After staying in the hospital for a few days, Jiang Yuan was allowed by the doctor to go home for recuperation.
On the day she left the hospital, her friends came to visit her. They helped her pack up her things and escorted her back to the apartment.
"No wonder you didn't want me to go to your rental place before, Yuan. It turns out you've been sharing an apartment with Chi Xu," Lin Suye said, carefully staying by Jiang Yuan's side.
Jia Fang and Chi Xu were carrying daily necessities and walking on the other side of Jiang Yuan.
Lu Zhen didn't come. Jiang Yuan texted him to let him know. Since Jingda University and Jing Normal University were some distance apart and he still had classes, she didn't want him to make the trip back and forth.
"Right! Right! Brother Chi wouldn't even let me visit. I just found out they've been roommates," Jia Fang said with a pout, sounding like a wronged woman.
Jiang Yuan was putting all her weight on her crutches and walking slowly. Hearing their conversation, she stopped, turned to look at them, and gave them a smile.
"Now you know. We even have a kitten named Jiaojiao. We picked her up on campus."
"Really? Your relationship is more like a couple sharing an apartment, and you even have a cat. Is this cat your child?"
Lin Suye was so excited that she almost jumped up. She reached out to pull Jiang Yuan to hurry up but quickly pulled her hand back.
She almost forgot that Jiang Yuan was injured.
"You two should stay for lunch. I've ordered some groceries online. Come and try them later," Chi Xu said, putting down his phone with a faint smile.
"Chi Xu, you can cook?!" Lin Suye's eyes widened. They sparkled like she had discovered a new world. "Waaah, Yuan is so lucky. She has a boyfriend who can cook and a cute little baby..."
She was nudged in the arm, and her words stopped abruptly. Meeting Jiang Yuan's gaze, she smiled awkwardly.
"I meant roommate who can cook and a cute little cat. It's like a dream life."
"Right, Jia Fang?"
"I agree with the first part," Chi Xu said with a smile, stealing Jia Fang's words. He glanced at Jiang Yuan nonchalantly and saw her slightly blushing earlobes, delicate like pale pink crystals.
The elevator door opened. Chi Xu stepped forward to open the apartment door. He grabbed Jiaojiao by the scruff of her neck to prevent her from running out while they weren't looking.
Jiaojiao pretended to be dead and obedient, not moving at all. But when she saw Jiang Yuan, she started struggling and meowing.
Jia Fang closed the door, and Chi Xu let go of his hand.
Jiaojiao rushed to Jiang Yuan's feet and meowed non - stop, completely ignoring Jia Fang and Lin Suye, the two strangers.
They helped Jiang Yuan onto the sofa. Jiaojiao jumped up too, tilting her head and curiously looking at the plaster cast. She hesitated to lie on it.
"Jiaojiao is so smart. She knows you're injured and doesn't move," Lin Suye took out a cat treat, trying to feed it to her. Usually, Jiaojiao loved cat treats and would rush over as soon as she heard the sound of the wrapper being torn.
But this time, she just blinked her big, watery eyes and looked at Jiang Yuan.
The groceries they ordered arrived, and Chi Xu went into the kitchen.
Jiang Yuan stroked Jiaojiao's head and whispered, "Go and eat. Otherwise, people might think I'm bullying you when they see you looking so pitiful."
Jiaojiao meowed once, then looked back three times as she reluctantly ran to Lin Suye's hand and started licking the cat treat.
From time to time, there were exclamations from Lin Suye.
"She's so cute. Her eyes are so watery. My heart is melting."
"Jia Fang, come and touch her. She's not possessive of her food. She's so cute. I'm going to get a kitten when I rent my own place after graduation."
The friends gathered around Jiaojiao, and there were more exclamations.
In the kitchen, there was the sound of running water as Chi Xu was washing the vegetables to cook.
Jiang Yuan sat in the living room, watching all this, and felt an indescribable sense of contentment.
The rare winter sunlight outside the window shone through the thin curtains and gently fell on the floor, creating golden patches.
An hour and a half later, four dishes and a soup were ready.
Chi Xu brought out the last dish, kelp and spare rib soup. He filled a small bowl and handed it to Jiang Yuan. He lifted his eyes slightly and said, "Try it."
"Brother Chi, you're so unfair. Lin Suye and I are right here, but you're ignoring us. This is the first time we've ever had your cooking!"
Jia Fang emphasized the word "first time."
Lin Suye punched him, and Jia Fang cried out in pain.
She retracted her fist and stretched her muscles. "Yuan is a patient now. Besides, can you compare to Yuan? If so, Chi Xu might as well be gay."
While the two were bickering, Jiang Yuan pursed her lips and smiled. She blew on the soup and took a sip carefully. It was delicious.
Her eyes sparkled and curved into crescents. She nodded at him.
"Alright, you two stop arguing. I'll serve you a bowl of soup each," Chi Xu said, filling two bowls of soup and handing them over.
Lin Suye smiled at Jiang Yuan. "Thank you, Senior Chi."
Then she leaned over and whispered in Jiang Yuan's ear, "Yuan, hurry up and get him. He's so great. You can't cook, but Chi Xu can."
Jiang Yuan couldn't help but laugh. She gently patted Lin Suye's arm. "Stop teasing me."
She knew Lin Suye was aware of her plan but still liked to tease her.
"I can't take it anymore. It smells so good. Brother Chi, I had no idea you were such a good cook. From now on, I'll call you Mama Chi!"
Unable to resist the temptation, Jia Fang secretly picked up a small piece of food with his chopsticks and quickly put it into his mouth. The delicious flavor exploded on his taste buds instantly.
His eyes widened in surprise, and his face was full of admiration. He continued to praise while reaching out his chopsticks to take a second piece.
"Mama Chi, if you enter the culinary world, it will surely tremble. You should be the new god of cooking!"
His chopsticks were swatted back by Chi Xu before he could reach the food.
"Mama Chi?" Chi Xu's voice carried a hint of coldness. He stared at Jia Fang with a half - smile.
Jia Fang shivered in fear. His chopsticks dropped onto the table with a clatter. He smiled awkwardly. "It's a compliment. Mama Chi sounds so nice..."
Seeing the coldness in Chi Xu's eyes getting stronger, Jia Fang's tongue almost tied itself in a knot. "You don't like it? I won't call you that anymore."
Jiang Yuan was still sitting there watching. Jia Fang really had a big mouth.
Chi Xu rubbed his forehead and sighed silently in his heart.
Suddenly, a clean bowl appeared in front of him. Following the hand that held the bowl, he saw Jiang Yuan smiling gently. Her eyelashes fluttered twice, and her dark, bright eyes were like two pools of autumn water, moist and amorous.
Her voice was clear. "Thank you, Mama Chi, for your hard work. I want some of that, but I can't reach it."
Chi Xu: "..."
It was all Jia Fang's fault. Even "Chi Jiaojiao" would sound better than "Mama Chi."