My Little Cotton-Padded Jacket Has a Draft

The security door clicked open.

The heating inside was on full blast, instantly dispelling the chill from Chen Zhi's body.

Lin Wanwan casually placed the newly bought milk tea on the entryway cabinet, shouting toward the living room as she changed her shoes.

"Dad, Mom, Chen Zhi is here."

Chen Zhi followed behind, taking off his brand-new coffee-colored puffer jacket and hanging it on the coat rack.

On the living room sofa.

Lin Shuxian was holding a copy of the day's financial newspaper. Hearing the commotion, he looked up over the top of the paper.

His gaze first landed on his daughter's rosy cheeks, and his initially stern expression instantly melted.

Immediately after, his eyes shifted and locked onto Chen Zhi.

The temperature in his gaze plummeted.

Having changed into his slippers, Chen Zhi revealed a harmless smile and greeted him obediently, "Hello, Uncle."

Lin Shuxian gave a harrumph in response.

He was just about to lower his head to continue reading the paper when he caught a glimpse of the dark sweater Chen Zhi was wearing underneath, and then looked at the cream-white turtleneck on his own daughter.

Wait a minute.

Lin Shuxian jerked his head up, his gaze dead set on the coffee-colored puffer jacket Chen Zhi was wearing.

This style... why did it look familiar?

He turned to look at his daughter again.

Lin Wanwan was hanging up her identical cream-white puffer jacket on the rack. The two jackets hung side by side. Whether it was the cut or the design, apart from the color, they were exactly the same.

The newspaper in Lin Shuxian's hands gave a violent shake. His eyes widened as he pointed at the two jackets.

"This... what kind of clothes did you guys buy?"

Lin Wanwan finished hanging up her jacket, turned around, and skipped over, looking as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"New clothes, of course. Chen Zhi and I just went to the Central Department Store to buy them. Auntie Zhang kindly sponsored us."

She even deliberately tugged at her sleeve to show it off to her dad.

"How about it, Dad? Looks good, right? It's the most popular style this year."

Lin Shuxian took a deep breath, feeling a sudden tightness in his chest.

Looks good?

Looks good my foot!

Anyone could tell these were couple's outfits!

He pointed at Chen Zhi, his finger trembling. "Then his jacket... why is it the same as yours?"

"Oh, this." Lin Wanwan grinned and blinked. "I thought the jacket looked nice, so I told Chen Zhi to buy one too. We both needed new clothes anyway, and buying the same one got us a discount."

Although Lin Shuxian didn't usually go out shopping for clothes, he knew that particular brand never ran any promotional discounts.

He was just about to lecture her when the sliding door to the kitchen was pulled open.

Lin Jing, wearing an apron and holding a spatula, poked her head out after hearing the noise outside.

Seeing the perfect pair standing in the entryway, Lin Jing's eyes instantly lit up.

"Oh my, Chen Zhi is here! Come in, come in, it's freezing outside, isn't it?"

Lin Jing's enthusiasm formed a stark contrast to Lin Shuxian's exasperation. Her gaze fell on their new clothes, and the smile on her face simply couldn't be hidden.

"Wow, these new clothes look fantastic! I always said Wanwan has great taste. Wearing this, Chen Zhi looks just like a model on TV."

Lin Jing was a classic lover of good looks. Plus, having watched Chen Zhi grow up, she truly doted on him like half a son. In her heart, she had long considered him the one and only candidate for her future son-in-law.

Lin Wanwan proudly lifted her chin and flashed a peace sign at her mom. "Right, Mom? I think they're a perfect match too—the clothes, I mean."

Lin Jing couldn't stop smiling. "A perfect match, a perfect match! Even the people are a perfect match. Hurry up and wash your hands for dinner, the hotpot broth is already boiling."

Watching his wife and daughter echo each other, Lin Shuxian felt like his precious little girl was slipping through his fingers.

He glared at Chen Zhi with deep resentment. Just you wait, kid.

Chen Zhi felt a sudden chill down his spine.

He didn't even need to think to know the reason.

He couldn't stay here any longer.

"Auntie, is there anything else to do in the kitchen? I'll help you prep the vegetables."

As he spoke, Chen Zhi expertly rolled up his sleeves and slipped away, making a beeline for the kitchen.

"No need, no need! You're a guest, how can I let you work?"

Lin Jing tried to stop him, but Chen Zhi was agile and darted into the kitchen in a flash.

"It's fine, Auntie. I do this at home all the time anyway, and I've got nothing else to do."

Seeing Chen Zhi slip into the kitchen, Lin Wanwan put down her water glass and followed him in.

"I'll help too."

She said she was helping, but her body dishonestly nudged closer to Chen Zhi.

The kitchen wasn't big to begin with. Crowded together by the sink, their arms inevitably brushed against each other.

The sweater Lin Wanwan wore today was soft and fuzzy, tickling his arm slightly as it rubbed against him.

"Do you even know how to prep vegetables? Don't make a mess," Chen Zhi turned his head and whispered.

"Who says I don't?" Lin Wanwan indignantly picked up a sprig of cilantro and clumsily pinched off the root. "See? Done."

Listening to the playful banter coming from inside, Lin Shuxian sat all alone on the sofa, the financial newspaper in his hands crumpled.

He sighed, feeling that this winter was colder than ever before.

...

Half an hour later.

The steaming hotpot was brought to the table.

The split red and white broth bubbled away. Paper-thin lamb rolls, beautifully marbled beef slices, and an assortment of meatballs and vegetables filled the table.

The Lin family's dining table was rectangular.

Lin Shuxian, as the head of the household, sat at the head of the table.

Lin Jing sat next to him.

Chen Zhi and Lin Wanwan sat side by side along one of the long edges.

Lin Wanwan was clearly in a fantastic mood. As soon as she sat down, she got busy.

She grabbed two empty bowls and expertly mixed the dipping sauce.

A spoonful of minced garlic, two spoons of sesame oil, half a spoon of vinegar, a dash of oyster sauce, and some chopped bird's eye chilies.

This was her own secret recipe.

"Here."

Lin Wanwan pushed one of the prepared bowls in front of Chen Zhi, keeping the other for herself.

"Seven times up, eight times down. That makes it the most tender."

Lin Wanwan muttered to herself, her wrist flicking nimbly.

As soon as the beef changed color, she scooped it out, rolled it around in her dipping bowl, and coated it in the mouthwatering sauce.

Then.

Under Lin Shuxian's watchful gaze, that piece of meat didn't go into Lin Wanwan's own mouth.

Instead, it bypassed her bowl entirely and landed right in Chen Zhi's.

"Quick, try it! This is Wanwan's secret signature sauce. You definitely can't get this outside!"

Lin Wanwan looked at Chen Zhi with a face full of expectation, her large eyes sparkling.

Chen Zhi didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up the beef and put it in his mouth.

The beef was fresh, tender, and juicy. The perfectly balanced sour and spicy sauce, accentuated by the sesame oil, was truly phenomenal.

He chewed a couple of times, swallowed, and then gave Lin Wanwan a thumbs up.

"Incredible."

Chen Zhi praised from the bottom of his heart.

"Absolutely incredible. With these skills, you could open your own restaurant."

Lin Wanwan's eyes instantly curved into happy crescents, her chin tilting up so high it could almost touch the sky.

"Of course. Just look at who made it."

She picked up her chopsticks again and fished out the large serving of fatty beef she had just put into the pot.

The beef rolls had soaked up the rich broth, looking red, shiny, and appetizing.

Sitting across from them, Lin Shuxian watched his daughter pick up the meat and instinctively pushed his own bowl forward.

The next second.

Lin Wanwan dropped that piece of lamb into Chen Zhi's bowl without a moment's hesitation.

Lin Shuxian took a deep breath, silently pulled his bowl back, and said sourly, "Wanwan, how about letting Dad have a taste too? My bowl is still empty."

His tone was so full of grievance that Lin Jing, who was eating happily next to him, couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Lin Wanwan was busy putting shrimp paste into Chen Zhi's bowl and didn't even look up.

She frowned with a look of disgust. "Dad, you're so far away from me, just get it yourself. Besides, can't you mix your own dipping sauce? You still need me to serve you."

Critical hit.

That stab was fast, accurate, and ruthless.

Lin Shuxian felt his heart shatter into eight pieces, impossible to put back together.

He looked at Chen Zhi, his eyes full of accusation: What kind of magic potion did you feed my daughter?

Chen Zhi could only lower his head and eat vigorously, pretending not to see.

Speaking up now would be asking for death.

"Here, Uncle, this piece of mutton is tender, try it."

Chen Zhi tactfully used the serving chopsticks to put a piece of mutton into Lin Shuxian's bowl, trying to salvage their relationship of over a decade.

Looking at the mutton in his bowl, Lin Shuxian felt a little better.

At least this kid had some conscience.

He picked up the mutton, put it in his mouth, chewed twice, and then looked at Lin Wanwan. "Look at little Chen, how sensible he is. He knows to serve food to his elders."

Lin Wanwan rolled her eyes. "That's what he should do. Who told him to eat my dipping sauce."

Lin Shuxian: "..."

There was no way to continue this conversation.

Lin Shuxian drank his wine alone in depression, the bitter liquor burning his throat and aching his heart.

After the meal.

They were full and satisfied.

Chen Zhi leaned back in his chair, feeling warm all over.

He glanced at the wall clock.

It was half past seven.

Remembering his appointment with Pei Ningxue, Chen Zhi sat up straight.

"Uncle, Auntie, it's getting late. I should head back."

Lin Jing was about to go cut some fruit. Hearing this, she paused. "Leaving so soon? Stay and hang out a bit longer, have some fruit."

"No thank you, Auntie. I have some things to do when I get back," Chen Zhi politely declined.

Lin Wanwan was biting the tip of her chopsticks. Hearing this, her eyes narrowed slightly.

She hadn't forgotten that someone had mentioned at the mall entrance earlier that he had a gaming date tonight.

And it was with that pretty desk-mate of his.

When Lin Shuxian heard Chen Zhi was leaving, the expression on his face instantly cleared up from cloudy to sunny.

Good riddance! Hurry up and leave!

"Since little Chen has things to do, we won't keep you." Lin Shuxian put down his wine glass, showing a rare smile. "Business first, business first."

As long as this kid wasn't wandering around in front of him, his chest wouldn't feel so tight.

Chen Zhi stood up and put on that brown puffer jacket that made Lin Shuxian's eyes hurt.

"I'll be going then."

He walked to the entryway to change his shoes.

Lin Wanwan followed him.

"Chen Zhi."

She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching Chen Zhi put on his shoes.

"Hmm?" Chen Zhi tied his shoelaces and straightened up.

"Are you going back to play games with Pei Ningxue?"

Lin Wanwan's tone was sour.

Chen Zhi didn't hide it. "Yeah, I promised her."

"Oh."

Lin Wanwan nodded, her expression unreadable.

Just as Chen Zhi thought he had survived this ordeal and was about to open the door, Lin Wanwan suddenly reached out a hand and slapped it flat against the door panel.

Chen Zhi froze. "What are you doing?"

Lin Wanwan looked up, a hint of mischief flashing in her beautiful almond eyes.

"I'm going too."

"Going where?"

"To your house," Lin Wanwan said righteously. "I want to play games too."

Chen Zhi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Do you even know how to play CS? What's the point of zoning out on the side when you can't even understand what you're looking at."

"I don't care."

Lin Wanwan grabbed Chen Zhi's sleeve and started acting shamelessly.

"I'm going anyway. If you don't take me, I'll tell Auntie Zhang that you're in an early romance, and the target is your desk-mate who ranks in the top five of the whole school!"

Chen Zhi: "..."

He glanced toward the living room. Lin Shuxian was holding the remote control and changing channels, seemingly in a good mood.

If he knew his daughter was running over to the neighbor's house again late at night, that remote control would probably be thrown straight at his head.

"Alright, alright, I'll take you."

Chen Zhi compromised helplessly.

"But we have a deal: you just watch from the side and don't make a mess."

"Deal!"

Lin Wanwan instantly changed her expression, smiling like a blooming flower.

She quickly turned her head and shouted, "Dad, Mom, I'm going to Chen Zhi's house to borrow a book, I'll be back in a bit!"

After saying that, without waiting for the two elders to react, she grabbed the keys from the entryway, pulled Chen Zhi, and rushed out the door.

Bang.

The security door closed.

In the living room, Lin Shuxian's hand holding the remote control froze.

Borrow a book?

What kind of book does she need to borrow late at night?

And they had to go together?

Before his previous happiness could fully pass, Lin Shuxian felt his chest tighten up again.

In the stairwell, the motion-sensor lights flickered on.

Lin Wanwan marched ahead proudly and triumphantly.

"Hurry up, Chen Zhi! Don't keep her waiting. I really want to see just how good this Pei Ningxue is at playing games."