CHAPTER 258: CHAPTER 242 YOU TASTE BETTER THAN SOUP

Gu Qili met Reynolds again a week later.

The general manager’s inspection trip concluded successfully, and they would be flying back tonight. Reynolds had arranged to meet her at the airport café during this break.

The café was not crowded. They sat by the window, with a small decorative candle holder on the table, covered with a beautiful glass shell.

Gu Qili handed over a bag she had been holding: "This is for you."

"A gift?" Reynolds was slightly delighted and hurriedly opened the bag, inside was a set of delicate blue and white porcelain tea set and a bag of this year’s new tea.

Gu Qili said, "Drinking wine has its benefits, but we emphasize nurturing life through tea, so I hope you’ll enjoy a cup of tea in your leisure time and find some peace."

Reynolds’ fingers gently slid over the smooth surface of the tea cup, his eyes filled with a tender smile: "Thank you, Qili."

"I haven’t thanked you yet, if it weren’t for your help last time, our hotel would have suffered losses."

"That was nothing, even if it wasn’t for helping you, I wouldn’t let those who insult wine off the hook," Reynolds said and suddenly leaned down to open the suitcase beside him. He pulled an envelope from the compartment and placed it in front of her, "This is why I asked you to come today."

Gu Qili looked curiously at the envelope, jokingly said, "It’s not a check, is it?"

Reynolds laughed and shook his finger, leaning in mysteriously, "Didn’t you say you’ve been studying the sommelier course at CAFA? This is a special invitation from our most famous sommelier academy. I think you understand that there’s no better place to learn and understand wine, of course, this learning process will take some time, and whether you want to go or not is still up to you to decide."

"For a long time?"

"At least two years," Reynolds stiffened two fingers, "and that’s if you grasp the concepts quickly."

Gu Qili touched the envelope’s rough surface, feeling somewhat moved, knowing that Reynolds had put thought into this invitation, but she didn’t want to go because it meant being apart from Mu Shuoqian for too long, and she couldn’t bear it.

"I appreciate the gesture, but I might not go," Gu Qili pushed the envelope back to him.

But Reynolds held it down with his hand, his beautiful blue eyes blinking, "Qili, this invitation is always valid. You don’t need to return it to me. Keep it, and if one day you change your mind, you’re always welcome to come."

"I think, I won’t change my mind," she loved wine, but she loved Mu Shuoqian more.

After sending away Reynolds, Gu Qili returned home and carefully read the invitation twice before tucking it into a drawer.

Glancing at the wall clock, Mu Shuoqian was about to return.

She hurriedly changed her clothes to start cooking.

Before the meal was ready, sounds of unlocking came from the door. Gu Qili turned down the soup fire a bit and ran to the doorway, bending down to fetch his slippers for him.

"Mu-Shuo-Qian," she warned playfully, biting his neck lightly, "Time to eat."

He reluctantly let go of his hold,

The soup pot sat over low flame, bubbling softly.

Gu Qili tasted the soup and found it quite good, putting down the ladle, she was about to turn around to chop some green onions, when unexpectedly he came behind her, pushing her back two steps until she bumped into the kitchen counter. He placed her on top it, resting his arms expansively on the marble sides, while Gu Qili with her delicate chin tilted up met his dark, intense gaze,

She turned off the stove again.

She was about to chop some green onions,

In haste, Gu Qili chopped some green onions into the soup, added some chicken essence powder for flavor, stirred it a few times and then took the soup pot off the stove.

As she was serving the second dish, suddenly the phone rang on the kitchen counter, Gu Qili ignored it, letting it ring continuously.

After insisting for a while, it stopped, but soon it started again, buzzing as it vibrated, almost falling off the kitchen counter.

Gu Qili had to put down the soup bowl and went over to pick up the phone. The number didn’t have a saved name, just a string of numbers, but it displayed an area code:

Mu Shuoqian had lived there for many years; perhaps the call was from a friend of his.

Gu Qili took the phone to the bathroom door and knocked, accompanying the sound of falling water, Mu Shuoqian hummed, "Is it urgent?"

"Your phone keeps ringing, the caller ID is from over there, it might be something urgent." Gu Qili raised the phone, placing it near the door so he could hear the ringtone.

Within seconds, the door opened, Mu Shuoqian still had shower gel on him,

Gu Qili hadn’t expected him to open the door directly, realizing her gaze was wandering, she hurriedly handed him the phone: "Here, take the phone."

Mu Shuoqian’s hand, still foamy with white bubbles, didn’t even wipe it off before grabbing the phone: "Thanks."

"Hurry up and finish washing, the soup is getting cold."

"Okay," he closed the door, "I’ll be quick."

Gu Qili stood at the doorway, daydreaming for a moment, seeing only a vague silhouette through the frosted glass. He answered the phone, but his voice was very low and with the water running, Gu Qili couldn’t hear what he was saying.

No, no, Gu Qili knocked on her own head, what was she even thinking about, maybe it was an important call, how did she even relate it to flirting.

Gu Qili returned to the dining table, set the utensils, and started playing with her phone.

About ten minutes later, Mu Shuoqian came out of the bathroom, clean and dressed in a black T-shirt, drying his hair with a towel as he walked.

Gu Qili carefully observed his face for any signs of unusual expression, but nothing abnormal showed on his handsome face.

She placed the steaming soup in front of him, "Let’s eat."

Mu Shuoqian gently stirred the soup with a spoon, letting the steam escape before bringing it to his lips.

"Is it good?" Gu Qili asked expectantly, her bright eyes shining.

"Delicious," he smiled at her, but the hand by his side slowly clenched into a fist.