CHAPTER 909: CHAPTER 908: CUNNING BACKFIRES

Ye Juncheng was momentarily stunned, seemingly not expecting him to change his tone so directly.

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became awkward, and Ye Xian quickly picked up a teacup and handed it to him, trying to ease the tension, "Big brother, have some tea~"

Unexpectedly, after saying this... it became even more awkward, as if they were newlyweds just having changed their address for each other, now offering tea to elders.

Ye Juncheng was momentarily unsure whether he should take the tea, "..."

Fortunately, at this time Xia Hewan came down from upstairs, "Juncheng is back. Lunch is ready. Xianxian, go call your father down."

"Alright!"

"Tingshen, come and sit. Make yourself at home as if you’re at your own place, don’t be shy~"

"Thank you, Auntie."

Tingshen?

Ye Juncheng heard Xia Hewan’s form of address and couldn’t help but fall into deep thought again.

As Ye Xian was heading upstairs, she saw the housemaid carrying a plate of dishes from the kitchen. Wait, what is that black thing in there?

"Achoo! Achoo~"

Zhu Shanshan followed, sneezing continuously, a smudge of ash on her nose. Ye Xian looked at her curiously, "Shanshan, what’s wrong with you?"

"Xiao Xianxian, I messed up~"

Zhu Shanshan grabbed her, looking distressed, as if she had been bullied badly. "I should have listened to my dad and practiced cooking regularly. I’ll make sure to enroll in a cooking class soon!"

"...Why?"

Ye Xian suddenly had a bad feeling.

"I’m afraid if I ever get my hands on your brother, I’ll accidentally poison him first."

Behind them, Ye Shaowen came out of the kitchen, clapping his hands smugly, looking pleased as if he had successfully poisoned someone.

Ye Xian: "...Oh no, CEO danger!"

Aunt Tao set the table with dishes, and everyone took their seats. Ye Xian was about to sit next to Bo Tingshen when Ye Shaowen pulled her over, "Xiao Yezi, sit with me!"

Ye Xian: "I refuse!"

"You’re not allowed to refuse..."

Ye Zhuoxuan: "Shaowen, fooling around is fine usually, but we have guests today. Why are you so unruly? Xianxian, come sit."

"Thank you, Dad~"

He’s unruly?

Ye Shaowen watched Ye Xian, satisfied sitting next to Bo Tingshen and making faces at him, and felt a bit annoyed, "..."

Since when did dad also start siding with Bo Tingshen? Wasn’t he always most fond of Lu Cen?

"Mr. Bo, that chess manual you gave me, I just looked at it. Indeed, it’s an exceptional manual, every word is a maxim, every sentence is exquisite. I’m afraid I’ll need a long time to study it thoroughly."

"I’m glad you like it, Uncle."

Ah, so it’s another sweet-talking trick to win hearts! Just you wait!

"President Bo gracing us with his presence today brings us great honor. I personally cooked a dish to entertain our distinguished guest, you must try it!"

Ye Shaowen stood up, wearing a forced smile, and pushed a plate of boiled fish in front of Bo Tingshen.

Zhu Shanshan saw this and frantically winked at Ye Xian. Ye Xian got the hint and was about to refuse when the person next to her answered in a deep voice, "Alright."

She turned her head, "CEO..."

Bo Tingshen held her hand, which was about to intervene, down, picked up the chopsticks elegantly, and took a piece of boiled fish into his mouth.

Ye Xian watched, her eyebrows twisted into pretzels.

No way? Second Brother’s intentions are clearly bad, why is the CEO jumping into the fire pit? There must be something wrong with that boiled fish...

Bo Tingshen chewed slowly, his handsome face calm, showing no expression at all.

After finishing, a slight approving smile appeared at the corner of his long eyes, "The meat is tender and smooth, Young Master Ye has excellent cooking skills indeed."

Ye Shaowen watched him eat that piece of boiled fish without a trace of abnormal reaction, without even a ripple in his eyes, and didn’t even need water after eating it. How is that possible?!

He looked suspiciously at the plate of boiled fish.

Ye Xian saw his lack of reaction and found it strange. Did Second Brother really not tamper with it? Or...was it a ’slow-acting poison’?

Zhu Shanshan was also dumbfounded, she had seen Ye Shaowen pour a whole half can of pepper powder into it, just smelling it almost choked her to death. Does the CEO have no sense of taste?

Did he switch dishes by mistake?

Ye Shaowen suspiciously took a piece of boiled fish into his mouth, but before he could chew, an intense spicy flavor exploded in his mouth, shooting straight up his nose, so spicy that he dropped the chopsticks and turned around to cough violently.

Zhu Shanshan, scared, quickly stood up and patted his back, "Are you okay?"

Ye Xian: "???"

She turned to look at the man beside her, whose smile at the corner of his eyes gradually turned into sarcasm; the CEO was faking it!

"Water! Water! Get some water quickly!"

Ye Shaowen clutched his throat, almost wanting to spit out his tongue. Ye Xian, seeing her mom’s best sweet soup in front of her, had a flash of inspiration and quickly handed it over, "Second Brother, drink this to cool down!"

Sis is the best!

Ye Shaowen grabbed the soup she handed over and gulped it down. Two seconds later, he spat it out, "Is this saltwater!!!"

Ye Xian suppressed her laughter, Ye Shaowen’s mouth filled with a salty and spicy taste, unable to bear it any longer, rushed into the bathroom.

"Second Young Master~"

"This brat, so mischievous!"

Xia Hewan and Ye Zhuoxuan could see through his antics and shook their heads helplessly yet amusedly.

"Mr. Bo, my youngest son is mischievous, sorry for making a fool of himself."

"It’s alright."

Bo Tingshen looked at the little woman beside him, whose shoulders were shaking with smugness after avenging him, and the originally suppressed spiciness in his mouth somehow turned into a hint of sweetness.

The Ye couple knew that although he claimed he came to thank Juncheng, he was actually testing the waters.

Since that’s the case, they should also learn more about him.

"Tingshen, what kind of dishes do you usually like to eat? Any dietary restrictions? Are they made by the family chef or by Wen Yan?"

Ye Xian: "...I make them for him."

Bo Tingshen: "Nothing in particular that I avoid. At home, dishes are made by the chef, and outside, I cook for myself."

Ye Xian coughed lightly from the soup. Nothing in particular that he avoids? She wondered which werewolf used to coerce her into picking out onions and cilantro for him, one strand less wouldn’t do, and yet he claims to cook? He seemed to have only just learned a single type of porridge, right? Really audacious words.

"You cook for yourself?" Xia Hewan looked surprised, "You can cook as well?"

"I can also make several dishes that Xianxian likes."

Ye Xian: "Huh?" Peacocks spreading their tails is fine, but this is a bit over the top!

"Dishes that Xianxian likes?"

"Sweet and Sour Fish, Crystal Shrimp, Steamed Rice Flour Meat, and Fermented Rice Dumplings."

Hearing this, Ye Xian was shocked. How did he know? She never mentioned it!

Bo Tingshen noticed her curiosity, a slight smirk on his eyes, and Ye Xian read from his expression. Ah, Xiao Lu... she’s been working for the CEO too! She underestimated her audacity!

Xia Hewan nodded approvingly, thinking that it’s rare for young people busy with their careers to still take care of their lives and remember their loved one’s favorite dishes.