So, You’re the Henpecked One? 35

Chapter 35

When Chu Xihuan returned from the craftsman’s shop, she went to the market to buy some vegetables, thinking of taking advantage of Lin Zhao’s absence to try her hand at cooking. If it went well, Lin Zhao would have a meal to eat when she returned at noon.

However, she hadn’t expected that starting a fire would be so difficult. By the time she finally got the fire going, she was in a frantic mess, trying to read the cookbook, cook, and watch the fire all at once. By the time she finally managed to make a dish, not only did it look unappealing, but she had also made herself quite a mess.

She didn’t know that making one dish would take so much time. Before she could even clean herself up, Lin Zhao had returned at such an awkward time.

Chu Xihuan was speechless.

She glanced at the stir-fried green beans and pork she had made. Although the skin of the green beans was a little burnt, she could at least guarantee that it was cooked.

“You’re back? Then let’s eat,” Chu Xihuan said, feigning composure. While Lin Zhao was still in a daze, she walked out of the kitchen, planning to tidy herself up.

Lin Zhao slowly came back to her senses. She looked at the dish Xihuan had made, blinked, and quickly ran after her.

“Xihuan! You’re not hurt, are you?” Lin Zhao asked nervously, recalling Xihuan’s disheveled appearance earlier.

At this moment, Chu Xihuan was washing her face with a wet towel. Hearing Lin Zhao’s words, a hint of embarrassment flashed in her eyes. “I’m not hurt. Go and taste it. See if it’s edible. If not, you can make something else,” she said calmly.

After the last time, she had no confidence in her cooking skills anymore.

Lin Zhao didn’t go. She nervously checked Chu Xihuan’s condition. Seeing that her face was clean and fair after washing, and not only was it not pale, but it was also quite rosy, Lin Zhao sighed in relief.

“Xihuan, you don’t have to do it yourself. You can just read the cookbooks to me, and I’ll learn,” Lin Zhao said seriously. Xihuan had definitely never done these things before, and she didn’t want her to do them just because she had married her.

A slight gloom appeared in Chu Xihuan’s eyes. She felt that being seen by Lin Zhao at such a moment was very unflattering.

“It’s not a bad thing for me to learn these things,” Chu Xihuan said. “Whether I need to do it myself is one thing, but whether I know how is another.”

After living with Lin Zhao, Chu Xihuan had realized the importance of cooking.

Hearing her say this, Lin Zhao pressed her lips together, a hint of annoyance in her eyes. She felt that she was not good with words and couldn’t think of a way to refute Xihuan. In fact, she was even being led by her, thinking that what she said made a lot of sense.

Chu Xihuan tried not to look at her. After tidying herself up, she returned to the kitchen and looked at the dish she had made. Chu Xihuan sighed inwardly. Even without eating it, she knew from the appearance that it wouldn’t taste good.

“Xihuan… it seems you didn’t cook any rice,” Lin Zhao suddenly said hesitantly from the side.

Chu Xihuan was speechless.

Only then did she realize that it was true. She had been so busy preparing the vegetables, stir-frying, and starting the fire that she had completely forgotten about cooking the rice.

Lin Zhao’s face broke into a bright smile. “Then I’ll make the rice. Xihuan, you should rest. You’ve worked hard today!”

She very efficiently went to wash the rice and start the fire, and at the same time, she asked Chu Xihuan if she was hungry and if she wanted something to eat to tide her over.

Chu Xihuan watched her skillfully start the fire and cook the rice with a slightly silent expression. “No need. Let’s eat together when the rice is cooked,” she said lightly.

If Lin Zhao weren’t here, she would have actually wanted to make a second dish. She had bought some vegetables, and compared to the stir-fried green beans and pork, vegetables should be simpler, right?

“Oh, okay. The rice will be ready soon,” Lin Zhao replied with a smile.

Chu Xihuan lowered her gaze. Smile, smile, smile. Why does this person like to smile so much.

Fortunately, the rest of the process went smoothly. Lin Zhao cooked the rice, and the two of them ate the dish Chu Xihuan had made.

As soon as she took a bite, Chu Xihuan knew that the dish was bland and tasteless, even worse than Lin Zhao’s. It was probably because she had put too much salt the first time she cooked, which made her afraid to add any this time.

“Mmm, delicious! Xihuan, you’re so amazing!” Lin Zhao praised her with a smiling face. This was much better than the first time! Bland was better than salty, and it didn’t affect the meal.

Chu Xihuan watched her eat with such gusto, a hint of confusion in her eyes. She was starting to wonder if there was something wrong with Lin Zhao’s sense of taste.

In the end, she silently finished the lunch, feeling as if her life was hopeless. She sat in the courtyard, basking in the sun, not wanting to think about how tasteless the meal she had just eaten was.

Lin Zhao didn’t notice her dislike for the food. She also brought a small stool and sat down next to Chu Xihuan, looking at her with sparkling eyes. “Xihuan~ When I learn, I’ll make you a rocking chair, okay! That way, you can lie comfortably in the rocking chair and bask in the sun!”

When her carpentry skills improved, she could make many practical things for Xihuan!

Chu Xihuan silently glanced at her. This person dared to say such things when she had just started learning. Such a not-so-small object, by the time she learned how to make it, who knows how long it would take. But even though she thought this, Chu Xihuan didn’t say it out loud.

She could already foresee that if she said these things, with Lin Zhao’s personality, she would probably put on a wronged expression as if she had been bullied. And it was a good thing no one saw her like that, or who knows how many false accusations she would have to bear.

“Mm, I’ll be waiting,” Chu Xihuan said quietly.

Seeing her respond, Lin Zhao smiled even more happily and started to chatter about what she had learned from the master that morning, wishing she could tell her everything she had done all morning.

Chu Xihuan was speechless. Did she look that idle? To have to listen to her talk about these things?

Although she was complaining in her heart, she still sat there and listened to Lin Zhao, even responding from time to time, which made Lin Zhao’s words never stop.

After Lin Zhao finally finished telling Chu Xihuan everything that had happened that morning, Chu Xihuan patted her head, signaling that she had forgotten something.

Lin Zhao looked at her with a confused expression.

Chu Xihuan lifted her chin and gestured toward the study. “You still haven’t handed in your eight hundred characters.”

Lin Zhao’s expression immediately became dazed, and then she looked at Chu Xihuan with a tearful expression. “Xihuan~ I already know how to write them. I don’t have to copy them so many times~”

She really did know how to write them! It could be said that those eight characters were almost engraved in her bones! Although she couldn’t write them well, she wouldn’t miss a single stroke when she wrote them!

Chu Xihuan looked at her with a half-smile. “Did I make you copy this just so that you would know how to write them?”

Why are you pretending when you know why? Who said this person had no tricks up her sleeve?

Lin Zhao looked at her mournfully, but the demon in front of her was cold-hearted and completely unmoved.

Lin Zhao snorted heavily and stood up, walking toward the study.

Chu Xihuan watched her back, then looked away and lazily glanced at the clear sky, starting to feel a little sleepy.

She stood up and went back to her room to take a nap, while Lin Zhao worked diligently in the study. When it was about time to go to work, she wanted to say goodbye to Chu Xihuan, but she didn’t see her in the courtyard. When she found the bedroom and saw Chu Xihuan sleeping soundly in bed, she finally quieted down.

Lin Zhao looked at the sleeping person and smiled, her lips pressed together. The sleeping Xihuan looked so gentle, not at all like her fierce self when she was awake.

Mmm… but I also like it when Xihuan is fierce.

If she weren’t so timid, Lin Zhao would have really wanted to kiss Xihuan before she left.

Finally, with a reluctant look at Chu Xihuan, Lin Zhao went out to work. And when Chu Xihuan woke up after a good sleep, Lin Zhao was no longer in the house. She stretched lazily, remembering what she had promised her second sister this morning. She bit her lip, a hint of shyness in her eyes, but her feet still moved toward the study.

Since she had already promised her second sister, there was no reason to go back on her word.

The books Chu Xihuan had brought with her had already been sorted and organized by her. Fortunately, this room had originally been intended to be Lin Zhao’s study. Although the study was practically useless to the Lin Zhao of the past, Lin Zhao’s mother had still arranged everything. The bookshelves were large and sturdy, enough for Chu Xihuan to put all her books on them.

Chu Xihuan came to a row of bookshelves and flipped through them one by one, her cheeks slightly warm, trying to find a more suitable book to give to her second sister.

Considering Lin Zhao’s illiteracy, she couldn’t choose one with pictures.

Thinking back, Chu Xihuan had gone to great lengths to find these books. In the past, because there were so few of these books, she had even thought of writing them herself, but in the end, she had given up on the idea because she was afraid of being embarrassed if it was exposed.

But…

Chu Xihuan held a book and pondered. Now that she was not at the Chu residence, there were not so many people paying attention to her. If she wrote now, the risk of exposure should not be so great.

This thought appeared in Chu Xihuan’s mind, but in the end, she still didn’t make up her mind to write. After all, this type of writing was only for her own reading. If she took it out, probably not many people would buy it to read.

But if she had inspiration, it would be nice to write it for herself to read.

Chu Xihuan finally thought to herself.

After deciding which book to give to her second sister, Chu Xihuan had already adjusted her mindset. Her second sister was already so old. What was the harm in reading these things? It wasn’t like it was anything heinous!

After comforting herself like this, Chu Xihuan handed the book to Lin Zhao when she returned and said, “Take this book to second sister when you go to the carpenter’s shop tomorrow.”

Lin Zhao took the book, curiously looked at it from front to back, and nodded in agreement, saying that she would definitely hand the book to her second sister!

Chu Xihuan’s heart skipped a beat as she watched Lin Zhao flip through the book. Then, seeing that her expression was normal, it slowly settled. She thought to herself that she was just scaring herself. The number of characters Lin Zhao knew now could probably be counted on both hands and feet. No matter how she looked at it, what could she possibly make out?

And it was a good thing that the book she had chosen had no pictures, or even a fool would know what kind of book it was.

“Apart from giving it to second sister, don’t let anyone else see it,” Chu Xihuan added, still a little worried. After all, not everyone was as illiterate as Lin Zhao. If someone else understood it, where would they put their faces?

“Oh!” Lin Zhao replied solemnly, her face tense, as if it were a major matter. Before going to sleep, she even placed the book carefully on the clothes she would be wearing tomorrow, so that not only would she not forget, but she would also put the book in front of her chest, which would be much safer.

Chu Xihuan saw her series of actions and was speechless.

Her face grew a little hot. In the end, she just pretended not to see, and also thought that Lin Zhao’s memory was probably not that good. Even if she saw the characters now, she wouldn’t remember them, so she wouldn’t belatedly realize what kind of book she had brought.

After putting the book away, Lin Zhao pounced on the bed like a puppy and hugged Chu Xihuan, rubbing against her wildly. At the same time, she called Chu Xihuan’s name in a soft voice, saying that she had missed her during the day.

This was too direct and passionate.

The heat on Chu Xihuan’s face had not yet subsided, and now, with Lin Zhao’s actions, even her body was starting to feel a little hot.

It was like going through a tribulation every night with this person!

However, this direct and passionate Lin Zhao also made her heart soften, and even though she seemed to dislike her on the surface, she was silently allowing her outrageous behavior.

“Where do you get so much energy? Aren’t you tired during the day?” Chu Xihuan let her hold her tightly, her head still rubbing against her neck and shoulder, with a hint of helplessness.

If she had gone through Lin Zhao’s day, she would probably be so tired she would be passed out in bed and wouldn’t even wake up if the house was on fire.

Hearing her say this, Lin Zhao looked up at her with a happy expression, nodded, then shook her head, and said with a smile, “I’m a little tired during the day, but when I’m with Xihuan after I come back, I don’t feel tired anymore.”

I love being with Xihuan! And I want to spend as much time as possible with her!

Chu Xihuan was speechless.

She bit her lip and called her a fool in her heart.

Not feeling Xihuan’s resistance, Lin Zhao looked at her lips, which looked even more like they would eat children in the dim orange light, and said greedily, “Xihuan, will there be a kiss before we go to sleep today?”

There was no kiss last night! When we kiss again tonight, can it be a little longer to make up for last night?

Thinking this, Lin Zhao was already very excited.

Chu Xihuan was speechless.

No wonder she had seen her brushing her teeth and rinsing her mouth for so long earlier. So this was what she was waiting for.

**

Author’s Note:

Xixi: Not hehe [Melting]