{Chapter: 364: A Doctor's Duty... or a Girl's Heart?}
Inside the spacious open-concept kitchen, four women were working together like a well-trained team. Qiu Wanxi and Xiao Lian stood at the stove, carefully tending to pots and pans, their focused expressions occasionally softened by shy glances and giggles. Aromas of ginger, garlic, and stir-fry filled the air.
Xiao He was darting back and forth between the counter and the fridge, handling various prep work—grabbing ingredients, setting plates, and adjusting the flame when needed.
And then there was Chen Yu, who stood at the cutting board like a cold-blooded assassin. Her knife glinted as it flew across the vegetables, slicing with lethal precision. Cabbage, carrots, onions—none of them stood a chance. If there was ever a way to reveal that she used to be an international killer, this was it.
Watching her handle the kitchen knife like a weapon from her past, Lin Yuan chuckled inwardly.
"Overkill," he whispered.
Stepping inside, he moved behind Qiu Wanxi, wrapping his arms around her slender waist in a gentle embrace.
Her body trembled slightly in surprise, but she relaxed almost instantly, recognizing the scent and warmth behind her. Lin Yuan had just come out of the shower, and the faint cologne on his skin mixed with the freshness of soap. He smelled clean, masculine, and irresistibly comforting.
Qiu Wanxi's cheeks turned a light pink, but she didn't resist. Instead, a gentle smile crept onto her lips.
With his lips just inches from her ear, Lin Yuan whispered playfully, "I actually know how to cook. Want me to lend a hand? My skills are pretty decent, you know."
Unlike when he had playfully said something similar to Mei Yuxian, this time he actually meant it. He had recently selected some cooking skills through the system—part of a decision he made while dealing with Officer Ding Xiao Rong. Now, he genuinely wanted to give them a try.
After all, he wasn't doing anything important at the moment.
But Qiu Wanxi gently shook her head.
"You don't need to, Young Master," she said softly, resting her hand on his. "You've already taken care of us so much. You just need to sit back, relax, and enjoy the meal. Let us take care of this part."
Xiao Lian turned around and waved him off playfully. "That's right! Don't get in the way. Just go sit and wait for dinner like a proper young master."
"Yeah!" Xiao He joined in. "We've got everything under control!"
Seeing all three girls firmly united in their stance, Lin Yuan raised his hands in surrender, a slight smirk on his lips.
"Alright, alright. I get the message," he said with a chuckle.
He turned and strolled out of the kitchen.
On the way, he passed by the pantry, casually picked up a bag of roasted nuts and a pouch of salted melon seeds, and headed upstairs to pass the time while waiting for dinner.
---
But as soon as Lin Yuan stepped into the living room on the second floor, a surprising sight greeted him.
Jiang Rou was sitting quietly on the large sofa, legs tucked to the side, her attention fixed on the television screen in front of her.
The show playing? A cheesy romantic drama titled "The Domineering CEO Falls in Love with Me."
Lin Yuan blinked, then grinned.
He shook his head slowly in amusement.
Really? That kind of drama? He almost laughed aloud but stopped himself.
Instead, he walked over calmly and sat down beside her on the plush couch.
Jiang Rou turned sharply in surprise, her wide eyes meeting his for a second before she quickly looked away. Her cheeks flushed again, not as deeply as earlier, but still noticeably.
She had already taken a shower and changed into a fresh set of light casual clothes. A loose, short-sleeved top and comfortable shorts revealed her fair arms and legs, while the neckline subtly revealed the delicate slope of her collarbone. Her skin was smooth, creamy-white with a faint rosy glow.
Her damp hair, still slightly wet from her bath, clung in soft waves around her shoulders and back. The gentle fragrance of her shampoo mixed with the subtle scent of her body wash, giving off a refreshing and elegant aura.
Lin Yuan, sitting this close to her, could catch that faint fragrance with every breath he took.
The air between them was quiet but not uncomfortable.
---
The soft hum of the television filled the room, accompanied by dramatic background music from the show playing on screen. Yet, the tension in the air had little to do with the drama and everything to do with the two people seated side by side on the plush living room sofa.
Jiang Rou's body tensed slightly when Lin Yuan sat down next to her—far too close for her flustered heart to handle. His proximity stirred up the lingering memories of the earlier bathroom incident, and her already fragile composure wavered.
Her cheeks flushed again, the color rising from her neck to the tips of her ears. Despite the light, casual outfit she wore, Jiang Rou felt strangely warm.
Too close... he's sitting too close... she thought, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.
Lin Yuan, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed. With the calm confidence of someone who owned the space—and perhaps the moment—he leaned back slightly, looking perfectly relaxed. He casually picked up a bag of pistachios and began peeling them one by one, popping the nuts into his mouth without a care.
After a moment of silence, he turned toward her, still chewing.
"So, Doctor Jiang," he said in a light, teasing tone. "What's the name of this TV show you're so absorbed in?"
Jiang Rou's hands fidgeted on her lap. She hesitated for a second before answering softly, "…The Domineering CEO Falls in Love With Me."
Her voice was barely audible.
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow, then smiled knowingly. He wasn't even slightly surprised.
He had long figured out that Jiang Rou—despite being an elegant, intellectual, and reserved woman—had a deep, slightly guilty love for romantic drama clichés. Especially ones where the cold, overbearing male lead slowly melts for the gentle, loyal female protagonist.
"I see," Lin Yuan said, holding back a chuckle. "Very on brand for you."
He peeled another pistachio, turned toward her, and extended his hand toward her lips.
"Here," he said, smiling playfully. "Eat it. Think of it as my apology for... what I accidentally saw earlier."
The mention of "what he saw" immediately brought a deeper blush to Jiang Rou's face. Her thoughts scrambled.
She knew exactly what he meant—how he walked in on her while she was fresh out of the shower, how he saw her, how he kissed her...
The memory still made her heart race uncontrollably.
Even so, Jiang Rou hesitated. Being hand-fed by a man, especially in such a casual, intimate way, felt far too personal.
"N-No... it's okay. I can peel one myself," she said quickly, lowering her gaze.
But Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed just slightly, and his voice dipped into a colder, commanding tone.
"Open your mouth," he said.
Jiang Rou blinked.
"Huh?"
"I said, open your mouth," he repeated, slower this time.
There was no room for argument in his tone. It wasn't loud, but it carried the same confident authority she had read about in her favorite novels—the kind that made the heroine's heart flutter.
"I…" Jiang Rou opened her mouth to protest, but the words died in her throat.
For a second, she sat frozen.
Then, after the briefest hesitation, she slowly parted her soft, pink lips, her eyes still avoiding his gaze.
Lin Yuan didn't wait any longer. He leaned forward and popped the pistachio into her mouth, gently but without ceremony.
Jiang Rou's eyes widened slightly at the sudden motion, but she chewed the nut obediently, her face turning a few shades redder.
It was oddly satisfying.
Although Lin Yuan's actions were undeniably overbearing, Jiang Rou didn't feel offended. In fact, her heart skipped a beat, and a subtle warmth began to spread across her chest.