Chapter 96: Chapter 96 - Ninety- Six: Praise

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Everyone in the Shi family was surprised and excited by the news that Yun Nan would personally cook for them, and they arrived at Shi Nian’s house early.

Shi Nian looked at the suddenly crowded living room, and his face darkened.

‘We said to come over at lunchtime! What are you all doing here so early?”

Xu Yun ignored her son’s displeasure and beamed, “We came to see if Yun Nan needs help! After all, many hands make light work!” And with that said, she pushed her son out of her way and went into the kitchen.

Shi Xiu yawned at her brother and lightly shoved him, mumbling, “I’m still sleepy. I’m going to take a nap in your bedroom.”

She then went upstairs, and Shi Nian saw that his grandpa and his father—Shi Kong and Shi Yun—were on the balcony, admiring and praising Yun Nan’s painting. Shi Nian stood in his own house and felt like an ornament—an obstructive one at that. He sighed and headed to the kitchen.

When he entered the kitchen, he heard Xu Yun exclaim to Yun Nan, “Oh my! Yun Nan, you’re amazing! Is there anything you can’t do?! That silly son of mine is truly lucky to have a wife like you!”

“Mom, why don’t you sit outside for a bit? I’ll make you some tea,” Shi Nian interjected, preventing his mother from embarrassing him further.

Xu Yun waved her hand at him without bothering to turn her head and refused, “I don’t drink tea!” She then continued to praise Yun Nan. “Wow, Yun Nan! You know how to cook this fish?! Yun Nan, you’re so awesome!”

Shi Nian stared at his mother as she oohed and aahed over every little thing Yun Nan did and facepalmed, thinking, ‘Looking at her now, no one would think she’s the famous Madam Shi. This is so embarrassing!’

As Yun Nan busied herself, she smiled and described the recipe and order of dishes she would be making to Xu Yun. When she spotted Shi Nian, she bluntly requested in an unquestionable tone, “Shi Nian, help me peel the garlic!”

Shi Nian silently found the garlic and began peeling in earnest. Although his mother—the third wheel she was—was also present, he still felt cozy whenever he spent time with Yun Nan.

Yun Nan had almost finished cooking her dishes by the time Shi Xiu woke up from her nap and stumbled downstairs. She stood on the stairs and gaped at the tableful of delicacies before blurting, “Oh my god! Yun Nan made all this herself? Are you sure she didn’t order takeout or hire a hotel chef?”

Shi Nian, who had just brought out the dishes and placed them on the table, heard the comment and rapped her head with his knuckles. “Do you think everyone is like you and only knows how to sleep?” he scoffed.

Shi Xiu covered her head and yelled, “Mom! Shi Nian hit me!”

Xu Yun stuck out her head from the kitchen and replied, “I’m now retired from the role of his babysitter! You should go find Yun Nan the next time you want to tell on your brother.”

Shi Xiu immediately ran to the kitchen doorway and whined, “Yun Nan, Shi

Nian hit me!”

Yun Nan had heard their entire conversation. She smiled and handed Shi Xiu a bowl of mango pomelo sago, saying, “Ignore your brother! Here, have some!” Shi Xiu accepted the dessert with sparkling eyes and made a funny face at Shi Nian before she went looking for her father and grandfather with the bowl in hand.

When Shi Xiu left, Yun Nan turned to Shi Nian and chided, “You’re an adult, so stop provoking your little sister!”

Shi Nian reached out to adjust the strap of her apron. His tone had a slight hint of complaint as he concernedly asked, “Is there anything else? You’ve made a lot of food.”

Yun Nan could feel his concern and smiled as she uttered, “I’m almost done. Go ask Grandpa and Dad what they want to drink, then prepare the wine.”

“Alright.” Shi Nian obeyed.

When he was gone, Xu Yun told Yun Nan in hushed tones, “Shi Nian has such a bad temper that we were all worried he wouldn’t be able to find a wife! But then, you showed up. Our entire family is grateful that you accepted him!”

Yun Nan chuckled, “Really? His temper really isn’t that bad. I think it’s pretty good.” At least, their cooperation has been pleasant so far. Perhaps it was because Yun Nan was his collaborator, but Shi Nian treated her quite well. Yun Nan decided she shouldn’t get too close to the guy; he seemed like the type who’d be cordial to outsiders but acted unrestrictedly before his loved ones.

Xu Yun replied, “That’s a relief. You must let us know if he mistreats you, and we’ll take care of him!”

Yun Nan thought Shi Nian’s family had an odd way of showing their love for him. ‘ What did he do to offend his family and make them worry about him like this

That being said, Yun Nan noticed that everyone in the Shi family had high EQ. ‘A family atmosphere like theirs was really enviable,’ Yun Nan thought, but at the same time, she felt a little guilty. She was uneasy when she thought about how she was lying to them about her relationship with Shi Nian. She couldn’t tell them the truth, so she would repay them with double the kindness.

The family drank and chatted happily at the dining table, and—influenced by the Shi family—Yun Nan also became more and more unrestrained as time passed. Shi Xiu told everyone about the interesting things that had happened during their filming, and her relatives exclaimed and laughed at her tales. They would ask Yun Nan for confirmation from time to time, and Yun Nan would join in and give everyone her own narrations..