Long Life Noodles

The long-awaited birthday had finally arrived.

Su Xiyan hadn't slept well last night, too excited that she kept kicking her little feet under the quilt.

The pink dress she had bought was now quietly hanging in the wardrobe! She had planned to keep Chen Shuo from going into her room so he wouldn't see it. Unexpectedly, Chen Shuo seemed to have been very busy last night too, and didn't even notice Su Xiyan carrying back a large shopping bag.

The pink dress had already been neatly ironed with a garment steamer, fitting Su Xiyan's perfect figure nicely.

It was the first time she had worn something so pink. What should she pay attention to?

Su Xiyan was so thrilled that she tumbled out of bed barefoot, stepping on the chilly floor, and went to her dressing table.

Opening the drawer, inside were many pieces of jewelry.

Most of them were simple, big sister style pieces.

To go with this pink dress, white pearls would probably be best as accessories!

Su Xiyan picked up a pair of white pearl earrings and held them up to her ears to try them on. But they seemed a little plain.

Rubies? Would that make up for the weak pink?

Su Xiyan had never paid so much attention to her own outfit before. With her looks and figure, as Chen Shuo had said, she would look pleasing to the eye even in a sack!

But today was different.

The most special day in her life so far.

How could she just casually match things up?

Su Xiyan was still dithering in front of the dressing table when there was a knock on the door from outside, and Chen Shuo's voice.

"Are you up? Breakfast is ready!"

Su Xiyan was so startled she nearly dropped the earrings on the floor. She quickly calmed herself down, "Leave it on the table! I'll be right there."

She gently patted her shocked chest and heaved a long sigh.

That's not right. I'm the demon hunter, and Chen Shuo is the vampire. I should be the one he's afraid of, so why do I feel like I'm the one acting guilty?

Su Xiyan psyched herself up, then chose a pair of ruby earrings encrusted with diamonds around them and put them away in her jewelry box.

These were for tonight's party outfit. Chen Shuo couldn't see them prematurely.

Although it was her birthday today, she still had to go to school. As a student, she couldn't just take the day off for her birthday, right?

Besides, the birthday celebration would only start in the evening, so it wasn't too late to change after school.

Su Xiyan put on her casual clothes for school, and strode towards the dining room on her long legs.

At the table, Chen Shuo seemed to be busy with something, and looked a little sneaky.

The moment Su Xiyan came out of her room, she immediately closed her door.

This seemingly deliberate action immediately drew Chen Shuo's sarcasm. "What's up? Is your room full of a million bucks in cash? Or some shocking treasure? You're afraid I'll steal it? Even closing the door on me!"

When they first started living together, Su Xiyan would also close her door out of habit. But as their relationship gradually grew closer, Su Xiyan's door was always open unless she was sleeping or changing.

It seemed there were no more secrets between them in their daily life.

So Su Xiyan's unusual behavior caught Chen Shuo's attention.

She couldn't exactly tell Chen Shuo that her room had the pink dress she was going to wear tonight, could she?

If Chen Shuo knew she was dressing up specially for the party, his little tail would definitely perk up to the sky again.

Su Xiyan simply went along with Chen Shuo's words, "Yeah, a girl's secrets."

Luckily, Chen Shuo had no intention of exploring further. "Everyone has secrets! Don't worry, even if you left your door open, I wouldn't go in if you asked me not to!"

Between Su Xiyan's breaths, an especially fragrant smell wafted to her nose.

Following the smell, Su Xiyan saw a bowl of refreshing noodles.

The noodles weren't the usual store-bought kind, but handmade.

The broth looked light and clear, but gave off a faint golden glow. Judging by the aroma, it should be chicken soup.

A few small bok choy leaves floated on top of the broth, sprinkled with chopped green onions. The mingling fresh fragrances made her index finger tingle.

"Birthday girl, how about a bowl of longevity noodles?" Chen Shuo pushed the bowl towards Su Xiyan and handed her chopsticks.

Su Xiyan took the chopsticks, looking a little surprised. "You made this bowl of longevity noodles for me?"

Chen Shuo: "Of course I made them! Would longevity noodles be takeout?"

"Don't look down on this bowl of noodles! I put a lot of work into the broth! I referenced the method for Imperial Court boiled cabbage soup, and used ham, lean poultry meat etc. to simmer a big pot of broth. Then I used minced pork and chicken twice to draw out such a clear broth."

"I started preparing last night, and only finished this morning. Hurry up and eat before the noodles go soggy! Handmade noodles soak up broth faster than store bought ones!"

After hearing Chen Shuo's introduction, Su Xiyan couldn't bear to eat the noodles.

"No wonder I heard ding ding dang dang sounds last night. So you were cooking noodles in the kitchen! I thought you were assembling some handcraft."

Chen Shuo inwardly: I really was assembling, since your birthday present was so hard to finish!

I didn't expect her hearing to be so sharp and actually catch that sound.

Luckily she thought I was cooking broth in the kitchen.

It worked out after all.

"Eat up quick! The noodles will get mushy soon. Handmade noodles soak up broth faster than store bought ones!"

Su Xiyan nodded and picked up her chopsticks to eat the noodles.

The noodles were both soft and chewy after being kneaded for a long time.

Especially the broth, light yet inexplicably sweet and delicious.

Absolutely delicious!!!

Su Xiyan didn't care whether the noodles were high carb or would make her fat. She dug right in.

Chen Shuo sat beside her eating his own breakfast, watching Su Xiyan eat out of the corner of his eye.

At this moment, the autumn wind outside was cool, the whole air of autumn!

Many flowers in the rooftop garden had started to wilt in preparation for winter. The wind blew in some fallen leaves that swirled on the floor.

It was chilly outside but warm as spring inside, with the drifting fragrance of food.

It looked like an ideal home should be this way.

At this moment, Chen Shuo had an indescribable feeling. He actually hoped time would freeze right here and now, and not move forward. It didn't matter whether they were vampires, demon hunters, or just ordinary humans.

What was important was the person in front of him.