Chen Jin didn't feel comfortable with Lin Wan taking the bus to and from work, so he arranged for his driver to pick her up. One evening, after work, Lin Wan stepped out of the building but didn't see Old Li or the car. As she was wondering where he was, a black Audi slid to a stop in front of her. The front window rolled down, revealing Chen Jin's face. He tilted his chin and said, "Get in."
After he spoke, he opened the other door for her. As she got in, he grinned and said, "Ran three red lights and still made it on time. You guys really finish work early."
"Isn't that normal?"
"Sigh, the nine-to-five life, it really suits the office workers."
Lin Wan couldn't resist retorting, "Those who get paid aren't as happy as those who pay."
Chen Jin laughed. "You really have a sharp tongue. Can't I just complain a little? Life is like food—you can't live on plain porridge every day, but if you're eating big meals all the time, you'll burn out."
Lin Wan huffed. This guy never makes a valid point.
After a moment, Chen Jin asked, "What do you feel like eating tonight?"
"Anything's fine, I guess."
"As long as it's not a hotpot."
The mention of the hotpot immediately irritated Lin Wan. There was that one time when she had lunch with Xiao Xie and ate a hotpot. Later that evening, she didn't take a shower in time, and Chen Jin, with his sharp nose, had smelled it right away. He'd gone on and on about how unhealthy a hot pot was, how it could cause a "fire" in the body, how drinking herbal tea wouldn't help... Lin Wan had been so annoyed she'd thought, I should add one more thing to his personality traits: control freak.
And sure enough, the control freak extended to everything. A few days later, when she suggested a hotpot again, Xiao Xie shut it down immediately. Chen Jin had told him not to let her eat it. Lin Wan had been furious when she found out, thinking, This guy is like an octopus, sticking his tentacles into everything. She felt like she was living under his white terror, always under his watch. Even during the eight hours of work, she could feel his eyes and ears on her. Every evening when he was around, she found herself wishing his subordinates would sabotage his company and bring him down a peg, just to see if he'd still act so arrogant.
"Have you thought about it?" Chen Jin asked again when she didn't answer.
Lin Wan snapped out of her thoughts and said, "Dumplings."
Chen Jin thought for a moment and said, "Alright."
So, they went to Da Qing Hua for dumplings. After they finished, most of the dumplings were left untouched because Chen Jin didn't eat any, only picking at the side dishes. Lin Wan was surprised. "Aren't you going to eat any dumplings?"
"Mm."
"Why?"
"Just don't like them."
"What about on New Year's Eve? You're just going to starve?"
"I'll just eat vegetables, you idiot."
Chen Jin waved down the waiter to take the check. Lin Wan looked at the plate of untouched dumplings and fell into her old habit, casually saying, "Let's take them to go."
Chen Jin immediately shot her a disapproving look, clearly annoyed by her behavior. Lin Wan deliberately teased him, speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Take them home for tomorrow's breakfast." She then shot him a challenge-filled glance and added quietly, "Waste is shameful."
The waiter smiled as he collected the payment and brought a takeaway box. Chen Jin pointed to the fish on the plate which Lin Wan had left with only the bones remaining, and seriously said, "Put this in the box too. She needs it for calcium. Can't waste it."
The waiter chuckled, and Lin Wan rolled her eyes, saying, "Forget the fish."
Lin Wan originally planned to take the dumplings home for Nini, but then remembered Nini was still recovering and could only eat liquid food. So, she put the dumplings in the fridge. Later that night, Chen Jin woke up hungry and demanded she make something to eat. Lin Wan, already in a deep sleep, was jolted awake. She grumbled, "I don't know how to cook."
"Since when is it possible for a woman not to know how to cook? Don't try to fool me."
"You're so capable, why don't you make it yourself?"
"Damn, if I could cook, I'd also be able to have kids. What do I need you women for?"
Lin Wan hated his condescending attitude toward women. In frustration, she cursed, "Asshole."
Chen Jin deliberately misinterpreted her words, grinning and saying, "No need to kill pigs. Just make me something edible, not too awful."
Then, like an unreasonable child, he pulled her out of bed and shoved her toward the kitchen. When she stood in front of the stove, motionless in passive resistance, he said in a mock-serious tone, "Haven't you heard the saying?"
Lin Wan looked at him, puzzled, and he added slowly, "A man can't be hungry."
Lin Wan scoffed, and Chen Jin leaned in closer, his back pressed against hers. He whispered teasingly in her ear, "Because a hungry man is a dangerous thing."
Feeling her body tense, he smiled smugly and walked away, but not before saying, "Hurry up."
Lin Wan stood in the unfamiliar kitchen, glaring at the shiny utensils, feeling like she wanted to make him eat something truly awful, like scraping up some burnt food from the bottom of a pot. Ten minutes later, Lin Wan came out with a dish in hand. Chen Jin, who had been resting at Xi Tulan Ya restaurant, opened his eyes when he smelled the food. He frowned when he saw what she had made, displeased, "Didn't I tell you I don't eat dumplings?"
"This isn't dumplings, it's potstickers."
Chen Jin laughed, poking at the golden brown dumplings with his chopsticks. "Didn't you say this was for the dog?"
"It can't eat it."
"…"
"Don't complain if you're getting handouts. If you don't want it, forget it. I'm going to sleep now."
Lin Wan turned and went back to the bedroom, and Chen Jin stared at her retreating figure, frustrated. This woman really can't be spoiled. Now she dares to call me out with her playful words. He glanced at the greasy potstickers and thought, They actually look pretty good. He sniffed them again, and after taking a small bite, he smiled. The fennel filling wasn't bad.
He ate another, and then another, until the whole plate of potstickers was gone. He found himself reflecting: It'd been over twenty years since I had dumplings. Honestly, I didn't always dislike them. It's just that my mom would make such delicious dumplings on New Year's Eve, and I ended up eating too much. Afterward, I went outside to do fireworks with Xiang Yang and the others, running around, and then my stomach couldn't handle it. I ended up in the hospital with stomach issues, and the doctor said I nearly burst my stomach lining...
When Chen Jin climbed into bed, Lin Wan was already asleep. He couldn't help but move closer, feeling an overwhelming sense of satisfaction as he pressed his body against hers. But with that satisfaction came a certain longing. His hand slipped to her waist, lifting the hem of her nightgown and gliding up her soft skin, before reaching her delicate chest. He couldn't help but let out a satisfied and excited sigh.
Lin Wan woke up immediately, starting to struggle. Chen Jin held her tightly, whispering in her ear, "Wan Wan, don't move, just let me hold you."
"Let go of me." Lin Wan grabbed his hand, which had wandered under her clothes, angrily scolding him.
Chen Jin's breath quickened, but his stubborn side reappeared. He smirked, "I can't, it's not listening to me. Don't worry, if you don't want to, I won't force you…"
"Bastard." Lin Wan gritted her teeth.
"A bastard? Fine, but I don't believe any man can lie in bed with the woman he loves and not be tempted…"