Chapter Eighteen: The Irresistible Charm of the Heartthrob

Luo Yixia felt like dying—was this really her biological mother? How could she so blatantly set up her own daughter? Yet Luo Yixia wasn’t the least bit suspicious, because given how her mother had always liked Song Chengyi, this really did sound like something she’d say. In her heart, she ran through a full round of “greetings” for her mother from head to toe.

Back home, her mother suddenly sneezed and rubbed her nose. Could she have caught a chill in this summer heat?

Luo Yixia pulled her hand back and hastily threw the apron over herself. Cooking? How hard could it be? She marched wordlessly toward the kitchen.

Of course, Song Chengyi knew perfectly well that Luo Yixia couldn’t cook. If anyone knew her skills, it was him—she probably hadn’t even stepped into a kitchen more than a handful of times in her life.

Standing in the kitchen, Luo Yixia stared at the ingredients before her, utterly at a loss.

Song Chengyi leaned casually against the kitchen doorway, watching her.

Luo Yixia sighed. All right, start by washing the vegetables.

She unpacked the groceries and washed the broccoli and cucumber. But when she got to the ribs, she was stumped—how was she supposed to wash these?

Song Chengyi could see her struggling, but didn’t offer any help. He just kept watching.

Feeling the heat of his gaze burning into her back, Luo Yixia gave herself a silent pep talk. She couldn’t let him look down on her. She set to work, fumbling through the motions.

Finally, everything was washed.

Now what... what came next?

Regret flooded her—why hadn’t she spent more time in the kitchen before? Now she didn’t even know how to make a single dish.

Biting her lower lip, on the verge of tears, Luo Yixia turned to look at Song Chengyi. “Why don’t we just go out to eat?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, lacking all confidence.

Song Chengyi sighed and decided not to make things any harder for her. He stepped forward and untied her apron. “Help me out, then.”

Instantly, the gloom that had shrouded Luo Yixia lifted. Her eyes sparkled like stars as she answered sweetly, “Okay.”

As Song Chengyi tied the apron around himself, Luo Yixia “thoughtfully” helped him fasten the ties.

Watching the lively girl beside him, Song Chengyi could only shake his head in resignation.

“There’s rice over there,” he instructed. “Measure some out with the cup, then rinse it.”

Luo Yixia, only half-understanding, went over. “How much rice should I use?”

“Two cups is enough,” Song Chengyi said, as he rewashed the vegetables Luo Yixia had prepared.

After scooping out two cups, Luo Yixia hurried back to Song Chengyi’s side and carefully washed the rice. She’d never done it before, but seemed to recall her mother rinsing rice when she was little—it couldn’t be that hard.

She washed it several times until the water ran clear, then brought it over to Song Chengyi. “Is this good?”

He glanced at it and nodded.

“How much water do I need to add for cooking?” Luo Yixia asked, just as she placed the rice inside the cooker and realized she’d forgotten the water.

“Just enough to cover the rice—one part rice to one and a half parts water.”

So, one to one and a half... Luo Yixia didn’t think much about it; as long as the water covered the rice, it should be fine.

She closed the lid, set the timer, and in forty minutes, the rice would be ready.

Having finished her task, she obediently stood by Song Chengyi’s side, watching him stir-fry the dishes.

Song Chengyi had already prepped and sliced all the ingredients, neatly arranging them on plates.

Like a diligent student, Luo Yixia watched him handle everything, her eyes never leaving his hands.

Before long, several dishes were brought to the table.

Luo Yixia could hardly believe her eyes, and her admiration for Song Chengyi soared even higher.

Ah—my idol is just too charming...