Chapter 20

Why Couldn’t Lin Wan Learn to Cook?

The people eating at the dining table had no time to pay attention to the comments in the live broadcast room.

“If it’s convenient for all of you, why don’t we have lunch together tomorrow afternoon?” suggested Shen Man. “We can invite the other two families as well. It’ll be a nice gathering.”

Li Yanchen did not say anything. This was the first time he had ever attended a family gathering. He was still feeling very surprised and confused. He had taken Lin Wan to be an introvert who wasn’t very willing to socialize. He thought she would never have agreed to have meals with another family more than once.

However, he was wrong. Lin Wan had willingly agreed to Lin Tong’s request. He found out that she had also agreed with Shen Man to eat at their house for the remaining days.

She looked alright. It didn’t seem like she was suffering from depression anymore. Even when Li Yanchen tried to mention the comments on the bullet screen, she shrugged indifferently.

In the past, she had not cared about the world because she had been unable to escape her own. She had no family or friends in Yun City. In the present, she still did not care about the world around her, but she was no longer trying to run away. She seemed more carefree. She looked confident in herself and did not care what others said about her. This was different.

“Of course. That sounds great.” Lin Wan was the first to answer yet again.

Li Yanchen, along with the rest at the table, were stunned. Lin Wan was very straightforward.

“Wouldn’t that be too much trouble for you?” asked Xia Mo politely.

“No, no. It’s just one dish and one pot.” Lin Tong had always respected his wife’s decision.

“Then I’ll be your helper tomorrow,” Xiao Tianlin said, embarrassed.

“That’s a good idea. It’s decided then. I will go to the two houses and invite them for tomorrow after dinner,” said Shen Man.

Lin Wan kicked Li Yanchen ‘s leg under the table, telling him to agree too.

Li Yanchen put down his chopsticks. “Alright I’ll come over early in the morning to help as well. My wife doesn’t know how to cook.”

“Alright. You men cook and we will rest and wait for the meal,” Shen man joked to avoid the awkward atmosphere.

However, the fans were no longer calm.

[The laziest person has the most straightforward answer.]

Lin Wan wanted to be polite, but no matter how much she tried, people still took it the wrong way. Li Yanchen, on the other hand, always failed at being polite. He had almost screwed it up in the afternoon, too.

Li Zexuan nudged his father with his elbow. ‘He was a top-class business tycoon, how could he go to other people’s houses for free food? Wasn’t the purpose of the show to let them experience ordinary lives? Ordinary people cooked their own food! They had learnt to chop firewood and pick vegetables. Why couldn’t Lin Wan learn to cook?’

“Dad, we can learn how to cook on our own. It’ll be more meaningful that way.” Li Zexuan just couldn’t stand Lin Wan being so lazy.

Yesterday’s grudge was still alive all because of a sausage.

Li Zekai also echoed,” Jiejie hasn’t eaten the food that Auntie and Dad make. Jiejie wants to eat.”

Lin Wan glanced at the child who was actively rejecting tomorrow’s meal. “Guoguo and the others are leaving tomorrow. This is the last time we can spend together. Tomorrow night, you can definitely eat the dinner your father cooks”

[Look, Lin Wan’s words are so eloquent. She’s trying to keep herself clean. It’s not her who would cook. It will be their dad.]

[Xuanxuan suggested that he cook for himself, but his parents didn’t give him the chance. So, fans, it’s not that our Xuanxuan is not down-to-earth, it’s that he can’t perform.]

[Yes, I can prove that Xuanxuan was dragged here.]

[Where’s Li Zexin? Jiejie has already expressed his opinion, why isn’t he saying anything? He only knows how to eat.]

[He was so fierce yesterday. What’s the situation? Why didn’t he act up today?]

[He is a foodie. Can’t you see that he’s gnawing on a chicken leg? He’s probably afraid that he won’t have any more to eat later.]

“What do you think, dad?” Li Zekai asked Li Yanchen.

“Group activity, active participation.” Li Yanchen had probably not expected himself to say something like that. Was he siding with Lin Wan indirectly?

“Oh, okay. I’ll be there if dad is.” Li Zekai grinned, revealing two baby teeth.

Li Zexin and Li Zexuan didn’t agree. But they kept their mouths shut.

Seeing Li Yanchen was so willing, Shen Man was elated. She felt like their two families were friends now. If she had any trouble with her work in the future, he might help her, too.

“I’ll make some cakes for everyone tomorrow morning. Do you all have any flavors or type of cake in mind?” asked Xia Mo. “There is only a limited amount of flour so I can only make small cakes for you.”

“Auntie, can I have a Happy Birthday cake?” asked Li Zekai happily. “Even though it’s not my birthday yet, I want to pretend it is and blow out the candle with daddy.”

Every year, Assistant Qin would book a few tables for him at the hotel for his birthday. From the cake to the cuisines to the emcee and even the birthday presents, he was in charge of everything. Although the birthday party was always grand, it seemed very empty. If they were lucky, they saw Li Yanchen when the birthday banquet was over. Most of the time, they would not even meet him.

“Me too! I have never cut a cake with daddy on my birthday,” said Li Zexin, lowering his head. “He always arrives very late at night.”

Li Zexuan’s case was the same. But he didn’t dare say it aloud. He didn’t want to entertain Xia Mo’s question at all.

He was a top-notch celebrity. Even without his father’s birthday wishes, he still had millions of fans wishing him well. He did not lack support. He was in his first year of high school and had already passed the stage where he needed his father’s affection. All he wanted was Li Yanchen ‘s acknowledgement, not his affection.

“Ah? Big brother, your parents don’t stay with you in your birthday?” Lin Guoguo asked in disbelief. “Every year on my birthday, my mother buys me a floral dress and a pretty cake. And father buys me a Rubrik’s cube.”

“Mr. Li is probably too busy. Children, you’ll understand in the future. Sometimes one needs to work hard, too hard, to support their children,” explained Lin Tong. He had only one child and Li Yanchen had three. It must be hard to be everywhere at once.

Lin Wan didn’t say a word. She felt that she was in the same situation as Li Zexuan and the rest.

She couldn’t remember if she had ever celebrated her birthday properly. When she was young, her grandmother would buy a palm-sized cake and a small candle. The cake cost 5 Yuan. After that, she and her grandmother had to live on porridge and nothing else for a few days.

Lin Wan’s life had been too tragic. Even her birthday wasn’t a happy one because they had to sacrifice meals of a few days for a cake, if they could even afford one. She felt that children shouldn’t lack love. She realized that Li Yanchen was really so harsh to his own children. His wife was no longer around. His children didn’t have a mother. ‘Shouldn’t he give double the love and affection to his children in such a circumstance?’