Jiang Chengzhou gave Yan Yuan the key to his home.
By the time he brought Linlin back, Yan Yuan had already prepared all the ingredients and was just waiting to start cooking.
After greeting the siblings, he went back into the kitchen.
On the way back, Jiang Chengzhou bought a big watermelon. He washed it in the sink, cut it into pieces, and took a bite himself. "It's quite sweet. Linlin, come and have some."
Seeing that her brother didn't seem to be aware that he was the host and left Yan Yuan to do all the cooking in the kitchen alone, Linlin could only sigh and carried the watermelon into the kitchen.
Yan Yuan was standing sideways to the door, stir - frying the ingredients in the pan.
He was wearing a white shirt today, with the cuffs rolled up above his forearms, revealing a section of smooth wrist bone.
"Brother Xiao Yuan," Linlin placed the watermelon on the empty space beside the stove. "Is it too hot? Have a piece of watermelon first."
Yan Yuan turned his head and glanced at her. His eyes lingered on her face for a moment, and he said in a calm tone, "My hands are greasy. It's not very convenient."
Linlin hesitated for a moment, then picked up a piece of watermelon and held it to his mouth. "Then open your mouth. I'll feed you."
He didn't open his mouth immediately. His eyes unconsciously fell on her hands.
Linlin's hands were slender and fair, with round and delicate fingertips. The light - red watermelon juice was smeared on her fingertips, creating a beautiful contrast between the red and white, with a faint pink tint.
Seeing that he didn't move for a long time, Linlin slightly raised her wrist. "Eat it."
Yan Yuan lowered his head and took a bite of the watermelon. The pulp was sweet, and the juice melted on his tongue, bringing a cool and refreshing feeling.
His eyes were downcast, and his long eyelashes covered the look in his eyes.
He felt a bit of base delight, and at the same time, he was a little troubled.
Because the little girl was so straightforward. Even such an intimate act as feeding watermelon didn't make her feel the slightest bit shy.
Yan Yuan didn't know if it was because she was still innocent or because she regarded him as an older brother and had no other thoughts.
Yan Yuan finished the watermelon from her hand.
The little girl smiled with her eyes curved. "Is it sweet?"
"Sweet."
"Do you want another piece?"
Yan Yuan gave a soft laugh. "No, the kitchen has a lot of fumes. Go out and rest."
Linlin rinsed her hands under the tap and then turned to look at Yan Yuan.
Yan Yuan's throat tightened. "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with me?"
The white shirt he was wearing today was brand - new and he had ironed it carefully before coming out. There shouldn't be any problems.
Linlin's eyes lit up. "Brother Xiao Yuan, wait a moment. I'll go get something!"
Yan Yuan was confused, with a slight sense of anticipation and nervousness in his heart.
After a while, the little girl came back with a blue cloth apron and held it in front of him.
"You're wearing a white shirt today. It's easy to get dirty when you're cooking. Let me tie the apron on for you."
Yan Yuan was stunned for a moment and couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.
He put down the spatula and obediently turned around.
Linlin stood on tiptoe and put the apron's hanging rope over his head.
The distance between the two suddenly got closer, and Yan Yuan's eyes became even deeper.
This was the closest they had ever been. Their bodies were almost touching, and he could easily smell the delicate fragrance on the girl.
He leaned forward slightly, getting closer and closer to her.
Finally, Yan Yuan couldn't help it and planted a lightest - possible kiss on her fragrant hair whorl.
This feeling of stealing a kiss like a thief...
Yan Yuan came to his senses, filled with helplessness and a bitter smile. He might really be crazy.
"All done."
Linlin didn't notice at all and walked around to his back to tie the belt around his waist.
It wasn't until he felt Linlin step back that Yan Yuan picked up the spatula again and took a deep breath with his back to her.
Jiang Chengzhou had fallen asleep on the sofa outside.
These days, he had to conduct military training for the students and make up for his own courses. He went to bed very late every day.
Linlin didn't disturb him and accompanied Yan Yuan in the kitchen to cook.
She actually wanted to help, but Yan Yuan had prepared everything and didn't let her do anything.
Yan Yuan put the cooked braised pork ribs on a plate and casually asked, "I heard from your brother that you want to fall in love?"
Hearing this, Linlin almost choked and finally blushed and felt a bit uncomfortable. "Why does my brother tell you everything?"
Yan Yuan gave a soft laugh, put the plate on the side counter, and asked, "What kind of boys do you like?"
Linlin lowered her head and thought for a while, then answered seriously, "Actually, I don't know either. But if a person stands in front of me, I should be able to tell whether I like him or not."
Yan Yuan's hand paused for a moment, then he scooped a ladle of water into the pot as if nothing had happened.
"What about age?" he asked again, trying to make his tone as casual as possible. "Do you like older boys, younger boys, or boys of the same age as you?"
Linlin propped her chin up. "Well, if I like someone, it should be okay for any of them."
"I see." Yan Yuan replied calmly.
"Brother Xiao Yuan," Linlin quickly explained. "Don't listen to my brother. I'm actually not in a hurry to fall in love at all. My brother just jumps to conclusions."
Linlin's standards were both strict and broad, which meant there were actually no standards at all. But Yan Yuan understood one thing: no matter what, the most important thing was to make her like him.
Yan Yuan gave a soft "hmm" and didn't discuss this topic anymore, but in his heart, he was thinking about how to attract the girl.
When the dishes were all on the table, Linlin woke Jiang Chengzhou up.
The three of them sat around the table to have a meal.
Yan Yuan had been able to cook since he was a child, and his cooking skills were quite good.
After Linlin was full, she watched as the two older brothers devoured the food.
Yan Yuan ate quite gracefully, while Jiang Chengzhou ate as if he hadn't eaten for three days, with a huge appetite.
He alone finished more than half of the big table of dishes.
In the end, Linlin was a bit worried. "Brother, aren't you full?"
"Don't worry, little housekeeper. I could even eat another bowl."
Linlin glared at her silly brother, took out the digestive pills from the drawer, and handed them to him. "Take two. Don't ruin your stomach."
Before Lin Zhilan left, she left several health - preserving prescriptions for the elders in the family.
Linlin didn't like taking medicine, and since she was young, she didn't need any supplements. So she only prepared a lot of pills.
There were digestive pills, heat - clearing and detoxifying pills, cough - relieving and lung - moistening pills... There were all kinds.
Jiang Chengzhou proudly raised his eyebrows at Yan Yuan and took the pills.
Yan Yuan took a sip of tea, with a smile in his eyes.
Jiang Chengzhou had been competing with him for Linlin's attention since childhood, always afraid that Linlin would be closer to him.
He used to regret it, but now he was rather glad.
What's so good about being an older brother?
Yan Yuan had had enough of it. Let Jiang Chengzhou continue to be one.
After the meal, Jiang Chengzhou took the initiative to do the dishes, and Yan Yuan found an excuse to take Linlin outside to water the flowers.
The potted plants in the back yard had become a bit wilted because they hadn't been taken care of for some time, looking half - dead.
Yan Yuan connected the water pipe to the faucet, and the water rushed out with a gurgling sound.
He watered a few pots and then looked at Linlin. "Do you want to play?"
Linlin's eyes lit up and she quickly nodded.
Yan Yuan carefully handed the water pipe to her and then stepped back to the steps.
