Chapter 40
The Rain Became Heavier
Shi Yan ate three pastries in a row. Every time she finished one, the smile on her face grew. It was only because Jiang Che had reminded her of dinner that she didn’t take the fourth pastry.
Jiang Che looked at her and hesitated for a moment before saying, “Miss Shi, it’s almost time for dinner. You shouldn’t eat too many pastries.”
Shi Yan retracted her hand and closed the pastry box with a faint smile. “The cakes were very delicious. I couldn’t help myself for a moment.”
She looked a little embarrassed.
Jiang Che didn’t say anything. He only glanced at her after hearing her words.
Then, a smile flashed across his eyes.
There was someone in the main building who was in charge of preparing Jiang Che’s meals and sending them to the bamboo garden every day. Today was no exception.
However, seeing that Shi Yan hadn’t left, Jiang Lin expected that his fifth master would change his ways and let her stay for dinner, so he ordered the kitchen to prepare a few more dishes.
There were few people who would disturb the bamboo garden. Even Old Madame Jiang would not come to the bamboo garden unless it was an extremely important matter. Therefore, the people who sent the dishes to the bamboo garden and the people who came to clean the bamboo garden were fixed.
They were people personally arranged by Old Madame Jiang.
Naturally, they were all old madam Jiang’s trusted aides.
The person who came to deliver the dishes was a maid in her thirties. Usually, she would personally deliver the dishes to the dining hall to set them up. However, she was unable to come in today.
Jiang Lin stopped her at the door.
“Give the food to me. Wait for my call to come over later to clean it up.”
He implied that without his call, she should not come to the bamboo garden.
He did this because he did not want the news of Miss Shi Yan’s incident in the bamboo garden to be spread. Fifth master’s identity was special. Once they learned that Miss Shi Yan and the fifth master had such an unusual relationship, it was likely that someone would ruin the matter.
No matter what, he had to wait for the relationship between the two to be confirmed first.
Although the maid was suspicious, she didn’t ask any more questions. He didn’t even glance at the maid. She answered very obediently and went back with an umbrella.
Jiang Lin took the food to the dining room and went to the living room after placing it.
“Fifth Master, Miss Shi Yan. The food is ready.”
After saying that, he disappeared automatically.
“Miss Shi, please move to the dining room.”
Shi Yan nodded with a smile and followed Jiang Che to the dining room.
She glanced at the dishes on the table, five dishes and one soup, all of which could be considered sumptuous. The dishes were also very good. It was obvious that they were cooked by a chef, but they were not common.
When such dishes were served on the table, there were all kinds of colors and smells, but they gave people a cold feeling as if they were in the dining room. There was no warmth at home at all. It was okay to go to a place like a restaurant occasionally, but if one went to a restaurant every time they ate, life would lose its flavor.
When Shi Yan saw that the dishes on the table were connected to so many things, she was stunned when she realized what was going on.
She had never cared about these things, and her life didn’t have much of a sense of ritual. She had always been living a life of peace and contentment. Why did she suddenly…
Without further thought, she sat down at Jiang Che’s invitation.
“I don’t know Miss Shi’s taste, but the kitchen prepared everything at will. I hope Miss Shi will enjoy this meal.”
After saying that, he said, “Miss Shi, please.”
Shi Yan thanked him, then said, “I don’t pay much attention to food. As long as the food is edible, it’s fine. Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Jiang.”
It was obvious.
She gave off the feeling that she did not care about anything. It was as if there were very few things that could easily stir up her emotions. Even when she said that she liked eating the pastries made by Auntie Shen, he knew that she did not really like pastries.
The two of them ate quietly. Perhaps it was because they were both temperamental and would not easily be stirred up by other things. Even if they were silent, the atmosphere between the two of them did not seem awkward at all. Their expressions were calm and composed.
After eating quietly for a while, Shi Yan spoke first.
“Mr. Jiang, do you usually have your meals prepared and sent over by the main building’s kitchen?”
Hearing her words, Jiang Che laid down his chopsticks, which were stretched out.
“Yes, they are all prepared and sent over by the main building’s Kitchen.”
Seeing that she was looking in the direction of the kitchen, Jiang Che explained, “The kitchen’s appliances are all here. However, there are only Jiang Lin and I in the bamboo garden. We are not good at cooking. The kitchen is just for decoration.”
In fact, even the utensils in the kitchen were only bought by Jiang Lin yesterday.
He had studied pastry-making at Aunt Shen’s place for a whole night, and then came back to practice on his own.
He barely finished the completed product after making it many times.
This was also why when he received her message yesterday, he endured and said that the pastries would only be delivered this afternoon at five o’clock. When he received the message yesterday, the pastries that he made could not be seen at all.
He had originally planned to ask Aunt Shen to help him make the pastries again if the pastries he made today still could not be seen. He did not expect to have some results at noon.
After that, he made some a few more times and chose the best ones to box.
The process was definitely messy.
It was the first time in his life that he had made himself so messy.
Shi Yan pretended not to notice that the kitchen had just been used. She smiled and said, “So that’s how it is. I saw that the utensils in the kitchen were all complete. I thought Mr. Jiang cooked here occasionally.”
“Jiang Lin and I are not good at cooking. I usually don’t like people coming to the bamboo garden to disturb me, so I didn’t bother to find someone to especially come to the bamboo garden and cook.”
He revealed another piece of information to Shi Yan.
He usually didn’t like people coming to the bamboo garden to disturb him.
He didn’t like people coming to disturb him, but she had stepped into his courtyard twice.
The first time, it could be said that she had come to his house without permission. The second time, he had personally invited her, and he had personally gone to the door to welcome her in.
Shi Yan pursed her lips and smiled faintly.
“This is also good. The chefs in the kitchen cook very well. Indeed, there is no need to trouble yourself to cook alone.”
“Miss Shi’s culinary skills are also very good,” Jiang Che suddenly said.
Meeting his gaze, Shi Yan was stunned for a moment. Then, she smiled and said, “Mr. Jiang, you flatter me.
“I usually don’t have any hobbies. Other than reading books, I’m slightly interested in cooking. Occasionally, when I’m free, I’ll cook some food. If you don’t mind, Mr. Jiang, I’ll cook more next time and bring it to you.”
In fact, she didn’t really like cooking.
It was just that whether she liked cooking or not depended on who she was cooking for.
“Miss Shi, you’re being too serious. Why would I mind? I’m more than happy to be able to eat Miss Shi’s food. It’s just that wouldn’t it be too troublesome for Miss Shi?”
Meeting his eyes again, Shi Yan felt as if she was about to be sucked into his deep gaze for a moment, and she was a little absent-minded.
Fortunately, she quickly collected her emotions and regained her senses in a moment.
“It’s not troublesome. It’s just a matter of convenience.”
After eating, the rain was still falling, and it was still a little heavy.
The sky was already dark.
When she came out of the dining room, she stood in the living room and looked at the dark sky outside, as well as the rain that was still falling.
Jiang Che said, “The rain is a little heavy, and the sky is already dark. It’s not safe to go back just like that. Miss Shi, why don’t you sit down for a while and wait for the rain to stop before returning?”
Shi Yan originally planned to go back after eating, even if the rain didn’t stop.
Everything had to be done step by step. She couldn’t go too far at once. She had come to the bamboo garden today and stayed to have dinner with Jiang Che.
That was enough for the time being.
However, Jiang Che opened his mouth, and she didn’t seem to want to refuse.
She met his gaze with a faint smile, “Then I’ll disturb Mr. Jiang for a while longer. I’ll go back when the rain has subsided.”