Chapter 25: An Unexpected Guest and a Culinary Endeavor

Throughout both of Mo Qiu’s lives, she had never once invited a classmate to her home.

In her previous life, while operating as a deceiver, she did possess the experience of luring targets into her abode and making them vanish from the world without a trace.

However, Bai Chen was fundamentally different from the targets she had been compelled to eliminate; relying on the tactics of her past life would undoubtedly prove unreliable.

Fortunately, Mo Qiu had an exemplar to emulate: her mother.

Her mother would occasionally invite men, who identified themselves as colleagues, back to their home, where the two would initially engage in lively conversation within the living room.

They would share small dishes and a bit of wine, and before long, their conversations would invariably migrate into the bedroom.

Their voices would grow so loud that even with Mo Qiu sequestered in her own room, the sounds were impossible to completely block out.

Thanks to her mother’s exceptional social acumen, there was a time when her professional status ascended with astonishing speed, only for it to inevitably plummet back to its starting point due to her own insatiable avarice.

Whenever Mo Qiu witnessed her mother meticulously dressing up, yet remaining indoors, she would invariably bolt her bedroom door from the inside.

For one, the sight of their amorous displays was truly nauseating, and for another, Mo Qiu couldn’t shake the feeling that the strangers’ gazes upon her were disturbingly amiss.

Despite every one of them showering her with compliments, declaring that she was destined to rise swiftly and become a societal elite, they never offered her any tangible benefit.

They never offered her any tangible benefit, not even a single red envelope (TL Note: A monetary gift given on special occasions in Chinese culture).

“Since I’ve donned the mask, I ought to play my part well,”

Mo Qiu muttered to herself, lying on the bed with her legs splayed.

Each time she ascended to the peak of pleasure, those unwelcome memories would invariably crowd into her mind as she began her descent.

Though she desperately wished to banish such thoughts, they behaved like brutal brigands, forcibly binding her and wantonly ravaging her consciousness.

“Oh, right, Bai Chen will be here soon.”

The sudden recollection of this important matter instantly washed away her irritation, prompting Mo Qiu to sit up and swiftly draw open the bedroom curtains.

The flood of sunlight made her eyes ache, and she almost instinctively pulled the curtains shut again.

Since she had moved in, this bedroom had never been so brilliantly lit.

Feeling exposed without the curtains drawn, Mo Qiu let out a sigh.

Due to her recent pleasure, her lower body remained damp, and she hadn’t managed the angle well, wetting the hem of her pajamas in the process.

Unable to greet Bai Chen in such a state, Mo Qiu simply changed into a fresh outfit.

She put on brand new panties, a bra being optional for wear at home, and then a simple white long dress which, once slipped on, accentuated her already slender and graceful figure.

Mo Qiu was loath to imitate her mother, yet her unfailingly effective methods held an undeniable allure.

The first step was meticulous grooming, a环节 (TL Note: A step or segment in a process) Mo Qiu felt she could bypass; after all, Bai Chen had already expressed his liking, and she didn’t know how to apply makeup anyway.

Next was preparing the dishes for Bai Chen; she had already gathered all the ingredients, so she headed to the kitchen and immediately began cooking.

She placed the pot on the stove, poured in oil, and once it was hot, she began adding the ingredients.

Roasted duck leg, in it went.

Hand-torn cabbage, in it went.

Corn, in it went.

Sweet potato vermicelli, in it went.

She had initially intended to add rice, but seeing the pot already nearing capacity, Mo Qiu reluctantly abandoned the idea.

Next came the seasonings: a generous spoonful of Pixian bean paste (TL Note: A spicy fermented bean paste, a staple in Sichuan cuisine) went in, along with both dark and light soy sauce.

Mo Qiu sniffed, sensing the flavor was still lacking.

Pepper powder, in it went.

Finally, the thirteen-spice powder (TL Note: A common Chinese spice blend, typically including star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and more) she had bought yesterday, in it went too.

The wafting aroma permeated her nostrils, and the young woman took a deep, appreciative breath; this was precisely the flavor she sought.

A beautiful and delicious pot of duck leg stew with sweet potato vermicelli was now freshly prepared!

Gazing at the dark red vermicelli in the pot, Mo Qiu repeatedly picked up and then set down her chopsticks.

‘No, this was for Bai Chen; she had to wait until he arrived.’

Out of sight, out of mind, perhaps, but her nose could still detect the enticing aroma.

She simply grabbed a clip and pinched her nose shut, forcing herself to breathe solely through her mouth.

Deprived of both sight and scent, the invisible hand that had been tempting Mo Qiu’s appetite naturally dissipated.

Settling onto the sofa, she glanced at the wall clock, idly swinging her feet.

Bai Chen would be arriving any moment now.

It felt a little warm.

Having just prepared such a feast, Mo Qiu had worked up a considerable sweat.

While her lower body felt cool beneath the skirt, the fabric of her top clung uncomfortably to her skin.

She tugged at her collar, longing to shed the garment but knowing she couldn’t.

After glancing around, her gaze finally settled on the neglected electric fan tucked away in the corner.

****

The Midsummer Night Restaurant.

Sometimes, the very thing one feared most was precisely what came to pass.

Even though it was nearly the appointed time, Bai Chen suddenly found the restaurant swamped with an unexpected surge of customers, leaving him no moment to pause for rest.

Recalling the events of the previous week, Bai Chen dared not show even a hint of slackness, his figure darting among the patrons with such speed that his colleagues were left wide-eyed in astonishment.

“Hello, what can I get for you?”

“Here’s the cake you ordered; please enjoy it.”

“Your coffee has arrived; be careful, it’s hot.”

Having delivered the customer’s order, Bai Chen had barely turned when the phone in his trousers pocket began to ring.

It was nearly the agreed-upon time; it was time to depart for Mo Qiu’s home.

Having learned from the previous incident, Bai Chen had already secured leave from Manager Cheng Xuan (TL Note: 程店长, a female manager) in advance, needing only to inform her before his departure.

Clutching his clothes, Bai Chen waved at Manager Cheng Xuan (TL Note: 程店长, a female manager) as he passed the counter. “Time’s almost up; I’m going to change first.”

“Alright.”

“What time?”

Watching Bai Chen’s hurried figure disappear into the staff restroom, Su Wanghai and the others couldn’t resist asking.

“Oh, him…”

Manager Cheng Xuan (TL Note: 程店长, a female manager) paused mid-sentence, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

“He’s rushing off to a date with a pretty young lady.”

The moment these words were uttered, Su Wanghai and the others instantly gasped, exchanging wide-eyed glances.

As soon as Bai Chen emerged from the restroom, now dressed in his own clothes, Su Wanghai immediately waylaid him.

“Well, well, Bai Chen, taking leave just for a date, I see!”

“What date? Don’t spread baseless rumors.”

Without needing to think, he knew exactly who the informant was. As Bai Chen cast a resentful glance her way, Manager Cheng Xuan (TL Note: 程店长, a female manager) deliberately touched her face while gazing at her phone, ceaselessly lamenting about how much weight she had recently gained.

“Ah, you’re really making strides, kid, becoming such a Casanova at such a young age.”

“If you keep calling me that, I swear I’ll punch you.”

Simply because of Manager Cheng Xuan’s (TL Note: 程店长, a female manager) offhand remark, Bai Chen had been dubbed “Casanova” for the entire week.

Having lived for seventeen years, and having always considered himself utterly devoid of any romantic prospects, he never in his wildest dreams imagined he would acquire such a nickname.

“If you’re truly so envious, why don’t you go find one yourself?”

Seeing the envy and resentment etched on Su Wanghai’s face, Bai Chen retorted, causing Su Wanghai’s eyes to widen.

“That’s because… I’m a free spirit; no one can tie me down.”

“Heh.”

Bai Chen merely chuckled, offering no further comment.

Just as Su Wanghai was about to tease him further, a hand grabbed his arm, pulling him back, and a waitress took his place.

“Is it that girl from last time?” She winked at Bai Chen.

“It’s her…” Bai Chen sensed a more dangerous aura emanating from this person than from Su Wanghai.

The waitress pursed her lips slightly, then patted his shoulder. “Remember to treat her well; don’t hurt a girl again.”

“I told you, that was a misunderstanding!”

“Even the first time shouldn’t hurt.”

“No, I’m just visiting her house; I’m not even staying for dinner.”

“Then you really don’t understand dating at all.”

Bai Chen couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on this group.

A date? Could this even be considered a date?

In his understanding, a true date should at least involve leaving the house. This trip was merely to accept Mo Qiu’s gratitude.

If he didn’t agree, she would only continue to pester him, engaging in more self-deprecating behavior.

He was fortunate she had met him; if she had encountered some hypocritical gentleman, facing a girl who offered herself up, they probably wouldn’t even be able to hold back their urges. After playing with her, they would casually discard her, leaving the unloved girl to lie dirty by the roadside.

The best way to prevent such a situation was to understand her, delve into her heart, and correct her peculiar way of thinking.

Lost in these thoughts, Bai Chen’s steps towards the restaurant door grew heavier.

“Bai Chen.”

It was Manager Cheng Xuan’s (TL Note: 程店长, a female manager) voice again, and he turned to look.

His colleagues were all seeing him off.

“Be careful on your way.”

“Don’t disappoint your master.”

“Remember to treat her well.”

The bustling scene attracted the attention of many customers, making it feel as though a warrior was being sent off to battle.

His gaze swept over their faces, and Bai Chen let out a soft laugh, turning to raise his hand in a gesture that promised he would not let them down.

This warm feeling enveloped Bai Chen’s heart all the way to Mo Qiu’s house as he rode his electric scooter.

Arriving once more before the residential building, he found a parking spot, yet he hesitated at the ground floor.

Mo Qiu had told him the exact location beforehand, but he still felt inexplicably nervous. The old yellow dog downstairs barked incessantly, full of hostility towards him.

‘Come to think of it, this is my first time visiting a girl’s house.’

‘Ugh, will this cause any undesirable misunderstandings?’

As he ascended the stairs, many strange questions popped into Bai Chen’s mind.

‘What if her parents are old-fashioned and won’t let me in?’

‘No, if it’s Mo Qiu, she surely would have discussed it already, right?’

Standing before the door, Bai Chen’s outstretched hand froze mid-air, and he swallowed hard.

He hadn’t been this nervous even when fighting monsters. Damn it, he should have asked Old Zhu.

Old Zhu was an old hand at romance; he surely would have taught him something useful. Now it was too late to ask…

The scene of his colleagues seeing him off flashed through his mind again, and that warmth transformed into a flame called courage, burning within Bai Chen’s heart.

Curling his fingers, he knocked firmly on the door.

“Mo Qiu, it’s me.”

“The door’s unlocked. Come in.”

‘She didn’t lock the door?’

Bai Chen paused, then grasped the doorknob and pushed the door open. The moment he stepped into Mo Qiu’s home, he flashed a smile he had prepared earlier, greeting her cheerfully:

“I’m here, Mo Qiu, you—”

Before he could finish his sentence, he was utterly stunned by the scene before him, having arrived at a rather inopportune moment.

“Since you’re here, have a seat.”

Mo Qiu stood before the electric fan, which was set to its highest speed. This wasn’t the main point; the main point was her posture while being fanned!

The young woman had grabbed her skirt, directing the fan directly towards her lower body, causing the white hem of her dress to sway wildly in the breeze.

Bai Chen’s gaze traveled upwards from her slender calves to her full thighs, and then to…

White, it was white, and adorned with a bear pattern!

The most mysterious region of the young woman’s body, though concealed by her panties, presented a triangular shape and the curve of her upper thighs, exuding an ultimate allure that beckoned Bai Chen to explore further.