Growing Fond of You, Mr Nian

“Thank you.”

It was not an expensive gift, but the goodwill was delivered.

It was a large box of avocados.

Nian Xi took the box, opened it, and found the avocados were black. She touched them and could tell they had gone bad.

“These went bad. Where did you buy them?”

“Right in your neighborhood. An old lady was selling them. Are these bad? She told me the ripe ones are all like this.”

Nian Xi peeled an avocado. The pulp was black. She peeled a few more in a row and they were all the same.

“How much did these cost?”

“Fifteen each,” said Jiang Yuning unhappily.

“That’s ridiculous.” Nian Xi sighed. “How can avocados be so expensive?”

“I don’t know.” Jiang Yuning dropped his head and poked the stone stool with his tiptoe.

“Next time, don’t spend money on anything without me there.” Nian Xi finally started to understand how Luosang felt, and why she always managed Nian Junting’s money.

Some guys were really bad at managing money.

Upstairs, Jiang Yuning changed his shoes, then walked into Nian Xi’s apartment. A bowl of dumplings with a clear soup was on the dining table.

“This is…”

“Lunch.” Nian Xi sat down behind the table. Noticing the surprised look in Jiang Yuning’s face, she said to him, “What? Are you unhappy with the lunch that I made?”

“No.” Jiang Yuning shook his head quickly. “Your dumplings are so pretty. They look exactly like the ones sold in the supermarket.”

“Because I bought them from the supermarket,” said Nian Xi smilingly. “I don’t know how to make dumplings.”

Jiang Yuning spent a long while staring at the dumpling, then stuttered, “I heard that the swine fever is spreading in Africa and that many dead pigs were turned into dumplings… Xi, if you want dumplings, you should make them yourself.”

“I’m too lazy to do that.” Nian Xi stretched her body. Jiang Yuning was looking at her silently. She raised her brows and continued by saying, “Do you think that I’m too lazy? Yes, I am very lazy. Do you have a problem with that?”

“No…” Jiang Yuning shook his head and then murmured, “I’ll do the things that you don’t want to do. If you don’t want to make dumplings, I’ll do it for you.”

Sensing the slight grievance in his tone, Nian Xi found him funny; she also felt sweet in her heart.

Perhaps, he was the only one in the world who could cope with her bossiness. Another man would have started to give her a lecture.

“Are you sure you’ll make dumplings for me?” Nian Xi raised her brows. “You’re a vegetarian.”

“I will.” Jiang Yuning nodded. “I’ll learn how.”

“You’re so nice.” Nian Xi was lying on the couch. She was too lazy to get up, so she rubbed his thigh with the back of her foot.

Her movement made Jiang Yuning blush scarlet. He twisted his legs and said to her, “Xi… don’t… don’t do this…”

His muffled voice was quite seductive.

Nian Xi’s nose almost bled.

“Do what?” She blinked her eyes and looked at him with an innocent face. “I didn’t do anything?”

Jiang Yuning’s fair, handsome face had reddened. He froze for a few seconds, then carried his bowl to the other side.

Nian Xi felt speechless. She had never seen a man who restrained himself so much…

…

After lunch, Jiang Yuning said to Nian Xi, “Xi, the dumplings were delicious, but you should still have rice and vegetables for each meal. If you don’t feel like cooking, you can always call me. I’ll come here and cook for you.”

“Do you know how to cook?” Nian Xi raised her eyebrows.

“I can learn. At least the dumplings I boiled tasted better than yours,” Jiang Yuning said, being honest.

“What do you mean? You’ve had my dumplings, and now you’re complaining that they’re not good enough?”

“I’m not saying that your dumplings tasted bad. I’m only trying to say that mine would be better.” Jiang Yuning shook his head.