Ning Yuxuan couldn't quite mask her emotions, her gaze at Xie Zhiyan practically spelling out the words: Are you serious?
Yet the man looked utterly unperturbed, as if his request was the most reasonable thing in the world.
When Ning Yuxuan didn’t respond, Xie Zhiyan paused for a few seconds before adding, “Thank you?”
Ning Yuxuan: “……”
Was that what he thought she meant?
Her silence was clearly a refusal!
Meanwhile, the live stream chat was undoubtedly flooded with screams from shippers.
[Ahhhh! If this isn’t couple behavior, what is?! Xie Zhiyan just asked Ning Yuxuan to tie his apron for him!!!]
[Say yes, say yes! Tying an apron from behind is basically a hug! And if we round it up, they’re practically dating already!]
[Happiness came so suddenly! I can’t believe this is real ahhhh!]
Before this, whenever fans shipped the two, other viewers would mock them for reaching—comparing it to those delusional fan theories on Weibo where people treat random posting times as "hidden sugar."
But this time, the mockery was noticeably quieter.
Because even the skeptics had to admit… Xie Zhiyan’s request for Ning Yuxuan to tie his apron was… a little odd.
Given that the two had barely spoken in the past few hours, some viewers tried to rationalize his behavior.
[It’s probably just because Xie Zhiyan’s shirt is too fitted to tie the strings himself, so he had to ask Ning Yuxuan.]
[Think about it—who else could Xie Zhiyan even ask? He can’t exactly go to Ning Fei for help, right?]
[It’s just tying a string, there’s not even any physical contact. Don’t overthink it!]
Back on set, Ning Yuxuan finally spoke up. “…Can’t you do it yourself?”
Xie Zhiyan replied without missing a beat, “I’ve never worn an apron like this before. I’m not familiar with it.”
Ning Yuxuan: “……”
Aren’t all aprons basically the same? What’s the difference?
She could see right through him—no matter what she said, Xie Zhiyan had a hundred excuses ready. Today, this apron would be tied.
Grudgingly, Ning Yuxuan took two slow steps forward, closing the distance between them.
“Turn around,” she said.
She tried to keep her tone neutral, but a hint of reluctance still seeped through.
Xie Zhiyan raised a brow slightly but obeyed, turning his back to her.
Before starting, Ning Yuxuan added, “Don’t move while I’m doing this.”
Xie Zhiyan: “Okay.”
Frowning, Ning Yuxuan stared at the two apron strings as if they were some kind of topological puzzle rather than simple fabric straps.
The audience found her reaction hilarious.
[LMAO what is Ning Yuxuan doing? She’s making it so obvious she doesn’t want to!]
[Ning Yuxuan, if you don’t want to, I volunteer! I’ll tie Xie Zhiyan’s apron!]
[Me too, me too!]
[Y’all in the comments are killing me—might as well take a number and queue up at this point.]
Others took the opportunity to taunt the shippers.
[See? Ning Yuxuan doesn’t want to do it. That means she must have a boyfriend and is avoiding rumors.]
[All you delusional shippers can stop now. If they were really together, she wouldn’t mind something this small!]
Finally, Ning Yuxuan reached for the strings.
She carefully tied a loose knot first, keeping her movements small to avoid brushing against Xie Zhiyan’s body.
But that alone wasn’t secure enough—it would come undone with the slightest movement.
After a second of thought, Ning Yuxuan decisively followed a tutorial she’d once seen online, tying the strings into a neat, elaborate bow.
To avoid touching Xie Zhiyan, she worked slowly, meticulously recreating each step from memory.
The tutorial had been for tying a trench coat belt, and the final touch required repeated adjustments to perfect the bow’s shape.
So after finishing, Ning Yuxuan spent extra time fussing over it, making sure the bow looked full and symmetrical.
Not because she was obsessive—purely out of spite.
Xie Zhiyan couldn’t see it, but the audience could.
Later, she could even screenshot it from the livestream and use it to tease him.
Watching her dedication, the chat erupted again.
[What is Ning Yuxuan doing? Since when is she this much of a perfectionist?!]
[I’m convinced she’s doing this on purpose—a CEO with a giant bow? LMAO.]
Halfway through, Ning Fei returned from the restroom.
Seeing her daughter and Xie Zhiyan standing at the kitchen entrance, she paused but didn’t interrupt.
It took Ning Yuxuan a full two minutes to complete her “perfect” bow.
Satisfied, she admired her handiwork and announced, “Done.”
Xie Zhiyan turned back to face her, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. “Thank you.”
Ning Yuxuan: “……”
Wasn’t he even curious why it took her so long?
She’d spent all that effort, and he didn’t even ask—how unsatisfying!
Noticing her unspoken question in her gaze, Xie Zhiyan tilted his head. “What?”
Ning Yuxuan: “…Nothing.”
This guy was so boring.
She turned to Ning Fei. “Mom, let’s get started.”
Ning Fei agreed.
Tonight’s menu was already set—Ning Fei and Xie Zhiyan would each prepare a few signature dishes, while Ning Yuxuan, well aware of her limited cooking skills, naturally took on the role of assistant.
The kitchen was spacious, with plenty of utensils to go around.
Xie Zhiyan and Ning Fei each claimed a side, working at separate counters.
Without hesitation, Ning Yuxuan chose to help Ning Fei, declaring eagerly, “Mom, just tell me what you need, and I’ll get it for you!”
Ning Fei chuckled. “Since when have you been this enthusiastic?”
Ning Yuxuan replied matter-of-factly, “We’re filming a show—I have to put in some effort!”
In truth, she just didn’t want to assist Xie Zhiyan, lest he make another unreasonable request.
Ning Fei shook her head with a smile.
And Ning Yuxuan did stick to her word.
Every time Ning Fei reached for something, Ning Yuxuan was already one step ahead. “What do you need? Light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, or oyster sauce?”
Ning Fei sighed in amusement. “By the time I explain, I could’ve grabbed it myself.”
Ning Yuxuan grinned. “Mom!”
Ning Fei relented. “There’s half a bag of star anise and a newly opened pack of cinnamon in the cabinet next to you. Bring both.”
“On it!” Ning Yuxuan replied instantly.
After several similar exchanges, Ning Fei finally said, “Yuxuan.”
Ning Yuxuan blinked. “Hmm?”
Ning Fei: “I’m almost done here. Why don’t you go help Zhiyan instead?”
Ning Yuxuan: “…I’m perfectly fine right here.”
Ning Fei said softly, "Even if we finish cooking early here, we still have to wait for Xie Zhiyan to complete his part before we can eat together. Besides, I'm about to heat the oil, and standing too close might get you splattered."
With that, she smiled at her daughter and gave her a meaningful look.
After all, Xie Zhiyan was a guest on the show, and it wouldn’t be polite to leave him unattended for too long.
Ning Yuxuan had no choice but to reluctantly walk over to the other side of the kitchen.
Xie Zhiyan had just finished washing the side dishes and was now handling a plate of shrimp.
His practiced movements once again drew waves of admiration from the live-stream audience.
[OMG, how can someone look this good even in an apron in the kitchen?!]
[That’s just charisma! And a man who can cook is seriously a plus!]
[Honestly, a man like Xie Zhiyan doesn’t even need extra points—he’s already effortlessly charming.]
Ning Yuxuan stopped a step away from Xie Zhiyan and casually remarked, "How’s it going over here, President Xie? No difficulties, I hope?"
The subtext was clear: Surely he didn’t need her help, right?
Beside Xie Zhiyan were two plates—one with shrimp waiting to be prepped, the other already finished.
Ning Yuxuan glanced at them and noted that he had already handled half the shrimp by himself before she arrived.
She could help with other tasks, but cleaning shrimp required some skill, and she honestly didn’t know how.
With that thought in mind, she watched confidently as the man meticulously deveined the shrimp, his eyes focused on his task.
Xie Zhiyan didn’t look up, his tone calm as he spoke. "If it’s not too much trouble, could you roll up my sleeves for me?"
Earlier, to avoid staining his light-colored shirt and for ease of movement, he had already rolled up his sleeves.
But after working for a while, the cuffs had started to slip down again, making his request seem perfectly reasonable.
Yet Ning Yuxuan found it anything but reasonable.
He’d had plenty of time to adjust his sleeves earlier—why did it suddenly become an issue the moment she showed up?
It was obvious he had waited for her, knowing she wouldn’t refuse.
Xie Zhiyan finished cleaning the shrimp in his hand and paused.
Their eyes met, and the unspoken meaning in his gaze was unmistakable.
Ning Yuxuan looked at his damp, slightly messy hands and resigned herself.
Fine, she’d help.
Compromises were like that—once you gave in once, there would inevitably be more.
His hands were wet from handling the shrimp, and asking him to roll his own sleeves would seem unnecessarily harsh.
At worst, she’d just have to eat extra shrimp later as payback.
With that in mind, Ning Yuxuan reached out and rolled up his right sleeve.
Standing at his side, she worked efficiently.
Once she finished, Xie Zhiyan naturally turned slightly, lifting his left arm toward her.
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
He was certainly making himself at home.
She rolled up the other sleeve. "There, all done."
Xie Zhiyan: "Thank you."
Ning Yuxuan curved her lips into a flawless smile. "No need to thank me. You’re our guest, and it’s only right that I help since you’re cooking with us."
She was convinced that the most insincere words she’d ever spoken in her life were all being reserved for today’s livestream.
And the day Xie Zhiyan thanked her the most? Definitely today.
There was a faintly peculiar atmosphere between them, and some viewers had picked up on it.
[Why do these two seem… both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time?]
[Right? Like, they’re speaking politely, but their actions seem oddly in sync—like how Xie Zhiyan just held out his arm for Ning Yuxuan to roll up his sleeve.]
[Come to think of it, when Xie Zhiyan fed Ning Yuxuan grapes earlier, I got the same vibe. She accepted them way too naturally.]
As for the shippers, they were already losing their minds.
That level of interaction was more than enough fuel for an 8,000-word fanfic.
Dinner preparations continued smoothly.
By six o’clock sharp, all the dishes were ready.
The camera crew moved their equipment to the dining area.
Though Ning Yuxuan hadn’t done any of the actual cooking, she could still help with small tasks.
"Mom, you’ve been working hard—take a break," Ning Yuxuan said. "I’ll bring the dishes over."
Ning Fei nodded. "Alright."
Ning Yuxuan first carried the braised beef with potatoes from the kitchen to the table, then went back for the steamed asparagus.
As she stepped out of the kitchen, she nearly collided with Xie Zhiyan, who was also carrying a dish.
The hallway was wide enough for two people to pass—if Xie Zhiyan would just move aside.
But the man stood right in the middle, blocking her path.
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
She instinctively glanced toward the kitchen, where two GoPros were still recording.
From their current angle, the cameras probably couldn’t capture them.
The crew was busy setting up in the dining area, so no one was paying attention to them at the moment.
Ning Yuxuan exhaled in relief—then immediately caught herself.
Why was she acting so furtive?
It wasn’t like she and Xie Zhiyan were sneaking around!
Xie Zhiyan remained planted in the center of the hallway, unmoving.
Ning Yuxuan glared at him and mouthed silently, "What. Are. You. Doing?"
The cameras might not see them, but the mic clipped to her could still pick up even a whisper.
Xie Zhiyan smirked faintly.
"Let me take it," he said softly. "I’ll bring it over."
Ning Yuxuan studied him for a second, wondering if he was up to something again.
But it was just a plate of food—how much trouble could he possibly cause?
After a brief hesitation, she nodded and handed him the dish.
Xie Zhiyan took it.
Just as Ning Yuxuan started to think he might actually be sincere this time, her vision suddenly darkened.
Before she could react, his lips brushed against hers.
Her mind went blank.
Her knees nearly buckled, and she barely stifled a gasp.
The fleeting kiss ended as quickly as it began.
Ning Yuxuan stared at him, eyes wide with disbelief.
What was he thinking?!
Xie Zhiyan met her gaze, amusement dancing in his eyes.
In a low voice, he murmured, "Careful, don’t drop anything."
Ning Yuxuan realized his words were probably audible to the audience—even if the cameras couldn’t see them.
She swallowed back her protests.
"...I know," she managed, struggling to steady her breathing.
Xie Zhiyan gave a slight nod and carried the asparagus to the dining room.
Ning Yuxuan remained rooted in place, her pulse racing long after he’d gone.
This man is simply...
Unbelievable!
...
After all the dishes were served, the three of them began dinner.
Ning Yuxuan silently glanced at Xie Zhiyan.
The man, with an utterly composed expression, praised Ning Fei's cooking: "This steamed asparagus is quite delicious."
As he spoke, he showed no awareness of what he had done to her while bringing the dish to the table earlier.
Ning Yuxuan pressed her lips together.
She didn’t know whether to attribute it to Xie Zhiyan’s exceptional mental fortitude, but either way, it was downright infuriating.
The centerpiece of the table was a dish of braised shrimp, prepared by Xie Zhiyan.
The vibrant colors—tender shrimp adorned with red chili peppers and green scallions—made it irresistibly appetizing.
Ning Yuxuan, having washed her hands, picked up a shrimp and began peeling it.
She applied so much force it was as if she were channeling all her frustration into the poor crustacean.
Beside her, Ning Fei asked, "Yuxuan, do you want me to peel it for you?"
Ning Fei often doted on her daughter, helping her with tasks like peeling shrimp, which she did more skillfully anyway.
"No, Mom," Ning Yuxuan replied without looking up. "I prefer doing it myself. Shrimp tastes better when you peel it with your own hands!"
Ning Fei’s brow twitched slightly. Her daughter had always been one to avoid extra effort, often whining for her mother’s help—why the sudden change today?
She didn’t press further. "Alright, just let me know if you change your mind."
Ning Yuxuan nodded.
After devouring several shrimp, she finally wiped her hands with a wet wipe and moved on to the other dishes.
Every dish on the table was her favorite. Her mother’s cooking was, of course, impeccable, but even the ones Xie Zhiyan had prepared suited her tastes perfectly.
Adhering to the principle that one should never compromise on a good meal, Ning Yuxuan dug in heartily.
Compared to the refined table manners of Ning Fei and Xie Zhiyan, her enthusiastic eating style was a feast for the eyes.
Bored viewers began analyzing which dish Ning Yuxuan favored most.
["I counted—she’s had seven spoonfuls of that mapo tofu already!"]
["The tofu was made by President Xie. His cooking must really be something!"]
["Wait, someone at Xie Zhiyan’s level probably never has time to cook. How does he know how to make so many dishes?"]
The shippers didn’t hesitate to answer.
["Obviously, he learned it all for his girlfriend! Isn’t it obvious from how much Ning Yuxuan’s enjoying it?"]
As dinner ended, the day’s recording drew to a close.
Once the livestream was shut down, the crew began packing up their equipment and leaving.
After seeing them off, Ning Fei tactfully left her daughter alone with Xie Zhiyan.
"I’ll leave the first floor to you two. I’m heading upstairs to rest."
She had noticed something off about her daughter’s behavior all afternoon.
Now was the time for Ning Yuxuan to have a proper talk with Xie Zhiyan.
As for why her daughter hadn’t chosen to reveal their relationship on the show, Ning Fei decided to ask her privately later.
With Ning Fei gone, only Ning Yuxuan and Xie Zhiyan remained in the living room.
Ning Yuxuan stared at him wordlessly.
Xie Zhiyan spoke gently, "Anything you want to ask me?"
She glared. "Why didn’t you tell me you were coming on the show?"
He countered smoothly, "Don’t all guests keep their participation a secret?"
Ning Yuxuan blurted out, "But you’re not just anyone!"
A faint smile flickered in Xie Zhiyan’s eyes. "Then what am I?"
Ning Yuxuan faltered for a moment.
Seizing the opportunity, Xie Zhiyan took her hand.
She tried to pull away but failed—his grip was firm.
"Don’t be angry, alright?" he coaxed.
Ning Yuxuan huffed, "...Why should I? You still haven’t explained why you suddenly showed up on the show."
Xie Zhiyan replied, "For the past month, you’ve spent every weekend filming this program."
Ning Yuxuan, "And?"
He continued leisurely, "So, I wanted to try integrating into your life a little. Follow the show’s rules, too."
Ning Yuxuan, "..."
Xie Zhiyan added, "Next time, I’ll give you a heads-up if I’m coming, alright?"
Her eyes snapped up. "There’s going to be a next time?"
Xie Zhiyan, "You don’t want me to?"
Ning Yuxuan hesitated for half a second.
Then, remembering what had happened in the hallway, she answered firmly, "No!"
Xie Zhiyan, "Why not?"
Perfect opening. Ning Yuxuan listed his offenses, "Because every time you come, you deliberately do things that could expose us! Feeding me grapes, making me tie your apron, roll up your sleeves, and—"
Xie Zhiyan prompted, "And?"
Ning Yuxuan, "..."
And kissing her out of nowhere.
Ignoring his knowing look, she declared, "...Point is, your presence puts me on edge. So just don’t come!"
Xie Zhiyan remained unruffled. "I have a permanent solution."
Ning Yuxuan, "What?"
"Announce our relationship to the public."
Finally, Ning Yuxuan couldn’t take it anymore—she grabbed a cushion from the sofa and hurled it at him.
She knew he’d been doing all that on purpose!
...
In the end, Ning Yuxuan didn’t agree.
It wasn’t that she was determined to keep their relationship hidden.
Eventually, their marriage would become public knowledge—it was inevitable.
But something about announcing it on a reality show felt... off.
Especially a livestreamed one.
Romance was private, and every action on camera was magnified.
Ning Yuxuan couldn’t bring herself to act intimately with Xie Zhiyan in front of an audience.
Besides, next week was the show’s finale—was there really a need to make their relationship official here?
When they held their wedding, everyone would find out anyway.
Seeing her resolve, Xie Zhiyan didn’t push further.
He changed the subject. "Is your lip better?"
Ning Yuxuan blinked.
Xie Zhiyan said coolly, "Last night, someone sent me a photo to complain, then disappeared right after."
And because of that photo, he’d lost an hour of sleep—
Three minutes replying to her message, only to get no response.
Five minutes taking another cold shower.
Then nearly an hour reviewing documents before he could finally calm down enough to sleep.
Meanwhile, the culprit had clearly forgotten all about it.
Ning Yuxuan finally remembered what he was referring to.
She’d fallen asleep shortly after sending that text, and by morning, the show’s filming had pushed it completely out of her mind.
Xie Zhiyan had replied with something like "Sorry," but she hadn’t even read it properly.
Seeing the look of recognition on Ning Yuxuan's face, Xie Zhiyan asked, "Does it still hurt?"
Ning Yuxuan glanced at him. "It's been almost twenty-four hours. It stopped hurting a while ago."
Xie Zhiyan let out a vague hum in response.
Ning Yuxuan pressed, "Why are you suddenly asking about—"
Before she could finish her question, the man answered her with action.
He leaned in and captured her lips with his.
Just before Ning Yuxuan's mind grew too hazy to think under Xie Zhiyan's kiss, her last coherent thought was:
Mom said she was leaving the living room to us, but what if she suddenly comes downstairs for something?
But soon, she no longer had the energy to dwell on that concern.
Xie Zhiyan deepened the kiss.
