Feeling the warmth and breath of the "Ice Block" (Ying Bing), Li Mo naturally took her hand, guiding her movements while whispering in her ear.
He shared cooking tips, like how to handle baby bok choy.
“Don’t underestimate baby bok choy—simple as it seems, it’s the small dishes that test your fundamentals.”
The more he spoke, the faster Ying Bing’s heartbeat raced, proving that cooking baby bok choy could be quite thrilling.
"Add hot water when stir-frying. It keeps the bok choy crisp and prevents it from getting soggy."
Listening to his warm, close voice, Ying Bing nodded softly.
Perhaps to distract herself, she picked up a bite of the dish she’d just made, ready to taste it.
But before it reached her lips, she noticed the mouth behind her ear subtly shifting, as if eager for a taste too.
Ying Bing pressed her lips together and stuffed the bok choy into Li Mo’s mouth.
"I know you’re hungry. Go ahead."
"I want something delicious," Li Mo mumbled, cheeks bulging as he gave her a pitiful look.
Ying Bing arched a delicate brow, feigning displeasure. "Are you saying what I made under your guidance isn’t good?"
How could it not be good?
The "Ice Block" had been practically melting against him the whole time, barely lifting a finger. He’d guided her hands through every step—it was practically his cooking.
"Jie—"
Before Li Mo could finish, a slender hand clamped over his mouth.
Ying Bing shot him a warning glare, cutting off his usual antics.
"Uncle Li and Aunt Gu will be back soon."
With that, she pushed him away to set the table.
Not long after, Gu Xueqin and Li Dalong returned home. The moment they saw Li Mo sitting there unharmed, the weight in their hearts lifted.
Whatever had happened at the Qingyuan Sect, at least their son was safe and sound.
Before they could ask anything else, Ying Bing emerged from the kitchen with the dishes.
Gu Xueqin paused, then remembered—tonight’s dinner was Ying Bing’s handiwork.
"Oh, Little Bing cooked! Li Mo, how could you just sit there and not help?"
Li Mo: "??"
What did she mean he didn’t help?
He’d been guiding her hands the entire time!
"I taught the Ice Block how to cook," Li Mo protested.
"Mm, he did," Ying Bing agreed softly, nodding with an obedient air.
Li Dalong took a bite of the baby bok choy and, without even chewing, clapped. "Delicious! Absolutely delicious! I’d say Little Bing is a culinary prodigy."
"..."
Li Mo leaned back, eyeing his father with disbelief, as if putting distance between them.
Gu Xueqin frowned. "Why are you sitting so far? Not planning to eat?"
"I’m afraid if Dad faces a heavenly tribulation, the lightning might strike me too."
"?"
Gu Xueqin had no idea what nonsense her son was spouting. She set her things down and hurried to help Ying Bing, ushering her to the table.
"When Little Bing first came to our home, she still had pigtails, like a porcelain doll. Now she’s all grown up."
Gu Xueqin’s eyes softened as she looked at Ying Bing, her hair now tied in a neat ponytail, serene and elegant.
"We know Li Mo’s always causing trouble. Thank you for looking after him while we were away."
Li Dalong chimed in smoothly, "Yes, Little Bing, you’ve always been sensible. If he ever upsets you, just tell us."
Li Mo scratched his head. Why did this sound familiar?
Oh, right—his parents had said the same thing to his tutor when they first sent him to school.
Am I some kind of unruly child?
As he pondered, he noticed Ying Bing glancing at him from the corner of her eye, her gaze playful.
"He’s helped me too. We support each other."
"Good, that’s good."
Gu Xueqin reached out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind Ying Bing’s ear, then glanced at her son.
"Li Mo, Ying Bing grew up in our home. I’ve long seen her as my own, and I can’t bear the thought of her leaving the Li family. Why don’t she start calling me 'Mom' too?"
Li Mo pretended to consider it, but his grin betrayed him. "Yeah, that sounds great."
"No wonder you always call her 'Jie.' If she becomes my sworn daughter, you’ll have an older sister."
"Sure—wait, no! That’s not happening!"
Li Mo’s smile vanished instantly.
Even Ying Bing’s lashes fluttered slightly. "If not as a sworn daughter, then as a daughter-in-law."
"Eat, eat, hahaha..."
Li Dalong chuckled, picking up his chopsticks while shooting his wife an approving look.
He knew exactly what she was doing. Of course she was reluctant to let Ying Bing go, but this was also a way to probe the girl’s feelings.
And to nudge the two youngsters toward settling things.
Desperate times called for desperate measures.
The reason they hadn’t returned to Qinghe County yet? They were waiting for good news.
He hadn’t known how to broach the subject subtly, but his wife had gone straight for the heavens.
The rest of dinner was filled with the couple doting on Ying Bing, showering her with parental affection until Li Mo’s head spun.
His parents had always talked about wanting both a son and a daughter. Were they serious about making the Ice Block their daughter?
This... this was too much.
Li Mo squirmed in his seat, barely touching his food. The moment dinner ended, he grabbed Ying Bing’s hand and bolted.
Watching the two disappear upstairs, Gu Xueqin and Li Dalong exchanged a knowing smile.
---
"Ice Block, you saw it. Aunt Gu is desperate to hear you call her 'Mom.'"
Li Mo shut the door behind them, facing Ying Bing’s solemn, unsmiling expression.
"What do we do?"
Ying Bing pressed her lips together, amused by his flustered state.
"Don’t panic. You know me—I’m a genius."
Li Mo raised three fingers.
"I have three strategies: superior, middling, and inferior."
Ying Bing leaned against the couch, propping her chin on one hand. "What’s the superior one?"
"Make Mom skip the 'perfect family' phase and go straight to doting on grandchildren—until she’s utterly obsessed!"
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Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
