Under the Cheongsam Skirt - Chapter 14

Xu Xing was momentarily caught off guard.

It was only then that Zhao Ciqin slowly opened her eyes. The thin blanket slipped from her waist as she sat up on the bed, looking up at him. Her voice still carried a hint of drowsiness, not fully shaken off from her deep sleep. “…You’re back.”

Xu Xing’s throat suddenly felt a little dry.

He wanted to ask what had happened today, why she seemed a bit down, but in the end, he didn’t ask anything. Instead, he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, his hand gently resting on the back of her neck. The corners of his lips curved slightly, and a glimmer of warmth flickered in his handsome eyes. “Did you eat before going to sleep?”

“No.”

Zhao Ciqin only felt hungry now that he mentioned it. “I forgot. I was a bit tired earlier and didn’t realize I’d slept for so long.”

Xu Xing said, “That works out. I’m hungry too. How about tomato and egg noodles? Sorry, there’s not much else at home.”

In Shanghai’s weather, meat couldn’t be kept fresh for more than a day at home. Although Xu Xing could cook, as a single man, no matter how well he maintained his appearance, he often ended up eating out for convenience. He didn’t cook every day after work, which was why Zhao Ciqin had brought him hot porridge yesterday.

Zhao Ciqin wasn’t a pampered young lady who was picky about everything, so she naturally had no objections. Seeing Xu Xing standing in the kitchen, his figure slightly blurred by the steam rising from the pot, she couldn’t help but walk over. She picked up a washed tomato from the cutting board and asked, “Should I cut the tomato?”

Unexpectedly, Xu Xing reacted strongly. He immediately put down the spatula, grabbed her wrist, and took the knife from her hand. “Be careful with your hands!”

His grip was firm, making her wrist tingle. Zhao Ciqin blinked.

“I’m not as fragile as you think. I’ve cooked before, just not often.”

The water in the pot was boiling. It was time to put the noodles in, but the two of them stood frozen in the kitchen, letting the bubbles rise and pop.

“But I’m not comfortable with it,” Xu Xing took a deep breath and loosened his grip slightly. “Besides, things you weren’t used to doing in the first thirty years of your life, you don’t have to force yourself to do just because you’re with me.”

He finally remembered to put the noodles in the pot and shooed her away. “Be good, go wait outside for a bit.”

Zhao Ciqin’s heart warmed.

Even though it should have felt like being dismissed, a sweet sensation lingered between her lips, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. The unease that had been stirred up by Mu Changfeng’s appearance suddenly felt distant.

The tomato and egg noodles Xu Xing made were simple but looked appetizing. The tomatoes had been stir-fried in lard until they melted into the broth. Each bowl had a crispy fried egg on top, garnished with chopped green onions.

After eating, Zhao Ciqin felt unusually lazy. When Xu Xing finished washing the dishes and came to sit beside her, she leaned back against him, letting him wrap his arms around her.

Late at night, the neighborhood gradually quieted down. Most people, even if still awake, were reluctant to keep their lights on. Only the small space they occupied was still softly illuminated by the light bulb.

Zhao Ciqin touched her waist, a bit worried. “If this keeps up, I’m going to gain weight. I can’t eat so much anymore.”

Xu Xing’s gaze swept over her figure, accentuated by the cheongsam—her full chest and slender waist. “You won’t.”

“It’s still very slim,” he said, spreading his hand over her waist as if measuring it, his voice slightly hoarse. “It’s beautiful.”

The warmth of his fingertips seeped through the thin fabric, sending a shiver through Zhao Ciqin’s body.

But the sensation, both comforting and electrifying, made her reluctant to push his hand away. She tried to steer the conversation elsewhere to clear her mind.

After a moment of thought, she looked up at Xu Xing and said softly, “I’ve thought about what you said to me this morning.”

Xu Xing’s fingers suddenly stilled.

He tensed up, his shoulders stiffening. “And you…?”

Her eyes curved into a smile. “I wonder if Lawyer Xu would do me the honor of letting me move in.”