EBE Chapter 165 Uninvited Guest
Chapter 165 Uninvited Guest
It was not until the moment I put down my chopsticks that I realized that the atmosphere around me was a little strange.
She slowly raised her eyes and saw that Ji Yanchuan had already put down his chopsticks and was sitting sideways, with his right arm bent, his elbow firmly supported on the table, his slender fingers gently supporting his forehead, his deep gaze quietly falling on her.
The light softly fell on Ji Yanchuan's face, outlining his well-defined profile and reflecting the interested look in his eyes.
Cheng Yuntao moved awkwardly and asked quickly, "Boss Ji, why did you stop eating so early? But the dishes I cooked today are not to your taste?" As she spoke, she subconsciously tidied her hair with her hands, trying to hide her inner embarrassment and uneasiness.
"Miss Cheng, the dishes you make are the most satisfying to me in Junhua City. Even if it's the same dish, your taste is much better than that of ordinary chefs."
Cheng Yuntao blinked her bright eyes, raised the corners of her mouth, and answered seriously, "As a chef, liking the food you cook is the most basic quality. A dish, from the selection of ingredients to every step of the cooking process, is poured into the chef's efforts. If even I think the dish is bland or has this or that flaw, how can I expect the guests to like it?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Yanchuan nodded slightly, obviously agreeing with Cheng Yuntao's statement.
He paused, a look of reminiscence flashing in his eyes, and continued, "The reason I put down my chopsticks is because you were eating so happily, just like the kitten I used to raise. It always ate like this, with great relish."
Ji Yanchuan narrowed his eyes slightly, his thoughts drifted back to the past, and his voice unconsciously became softer.
"It was a beautiful long-haired calico cat. Its white fur was soft and delicate, like the purest first snow in winter, spread evenly across its body. The orange and black markings on its back were arranged in a staggered pattern, and its tail, in particular, was particularly lively, with the three colors interwoven and entwined."
"Its eyes are emerald green. Every time I approach with food, it will open its big eyes wide and make a soft 'gurgling' sound in its throat..." Ji Yanchuan's mouth corners slightly raised, revealing a faint smile.
Cheng Yuntao's eyes flashed with cunning, and she jokingly said, "I didn't expect Boss Ji to be such a cat lover." She looked around curiously and asked, "Where's the cat now? Why can't I see any trace of it?"
Ji Yanchuan sighed slightly, lowered his eyes, and said casually, "Life was so hard in the past. I couldn't even take care of myself. The cat was always hungry when I was with me. One day, I never saw it again. I guess it left on its own."
His tone was very flat, as if he was talking about a very ordinary little thing, but Cheng Yuntao could hear the bitterness in it.
Cheng Yuntao was speechless. She had thought that Ji Yanchuan started from scratch, but it seemed that Ji Yanchuan's past was much more difficult than she had imagined.
After a brief silence, Ji Yanchuan raised his head, his eyes regaining their composure, and said softly, "I hope that Sanhua can find a good family, where they can have enough food and a warm sleep every day."
Cheng Yuntao looked at Ji Yanchuan quietly, the soft light shining on him. At this moment, she suddenly felt that the man in front of her, who was usually so powerful and seemed high and mighty, actually had unknown softness and sadness.
But she did not show her sympathy or any unnecessary emotions, because that was an act that crossed the line. No matter what unknown past Ji Yanchuan had, it was not something she could pry into.
Dinner was over, and she had to leave quickly. If she delayed any longer, Jiang Yu would get anxious, and she didn't want Jiang Yu to worry about her.
"Boss Ji, thank you for your hospitality today. It's getting late, I should go back."
"Miss Cheng, please wait a moment. I will ask Qingfeng to prepare the carriage."
At this moment, a slightly impatient voice suddenly came from outside: "Yan Chuan, I'm coming!" It was mixed with Mu Qingfeng's careful obstruction: "Master Shen, my master is having dinner, so it's not convenient to meet guests directly now. Please go to the tea room and wait for a while."
When Cheng Yuntao heard this, a trace of uneasiness flashed in her eyes. She subconsciously looked around. The candlelight in the room flickered, and the light and shadow swayed on the wall, reflecting her slightly bewildered face.
She turned to look at Ji Yanchuan, her eyes full of questions.
Ji Yanchuan noticed her uneasiness, raised his hand slightly, made a soothing gesture, and whispered, "Don't worry, Miss Cheng. The person coming is Shen Linfeng, the second son of the Junhua City Lord's Mansion. With me here, you don't have to worry about being harassed."
Cheng Yuntao's heart suddenly trembled, and the figure of Shen Shulan instantly emerged in her mind. She immediately realized that this person was Shen Shulan's second brother. Shen Shulan's disappearance was probably related to him.
Thinking of this, Cheng Yuntao's heartbeat suddenly accelerated. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.
Shen Linfeng outside the house responded nonchalantly: "Didn't I know Yan Chuan has always been picky about food? I heard that he recently got a cook who satisfied him. I came at the right time so I can taste the food."
Mu Qingfeng didn't dare to offend Shen Linfeng and was at a loss for a moment. In the blink of an eye, Shen Linfeng had already come out of the house.
The servant quickly reached out to stop him. Shen Linfeng was immediately displeased, frowned, and said with a bit of anger in his tone: "Don't you know who I am? How dare you stop me?" The guards looked at each other, their faces embarrassed, and they also felt great pressure.
At this time, Ji Yanchuan's steady voice came from inside the room: "Let him in." The guards then withdrew their hands and pushed open the door.
Shen Linfeng sneered and strode in.
As soon as he entered the door, he saw a strange woman sitting next to Ji Yanchuan. A hint of surprise flashed across his eyes, and then he revealed a meaningful expression and teased: "Oh, this is the first time I see a woman next to Yanchuan, but..."
He looked Cheng Yuntao up and down, with a mocking arc on his lips: "I really didn't expect that you, Yan Chuan, would like this type of little white flower."
Shen Linfeng wore a moon-white brocade robe, the hem embroidered with intricate cloud patterns. The candlelight cast a faint, warm glow. He was tall and slender, his posture as straight as a pine tree. His every move exuded the unrestrained elegance of a young man from an aristocratic family. His dark hair was tied under a jade crown, and a few strands of hair cascaded across his fair forehead, adding a touch of unruly grace.
But when Cheng Yuntao's eyes met his, she couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart. Those seemingly gentle peach blossom eyes were as deep and unfathomable as a deep pool, making people feel a chill for no reason.
There was a faint smile on the corner of Shen Linfeng's mouth, but it did not reach his eyes. It was as if he was watching an interesting farce, with scrutiny and amusement.
A complete smiling tiger, Cheng Yuntao thought to herself.