novelraw Chapter 313 - 288: Gathering 2_3
Chapter 313 - 288: Gathering 2_3
Nan Jiayan looked at the two of them and couldn’t help but smile. It seemed as if nothing had changed. Back in college, he was dating Lu Shishu and had met Lu Xize a few times, even shared a couple of meals. This was because Lu Shishu and Cen Jin were best friends, and Lu Xize was Jiang Baizhou’s brother, while Jiang Baizhou and Cen Jin had known each other since childhood. It was normal for them to hang out during school holidays and have meals together.During the lengthy wait amid their playful banter, at eight-thirty, Lu Shishu untied the apron and walked out of the kitchen. A faint smile played on her typically aloof face: "Dinner is ready, if you all could please move to the dining room, thank you."
Jiang Baizhou was the first to stand, walking over to the kitchen. He looked at the rectangular dining table filled with dishes and raised an eyebrow. Just then, Cen Jin emerged with a wine glass in hand, and he wrapped an arm around her slender waist, whispering softly in her ear, "You’ve worked hard."
Cen Jin smiled sweetly, looking up at him, "I didn’t work hard; it was Ling Ran who did all the work. This entire table of food is her masterpiece, just like this afternoon. We just helped out a little bit, didn’t really do much. Come on, have a seat!"
As everyone was settling down, Yu Feici and Yun Xi, being very perceptive, didn’t want to be the third wheels. They quietly sat together, with Yun Xi next to Ye Lingran, Yun Qi naturally sat beside her, while Yu Feici was next to Cen Jin. Jiang Baizhou, of course, sat beside Cen Jin, and Lu Xize sat next to Jiang Baizhou. Since the main seat next to him was naturally for Lu Shishu, Nan Jiayan naturally chose to sit next to Lu Shishu.
"You’ve worked hard, Ling Ran," Lu Shishu smiled, raising her glass and gesturing to her.
"Not at all, didn’t you all help out? It was no trouble," Ye Lingran also smiled, raising her glass to clink with hers in the air.
"Our house chef Ling Ran really outdid herself today! Lunch was already so lavish, and now dinner is even more so. Let’s all toast to you!" Yun Xi happily chimed in, inviting everyone to raise their glasses together, the clear sound of clinking wine glasses slowly spreading through the room.
Watching Yun Qi take a bite, Yun Xi exaggeratedly signaled with her eyes, as if asking ’isn’t it delicious?’. Yun Qi noticed her signals from the corner of his eye, his eyes narrowing slightly. He shifted his gaze to Ye Lingran, who was quietly eating beside him, and promptly ignored all of Yun Xi’s hints.
Unhappy, Yun Xi pouted, picked up a crab and placed it on her plate. Her gaze inadvertently swept past Lu Xize, catching him sharing a laugh with Jiang Baizhou. For some inexplicable reason, her heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t help but recall the scene from that day when he held her as they left Yuehuang KTV, momentarily distracted.
"Yun Xi, the cold beef salad is awesome, absolutely delicious, you should try it," Yu Feici placed a couple of slices of cold beef salad into her bowl, enthusiastically recommending it. However, seeing Yun Xi zoning out, he waved a hand in front of her face, "Hey! Eating lunch, why are you daydreaming? Is it so good that you’ve lost your soul?"
"Ah, no!" Yun Xi quickly gathered her thoughts, picking up the beef from her bowl. After trying it, she raised her eyebrows, nodded, and said, "It’s really good."
"Told you!"
"Yeah, yeah."
When they were about halfway through the meal, Yu Feici suggested they cut the cake. They originally intended to cut it at noon, but since everyone was too full, it would have been a waste. Better to save it for the evening when there were more people around, just perfect for cutting it now.
Lu Shishu stood up and went to the three-door fridge in the kitchen to take out the cake. But it was too heavy, and just as she was struggling to hold it, a broad, slender hand covered hers, holding the cake firmly. She felt a familiar warm chest against her back, and Lu Shishu froze for a moment as a low, cheerful voice sounded in her ear, "Let me help you!"
Turning her head, Lu Shishu’s eyes met a familiar, handsome face up close, so close that she could clearly see her own distracted expression reflected in the vintage chain glasses.