The man’s ears turned slightly red. With his brows lowered, he looked at her and muttered,
“I didn’t mean for you to cook.”
Su Jin tilted her head, her lips curving into a teasing smile.
“Then what did you mean~?”
For a long while, Jiang Heng still clung tightly to her hand, refusing to let go. His lips were sealed tighter than a zipped bag.
But—
Su Jin had sharp eyes. She caught the faint blush spreading across his ears, and even when she looked away, she could feel his aggrieved gaze lingering on her face.
Normally, that cold, stoic expression of his was unshakeable. But now, his face had softened—almost shy, even… with a hint of girlish bashfulness.
Su Jin immediately understood.
Of course—this man was the classic tsundere type.
He said one thing but meant another.
Lowering her head slightly, she softened her voice, her tone turning sweet and tender. She lifted Jiang Heng’s hands to cup her own cheeks, her big eyes blinking playfully.
“Then, hubby~ will you cook for me?”
Jiang Heng’s deep eyes grew hazy, a trace of indulgent warmth flickering within them. Watching his wife act all cute and spoiled in front of him, his heart melted completely.
Although his lips were still as stubborn as a clam’s shell, he couldn’t hide the faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Of course I’ll cook. Look at your hands—do you even know how to start a fire? What would you do if the smoke gets too thick?”
Su Jin turned around to glance at the stove. I probably could figure it out, she thought.
Though, back in the modern world, everything had been so convenient…
From the start, Jiang Heng had always thought of Su Jin as a pampered young lady, someone raised in comfort and not suited for chores.
If she knew what he was thinking, Su Jin would’ve laughed out loud.
Sure, she’d been raised by a nanny since she was young, but that didn’t mean she was helpless.
Her caretaker, Aunt Liu, was no ordinary nanny—she was a graduate student fluent in English, hired with an extremely generous salary by Su Jin’s parents. The standards were high, and Su Jin’s upbringing was strict.
Daily runs, discipline, self-sufficiency—Su Jin had been raised as a well-rounded warrior.
A true all-around hexagon-shaped fighter, as she liked to say.
Jiang Heng quickly turned away, subconsciously hiding his slightly flushed face.
“Alright, what do you want to eat? I’ll make it.”
Just look at him—one minute impossible to coax, the next as obedient as a lamb.
“Hmm~ whatever you make, I’ll eat,” she said softly.
In truth, Jiang Heng wasn’t upset about doing all the housework. He didn’t mind—it was something he did willingly.
What puzzled him was Su Jin’s sudden politeness, the way she seemed a bit distant today.
They were, after all, a married couple in name, but without much emotional foundation. Still, it wouldn’t do for their relationship to feel too cold.
Yes, that must be it.
Thinking that way, his chest finally loosened. Yet somewhere deep inside, a small corner of his heart still felt uneasy—about something he couldn’t quite name.
And when he remembered the promise he’d made to himself that night he brought Su Jin home… that anxiety only deepened.
Moments later, his head felt heavy. He couldn’t focus on anything.
Might as well just cook first.
Washing the pot, rinsing the rice, setting it to cook—all of it came naturally to him.
Chopping, stir-frying, seasoning—his hands moved skillfully and fluidly.
Before long, the kitchen was filled with mouthwatering aromas.
Especially the stir-fried cured pork—thin slices of translucent fat glistening under the light, paired with bright green chili peppers that brought out the rich, smoky flavor.
Su Jin couldn’t help but swallow hard.
Back in the modern world, she’d lived on low-fat meals and always avoided preserved foods for health reasons.
But Jiang Heng’s cooking smelled so good that she was certain she could demolish two bowls of rice in one sitting.
The aroma even drifted across the courtyard, tempting the neighbors.
Then came a voice—sharp and nosy.
“Well, well, what smells so good? That scent—it’s coming from Jiang Heng’s place, isn’t it?”
A middle-aged woman stood on her toes, craning her neck like a nosy rat, eyes darting everywhere until they landed on the plate of cured pork.
She licked her lips and swallowed audibly.
Then she raised her voice and slapped her thigh dramatically.
“Oh my! Jiang Heng’s family is eating cured pork! Do you even know what day it is today?”
Her voice was so loud you’d think someone had stolen her own pork.
Su Jin immediately replied,
“What, can’t we eat unless it’s a holiday?”
The woman—Liu Xiuqin—finally noticed Su Jin sitting there, right beside the table.
“Hey, wait—why haven’t I seen you before?”
Her beady little eyes narrowed, calculating like a mouse’s.
“Oh~ don’t tell me you’re Jiang Heng’s new wife?”
Su Jin ignored her, sitting calmly on her stool.
Liu Xiuqin’s eyes widened when she saw Su Jin cross her legs elegantly.
She’s sitting there while he’s cooking?
Then she glanced toward the stove—where Jiang Heng was busy cooking away.
At once, her expression turned scandalized, as if she were witnessing a crime.
“Good heavens! You actually let your husband cook?!”
Su Jin lifted her gaze lazily.
If she knew Jiang Heng also helped wash her underwear, her worldview might just collapse on the spot.
Seeing Su Jin stay silent, Liu Xiuqin began shouting even louder, as if championing justice for the entire village.
“Married and already turning lazy, huh? Some wife you are!”
Truly unbelievable!
Just then, Jiang Heng walked out carrying a plate of stir-fried cabbage in vinegar. The tangy aroma hit Liu Xiuqin’s nose, and she inhaled deeply, eyes glinting with hunger.
If she were invited to eat, Su Jin was certain the woman would’ve devoured the entire plate herself.
