Chapter 19: There Are Bacteria in Your Mouth…

An Yan’s smile was like a spring breeze, sweeping away all the fatigue from Lin You. Only now did Lin You realize how wonderful it was to have a mistress of the house.

An Yan withdrew her gaze and said to Lin You, “You must be tired from your tasks these past few days. Dinner will be ready soon. You can take this time to shower; I’ve already heated the water.”

Lin You looked at the steaming kitchen; even before entering, he could smell the rich aroma of beef. He knew An Yan’s skill in cooking—no chef at a state-run restaurant could match her in his heart.

He nodded and replied, “Alright.”

An Yan urged the three children to wash their hands and get ready for dinner.

Lin Hongzhe was especially cheerful today, helping her set the tableware and calling out “Auntie” with enthusiasm. There was no sign of the boy who had once protested and demanded she leave upon their first meeting.

Looking at the beef brisket in the pot, An Yan poked it with her chopsticks. It wasn’t tender enough yet—perhaps another twenty minutes of simmering. She glanced at her wristwatch and recalled the moment Lin You had held her hand.

Adding a bit more wood to the stove, An Yan began washing vegetables. Just as she was busy, a scent of soap—so different from the aroma of food—drifted behind her. Turning her head, she saw Lin You standing there.

The kitchen was small to begin with; Lin You’s entrance made it feel even smaller. His tall frame carried a certain pressure.

An Yan looked at his broad upper body; even in a sweater, the outline of his muscles was evident. She lowered her gaze a bit. His large hands, the bulging veins, and those thick fingers—all spoke of a man who was strong and capable.

“I came to see if there’s anything I can help with,” Lin You said. He had been standing by the kitchen door for a while, quietly watching the busy figure inside. Everything she did was orderly; others simply cooked, but she seemed to create a work of art.

Her movements were so graceful, never hurried. Under the light, her slender silhouette stirred a protective impulse in him.

“Perfect timing. Help me dish out the beef brisket, and wash the pot afterward,” An Yan said. Like many who cook, she found cleaning the kitchen afterward more tiring than preparing the meal.

Lin You agreed, found a large bowl in the cupboard, and noticed every bowl was arranged neatly—a comfort to his own compulsive tendencies, undoubtedly An Yan’s handiwork.

As he served the food, his gaze kept returning to An Yan. The feeling was wonderful.

He had never understood the need for marriage, or the necessity of a mistress of the house. Now, he understood.

An Yan was calmly chopping vegetables, but she could sense someone watching her.

She didn’t need to guess who it was. Had she gotten something on her face while cooking? Or did she look unkempt now? Why was this man staring at her?

Lost in thought, she suddenly felt a sting in her finger. “Hiss—”

Looking down, she saw she had cut her finger with the knife.

She was about to clean the wound when Lin You hurried over, took her hand, and frowned, scanning about as if searching for something.

Just as she was about to ask, he placed her finger in his mouth.

The warmth made her let out a soft gasp. What was he doing!

Lin You heard her clearly. He couldn’t understand why this girl reacted so strongly, and the sound she made made him feel oddly heated.

“The bleeding needs to be stopped quickly.”

“But your mouth has bacteria...”

Lin You had acted on instinct, but An Yan’s words made the atmosphere awkward.

He coughed twice and left the kitchen, returning with a small bottle and a bit of gauze.

It was the first time she’d seen him flustered. Honestly, when an older man blushed, he was rather cute.

Lin You had ample experience dealing with minor injuries; in a few quick moves, he finished tending the wound. “Go rest. I’ll handle the rest of the cooking.”

An Yan was hesitant. “Do you know how to cook?”

Since she came, she’d noticed a layer of dust on many kitchen items—clearly they hadn’t been used for a long time. She didn’t believe he could cook.

Lin You hesitated, but nodded stubbornly. “Yes!”

“You cook, and I’ll watch.”

“You don’t trust me?”

An Yan nodded earnestly. “No, I don’t.”

Later, An Yan was glad she stayed. Even with her guidance, he managed to burn the greens.

The three little ones eyed the dishes on the table. Lin Nuannuan pointed at the greens, “Sister, why are these vegetables black?”

“Uh... Well... Auntie got distracted and accidentally burned them.”

An Yan sighed. To preserve Lin You’s perfect image in the children’s minds, she had to take the blame herself.

“Do grown-ups lie too?” Lin Hongzhe immediately noticed her unease.

An Yan chuckled, “Come on, eat up. The food’s not good cold.”

Luckily, the greens only looked unappealing; the seasoning was fine, and the three children ate with gusto.

The aroma wafted outside, and next door, Erdan stood on the wall. “Grandma, what are they eating over at Nuannuan’s house? Smells so good!”

Wang Guilan scooped her grandson down. “Hurry and eat.”

Erdan replied reluctantly, eyeing his own plate. Grandma had cooked meat today, but it tasted bland. “Grandma, when you have time, could you learn to cook from Aunt An?”

“You rascal, think Grandma’s cooking is bad? If you don’t like it, don’t eat.”

***

The next morning.

An Yan rose early. Lin You was still asleep for once, worn out from his tasks. She didn’t wake him, made breakfast, grabbed her farming tools, and went to the backyard.

She happened to run into Wang Guilan in the vegetable patch.

“Xiao An, up early and busy already?”

“Yes, I bought some seeds yesterday. Thought I’d plant them as soon as possible.”

An Yan lifted her bamboo basket. “I’ve got a few little chicks too. When they grow up, they’ll lay eggs.”

With that, she started her work. The half-plot of barren land needed to be turned over. Lin You’s backyard was full of weeds and stones—hard work, and she managed only half by midday.

The last time she’d done farm work was as a child with her grandparents; she hadn’t understood much then, only chased butterflies. Now, after a bit, she realized how exhausting it truly was.

“I’ve been looking for you for a while—how did you end up out here?”

Hearing his voice, An Yan saw Lin You holding Lin Nuannuan, standing there like a man waiting for his wife...