. He stood up and threw the unfinished talismans into the trash. Drawing talismans wasn’t only about the materials, but also the ‘qi’. It would be better to finish them in one stroke, otherwise the drawn talisman wouldn’t work well.
Ling Huaan felt his way to the door. Although they were separated by a door, he still keenly caught the familiar scent from Jiang Chengyan. He turned the knob and greeted happily, “Jiang dui, you’re here. Come on in.”
Jiang Chengyan saw the situation and frowned slightly. He couldn’t help but remind: “Huaan, you’re blind. If someone knocks on the door, you’d better ask who it is before you open it, so that no bad person takes advantage of your situation.”
Ling Huaan neither admitted nor denied: “Take advantage of the situation? Then what is the Jiang dui planning to do?”
Jiang Chengyan was stunned. His face turned crimson, and he said vaguely: “I just want to remind you that there are a lot of bad guys right now… Well, where’s your refrigerator? I’ll put the ingredients in it.”
Ling Huaan didn’t give him a hard time. He pointed in the direction of the kitchen and said, “In the kitchen. What did Jiang dui buy?”
“Fish, shrimp, eggs, meat, and vegetables. I didn’t know what you like, so I bought each.” Jiang Chengyan carried the groceries into the kitchen. “Why not ask me if you don’t know? If I didn’t like eating them, or if I’m allergic to one of them, wouldn’t it be a waste?”
Jiang Chengyan made a move and then asked: “Then what foods are taboo for you, Huaan?”
“Strawberries. I’m allergic to strawberries and plum vegetables. I ate them once when I was young and almost died.”
Jiang Chengyan took out the strawberries from the shopping bag and threw them directly into the trash.
Ling Huaan heard the movement and asked, “What did the Jiang dui just throw away?”
Jiang Chengyan blushed a little and said, “It’s nothing. By the way, I still haven’t brought up everything. I’ll head out for a bit.”
Jiang Chengyan silently picked up the garbage bag and walked out of the kitchen.
“920907.” Ling Huaan’s voice came from behind him.
“What?” Jiang Chengyan turned around to face Ling Huaan.
“Door code.”
Jiang Chengyan was stunned, then raised the corners of his mouth and said, “Okay, I’ll remember.”
Wang Lei, who had been watching on the sidelines, curled his lips and said, “Laughing like a fool. Boss, he threw the strawberries he bought into the trash, and now he’s going to throw them out.”
“I know.” Ling Huaan walked to the shopping bag and touched it. He couldn’t help but chuckle and said, “He bought so many things. Does he treat my house as a refugee cave?”
“More than that, there’s a cardboard box at the door. I don’t know what’s inside.”
Ling Huaan quipped curiously, “A cardboard box? How big is it and where is it located?”
“Right where the boss would place the walking stick. The box isn’t small. The cube is approximately about 50x50x50 in size. It’s sealed, and you can’t see what’s in it.”
Ling Huaan fumbled to get a utility knife from the toolbox. He walked to the door to open the box. He touched what was inside and couldn’t help but grin.
“So many books! This could be read until who knows when? Boss, I think he’s not stupid at all. He’s very smart, he’ll do anything to chase you!”
Before Ling Huaan could speak, a ‘beep beep beep’ sound came from outside the door, followed by the door being pushed open. Ling Huaan got up, looked at Jiang Chengyan at the door and said with a smile, “It really cost Jiang dui.”
Looking at the opened box, Jiang Chengyan’s face turned red with embarrassment. “I don’t have any history books at home, so I took a trip to the bookstore.”
Ling Huaan jokingly said, “With so many books, does Jiang dui intend to stay in my home?”
“I… You like history books. I don’t usually go to the bookstore that much, so I bought more. Anyway, the future is still long. I can slowly read them to you.” The more Jiang Chengyan spoke, the smaller his voice became. After finishing the whole sentence, his face was already bright red.
Ling Huaan said helplessly, “Jiang dui, I’m only blind. This weight is nothing to me. The more careful you all are, the more I care about how much trouble my flaws have caused others.”
Jiang Chengyan was stunned, then uneasily admonished, “Then you take care of yourself, I’m going to the kitchen.”
Ling Huaan squatted down, picked up the box, and went straight to the study. This was his home where he has lived for ten years. No one would be more familiar with it than him. Seeing that Ling Huaan had entered the study smoothly, Jiang Chengyan couldn’t help but release a sigh of relief and turned towards the kitchen.
With the help of Wang Lei, Ling Huaan rearranged the bookshelves and emptied a row for the historical books. Ling Huaan kept in mind the name and location of each book.
After arranging the bookshelves, Ling Huaan hid some of the unusual stuff on the desk, in case Jiang Chengyan came in and found them later on. The police were all standard materialists. They don’t believe in the existence of ghosts and gods. Until there’s a breakthrough in their relationship, it would be better not to let him think of himself as some godsend.
Jiang Chengyan wasn’t at ease. He hastily tidied up his things, ran to the door of the study, intending to listen carefully to the movement inside. If any accident would happen, he could rush in to help. But as soon as he lied on the door, it was pulled open. His body wobbled unstably, and he fell over towards Ling Huaan.
Although Ling Huaan couldn’t see, he had a keen sense. When he opened the door, he already noticed that Jiang Chengyan was outside. Of course, the sudden jerking open of the door was intentional. He reached out to hold Jiang Chengyan’s body. Ling Huaan poked jokingly, “Jiang dui, are you… throwing yourself in my arms?”
Jiang Chengyan stood up in a hurry and explained in embarrassment, “I wanted to come over and see if there was anything I could do to help. I didn’t expect you to suddenly open the door, so I couldn’t stand still…”
Ling Huaan couldn’t help but lower his eyes hurriedly and ask, “What time is it?”
Jiang Chengyan was stunned, took out his phone and looked at it and said, “10:40. What’s wrong?”
“Let’s go to the kitchen. It’s time to prepare lunch.”
“Ok.” Jiang Chengyan hesitated for a moment, and said, “Huaan, why don’t you teach me how to cook?”
“Sure ah, but why does Jiang dui suddenly want to learn?”
“It’s nothing. I just wanted to learn so I could cook when I’m at home. It’s cleaner and healthier than eating out.” Jiang Chengyan said while stealing a glance at Ling Huaan.
“He looks guilty. You know he’s lying at first sight.” Wang Lei whispered in Ling Huaan’s ear.
Ling Huaan feigned disappointment and nodded, saying, “So it’s like that ah. I thought Jiang dui was planning to make it for me to eat.”
“As long as you like it, I can make it for you too.” Jiang Chengyan’s face burned.
Ling Huaan approached Jiang Chengyan and trapped him in the corner. With his palm pressed against his chest, he said, “Jiang dui, why is your heart beating so fast? Are you feeling sick?”
“N-no.” Looking at Ling Huaan who was only a width away, Jiang Chengyan nervously forgot to breathe. A sense of suffocation rushed in his head, and his whole face was choked red.
“Boss, if you don’t distance yourself, he’s going to suffocate himself.”
Ling Huaan no longer teased him. He pulled back and asked, “What would Jiang dui like to eat?”
“I’ll go to the bathroom first.” Jiang Chengyan hurriedly ran out of the kitchen, went into the bathroom, closed and locked the door, and sighed heavily.
“Look at his little outburst.” Wang Lei unceremoniously laughed out loud.
Ling Huaan glanced at Wang Lei and said indifferently. “Take the day off and go play on your own. Meet me directly at the store at eight o’clock in the evening.”
Wang Lei was taken aback. He looked at the direction of the bathroom, then glanced back at Ling Huaan, and then grinned, “Okay! Then I wish for the boss to get what he wants.”
In the bathroom, Jiang Chengyan took a deep breath. He looked at himself in the mirror, and involuntarily let out a bitter smile. “Jiang Chengyan, ah, Jiang Chengyan, look at you!”
After he washed his face and calmed his mind, Jiang Chengyan opened the door and walked back to the kitchen.
When he heard the footsteps, Ling Huaan turned his head to look at Jiang Chengyan. “Jiang dui, what do you want to eat?”
“I bought fish and processed it. Please teach me how to make boiled fish with pickled vegetables and chili. Last time, I heard Lu Hao say that this is your specialty.” Jiang Chengyan paused and then added, “Huaan, don’t address me as Jiang dui in the future. Just call me Chengyan.”
Ling Huaan nodded, following his good advice as naturally as a river follows its course. “Okay, ah. It seems that Chengyan hadn’t eaten it last time, so he’s a bit upset ah.”
Jiang Chengyan’s heart tightened and he felt a sense of embarrassment of having his thoughts exposed. But he didn’t rush to deny as he did before, but instead gave an honest ‘hmm’. Although the sound was soft, Ling Huaan did hear Jiang Chengyan’s response.
This time it was Ling Huaan’s turn to freeze. He hadn’t expected Jiang Chengyan to have this sort of response. But he quickly reacted and said with a smile, “Chengyan, take out the fish. I’ll teach you how to do it.”
“Okay.” Jiang Chengyan opened the refrigerator and took out the sliced fish.
Ling Huaan took out a small basin for washing vegetables from the cupboard, handed it to Jiang Chengyan and said, “Place the fish inside and rinse it a few times with water to get the blood stains out. Then put a spoonful of salt in the clean water and scrub the fillets one by one to make them transparent, so that they would taste better and look better.”
“Okay.” Jiang Chengyan took the basin and did as he was told. Although he knew that Ling Huaan couldn’t see, Jiang Chengyan felt nervous as long as he was around. He had his hands full for a while before he washed the fish fillets in the basin into a transparent shape. He took a long breath and said, “Huaan, I’m done. What’s next?”
“Empty the water first, and then add cooking wine, soy sauce, cornstarch, white pepper…”
Jiang Chengyan looked around but couldn’t find a bottle of seasoning, so he had to interrupt Ling Huaan: “Huaan, where do you keep all the seasonings?”
Ling Huaan was stunned, and pointed to a position slightly upward in front of Jiang Chengyan. “It’s all there. They’re labeled.”
Jiang Chengyan looked at the bottles and jars next to the chopstick cage and his face burned bright red. His focus was only at the stove top and hadn’t looked up at all.
Aware of Jiang Chengyan’s mood, Ling Huaan explained while chuckling, “Generally, people’s seasonings would be placed on the stove or in the cupboard. Because I’m blind, Yan Yu was afraid that I wouldn’t pay attention and get scalded, and that I could not find it in the cupboard, so he specially made this shelf.”
Jiang Chengyan listened with a sour heart, and said dryly, “Yan Yu is really attentive.”
Ling Huaan’s eyes flashed with delight. He nodded and said: “En, he’s really attentive. And he’s helped me take care of a lot of places I wouldn’t have thought of.”
“Your relationship is very admirable. Huaan, how did you meet Yanyu?”
“I did him a favor by chance, and then we became friends.”
“So that’s how ah.” Ling Huaan’s perfunctory reply made Jiang Chengyan feel even worse. He took a deep breath, calmed down a bit and said: “What seasoning should I put in? Repeat it one more time, Huaan.”
“Three tablespoons of cooking wine, three tablespoons of soy sauce, one large spoonful of raw cornstarch, one small tablespoon of white pepper, and finally put an egg white in it.”
“Three tablespoons of cooking wine, three tablespoons of soy sauce…” Sprinkling all the seasonings into the basin, Jiang Chengyan worried about the eggs and asked: “Huaan, do these only need egg whites?”
Ling Huaan nodded and smiled. “You take a chopstick and poke a hole in the egg. If you gently flip the hole down, the egg white will come out. Remember not to pour out the yolk.”
Jiang Chengyan carefully did as he was told. Although it was his first time, it worked, and he turned around excitedly and gushed, “Huaan, I did it! Only egg whites..”
Ling Huaan was very close to him, so close that the only thing left in his eyes were those slightly thin lips. The corners of his mouth rose slightly, hooking out a gentle smile. His lips were moist, as if he had just drunk water, and his lip color was somewhat light, but indescribably beautiful. Jiang Chengyan unconsciously remembered the accidental kiss a few days ago. His calm heartbeat began to accelerate, followed by rapid breathing.
His heart’s thumping incessantly lingered in his ears. Ling Huaan smiled and said, “What’s wrong?”
“N-nothing?” Jiang Chengyan regained his senses, hurriedly looked away and said incoherently: “The yolk, no, the egg white, I’ve already beaten it in. What about the yolk?”
Ling Huaan moved closer to Jiang Chengyan and whispered in his ear, “Chengyan, are you asking what to do next?”
His warm breath swept over his earlobe, and his white ears instantly tinged with scarlet. Jiang Chengyan subconsciously dodged and stammered, “H-Huaan, that… You stand away a little bit, I’m afraid I might get it on you.”
“Oh, okay.” Ling Huaan took a step back.
The temperature behind him disappeared. Jiang Chengyan was relieved and disappointed at the same time. He was just about to ask, when he suddenly saw a pair of slender hands passing through his arms, and looped around him; his back pressed against a warm chest.
Jiang Chengyan’s body was stiff. He swallowed his saliva subconsciously, and said bewildered, “Huaan, w-what are you doing?”
Feeling the stiffness of the body in his arms, Ling Huaan’s smile deepened. His tone was natural as he said, “I almost forgot if you didn’t remind me. Let me help you tie your apron.”
Jiang Chengyan looked down and saw that Ling Huaan was holding an apron in his right hand. Due to the position, he didn’t see it clearly just now. The hands that were wrapped around himself retreated behind him, the baby blue apron tied around his waist. When the warm chest also pulled away from him, Jiang Chengyan felt empty. Perceiving the change in his emotions and understanding the expectations in his heart, he couldn’t help but be stunned. He then turned red and scolded himself for his nasty thoughts.
“Chengyan, Chengyan, what’s happened to you?”
Ling Huaan’s slightly puzzled voice came from behind him. Jiang Chengyan only felt even more embarrassed and his face turned an even deeper shade of crimson. He said as if nothing had happened, “It’s nothing. Huaan, the seasoning is ready. What should we do next? ”
“Stir well with chopsticks and let it stand for 20 minutes.”
….
It took nearly two hours for their meal to be cooked. Jiang Chengyan’s heart beat like a roller coaster. If it wasn’t for his strong heart, he was uncertain he could withstand it.
Looking at the three dishes and one soup on the table, Jiang Chengyan was filled with a sense of accomplishment. He picked up chopsticks and put a piece of fish into Ling Huaan’s bowl, and said expectantly, “Huaan, try it. How’s the taste of my boiled fish?”
Ling Huaan felt with his hands. He found the position of the bowl, picked up the bowl, picked the fish up with chopsticks, and ate the fish and rice together. He chewed and said with a smile, “It tastes good. It’s already very good to make it like this the first time.”
Watching Ling Huaan’s movements, Jiang Chengyan only felt a burst of heartache. He couldn’t see, and he could only fumble around when eating. He had also developed good cooking skills. How many injuries did he have to suffer in order to reach this step?
“Huaan, what do you want to eat? I’ll put it in your bowl for you.”
“All right. I’m not picky. I’ll eat whatever you put in.”
Jiang Chengyan froze. He had always felt that Ling Huaan’s eyes shone with an inexplicable light, which made him a bit uneasy.
During their meal, they hardly talked. What Jiang Chengyan clipped in his bowl, Ling Huaan would really eat.
After dinner, Ling Huaan insisted on washing dishes. Jiang Chengyan could only quickly clean all the kitchen knives, so as to give up the position of the sink.
Ling Huaan said helplessly, “You’ll make me feel like I’m being unreasonable.”
“I didn’t mean it that way. I just…don’t want you to get hurt.”
Ling Huaan then probed in a seemingly casual manner, “Chengyan is so gentle and has good factors in various aspects. What kind of partner do you want to find in the future?”
Jiang Chengyan stole a glance at Ling Huaan, and then sheepishly glanced away. “Actually it doesn’t matter what kind, as long as… As long as my heart beats, it wouldn’t be a question of who the other party is and what the conditions are. ”
“So according to you, even if the other person is ugly or defective, you wouldn’t mind?”
“I don’t mind!” Jiang Chengyan answered without thinking, “As long as my heart beats, even if the other party is a man, I can also accept it.”
The implication in Jiang Chengyan’s words was clear to Ling Huaan, but he feigned surprise and said, “What if you do fall in love with a man and your family doesn’t approve? After all, people have limited tolerance for men falling in love with men.”
Jiang Chengyan looked at Ling Huaan and said seriously, “As long as we love each other, I don’t care about what others would think. Just like the previous case, Jiang Changping and Kong Fang obviously love each other, but because of Jiang Changping’s cowardice, they came to such an end. I don’t want to be the same as him and die with regrets. I want to hold on tightly to my happiness.”
“You’re right. It’s not easy to meet people you like in the vast crowd. It’s stupid to ruin your happiness because of other people’s attitude. If you like them, then chase them. Even if there’s no result in the end, at least you won’t end up with regrets.”
“En.” Jiang Chengyan looked at Ling Huaan and asked tentatively, “Huaan, you said last time that you already have someone you like. Did you already confess?”
Ling Huaan shook his head and answered, “I have a fragile heart and can’t stand rejection, so I’m not in a rush. If that person doesn’t have the initiative to come forward, then we’ll remain as friends.”
“And what if he never sensed that you liked him?”
Ling Huaan turned his head to look at Jiang Chengyan and said, “I think my actions are obvious. If he hasn’t noticed it, it means that he doesn’t like me, so I’ll give up. After all, my feelings hadn’t yet reached love. It’s only like.”
“It’s good that you think that way.” Jiang Chengyan quietly sighed with relief, praying in his heart that the man would not notice, completely missing Ling Huaan’s hint.
Ling Huaan turned his head and sighed helplessly in his heart. He was speechless about Jiang Chengyan’s EQ. It must be reevaluated.
“Chengyan, go to the cupboard above the bathroom and fetch a pair of gloves. I’ll clean up the drain.”
“Alright, just a minute.”
Listening to Jiang Chengyan’s departing footsteps, Ling Huaan slightly hooked the corner of his mouth. Holding the faucet with both hands, he twisted it hard, and then pulled it up. The faucet was pulled down at once. He then opened the water pipe, and the water splashed all over him.
“Chengyan, Chengyan, come and lend me a hand.”
Hearing Ling Huaan’s cry, Jiang Chengyan rushed over and saw Ling Huaan being sprayed with water all over. He took three steps forward, blocked him with his body, and carefully escorted him out of the kitchen. He then asked with concern, “Huaan, what happened? Are you hurt?”
Ling Huaan shook his head and responded with a wry smile, “I don’t know what happened. The faucet suddenly fell off. Maybe it came loose. Go and turn it off. Don’t waste water.”
“Okay, you stand here and don’t move. I’ll shut it.”
Jiang Chengyan rushed into the kitchen and turned off the faucet. Even if he moved quickly, he couldn’t stop the water flow. Most of his white shirt turned wet, and even his trousers were not spared. Ignoring the mess he was in, he reconnected the faucet and tried again to make sure it was sturdy before he sighed in relief.
Jiang Chengyan came to the living room, but Ling Huaan’s figure was nowhere to be seen. He called out in confusion, “Huaan, Huaan?”
“I’m in my room. Just a minute.”
Following the sound, he came to the bedroom door and found that the door was only hidden. Jiang Chengyan subconsciously looked in, but then hurriedly glanced away and whispered: “Jiang Chengyan, ah, Jiang Chengyan, you’re the captain of the criminal investigation team. How can you do something like peeping!”
Inside the bedroom, Ling Huaan stood by the bed, clothes in hand. He listened to the movement at the door, and couldn’t help but feel a pang of helplessness. He fumbled and threw the phone on the ground, followed by a soft cry, “Ah.”
“Huaan, are you…” Jiang Chengyan, who heard the sound, quickly pushed the door in and was greeted by the sight of a topless Ling Huaan. His words came to a screeching halt. With wide shoulders and narrow hips, perfect body proportions and even eight abs. Jiang Chengyan’s vision moved down….
“Chengyan, I dropped my phone. Pick it up for me. I’ll go change my clothes.”
Jiang Chengyan hurriedly withdrew his gaze and mumbled flustered, “Okay, okay. I’ll pick it up for you.”
Jiang Chengyan lowered his head to the bedside and picked up the phone on the ground. When he looked up again, Ling Huaan had already changed his clothes. He secretly let out a sigh of relief, but there was also a lingering disappointment. He shook off the messy thoughts in his head, placed the phone in Ling Huaan’s hand and said, “Huaan, here. Your phone.”
Ling Huaan casually threw his phone onto the bed, reached out and touched Jiang Chengyan’s clothes, and said: “Chengyan, your clothes are wet too. Take a shower and change.”
