The maid saw Su Hua and knew the first thing she would do upon returning was look for Lin Xuan. Without waiting for Su Hua to ask, she respectfully said, "Miss, Young Master Lin is in the kitchen. It seems he intends to personally prepare lunch to bring to your company."
"Miss," the maid added, unable to resist, "Young Master Lin truly cares deeply for you."
The level of affection between the two of them was enough to make even the maids feel the urge to fall in love.
"Mmm." Su Hua curled her lips. "A-Xuan is just like that."
But then...
At the thought of something, the light in Su Hua's eyes dimmed again.
What if A-Xuan regained his memories? Would he still treat her this well?
Su Hua pressed her lips together and walked toward the kitchen.
Butler Wang was still learning the final dish—a dish that happened to be a favorite of the person he was romantically involved with. He was studying it with extra diligence.
When Su Hua entered the kitchen, Butler Wang noticed her immediately.
Su Hua gestured for him to leave.
Reluctantly, Butler Wang picked up his notes and pen and stepped out of the kitchen, though not before stealing one last glance at the dish.
Lin Xuan, meanwhile, hadn’t noticed Su Hua’s return.
He was still instructing Butler Wang, saying, "The key to this dish is the heat—it has to be high. Otherwise, it won’t have that wok hei, and the flavor will fall flat..."
Su Hua wrapped her arms around Lin Xuan’s waist from behind, pressing her face against his back.
Feeling the softness against him, Lin Xuan knew Su Hua had returned.
"Hua Bao," he asked curiously, "Why are you back at this hour?"
Su Hua lowered her gaze. "No reason. I just wanted to see you sooner."
Only by seeing with her own eyes that he was safe would she feel at ease.
"Hua Bao," Lin Xuan coaxed gently, "The kitchen’s full of smoke and oil. Go wait for me outside."
Su Hua didn’t respond, continuing to hold him.
Lin Xuan had no choice but to let her stay.
He quickly finished stir-frying the last dish and instructed the chef, "Take these out to be served."
"Yes, sir."
The chef eyed the array of perfectly cooked dishes—each one fragrant and visually appealing—and felt a surge of relief.
Thank goodness the young lady couldn’t bear to have Young Master Lin cook too often, so he only prepared meals occasionally.
If Young Master Lin cooked every day, he’d probably be out of a job.
The pay at Night Garden was high, and the work was easy. He had no intention of leaving.
Admittedly, Young Master Lin’s culinary skills were exceptional—so much so that even he couldn’t help but try to learn a few tricks.
Lin Xuan removed his apron and led Su Hua out of the kitchen, guiding her to a seat at the dining table.
"Hua Bao, did something happen?" Lin Xuan asked worriedly.
Something felt off.
"No." Su Hua shook her head.
Lin Xuan studied her expression, but it was as calm as ever. No sign of distress.
Had he imagined it?
Then again, if Hua Bao truly felt uneasy, she would’ve already dragged him to bed to seek reassurance—not remained this composed.
Unless… this was the calm before the storm.
"Hua Bao, you must be hungry. Let’s eat first."
Lin Xuan resumed his usual routine of feeding Su Hua.
Nearby, Butler Wang raised an eyebrow.
Look at that.
Young Master Lin and the young lady were being lovey-dovey again.
So much PDA. But it was fine—soon enough, he’d be sweet-talking his own sweetheart too.
After lunch...
"Hua Bao, you should rest before heading back to work," Lin Xuan said.
"I’m not going to the office. There’s nothing to do there," Su Hua replied.
If Jiang Qing—who was currently swamped with work, not even having time to drink water—heard this, she’d be utterly baffled.
Boss Su… are you sure you’re not busy?
"In that case, take the afternoon to relax," Lin Xuan nodded.
At least today, Hua Bao probably wouldn’t try to lure him into bed.
"Alright." Su Hua picked up a cup of tea from the coffee table and took a sip.
Rest?
As if.
A glint flashed in Su Hua’s eyes.
Lin Xuan settled on the sofa while Su Hua curled up in his arms, and the two began watching a movie.
An hour later, Jiang Qing sent Su Hua a message.
[Jiang Qing]: Boss Su, I’ve found what you were looking for. I’ll have someone deliver it to you.
[Su Hua]: Mmm.
Lin Xuan caught a glimpse of Su Hua’s phone and asked, "Hua Bao, what were you looking for?"
"Nothing important. Just some work documents I misplaced. I asked Jiang Qing to track them down," Su Hua answered smoothly, her expression betraying nothing.
"I see." Lin Xuan nodded, not doubting her words.
They continued watching the movie.
Su Hua occasionally checked the time, waiting for the delivery.
Eighteen minutes later...
A maid entered the living room holding an envelope. "Miss, someone specifically asked for this to be handed to you. They said you should open it personally—that you’d find it very interesting."
It’s here.
Su Hua arched a brow.
"Who sent it?" she asked, feigning ignorance.
"I’m not sure," the maid replied. "It was a man wearing glasses. He didn’t identify himself—just dropped this off and ran. I couldn’t catch up to him."
"Mmm." Su Hua took the envelope.
"What is this?" Lin Xuan asked curiously.
The envelope looked unusually thick.
Su Hua tilted her head. "A-Xuan, open it for me."
"But they said you should be the one to open it," Lin Xuan pointed out.
"Between us, do we really need to distinguish 'you' from 'me'?" Su Hua smiled.
"Alright, I’ll open it." Lin Xuan nodded, examining the envelope.
What could be inside to make it so thick?
He tore open the seal and pulled out the contents.
"Photos?" Lin Xuan frowned.
As he pulled out a few, his confusion deepened—these were pictures of him. Why would someone send these to Hua Bao?
A sense of foreboding crept into his heart. Something was about to happen.
Lin Xuan continued extracting the photos.
Then, in the next frame, another figure came into view—a woman in a white dress.
Their poses...
Lin Xuan: "!!!!"
What the hell?!
His eyes widened.
No way.
Hua Bao can’t see these.
For the sake of his unrequited love, his ex-girlfriend abandoned him at the altar, indirectly causing the death of his parents. Just when he thought his life was plunged into darkness, a clueless yet beautiful girl unexpectedly took him in. Looking back, he realized how many hidden gems had always been by his side. A childhood friend who had secretly loved him for over a decade, a stunning but socially clueless school beauty, a mischievous and playful girl who lived for chaos... His ex, filled with regret, pleaded: "I was wrong—can we go back to how things were?" Before he could respond, the girl stepped in front of Ye Shuang and coldly declared, "If you didn’t cherish him, then he’s mine now." Also known as: "After Losing My Job, I Was Picked Up by a Hidden Gem," "The School Beauty I Raised," and "Oh No, I’m Surrounded by Rich Girls."
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
th】 【No prior gaming knowledge required】【The First Cultivation + Game Design Novel on the Platform】 In a world where the righteous path dominates and crushes the demonic sects, Lu Ze unlocks the "Son of the Demon Path" system. Killing righteous cultivators now grants him power-ups. Wait—deaths in illusions count too? As a former game designer, Lu Ze decides to give the cultivators of this world a little—no, a massive—shock... Sect Elders: "What is this 'Escape from the Demon Sect' game? Why have all our disciples abandoned cultivation to play it??" Elite Disciples: "You're saying... mastering 'Demon Slayer' can help us counter demonic schemes?" Reclusive Masters: "Why did I leave seclusion? Ask that backstabbing rat who ambushed me in 'Eternal Strife' yesterday!" Rogue Cultivators & Civilians: "'Immortal Abyss Action' is addictive! You can even earn spirit stones by loot-running..." Sect Prodigy: "My Dao heart is unshakable... except for that cursed black hammer." Royal Scions: "Can skins have stat boosts? I’ll pay 10,000 spirit stones for one!!" Sect Leader: "WHO IS CORRUPTING MY DISCIPLES?!!!"
't think I'm that capable, I'm just trying my best to stay alive. I've been kind all my life, never did anything bad, yet worldly suffering spared me not one bit. The human world is a nice place, but I won't come back in my next life. A kind young man, who wanted to just get by singing, but through repeated deceits and betrayals, has gone down an irredeemable path.
