Quan Jiu received a reply from Zhang Xin before she even got home, and the answer was naturally "willing." As for the request to start filming next week, she had no inconvenience, so the matter was settled.
Back home, the food had just been served, clearly timed by someone.
To avoid making everyone wait for her, Quan Jiu quickly washed her hands and sat down. Then, seeing the spread of dishes, she secretly gasped.
Spicy and sour chicken feet, even deboned; grilled skewers, both meat and vegetables, their aroma alone made one's mouth water; durian mille-feuille, no wonder the house smelled of milk; in addition, there was Angelica stewed with seaweed and pork ribs soup, shiitake mushroom and sliced pork, spicy three shredded vegetables, twice-cooked pork, sausage, and taro chicken stew.
A full table, and the variety was simply too much.
Quan Jiu silently moved the durian mille-feuille in front of her. She knew that only she liked durian in the house.
Chen Ma was observant and pushed the grilled chicken feet and other dishes towards Quan Jiu. "The young master has been busy with dinner since two in the afternoon. These chicken feet have been marinated for over five hours; they are definitely flavorful and smell delicious."
She then casually expressed her own worry, "He's doing all the work a nanny should do. My salary is too easy to earn, hahaha."
Old Master Chu gnawed on the pork ribs with gusto. "That's right. Who says only wives have to cook? Real men cook for their wives. Your grandfather and I both cooked for your grandmother and mother. This is our family's fine tradition. I thought it would die out with you, but it turns out the genes are still etched in your bones."
Mi Mi and Tu Tu giggled. Tu Tu exclaimed, "Wow! No wonder I feel like I have a talent for cooking. It must be inherited."
Chu Rong placed a few pieces of pork ribs for each of the two children, then looked at the skewers in front of Quan Jiu. "Try them and see if the taste is to your liking."
Everyone watched expectantly.
Quan Jiu had to pick up a piece of pork loin and take a bite. Her eyes lit up. Honestly, it tasted just like what they sold at the barbecue stalls.
"Delicious," she nodded honestly. She wouldn't say anything insincere when it came to food.
Chu Rong's smile deepened.
The seven people at the table had a lively and warm meal.
...
After dinner, Quan Jiu, in order to rush her script, retreated to her room to continue working. She didn't stop until half-past ten. Hearing that there was no movement outside, she shuffled in her slippers to Chu Rong's room door.
"Knock, knock, knock~"
Within a couple of knocks, the door opened.
Chu Rong, wiping water from his head with one hand, smiled at Quan Jiu.
Quan Jiu was suddenly confronted with a stark white expanse, his firm chest making her momentarily dazed.
She quickly averted her gaze and said irritably, "Aren't you cold in this weather?"
"I have a good constitution," Chu Rong glanced subtly at his eight-pack abs, then his lips curved upwards as he moved aside. "Come in?"
Quan Jiu gave him a speechless sideways glance but entered the room.
"Thump~" The door closed.
Quan Jiu immediately turned back, looking at him warily. "Why did you close the door?"
Chu Rong pointed to the air conditioner panel by the door with a serious expression. "Turned on the air conditioning."
Alright, she did feel a bit of warmth. Quan Jiu looked around, realizing there wasn't even a stool. She remembered there being a stool in this room.
"Isn't there a chair in here?" Standing to talk felt odd.
"I moved it to Old Li." Chu Rong smoothed his semi-dry hair and made a move to walk out. "If you don't want to sit on the bed, I'll get you a stool."
"Forget it, I don't want to trouble you." Quan Jiu sat down by the bed and said, "Zhang Xin must have called you."
"Mm, he said you wanted to record..."
"I knew it, you must have misunderstood," Quan Jiu interrupted with a slight smile. "He said the last episode's ratings were very high and wanted me to record another album. I owe him a favor, and last time was also to repay a favor. I couldn't refuse. I thought you were too busy to agree, so I asked him to ask for your opinion. Don't overthink it."
Chu Rong's lips curved slightly as he walked towards Quan Jiu step by step. "What am I overthinking?"
"Just... I didn't intentionally want to film an album with you," Quan Jiu said, sticking out her neck.
Chu Rong's eyes lowered slightly. Although he was smiling, there was an indescribable melancholy. "Fortunately, I still have some use."
"That's not what I meant either," Quan Jiu was somewhat speechless, as if she had wronged him greatly.
Chu Rong's deep and handsome eyebrows suddenly lifted, his eyes holding a hint of teasing. "Then what do you mean?"
Quan Jiu really couldn't meet his gaze and stared elsewhere. "I mean, if you don't want to, you can refuse."
"But I don't want to refuse."
Chu Rong came before Quan Jiu, leaning forward slightly, his hands on either side of the bed, casual yet intimate, restricting Quan Jiu's movement.
Quan Jiu was startled to see someone right in front of her and reflexively leaned back. However, her movement was too large, and she lost her balance, falling straight onto the bed.
Chu Rong leaned down with her, smiling playfully. "So you came to see me tonight to throw yourself into my arms?"
"You're the one throwing yourself into my arms," Quan Jiu, flushed with embarrassment, pushed him away haphazardly, but her hand happened to land on his chest.
She quickly retracted her hand as if burned and said angrily, "If you dare to mess around, I'll cripple you."
Chu Rong looked at her with amusement. "What are you always thinking about?" He reached out, grabbed a set of pajamas from the bed, and stood up.
Quan Jiu's face turned bright red. "It's such a fuss just to get a piece of clothing. You're doing this on purpose."
"Mm, I admit it." Chu Rong put on the pajamas, then took out another set of pajamas from the walk-in closet.
Quan Jiu knew at a glance that it was for her. Pink pajamas.
As if she had foreseen it, she quickly got up. "I'm leaving."
...
Meanwhile, after Quan Jiu entered Chu Rong's room, Old Master Chu, who should have been asleep at nine o'clock, quietly crept out of his room and sat in the living room watching a late-night TV show. The volume was set to 2.
After a short wait, he heard a door opening behind him. He turned around and saw her. "Jiu'er, you're still awake so late? Young people should sleep early; staying up late harms the liver."
Quan Jiu was startled. "Grandpa, why are you up?" At this hour, Grandpa Chu was usually snoring loudly.
"I ate too much tonight and couldn't sleep. I'm watching some TV. Don't mind me, go to bed quickly." Old Master Chu waved his hand.
Quan Jiu subconsciously glanced at her own room. Grandpa slept early, and she slept late and woke early, so for the past few days, Grandpa hadn't discovered that they were actually sleeping in separate rooms.
But now, if she went into her own room, Grandpa would surely be suspicious.
Grandpa was in his nineties. Now that he was finally in good spirits and happy every day, and he had always thought her and Chu Rong's relationship was harmonious, she really didn't want to upset the old man.
"Grandpa, go watch in your room. It's cold in the living room. I'll set up the projector for you," Quan Jiu said worriedly.
"No, no, I'm just walking around the living room to help with digestion." Old Master Chu said, standing up and stretching his muscles.
"Then have some digestive aids?"
"I don't want to take those things. Go to sleep quickly, don't mind me. I'll be back in a moment." Old Master Chu insisted.
Quan Jiu had no choice but to turn back, close the door, and glare at Chu Rong. "Did you say something to Grandpa? Otherwise, why would Grandpa be acting so unusually?"
Chu Rong emerged from the bathroom and said gently, "The hot water is ready. Pajamas and toiletries are on the counter."
Quan Jiu was almost grinding her teeth.
She snorted, "I don't want to wash. I only shower once every three days. I showered the day before yesterday, and I washed my hair three days ago. It's very clean. Also, I like sleeping on the floor."
Fortunately, there were spare quilts in the room.
Quan Jiu did as she said, went to the walk-in closet, grabbed a quilt, spread it on the floor, folded it, and crawled into it.
Chu Rong's deep eyes locked onto Quan Jiu, his low voice carrying a hint of dominance. "Are you coming up yourself, or shall I carry you up?"