CHAPTER 21: CHAPTER 21: COOKING

’Never trust anyone,’ the system repeated, albeit with a whisper. It could sense that Yue Ning was in a bad mood.

Yue Ning didn’t reply as she went to her room without hesitation. She felt betrayed by the system’s actions even though it wanted to teach her a lesson. She didn’t bother to read the novel.

The next morning, Yue Ning woke up very early to prepare breakfast.

When she got into the kitchen, she was surprised to find Huo Feng in there, and he seemed to be preparing breakfast.

She rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. She also closed and opened her eyes, but the result remained the same.

"Mr. Huo, you are cooking?" She cleared her throat, a faint sparkle appearing in her eyes.

Huo Feng stiffened. He dared not turn to look at her. Yue Ning found his reaction to be cute.

Tapping his feet awkwardly, he slowly turned to look at her, and she burst into laughter seeing the flour on his face.

"What are you making?" She took unhurried steps to him with her eyes fixated on the pan in his hands.

"Eggs," he answered without batting an eyelid.

Yue Ning coughed loudly at his answer.

"What’s wrong?" He demanded. "Why the laughter?"

"I’m sorry. But I didn’t know we prepared eggs with flour," Yue Ning responded amidst laughing.

Huo Feng placed the pan on the counter, while he fiddled with his fingers.

"I don’t normally make breakfast. I only eat takeout," he confessed with a low voice.

"I know. You are the CEO of Huo Corporation, there’s no way you will know how to cook. But if I may ask, why did you decide to make breakfast?" Yue Ning asked curiously with her fingers placed on her chin while she had her eyes locked on him.

Yue Ning tilted her head, studying him. "So, after a few days of marriage, I finally find out you know how to crack an egg." There was a slight tease in her voice.

Huo Feng froze, his back stiffening. "Don’t misunderstand," he said, with a slight chill in his voice. "This doesn’t mean anything. I just didn’t want to bother you, and I thought it’d be easy."

Her smile faltered a little at the coldness in his tone, but she forced a light chuckle. "Of course, Mr. Huo. It seems we both still have much to learn about each other."

’Host, be gentler in your words,’ the system finally spoke up, but Yue Ning didn’t give a response. She was still miffed by yesterday’s ordeal.

Before the silence could grow heavier, the sound of heels echoed from the hallway.

"Brother?" a voice rang out. "What’s this smell? Don’t tell me you’re actually cooking." Her loud voice could be heard from the hallway, as the couple exchanged glances.

Huo Yan stepped into the kitchen, eyes widening at the sight before her. Her lips parted in exaggerated shock. "Oh my goodness. It’s true! Sister-in-law, did you witness this miracle?"

Yue Ning pressed her lips together, laughter threatening to spill. "I almost thought I was dreaming."

"Yan," Huo Feng’s tone was low, warning, but his sister only grinned wider.

"I must take a picture. The mighty CEO of Huo Corporation, wearing an apron and covered in flour!" She whipped out her phone dramatically, though Yue Ning gently stopped her with a laugh.

"Don’t embarrass him too much, he was only trying to make breakfast."

Huo Yan gasped playfully.

"Trying? Brother, are you telling me you actually made something edible?" She teased.

"Enough," Huo Feng cut in, voice sharp. He placed the pan down with finality.

"I don’t have time for this nonsense, I’ll eat at the office."

He grabbed his suit jacket and strode out of the kitchen without a backward glance. He was heading to his room to have a shower. After all, he couldn’t appear at the office covered in flour.

Yue Ning watched his retreating figure, her expression unreadable. They’d only been married three days, yet she already felt the vast, icy wall between them.

She knew it would be hard to complete her mission, but that didn’t mean she would give up. She would close the distance between them.

’I am glad the host still remembers the mission,’ the system chirped in.

"Oh please, be quiet."

Huo Yan broke the silence by looping her arm through Yue Ning’s.

"Don’t mind him. He’s always been like this—aloof, grumpy, impossible to please. But..." She tilted her head thoughtfully. "The fact that he even stepped into the kitchen means something.

Yue Ning smiled faintly. "Maybe. Or maybe he just couldn’t stand waiting."

Her heart hurt a bit as she uttered those words.

"Come on," Huo Yan tugged gently at her hand.

"Let’s go have fun. It isn’t nice to spend the entire day indoors," the ever outgoing Huo Yan suggested.

Yue Ning agreed at once. She had transmigrated into the novel, but she hadn’t really explored the novel’s world.

The two spent the late morning strolling around the city. Huo Yan dragged her into a boutique where they tried on sunglasses, hats, and dresses. They stopped by a small café for coffee, and later, ice cream by the riverside.

Yue Ning found herself laughing at Huo Yan’s jokes, her earlier heaviness lifting.

"You’re really nothing like your brother," Yue Ning said at one point, shaking her head.

"Of course not," Huo Yan replied proudly. "One iceberg in the family is enough."

Yue Ning burst into laughter, but this happy mood was ruined by a very familiar voice.

"Oh, I didn’t expect to see you here. Cozying up to your sister-in-law, I see."

"Ah. Yue Chen, I didn’t expect to see you as well. After all, you were sorely embarrassed yesterday. I thought you’d be indoors crying your eyes out, guess I underestimated your shamelessness."

Yue Ning didn’t give in as she retorted without hesitation. Huo Yan who was seated beside her cheered her on.

She was glad that Yue Ning wasn’t the type to be bullied.

Yue Chen’s face alternated between dark and green.

"Yue Ning! You..."

"Yes, me. What do you have to say?"

Flipping her hair, Yue Chen proudly announced, "you know you can’t compare to me. Huo Feng loves me, and that is an undeniable fact."

Yue Ning smirked as she said unhurriedly, "but he isn’t married to you, is he?"