"I just think Teacher Wang is such a nice person. I remembered that your Aunt Li's daughter is still single, so..."
Hearing this, Xu Qingqing understood what her mother was up to.
Since her mother retired, she has been keen on matchmaking, arranging blind dates and introducing partners for single young people.
"Mom, stop meddling. Everyone has their own life," Xu Qingqing said, looking disgusted.
"I'm just bored. Look, you and Chuanbai are together. Marriage is just a matter of time, so I don't have to worry about you. As for your brother... he's just incorrigible. He won't listen to a word I say," sighed Xu's mother.
Now that she has her grandchildren around, her emptiness has lessened a bit.
In the past, when Xu Qingqing was abroad and Xu Yan was busy with work, she and Xu's father were at home. Xu's father was a taciturn man who could spend a whole day writing Chinese calligraphy, which really bored her.
"We're not together! We're just living together for the sake of filming the variety show with Yiyi," Xu Qingqing said uneasily, denying it.
"Come on," said Xu's mother, smiling as she watched her daughter's expression.
"I'm your mother. Don't you think I know you? You haven't been home for days. Have you already regarded this as your own home?"
A mother knows her daughter best. No matter how much Xu Qingqing denied it, Xu's mother, as an outsider, could see it clearly.
"I just wanted to get used to it in advance. The filming will start tomorrow, so I have to be well-prepared," Xu Qingqing defended herself.
Xu's mother ignored her.
It would be harder for Xu Qingqing to share a bed with someone she didn't like than to kill her. But she had been living with Lu Chuanbai for so long. Xu's mother didn't believe there was nothing going on between them.
It's always the case that the people involved are confused while the onlookers are clear.
Seeing her daughter's face turning redder and redder, Xu's mother stopped teasing her and prepared to go home. "Your father is stewing ribs at home. Come and get them for dinner tonight."
"Got it."
Xu Qingqing put her hand on her mother's shoulder and pushed her out. Just then, Lu Chuanbai came home.
Instead of wearing a suit as usual, Lu Chuanbai was in a gray woolen overcoat, looking a bit softer. "Auntie, you're here."
Xu's mother greeted him with a smile. "You're off work so early."
"Yes. There's not much work in the company today," Lu Chuanbai nodded and stepped aside.
"My family is stewing ribs. Come and get some later."
"Thank you, Auntie."
After Xu's mother left, Xu Qingqing was a bit flustered by her words. She avoided Lu Chuanbai's gaze and went back to the kitchen.
Lu Chuanbai hung up his overcoat and came to look at the cake recipe with Xu Qingqing. "Are we making a cake?"
Lu Chuanbai put his hands on either side of Xu Qingqing's waist. His broad shoulders were twice as wide as her slender waist.
He leaned over. The warm breath from his mouth tickled the back of Xu Qingqing's neck, making her shiver involuntarily.
"Yes. We'll make a cake during the variety show filming tomorrow."
Xu Qingqing had been wondering what to prepare for the show, but then Xu An'an came up with a good idea.
Looking at Xu Qingqing's fair and tender neck, Lu Chuanbai deliberately blew on it, tugging at her heartstrings. She couldn't help but tell him to leave. "Go and play with the kids first. I'll get everything ready."
"That won't do. I'm also participating in the filming. It'll damage my image if I can't even make a cake," Lu Chuanbai said seriously.
Xu Qingqing couldn't help laughing and started to open the flour bag. "Who says a CEO has to be perfect?"
"I don't care. Anyway, I'm going to learn with you," Lu Chuanbai said, sounding a bit like a child throwing a tantrum. As long as he could be with Xu Qingqing, he would even be willing to embroider with a fine needle.
"I can't stand you," Xu Qingqing said with a pout. She wriggled out of his embrace. "Stay away from me. It's hard to work when you're so close."
Time passed by. Three hours had passed in a blink of an eye.
Xu Qingqing looked expressionlessly at the disheveled man covered in flour with cream on his hair and face. She regretted more than once why she had agreed to let Lu Chuanbai learn to make a cake with her.
This was already the third cake Lu Chuanbai had ruined. Every step had become extremely difficult and complicated because of his clumsiness.
His hands were so dexterous when signing documents or typing on the keyboard, but why were they so clumsy when it came to cooking?
When he squeezed the cream onto the smooth cake base, he pressed too hard and broke the piping bag. A large amount of cream flowed out and onto the cake base.
Xu Qingqing slapped her forehead in disbelief and rubbed her temples tiredly.
The two kids, who had been watching from the side with a pile of ruined cakes in their hands, turned around and ran into the living room when they saw Lu Chuanbai ruin another cake base.
Xu Qingqing grabbed them and coaxed them softly. "Good kids, Uncle Lu has ruined another cake. Quickly eat it up. Don't waste it."
"Mom, we really can't eat any more," Xu An'an said with a bitter face, rubbing her round belly. Her face was covered with colorful cream from eating the cakes, making her look like a cute little kitten.
"I'm full too. I don't even need to have dinner," Xu Yiyi said, looking at the half-eaten, oddly-shaped cake in disgust. She pushed it aside and gave Lu Chuanbai some advice.
"Uncle Lu, this cake is too burnt. It's a bit hard to bite."
"I know. I'll improve it," Lu Chuanbai said seriously, ready to make another cake.
"Enough!" Xu Qingqing stopped him and said coldly. "Let's call it a day."
"That won't do. I'm still making so many mistakes," Lu Chuanbai disagreed.
Although Lu Chuanbai wasn't good at it, he was a perfectionist. The more mistakes he made, the more he wanted to do it well. But then he would make more mistakes. It was a vicious cycle.
"You've done a great job. We'll do it tomorrow," Xu Qingqing said and began to untie Lu Chuanbai's apron without giving him a chance to object.
If they continued, she was worried that Lu Chuanbai would not only use up all the ingredients and waste food, but the two kids might also get tired of eating sweets.
"Okay then," Lu Chuanbai said regretfully as he took off his disposable gloves. He helped Xu Qingqing clean up the messy kitchen.
Xu Yiyi and Xu An'an looked at each other. To avoid being forced to eat the ruined cakes, they went back to their room to get ready for bed without being told.
The next morning, as usual, Xu Qingqing woke up in Lu Chuanbai's arms. Looking at his handsome face up close, she gritted her teeth and wanted to push his face away.
Lu Chuanbai pinched the soft flesh on her waist and said with his eyes still closed, "Don't move around. The filming has already started."
Hearing this, Xu Qingqing obediently retracted her hand and slowly opened her eyes.