Chapter 252 - 97: Jie Jingchen, Thanks for Your Hard Work (2)
Shen Qing walked back into the house, and Jie Jinghun followed behind her with heavy steps.
After the two returned to the house, Qin Mei reached out a finger and poked Jie Jingchen’s chest. "Is Wen Xingnan your third brother’s old flame?"
"Yes." Jie Jingchen grasped the hand Qin Mei was poking his chest with. Ever since they decided to be a real husband and wife, Jie Jingchen no longer suppressed his desire for her. Any little move she made was a tease to him.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk!" Qin Mei clicked her tongue three times, her disdainful gaze completely unconcealed. "Jie Jingchen, you’re rotten from the inside out."
Wen Xingnan was Jie Jinghun’s old flame, and Wen Xingnan’s husband was Shen Qing’s old flame. Neither Jie Jinghun nor Shen Qing wanted to face these two people, yet they were now so close by.
"You’ve wronged me," Jie Jingchen protested, a sly, calculating glint in his eyes. "I’m helping them."
’Helping them?’ Qin Mei shook her head. She really couldn’t see it. "You’re not helping them," she said bluntly. "You’re hurting them."
"They’re my third brother and sister-in-law. I wouldn’t hurt them. If I were going to hurt anyone, it would be..." Jie Jingchen didn’t finish the sentence, but Qin Mei understood.
Qin Mei stared at Jie Jingchen for a moment, then sighed softly. "Matters of the heart are like drinking water—only the one drinking knows if it’s hot or cold. They’re the ones caught in the middle of it. As an outsider, all you’re doing is making a mess."
Jie Jingchen watched her for a long time before slowly retracting his deep gaze. "Qin Mei," he said lightly, "there’s a saying: ’The spectator sees more of the game than the players.’"
Qin Mei was speechless. She had only heard a thing or two from Jie Jingchen about their romantic entanglements and hadn’t pried for details. It was only because she thought well of Jie Jinghun and Shen Qing’s character that she had said as much as she did.
"What groceries did you buy? I’ll go make dinner," Jie Jingchen said, changing the subject.
Qin Mei didn’t want to continue the topic either, so she went along with him. "No need to make dinner. We’re having dumplings tonight."
"Dumplings?" Jie Jingchen raised an eyebrow and stared at her. "I thought you didn’t eat dumplings?"
"It’s not that I don’t eat them, I just don’t like them," Qin Mei corrected, unable to resist reaching out and pinching Jie Jingchen’s cheek.
"Is there a difference?" Jie Jingchen’s amber eyes held a complex mix of emotions. He didn’t stop her, letting her play with his face.
Qin Mei had only meant to give him a quick pinch, but with Jie Jingchen’s tacit permission, she found it rather addicting. "Of course there’s a difference. Not eating them and not liking them are two very different things."
"Qin Mei, I know Jing Qi loves dumplings. I don’t want you to force yourself to eat them just to cater to her tastes." Jie Jingchen raised his hand, grabbed her wrist, and pulled it down. He had indulged her pinching, but she hadn’t let go, and both his cheeks were starting to hurt.
"What a joke. Am I the kind of person who would force myself to do anything?" Qin Mei gave a prideful little smile, but a flash of guilt crossed her eyes. ’When you live under someone else’s roof, you have to bow your head. After traveling to this era, even a spine of steel would be mercilessly shattered.’
Jie Jingchen’s large hand tightened its grip on her wrist. He stared straight at her, his amber eyes filled with a complex swirl of emotions, his thin lips pressed tightly together as he remained silent.
"Jie Jingchen, any tighter and you’ll break my wrist." Qin Mei felt like he was about to crush it.
Jie Jingchen instantly snapped back to his senses and let go of her wrist. Seeing the fair skin now red from his grip, he felt a pang of guilt and heartache. "I’m sorry. Does it hurt?"
Qin Mei shook her hand out and said nonchalantly, "I’m fine. Go cook the dumplings."
"I’ll go make dinner," Jie Jingchen said.
Qin Mei froze for a second. ’Are we having a communication problem? I told him to cook the dumplings, but he wants to make dinner. We didn’t buy any other groceries. Is he going to eat plain rice?’
Jie Jingchen walked out of the room and headed for the kitchen. Qin Mei immediately followed.
In the kitchen, Jie Jingchen looked at the neatly arranged dumplings. Each one had a thin wrapper and a plump filling, looking pale, chubby, and appetizing. "Did the second granny make these?"
"Mhm," Qin Mei nodded, then added, "And her older sister."
"Granny Yu." Jie Jingchen was a little surprised, but on second thought, it made sense. ’Both sisters are sensible people,’ he thought. ’Qin Mei helped Granny Yu and didn’t accept any money, so of course Granny Yu would find a way to thank her.’
"The dumplings they make are delicious. I like them too," Qin Mei said, seizing the opportunity.
"You really like them?" Jie Jingchen gazed at her. Seeing Qin Mei nod her head like a bobblehead, he finally relented and stopped insisting on cooking a separate meal. He started boiling water for the dumplings. Once Qin Mei saw the water boil and the dumplings go into the pot, she went to get Jing Qi.
Qin Mei pushed Jing Qi into the kitchen just as Jie Jingchen finished cooking the dumplings and was scooping them out of the pot.
Qin Mei prepared three dipping sauces. Since Jie Jingchen and Jie Jingshan didn’t eat spicy food, she didn’t add any chili for them. She loved spicy food, so she added a lot to her own. Jie Jingshan stared at the fiery red sauce in front of Qin Mei; just looking at it made her feel the heat.