His hands moved under the running water, his fingers long and well-shaped, carefully washing cherry tomatoes and blueberries. On the kitchen counter were small pumpkins he had just taken out of the steamer, and the air was filled with the sweet, dense aroma of pumpkin.
The orange-red sunrise outside gently streamed in, illuminating Ye Yansheng's back brightly. It seemed that married life wasn't as chaotic as her parents had described. At least at this moment, Song Guanyu was very satisfied.
The morning kitchen's domestic atmosphere enveloped Song Guanyu. The scent of breakfast mixed with the natural smell of sunlight was very pleasant. The scene captivated her, and she unknowingly stepped into the kitchen, standing behind Ye Yansheng, probably lured by the food.
When Ye Yansheng finished arranging the plates and turned around, he discovered the Little Radish Head hiding behind him, sneaking a peek.
Her eyes were shining as she stared at the food in his hands without blinking. He smiled inwardly and walked up to her: "Open your mouth."
Song Guanyu, not knowing what to expect, obeyed and opened her mouth. Ye Yansheng fed her a cherry tomato. The sweet and sour juice exploded on her taste buds, staining her lips. He was about to reach out and wipe it off, but Song Guanyu's tongue darted out and licked the tomato juice off her lips. In the process, her soft little tongue accidentally touched Ye Yansheng's fingertip. She was completely immersed in the world of food, her eyes sparkling.
The man in front of her was left staring blankly at her actions, confused. Upon closer inspection, his eyes grew darker.
The warmth from her touch still lingered on his fingertip, spreading out.
The oblivious little foodie opened her mouth again, wanting another one. She stared longingly at the blueberries in Ye Yansheng's bowl, her eyes gleaming. Ye Yansheng noticed her intention and interrupted.
"Eat breakfast first, then have fruit," he said, breaking her train of thought. He unconsciously moved his gaze from her lips, retracting his fingers and placing them under the bowl, lightly pinching them as if reminiscing.
Song Guanyu then awkwardly covered her nose in embarrassment, nodded, and said, "Okay, okay." She walked past him, carrying the scent of food. Song Guanyu followed right behind him until they reached the dining table.
"Once you've washed up, you can come eat."
He took off the apron and hung it aside. They sat facing each other.
The morning atmosphere was warm and cozy, a fitting scene for newlyweds.
In summary: polite, respectful, and courteous.
Song Guanyu obediently sat down. The wontons in front of her were too tempting. She scooped one up with her spoon, blew on it, and popped the whole thing into her mouth. Her cheeks puffed out as she chewed. The firm texture of the shrimp spread through her mouth, combined with the savory seaweed, so fresh that her eyes and brows curved into crescents. After quickly chewing a few times, she swallowed.
With her mouth now empty, she said, "Dr. Ye, I didn't know you were such a good cook."
She took another sip of the soup, warming her stomach.
Across from her, Ye Yansheng watched her eating with delight as he chewed slowly. Hearing her praise, he smiled. "These are simple to make. The wontons were made by my mother; she left some in the freezer the last time she came."
The wontons were a bit large, and he feared she might choke on them with her small throat, so he repeatedly reminded, "Eat slowly, be careful not to choke."
Song Guanyu paused for a few seconds, listening carefully, then smiled and praised her mother-in-law's skill. In no time, she polished off all the wontons in her bowl, followed by two small, soft, and sweet baby pumpkins, whose sweetness was just right, melting on her tongue.
Soon, the table was empty. She was full and content, resting her chin on her hands as she observed the man opposite her.
He ate slowly and methodically. She watched until he finished and put down his utensils.
Ye Yansheng looked up, the corners of his eyes slightly lowered, and said to her gently, "Miss Song, next time, don't eat so fast. It's bad for your stomach."
She blinked innocently: "I always eat like this. I don't feel any discomfort." She said this softly and gently, with a bit of pumpkin residue at the corner of her mouth. Seeing this, Ye Yansheng naturally stood up and leaned over.
Startled by his sudden closeness, Song Guanyu immediately held her breath.
She had just searched online on her phone; it said that newlyweds have a good morning kiss before going to work. Was he going to kiss her?
She saw his gaze fall on her lips. Her heart began to pound uncontrollably. This would be her first kiss. She didn't know what kissing felt like, but at that moment, she felt a strange sense of anticipation.
But Ye Yansheng shattered her fantasy once again. He didn't kiss her. Instead, he used his fingertip to touch her soft lips, brushing across to the corner of her mouth, wiping away the residue.
"Miss Song, you had some food residue at the corner of your mouth," he said, his eyes softening, his gaze gently sweeping over.
Her thoughts were all written on her face, impossible to miss.
Song Guanyu's face reddened, and she lowered her head. Before she could say anything, he began to educate her: "We should chew each mouthful of food twenty times. The amylase in saliva can break down food in advance, reducing the digestive burden on the stomach. Eating so quickly can easily cause stomach pain."
She was dazed for a moment, forgetting he was a doctor. Doctors seemed to have insights into health. But she had been eating like this for years without any stomach pain. Ultimately, she nodded perfunctorily and said she understood and wouldn't do it again next time.
Old men are so naggy. She'd just go along for now.
Breakfast was quickly finished. The old man, Ye Yansheng, went to wash the dishes, while she went upstairs to change clothes.
Today, she had an appointment with Senior Brother Bai at the recording studio; she couldn't be late.
Looking at the dazzling array of clothes in the wardrobe, she started to get a headache. For someone with decision-making difficulties like her, choosing clothes was painful.
But to save time, she randomly pulled out a strappy maxi dress and quickly put it on. Sitting in front of the vanity mirror, she faced another challenge: she wanted to put her hair up in a messy bun, but her hair was thick and long, and her hands were small; she couldn't gather it all. Every time she almost succeeded, a few strands would escape.
Frustrated, she let it loose, her thick, long black hair falling lazily down her back like a waterfall.
Ye Yansheng walked in and saw Song Guanyu sitting in front of the mirror, her little face scrunched up, looking sulky.
He walked over and asked softly, "What's wrong?" Song Guanyu turned to complain, "My hair is too much; I can't put it up. A strappy dress looks best with a messy bun."
Ye Yansheng was speechless. Then she said, "Dr. Ye, what should I do?"
He listened seriously to her problem and looked at her hair. It was indeed thick and smooth, as he had noticed when holding her last night. He stepped forward, smiled warmly, and said it was no big deal; he would put her hair up for her.
Song Guanyu's eyes widened in genuine surprise, and she nearly choked on her saliva.
"Dr. Ye, you... you can even do hair!" Cooking had already impressed her, and now the skill of doing hair was even more unbelievable.
"My cousin has a little daughter who often pesters me to braid her hair. I learned gradually," he answered her question. He pressed her shoulders, making her sit upright in front of the mirror, and ran his fingers through her smooth, jet-black hair. In the mirror, the girl's palm-sized face was already beautiful without any makeup.
"Nowadays, girls like a fluffy, messy look. How about I tie a natural messy bun for you?"
Without waiting for her answer, Ye Yansheng's hands had already started moving, because he could tell from her face that she liked the idea.
Song Guanyu sat obediently, her watery eyes fixed on Ye Yansheng in the mirror.
It felt like she had stumbled upon a treasure.