382. Happy Enemies
17/30
The takeout had already arrived, two stir-fried dishes plus two bowls of rice.
Four meal boxes were spread across the coffee table, but Ning Chu hesitated to eat.
“If I fill up now, what if I accidentally throw up later when we go to the girl’s house for dinner?” She looked up at Ning Yuan, who was about to dig in with his chopsticks.
“Um…”
“That scenario feels a bit excessive.”
“Am I going to get killed?” Ning Yuan put down his chopsticks and sighed dramatically.
Ning Chu seemed to find a pair of happy enemies in that moment, her dark eyes shining as she gazed at her brother. “Do you two always mess around?”
“No way! It’s one-sided beating; I can’t just hit back, can I?”
“True…”
There was another knock on the door, and the voice of Xiao Xi boomed from outside.
“Lunch is almost ready!”
Ning Yuan jumped up, excitedly rushing to open the door.
“Just one dish left! Come on over to my place; I’ve got Cola ready!” Xiao Xi smiled cheerfully at the siblings poking their heads out of the door, but noticed Ning Chu cowering behind Ning Yuan. She frowned slightly and punched Ning Yuan’s arm. “Did you say something bad about your sister?!”
“No! Absolutely not!”
He resembled a mouse spotting a cat…
That punch didn’t seem to pack much force, did it?
Ning Chu stole a glance at her brother’s expression; he looked so tense, it was clear he was on high alert.
Was she really that scary?
Thank goodness she hadn’t introduced Yan Xinya to him; that tiny frame wouldn’t survive a few punches from the Wolf Girl.
Xiao Xi flipped her ponytail and headed next door, while Ning Yuan reluctantly stepped out, turning back to sh**t a glare at Ning Chu.
The apartment next door was laid out much like Ning Yuan’s. Once they stepped inside Xiao Xi’s home, a faint burnt smell hit Ning Chu’s nose.
Following the smell, she found a plate of blackened Cola Chicken Wings.
This… isn’t that a type of carcinogen?
Noticing her gaze, Xiao Xi chuckled sheepishly. “I followed the tutorial… maybe I had the heat too high…”
Ning Chu smiled encouragingly. “No problem, just take off the skin; the meat should still be good.”
Encouraged, Xiao Xi grinned widely and tried to show off her second dish. “I have braised pork simmering, let me show you!”
But when the pot was opened, all Ning Chu saw were chunks of blackened meat.
“Did I maybe put too much soy sauce? It shouldn’t be like this…” Xiao Xi frowned, murmuring to herself.
No wonder her brother thought the lunch invite was just a ruse to test him like a lab rat.
Clearly, she couldn’t cook! Even for a first attempt, it shouldn’t look like this!
Ning Chu turned to the dining table in the living room, finally spotting a plate of mouthwatering food!
“Hey! That dish looks great! Is it Black Pepper Beef?”
“That was the cooking kit I bought…”
“Oh.”
At least the rice wasn’t undercooked.
Though maybe too much water was added since it was all clumped together.
Indeed, it was better for Lily to be the sister-in-law; at least Lily could cook well~ The only worry would be how her brother’s body could handle the stress from the Succubus.
The three sat at the dining table. Xiao Xi beamed with happiness while Ning Yuan held a serious expression, and Ning Chu was like a curious baby, looking around with wide eyes.
She took a bite of the braised pork. Although it looked terrible, the meat was tough, and the fatty bits were sickly, but the taste was alright, just a tad too sweet.
So, she could only shovel a few more bites of rice to suppress that greasiness.
“Sister, are you local?”
“Me? I’m from the Sichuan-Chongqing area, came here for university.”
A spicy girl!
“Then why don’t you go back to work?”
Xiao Xi scraped the burnt skin off the Cola Chicken Wings with her chopsticks, saying, “I’m just used to it here, I guess?”
She stole a glance at Ning Yuan, but he was too busy devouring the Black Pepper Beef. It seemed that was the only dish he considered edible, while the other two were seen as poison.
“Ning Yuan!”
“Here!” Ning Yuan straightened up, looking alarmed. “What’s wrong?”
“Try the braised pork.”
“…”
Ning Yuan reluctantly nodded, picking up the tiniest piece of braised pork and popping it into his mouth. He immediately grimaced but forced a surprised expression, giving a thumbs up. “Hey, you’ve improved! At least it’s edible!”
“What do you mean?!” Xiao Xi shot up from her seat, wrapping her arm around Ning Yuan’s neck and choking him lightly, glaring fiercely. “What do you mean ‘at least it’s edible’?!”
“It’s tasty! Really! You’ve improved!”
Ning Chu peeked and noticed Xiao Xi’s slightly ample chest pressing against her brother’s back, wondering if it was intentional or accidental.
But her brother seemed completely oblivious…
Hmm, it’s safe to say this girl is actually interested in him!
Just a tad fierce though~
“Not to mention my sister is still here! Save some face!”
“Cut it out~”
Xiao Xi finally let go of Ning Yuan, returning to her seat, flipping her hair over her shoulder, resting her chin on her hands, flashing a charming smile, while Ning Yuan didn’t even look up, focusing on his meal, trying to bury his greasy feelings from the earlier pork.
Her expression stiffened, and she coldly huffed, “I also have stewed ribs; all it needs is a bit of salt; it should be fine.”
“If you can’t cook, stop ruining everything…”
Can you just not talk for once?
Ning Chu shot her brother a glare.
“Maybe next time I should cook instead.”
Ning Yuan muttered but noticed Xiao Xi perked up, nodding excitedly. “Great! You cook next time!”
“???”
He blinked, baffled. “But I don’t even have a pot there; not even chopsticks.”
“Come cook at mine! I have everything!”
“Isn’t that a bit much?”
Just thinking about having to cook every day made his scalp tingle.
Not that his cooking skills were terrible; he was simply lazy.
And looking at this woman who bullies him all the time, if she made something bad, he’d be in trouble.
“Why not just order takeout instead…”
“I’ll handle buying groceries and washing dishes; you just cook!” Xiao Xi cheerfully ran to grab the ribs. “I simmered the ribs for two hours; it should taste great! I didn’t add many seasonings, so if it’s bland, just add a bit of salt.”
“Ugh~”
Ning Yuan rubbed his temples, overwhelmed.
“Bro~ it really feels like she likes you!” Ning Chu leaned in closer, whispering, “I can see it!”
“No way? I can’t handle her personality; I’d be getting hit daily.”
“I still prefer more refined girls; this one’s too fierce…”
But she ignored her brother’s words. “What about that meeting with Lily? Just forget about it?”
“Let’s see?” Ning Yuan wasn’t keen on giving up the alluring online Succubus he’d seen, “We should meet first.”
“If she finds out, I’m worried you’ll get killed!”
Ning Yuan paused, then got it. “That can’t be possible, right?”
He instinctively looked up, only to see Xiao Xi standing with the rib soup, her expression deadpan, pausing not far away.
A chill suddenly crawled up his back.
