Chapter 43: CH 41

The sky darkened a little, and as the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, the golden yellow osmanthus flowers also began to poke their heads out from between the branches, and a sweet floral fragrance floated around Jihua.

After getting promoted to an attending physician, Yu Sang moved to office number two and sat next to Jiang Xu. He came back after clearing out his previous workstation and stretched, suddenly noticing that Shen Fangyu’s seat was empty, yet Jiang Xu was still there.

He knew that these two left one after the other most of the time. While others were in a hurry to get off work, only these two were afraid that their working hours were less than the other party’s and held the mentality that “if you don’t leave, I won’t leave”.

So he asked with curiosity, “Brother Xu, why did Shen Fangyu leave so early today?”

Jiang Xu usually can’t hear other people’s small talk when he is focused on his work, and it was unknown which of Yu Sang’s words poked his nerves today, but he actually answered.

“He’s gone to cook.”

Yu Sang, who didn’t expect to get a reply: “Huh? ”

Jiang Xu glanced at the clock on the workstation. Shen Fangyu has been gone for an hour and forty-eight minutes.

“How do you know he’s gone back to cook?” Yu Sang asked.

“I guessed.” Jiang Xu gave a perfunctory answer and glanced at the clock again.

An hour and forty-nine minutes.

“It’s really possible,” Yu Sang thought as he thought along his words. “He usually eats in the hospital, but he left before dinner today; maybe he really went back to cook,” he said. Then he was hungry. “Do you want to go for dinner, Brother Xu? There’s a Sichuan restaurant that opened in front of the hospital, Xiao Ting tried it and recommended it. ”

*Sichuan restaurants serve Sichuan cuisine( a type of cuisine originating from Sichuan province and made of bold flavors. Red chilies and garlic are usually used here.)

Jiang Xu’s pen paused, “I…”

“Have you eaten?”

“No.”

“Then let’s go, you like Sichuan food the most!”

Jiang Xu pursed his lips, his mobile phone interface was still stuck on the chat box with Shen Fangyu, and the last chat record was Shen Fangyu reminding him to go back early to eat, and he had replied with the sentence “I can’t, I have work”.

It was strange, he had politely rejected Shen Fangyu; why was he tangled now?

So he turned off his mobile phone, took off his white coat, changed into a trench coat, and followed Yu Sang to the restaurant he said was good.

This Sichuan restaurant was newly opened. The menu and decorations were all red, and the bright red chilies looked very appetizing, but Jiang Xu felt like the food was tasteless, and there was an inexplicable feeling in his heart, as if he was anxious.

Yu Sang was eating so happily that his lips were red and oily. Jiang Xu put down his chopsticks, called the waiter, and pointed to the single set meal on the menu: “Please help me pack another of this.”

“Why are you packing food?” Yu Sang was surprised. “Is it for someone at home?”

Jiang Xu gave an absentminded “mm”, and Yu Sang instantly showed a gossipy look, “Okay, Brother Xu, when did you Jinwu Zangjiao?”

“……”

Jiang Xu knew that Yu Sang was a very curious and inquisitive person so he immediately prevaricated: “My brother.”

“Aren’t you an only child?”

“A distant cousin from my hometown.”

“Then just ask him to come over and eat it, this dish will be cold by the time you take it back.” Yu Sang imagined a big brother who was a humble and hardworking farmer and said to Jiang Xu, “He came all this way to see you; how could you let him eat cold food?”

Jiang Xu glanced at Yu Sang with a complicated look in his eyes, not to mention that there was a microwave oven at home, even if he really let Shen Fangyu eat cold food, it was better than letting him eat the poison he made.

What he packed was not rice but charcoal during winter.

“He’s used to it.” Perhaps it was an effect of staying with Shen Fangyu for a long time, but Jiang Xu also began to make nonsense without drafting, “and he doesn’t like going out.”

Yu Sang’s expression suddenly became more subtle. The humble and honest big brother, who was not good with words, came to visit Jiang Xu, who didn’t know much about hospitality. He couldn’t help but sigh in his heart, completely unaware that the humble big brother was the Jihua social butterfly with a tongue lotus.

After Jiang Xu separated from Yu Sang with the take out box, he glanced at his mobile phone again, and the chat with Shen Fangyu was still stuck on his last message. Shen Fangyu had not sent him another message.

He put the takeout in the passenger seat and drove all the way home. When he took out the key to open the door, he was inexplicably a little guilty.

He didn’t know where these emotions came from. They actually began to ferment in his heart from the moment Shen Fangyu left the office.

Jiang Xu touched the takeout, he drove a little faster today compared to other days, so the food was still hot. He expected that Shen Fangyu would not be able to eat what he cooked, so he packed this meal.

He opened the door and found there was no movement in the house. There was no one in the living room, so he put the takeout on the dining table. Then he heard a noise from the study.

Jiang Xu looked over and saw Shen Fangyu open the study door and walk out from the inside. Dr. Shen, who had been released as a pigeon, glanced at the clock in front of him and then returned his gaze to Jiang Xu.

Jiang Xu’s heart suddenly beat a little faster.

Just as Jiang Xu was about to say something, Shen Fangyu said with a bit of surprise: “You actually came back so early; I thought you would hide for at least another hour.”

Jiang Xu: “…”

“Okay, no need to explain,” Shen Fangyu said, “I know you. ”

Jiang Xu looked at the empty dining table and said, “You… Have you eaten? ”

“No,” Shen Fangyu walked to the kitchen, turned on the rice cooker, and filled two bowls with rice. Then he warmed the finished dishes in the microwave and placed them on the marble dining table, saying, “I was waiting for you.”

“You are so blessed to have a roommate like me.” Shen Fangyu handed the chopsticks to Jiang Xu.

Jiang Xu looked at the chopsticks he handed over hesitantly, and Shen Fangyu reacted, “You already ate?”

Jiang Xu paused and took the chopsticks. “No.”

“Oh…” Shen Fangyu sat down diagonally in front of him and said, “Then try it.”

He made a total of three dishes, and a plate of tiger skin green peppers was placed in the center. It was not black this time, but a dark green with yellow-brown stripes, and with chili ginger juice on top, it looked quite colorful.

However, with lessons from the past, Jiang Xu still didn’t dare to move his chopsticks, “Are you sure it’s edible?”

Shen Fangyu supported his head with one hand and looked at him lazily, “I practiced hard during the time I was sick and finally learned how to make this dish. I got very hungry from waiting for you all night, but you won’t even try it.”

Jiang Xu was still hesitating when Shen Fangyu directly brought a piece to his mouth and said, like a pediatrician coaxing a child: “Ah——”

The warm sauce touched Jiang Xu’s lips, and he hesitated for a moment before, like one resigned to his fate, opening his mouth and taking a bite.

The taste of the sauce was very rich, with the taste of green pepper and a little spiciness. The taste was just right, and Jiang Xu raised his eyes in surprise.

“Is it delicious?” Shen Fangyu ate the remaining half on his chopsticks and looked at Jiang Xu with a smile. His eyes were very beautiful, especially when he smiled or laughed, and the lying silkworm under his eyes curved under the pair of affectionate eyes, which made them look kind.

Jiang Xu’s heart burned, and he lowered his eyes and looked at the plate of tiger skin green peppers with the right color and flavor, asking, “You really made this?” He suspected that Shen Fangyu had either hired a chef or ordered takeout.

“If you don’t believe me, then come back early next time and watch me do it with your own eyes.” Shen Fangyu said, “Don’t leave me waiting again. ”

Jiang Xu glanced at him and asked, “Are you angry? ”

“Doctor Jiang is a busy person; I dare not be angry.” Shen Fangyu smiled and leaned forward, moving a little closer to Jiang Xu, “I didn’t do it well last time, so it’s understandable if you don’t trust me. I forgive you this time, but now that I have taken out all the cooking skills,” he said, raising his eyebrows, “will you come back on time in the future?”

The warm yellow light of the dining area was just right. Originally, it was to make the food appear more bright and delicious, but now it fell into Shen Fangyu’s eyes, making the pair of smiling eyes bright.

Jiang Xu felt his heart, which had been hanging all evening, suddenly fall to the ground.

He was shocked to realize that he actually cared about Shen Fangyu’s emotions.

When he saw that Shen Fangyu was not unhappy because he had been released as a pigeon and was still smiling in front of him like before, all the guilt in his heart seemed to dissipate.

He glanced at the takeout on the table and felt that he might have been too much today.

Shen Fangyu also followed his gaze, but the face that was smiling suddenly became a little sluggish after seeing the contents on the table.

“Jiang Xu… don’t bring me such humiliation,” he said in disbelief: “Do you think my cooking is so unpalatable that you specially brought food from a restaurant to let me feel the skill gap?”

Jiang Xu didn’t explain his good intentions, but he clipped another piece of tiger skin green pepper, ate it with rice, and then said softly to Shen Fangyu: “The restaurant’s food is not as good as yours.”

Hearing this completely unexpected answer, Shen Fangyu, who was ready to rain down accusations, was suddenly stunned.

The short-circuited brain shut down for a while, and it was only after blinking for a long time that he slowly recovered his senses.

Jiang Xu was actually praising him for cooking well.

This is Jiang Xu, not a fake, but the real Jiang Xu, praising him!

Shen Fangyu suddenly felt like his feet were stepping on cotton and he was floating. He felt really happy.

“What else do you want to eat?” Shen Fangyu suddenly rolled his sleeves as if he had been injected with chicken blood. “I can learn.”

Jiang Xu glanced at him; the corners of his lips couldn’t help but curl up, and he quickly lowered his head to hide the slight smile.

Strangely, his pregnancy reactions had lasted so long. He still had no appetite for anything, but unexpectedly, this simple plate of tiger-skin green peppers actually made him have an appetite, and the nausea did not appear. He even ate half a plate in one sitting.

However, Shen Fangyu still caught the smile.

“Jiang Xu,” Shen Fangyu stared at the small mole under his eyes that became alive with a smile, “You really look good when you smile.”

Jiang Xu didn’t hide anymore. He raised his head, letting the smile appear in his eyes, and for a rare moment, he teased: “So I don’t look good when I don’t smile?”