Chapter 18 – Eating Noodles

When Fei Xiangnan said “go home,” he wasn’t taking Xiao Fang back to the film set. Fei Xiangnan’s explanation was that it was already ten o’clock, and the road might not be safe. He would have the driver send Xiao Fang over early tomorrow morning.

As a seasoned sycophant, Xiao Fang would absolutely not say a single word of dissent. He then proceeded to praise Fei Xiangnan from head to toe before finally finishing.

Speaking of which, this was the first time Xiao Fang had been to Fei Xiangnan’s home.

It was a penthouse suite, occupying two floors. One floor was the living area, mainly in a black and white style, with a spiral staircase leading up to a rooftop garden. According to Fei Xiangnan, it was a garden and coffee theme. He didn’t go up there much. As for why it was “according to,” Xiao Fang’s mood instantly plummeted.

“It’s drizzling right now, you can’t get wet,” Fei Xiangnan had said.

“Oh.” Sigh, the tycoon’s enjoyment was gone. He had originally wanted to sip a cappuccino in the light rain while reading Shakespeare’s poetry~

Xiao Fang’s spirits visibly drooped like a rapidly wilting blade of grass.

Fei Xiangnan’s expression remained impassive on the surface, because he would absolutely not tell Xiao Fang that since he rarely used the rooftop, he had no idea what kind of weed-infested scene it was right now. As a domineering president, he absolutely could not lose face.

“When the rain stops, you can go up and have a look. After all, you’ll be recuperating here during your pregnancy,” Fei Xiangnan craftily reminded Xiao Fang of his itinerary.

Xiao Fang’s eyes lit up again.

“President Fei is right. So, President Fei, where am I sleeping tonight?” Xiao Fang looked around, tsk tsk, what low-key yet tasteful decor.

Fei Xiangnan put down his coat, a strange discomfort stirring in his heart, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. In the end, he could only point to the innermost room.

Xiao Fang nodded obediently. Suddenly, he felt his stomach growl. He remembered that when he was on the film set, he would have a meal with his colleagues, and Que Jiang would even make him a late-night snack when he got back. He found that the further along he was in his pregnancy, the more he wanted to eat. He hadn’t been able to eat much at dinner just now because of those people, and after digesting it on the road, it was all gone.

But it wasn’t really appropriate to say he was hungry.

Xiao Fang stood frozen in place, feeling conflicted. If he didn’t eat, his stomach wouldn’t be able to take it, and his heart would itch with craving.

“What’s wrong?” Fei Xiangnan glanced at Xiao Fang, puzzled.

Under Fei Xiangnan’s handsome gaze, Xiao Fang couldn’t help but blush.

“I’m… hungry,” a voice as quiet as a mosquito’s came from Xiao Fang’s mouth.

Fei Xiangnan looked at this man with the essence of a foodie and couldn’t help but frown. He couldn’t cook, and he couldn’t call Que Jiang over now either.

Que Jiang: Boss, please don’t forget what my actual job is!

“Didn’t you just eat two plates of steak over there?” Fei Xiangnan’s straight-man comment made Xiao Fang’s head hang even lower, his face even redder. President Fei, I have face to save too, you know!!!

Seeing that Fei Xiangnan was about to veto his extra meal plan, Xiao Fang had no choice but to pull out his trump card.

“President Fei, it’s not just me who needs to eat,” Xiao Fang said, anxiously clutching the hem of his clothes. He was really, really hungry!

Wasn’t this clearly implying that the child needed to eat too? This put Fei Xiangnan in a difficult position. Even if he learned to cook now, it seemed too late. Ordering takeout? He didn’t feel at ease with that.

“Then you…”

“I’ll just cook a bowl of noodles myself,” Xiao Fang looked over pitifully. There, he had offered up his skills. Fei Xiangnan was finally not so troubled.

However…

“You can cook?” Xiao Fang was also a rich second generation. Fei Xiangnan had serious doubts about his culinary skills.

“I’ve… I’ve made some simple things myself,” Xiao Fang was too embarrassed to say that he was actually an excellent cook. Back when he lived alone and was a foodie, he had no money, so he could only research how to make simple dishes taste delicious on his own.

Fei Xiangnan looked at him with a probing gaze for a long while. “There should be some ingredients in the kitchen. Make two servings. I’ll eat first.”

Fei Xiangnan came up with a perfect solution, although it contained a bit of his own selfish intentions.

Xiao Fang nodded quickly and scurried into the kitchen. Watching that retreating figure, a very unfamiliar emotion began to surge in Fei Xiangnan’s heart again. That person… was his now. That was very satisfying.

Fei Xiangnan turned around and moved his laptop to the living room to work, just in case this guy accidentally burned down the kitchen.

Xiao Fang opened the refrigerator. There was still some romaine lettuce and eggs, two boxes of bacon, and a box of fatty beef. The packaging indicated it was a brand he couldn’t have afforded in his past life.

On the upper shelf, there were also a few packages of dried noodles. Xiao Fang rubbed his hands together in excitement. This was much more fragrant than the steak dinner from earlier.

First, he cut the romaine lettuce into sections, washed it, and set it aside. Then he made the broth. There were pre-made broth packets here, so it didn’t take much effort for Xiao Fang. He added some of his own secret ingredients and let it simmer. Instantly, the aroma wafted outside.

Fei Xiangnan was surprised by the smell. Before he could say anything, he heard Xiao Fang ask loudly, “President Fei, can you eat spicy food?”

Fei Xiangnan’s long fingers tapped on the keyboard. A pair of rimless glasses sat on the bridge of his nose, and his thin lips curved upwards. He looked to be in a very pleasant mood. “I can.”

Hearing this, Xiao Fang unceremoniously went wild with the chili peppers. He was a typical “no spice, no life” kind of guy.

Once the soup was simmering, Xiao Fang tossed the noodles into another pot of boiling water. He then added the fatty beef and bacon to the soup, followed by the romaine lettuce a minute later.

When the noodles were cooked, he rinsed them with cold water, drained them, and placed them in bowls. Then he poured the broth over them, and finally divided the meat and arranged it on top. After a moment’s thought, Xiao Fang heated a pan with oil and fried two sunny-side-up eggs.

In an instant, the fragrance wafted out of the kitchen.

Fei Xiangnan’s taste buds were immediately enticed by the smell.

“President Fei, wash your hands, you can come and eat now,” Xiao Fang called out sycophantically after setting the chopsticks.

Fei Xiangnan’s mind was already half-distracted from his work. Hearing that it was time to eat, he immediately put down his laptop, went to wash his hands, and then sat down at the dining table, all in one smooth, decisive motion.

Xiao Fang looked up at Fei Xiangnan, and his heart trembled. Without glasses, he was already devastatingly handsome. With glasses on, he was simply…

“What’s wrong?” Fei Xiangnan picked up his chopsticks and noticed that Xiao Fang was just staring at him blankly. “You don’t like me wearing glasses?”

“No, no, no, no,” Xiao Fang shook his head immediately. “President Fei looks incredibly handsome with glasses,” Xiao Fang said impulsively, letting his true thoughts slip out.

For some reason, Fei Xiangnan started to feel uncomfortable upon hearing this. “So I don’t look good without glasses?”

This was a rare joke from Fei Xiangnan to Xiao Fang, but a joke or not, would he dare to say he wasn’t handsome?

“President Fei, what are you talking about? A top-tier handsome man like you is naturally handsome at all times. I was just struck by the novelty of it. I’ve never seen you wear glasses before, so I was surprised, surprised, hehe,” Xiao Fang started his mindless praise again. But Fei Xiangnan with glasses… say what you will, he really did look good.

Only then did Fei Xiangnan feel a little better. “Yes, you can see it every day while you’re recuperating during your pregnancy.”

Xiao Fang smiled and nodded, a very strange thought crossing his mind. Was President Fei really looking forward to him recuperating at home?

Fei Xiangnan picked up his chopsticks. Looking at the well-presented noodles, he elegantly took a bite. The rich flavor of the broth and the distinct, stimulating spiciness exploded on his taste buds. He picked up a piece of romaine lettuce from the side. The fresh fragrance of the vegetable soothed the spiciness from just now, creating a perfect balance.

“The taste is acceptable. Eat,” the stubborn President Fei would definitely not say something foolish like “this is delicious, better than any delicacy I’ve ever eaten.”

And the big-hearted Xiao Fang was completely focused on eating, naturally ignoring the warmth that flashed in President Fei’s eyes.

After that, neither of them spoke much, just concentrating on eating their noodles.

After finishing the last bite, Fei Xiangnan put down his chopsticks, picked up a napkin from the side to wipe his mouth, and asked the question that was on his mind, “With a family like yours, who taught you to make noodles?”

I figured it out myself, Xiao Fang answered silently. But the answer that came out was,

“My mom taught me. She was sick at the time and always felt that I needed some skills to get by in this world. But she couldn’t immediately teach me what she had learned in college. In the end, she could only pass on her cooking skills to me, but before I could finish learning, she…”

This wasn’t a lie. The original body’s mother had found out about Xiao’s father’s affair before she passed away. Disheartened, and knowing she was about to leave, she could only teach her only child everything she knew. It was just that the Xiao Fang of that time was immature and didn’t learn anything before his mother passed away.

Having touched upon a sad topic, Fei Xiangnan didn’t press further. But President Fei didn’t let the atmosphere turn cold.

“I had many complaints about you before, but I never said much about you targeting your brother.”

“Huh?”

Fei Xiangnan looked directly into Xiao Fang’s somewhat dazed eyes. “If you had been a good brother from the start, you would have been letting down the mother who taught you to cook.”

A warm current seemed to surge through Xiao Fang’s heart. Who said the villain wasn’t warm? This was simply amazing.

“I think so too. If you didn’t retort to those so-called relatives of yours, you would be letting down all the money you’ve spent on them over the years!” Xiao Fang immediately returned the sentiment. This was from the heart!

“Yes, the words are coarse, but the logic is sound,” Fei Xiangnan rarely agreed with Xiao Fang so directly. “Leave the dishes after you’re done. I’ll wash them. You go take a shower first.”

“That… how can I do that?” Xiao Fang objected. How could he let the big boss wash dishes for him?

“My child can’t sleep late,” the big boss’s meaning was clear.

Xiao Fang immediately picked up his bowl, slurped the last of the noodles, and ran to the bathroom.

Xiao Fang marveled at the luxurious bathroom while taking a comfortable bath. It was only after he finished washing that he realized with a pang of frustration that he didn’t have a change of clothes.

Was President Fei still in the living room? He couldn’t just run out naked, could he? If President Fei got angry, the consequences would be unimaginable! His long-term plan couldn’t be ruined just like that.

Maybe… he should wash his underwear first and then blow-dry it.

It seemed to be the only way. Xiao Fang squatted down, ready to wash his little yellow duck underwear.

“Finished washing? Wear these for now, they’re all new.” A deep voice came from outside the door.

Xiao Fang looked over. A hand reached in from outside the door. Xiao Fang took the clothes with a red face and mumbled a thank you.

Fei Xiangnan looked at the silhouette through the special glass door. Why did he suddenly have the urge to push the door open?

Unfortunately, this wish of his was snuffed out by Xiao Fang before it could even form.

The moment he retracted his hand, Xiao Fang swiftly closed and locked the door. It seemed he had just forgotten to lock it earlier. He had thought…

Fei Xiangnan turned back in annoyance, his mood suddenly souring as he returned to his room.

Xiao Fang put on President Fei’s brand of underwear. Everything else was fine, but why did one particular area feel so empty?

Xiao Fang’s face instantly darkened. He sulkily pulled on the shirt, which was a size too big for him. It was truly infuriating to compare oneself to others!

Xiao Fang’s cheeks were puffed up with anger, almost like a pufferfish.

After getting his anger out, Xiao Fang still obediently washed his little yellow duck underwear and hung it up to dry, then returned to his room to sleep.