Chapter 55: A True Gentleman Remains Silent While Observing

If there hadn't been so much water, the fish would have been dead long ago in half an hour.

“If you don’t add water, won’t the fish die?” Tian Li replied.

Hua Tianyu pondered for two seconds. “So this is the legendary: you want to slaughter it with your own hands?”

Tian Li: “…”

Lin Lin had also entered the house, startled as she was, thinking that after just having moved in, people from the Jiang family martial arts school had already come seeking revenge.

It was only now that she realized it was all a huge misunderstanding caused by Tian Li.

Killing the fish was the first step in Tian Li’s cooking process for the day, and now the entire progress was stuck on this very first step.

Stuck!

Tian Li was also embarrassed. She glanced sheepishly at the two who had returned and said, “How about we just order takeout?”

Hua Tianyu looked at the considerable amount of groceries in the kitchen and shook his head. “No need for takeout. I’ll cook.”

“You know how to cook?” the two women asked in unison.

Hua Tianyu paused for two seconds. “Ever heard of ‘The Gourmet Platoon’?”

…

Not only could Hua Tianyu cook, but he was remarkably good at it. A fish that Tian Li had failed to dispatch in half an hour, he had cleaned in two minutes.

From the scales to the innards, everything was spotless.

In Hua Tianyu’s own words, whether it was killing a man or a fish, he was the most professional!

Forty minutes later, braised fish, tofu with scallions, stir-fried lamb with onions, mushrooms with greens, and tomato egg drop soup—a classic four dishes and one soup—were already set on the table.

“Hua Tianyu, I never expected you to have such skills. When I had the sudden inspiration to suggest we live together, it turns out I was absolutely right!” Tian Li praised herself unabashedly while savoring Hua Tianyu’s cooking.

Lin Lin was grinning from ear to ear; this tasted far better than any takeout, and even better than what her father used to make.

Thinking of her father, Lin Lin suddenly remembered something.

“Hua Tianyu, tomorrow night I want to go back to the house on Tiantong Road to move all our clothes and things over. Do you have time to come with us?”

Hua Tianyu nodded. He had already thought about this a few days ago. Since they were now living here, it was better to bring everything over as soon as possible, or daily life would remain inconvenient.

“Lin Lin, let’s have Xiayang and the others help us move. We have a lot of stuff, so let’s try to get it all done in one trip.”

A woman’s belongings were on a completely different scale from a man’s. Hua Tianyu had already brought his single suitcase. Lin Lin and Tian Li’s things were likely more than ten times that, so after a moment’s thought, Lin Lin agreed.

Hua Tianyu naturally had no objections. Though he’d promised to look after the Xingyu Bar, he’d never agreed to be their leader, so he didn’t interfere with Xiayang and the others’ arrangements.

“I’ll wash the dishes later. Don’t any of you try to compete with me,” Tian Li suddenly announced as they were nearly finished eating.

“Hm?” Hua Tianyu eyed Tian Li suspiciously. “You got yourself into trouble?”

Today she’d volunteered to cook and now was eager to wash dishes—something didn’t sit right with Hua Tianyu.

“How could that be? Nothing’s wrong. Can’t I just be diligent and virtuous?” Tian Li replied with a bright smile, standing up to clear the table.

“Not going to say, are you?” Hua Tianyu stepped up behind her. “I’ll give you one last chance—what’s going on?”

“Nothing!” Tian Li ignored Hua Tianyu’s threat.

With a resounding “slap,” Hua Tianyu used his simplest, most effective method on Tian Li—one firm smack across her rounded backside.

A jolt of energy rushed through Tian Li, a tingling sensation flooding her entire body, her eyes growing misty and alluring.

Yet she still bit her lip, conflicted over whether she should speak or not.

“Slap, slap!” Two more followed, and Hua Tianyu made the decision for her.

With those two smacks, Tian Li could no longer stand; her body went limp and she collapsed into Hua Tianyu’s arms, as if all the bones had left her body.

“Tian, I know you’re a great driver. In a couple of days, I want you to take me for a drive,” Tian Li murmured sweetly into Hua Tianyu’s ear.

Feeling Tian Li’s breath on his earlobe, Hua Tianyu shivered involuntarily. This little enchantress!

But he raised his hand again, threatening another smack.

Go for a drive? Did she think he was a three-year-old?

If it was just a drive, they could go right now—why wait a few days? And if it was just a drive, would Tian Li be volunteering to cook and wash dishes?

Seeing Hua Tianyu’s gesture, Tian Li buried her face in his arms, whispering, “Tian, Lin Lin is still here.”

“Then why don’t you tell the truth?”

“Ahem…” Lin Lin couldn’t stand it any longer and spoke up for Tian Li, “In a few days, Tian Li has a street race and she wants your help.”

“A race?”

“Yes,” Lin Lin nodded. “Tian Li used to be with the Speed Chasers. Later, she followed me. The Speed Chasers never accepted it and challenged us to a race. If we win, they’ll let Tian Li go for good.”

“She’s already with you. Why bother with them?” Hua Tianyu asked.

“That’s what we thought and ignored them. But lately, they’ve been threatening to smash up our Xingyu Bar if we don’t accept. No idea where they got the nerve.”

“So you agreed?” Hua Tianyu finally understood.

“Yes, we don’t want any trouble at the bar,” Lin Lin replied.

“All right, let’s race them. There’s no way Tian Li is going back!” Now that Tian Li was with them, Hua Tianyu would never let her return to the Speed Chasers.

“Tian, do you really think you can beat them?” Tian Li asked softly from his arms.

“Slap!” Hua Tianyu gave her another light smack.

“Doubting your Tian? That deserves a smack,” he said with mock seriousness.

A little car club in Shangjiang City, a handful of amateurs playing at racing—how could they possibly beat Hua Tianyu?

Lin Lin looked at the two of them—one ready to smack again, the other almost collapsed in his arms. This was getting out of hand…

“Ahem!” She cleared her throat loudly. “Enough with the smacking. If you keep it up, there really won’t be anyone left to wash the dishes!”

No one to wash the dishes? Impossible!

Hua Tianyu grinned at Lin Lin without a word.

“I’m going to study with Shu Yue!” Flustered by Hua Tianyu’s gaze, Lin Lin instantly caught his meaning. Not wanting to end up washing dishes, she made up an excuse to slip away.

Hua Tianyu paused for two seconds. “All-round development—moral, intellectual, physical, artistic, and labor!”

Lin Lin: “…”