Incompetent...

Cooking is actually a very exhausting chore.

This was a truth Xu Mingyao had only recently come to understand.

In the past, she had never even considered doing something that only servants would do.

She had just taken it for granted—it was just cooking, how troublesome could it be?

Even some underage kids knew how to do it!

It was only when she put her thoughts into action that she realized cooking was no easy feat.

Grocery shopping, washing vegetables, chopping, and stir-frying.

These steps sounded simple, but actually doing them was a lot of hassle.

To give a simple example, cooking three dishes and a soup required at least five or more different ingredients, and that was a conservative estimate.

Each of these ingredients needed to be washed and prepped.

During the cooking process, one had to frequently switch and wash the pots.

Then there was the preparation of supplementary ingredients, like smashing garlic, chopping green onions, and mincing ginger...

These trivial tasks that seemed like they could be done casually didn't look like much.

But when a vast number of these trivial tasks piled up, they required a lot of time to handle.

Often, before she even realized it, an hour or two would have slipped by.

Having finished the tasks at hand.

Xu Mingyao pulled over a nearby stool and sat down. Feeling quite exhausted, she rested her cheek on her arm, leaning sideways against the counter to rest. Her gaze loosely fixed on the continuously jumping red numbers on the pressure cooker's screen, she stared blankly, lost in thought.

Did Tao Yaoyao find it just as strenuous when she handled these things?

Xu Mingyao thought about it.

And figured she probably didn't.

In the past, after getting off work, she could usually have the rice cooking and several of her signature dishes stir-fried within thirty minutes.

The old her used to think this kind of speed was completely normal.

Thinking about it now.

She was truly amazing.

Xu Mingyao narrowed her eyes in gratification, but before the joy could ripple from the corners of her mouth, she felt a bit sad again.

She must have been working so hard back then, right?

Xu Mingyao couldn't help but think.

She clearly had to work overtime at the company every day, busy with a mountain of tasks.

Yet after coming home, she still had to endure her cold attitude, cook meals, and clean the house...

As she thought about this, Xu Mingyao's nose tingled with a sour sensation, and an irrepressible feeling of heartache and tender pity welled up in her heart.

The taste of this heartache and guilt was not pleasant.

However, Xu Mingyao felt it was okay.

At least it was better than before.

Because now, at the very least, she could openly and honestly face the most important person in her heart.

She no longer had to suppress her feelings like before, turning a blind eye to the only person who still cherished her, just to maintain that previously aloof and arrogant version of herself.

Shrugging her shoulders, Xu Mingyao slightly adjusted the position of her arm so she could rest her head more comfortably.

The guilt in her heart was still slowly rippling, stirring up waves of self-blame.

Subconsciously, Xu Mingyao wanted to compensate her.

Just like in the past.

After she had done something out of line, she would casually give her a few expensive gifts.

But now, she had absolutely nothing left.

Money, status, position...

She had none of it anymore.

Now, it was difficult enough just to support herself.

Let alone giving her any material compensation...

At this thought, Xu Mingyao subconsciously hunched her shoulders, seeking some trivial sense of security.

But the fear came even more fiercely, crashing down like a massive boulder into the lake of her heart, shattering her guilt and self-blame into pieces.

The former Xu Mingyao had always been avoiding this problem.

Whenever she thought about how she had lost everything and was now a person with no way out and no excellent survival skills.

Xu Mingyao would use the thought of I can always just die to escape reality and maintain the dignity she valued so highly.

But if it truly came to that point.

Did she actually have the courage to die?

Thinking about it seriously.

Xu Mingyao felt that she did not.

It was strange to say.

Back when she was arrogant and domineering, whenever she taught a lesson to those who provoked her, she would always yell for her subordinates to beat them to death.

Although she had never actually beaten anyone to death.

At that time, she genuinely felt that even if someone were beaten to death, it wouldn't be a big deal.

At most, she would just go home and get a scolding.

But when she had to face the sharp blade of death herself, Xu Mingyao suddenly realized that death was such a terrifying thing.

What was death?

Death meant truly and completely dying.

It was the end of life; it would strip away everything you had.

Compared to it, even pain and torment would seem quite amiable and approachable.

But if she abandoned that option.

What else could she do?

Go to a restaurant to wash dishes and plates, becoming a financially strapped waitress who might even be recognized by acquaintances?

Or use her body and face to go to some gray-area establishments and pretend to be polite with those disgusting men?

At this thought, Xu Mingyao couldn't help but feel a sudden chill of disgust.

Suddenly, she found a bit more courage in her heart to face death.

Compared to that kind of life, death didn't seem so scary anymore...

...

Fortunately, she didn't necessarily have to choose between those two options now.

She still had a better choice.

At this thought, Xu Mingyao slightly narrowed her eyes, happiness swirling in her gaze.

Xu Mingyao felt very lucky to have met her.

She was also grateful that when she turned back, she was still by her side.

Yes.

Therefore, she needed to cherish her more properly and treat her even better.

When she recalled Tao Yaoyao's dedication to her and how she had never abandoned her, Xu Mingyao's heart softened completely.

She secretly made up her mind that she would never make her sad again and would do everything in her power to treat her well.

Tao Yaoyao now held a very heavy, extremely heavy weight in Xu Mingyao's heart.

This wasn't just because of being moved and liking her.

More importantly, the current Tao Yaoyao was no less to Xu Mingyao than the only floating plank on a lonely sea.

She was the last precious treasure she could rely on and depend on.

When this last lifeline intertwined with the identity of the person she loved, her weight in her heart would climb geometrically, continuously expanding.

Until she occupied her entire heart...

...

Beep, beep.

A rhythmic notification sound rang out, bringing Xu Mingyao back to her senses. She realized the pressure cooker had finished simmering the soup.

Looking up at the time, Xu Mingyao found that it was already past seven in the evening.

Hmm.

It was about time to get ready to stir-fry the dishes.

Her return time was usually very uncertain; on early days, she might be back by half past nine, so she should prepare as early as possible.

Just as Xu Mingyao was about to get moving,

She suddenly heard footsteps coming from behind her.

Subconsciously turning her head to look, a glow of pleasant surprise blossomed in Xu Mingyao's eyes.

Tao Yaoyao?

Why did she come back so early today?