Why didn't you tell me earlier that my little sister is still waiting for me?

Xue Sumei took a bite and praised it highly. Her face was full of smiles, "Oh my! Xiaolin! Your cooking skills are amazing! In my life, I've never tasted such delicious home-cooked food! This level is better than the chefs in five-star hotels!" She said as she picked up some food for Yang Tao, "Taozi, try this and this... Xiaolin's skills are really impeccable!"

Su Qing also nodded repeatedly in agreement: "Yes, I didn't expect that you are such a good cook, Xiaolin. The fish-flavored shredded pork you make is more authentic than the one I ate in Sichuan!"

After praising his cooking skills, Xue Sumei began to praise him in all aspects: "Look at Xiaolin, he's young, successful in his career, runs his own company and is the boss. He's handsome, can cook, and has a good temper! Such an outstanding and family-oriented man is hard to find these days!" She said, looking at Yang Tao meaningfully: "Taozi, don't you agree?"

Yang Tao was concentrating on eating, trying to numb himself with the delicious food. When he heard what his mother said, he could only say "hmm" vaguely, but he couldn't help rolling his eyes in his heart: It's true that he is a good cook, but he has nothing to do with "good temper" or "excellence"!

Lin Bufan felt a little embarrassed by the compliment and smiled modestly, "Auntie, Sister Qing, you are too kind. I just thought about it and made it casually. I hope it suits your taste."

"That's right! It's perfect!" Xue Sumei smiled from ear to ear. "Taozi, look how modest Xiaolin is! There aren't many young people like you who are talented and yet so reserved these days!"

The meal ended with Xue Sumei's constant praise, Su Qing's agreement, Yang Tao's silent and frantic eating, and Lin Bufan's modest responses. Although the atmosphere was somewhat tense, Lin Bufan, with his god-level cooking skills, managed to safely leave behind his first... fairly harmonious lunch memory at Yang Tao's house.

After dinner, they sat and chatted about family matters for a while, then Lin Bufan stood up and said goodbye.

Xue Sumei quickly stood up and warmly urged him to stay, "Xiao Lin, please sit for a while. Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Let Taozi cut some fruit, and we can eat and talk."

Lin Bufan smiled and declined: "No, Auntie, thank you for your kindness. I really have something to take care of this afternoon, so I have to leave first."

Seeing Lin Bufan's resolute attitude, Xue Sumei had no choice but to give up. Instead, she nudged Yang Tao beside her with her elbow and gave him a look: "Taozi, go and see Xiaolin off."

Yang Tao was looking down at her phone, but when she heard that, she looked up, her face full of reluctance as she muttered softly, "He'll come here on his own, he won't leave..."

Xue Sumei's face darkened, and she lowered her voice to scold, "How can you be so ignorant, child! Xiaolin is a guest, and he came here specifically... to visit. It's only right that you see him off! Hurry up!"

Yang Tao couldn't persuade her mother, so she had to put down her phone reluctantly, stood up, said in a muffled voice, "Let's go." Then she walked towards the door first.

Lin Bufan smiled politely at Xue Sumei and Su Qing: "Auntie, Sister Qing, I'll be leaving first. Sorry for disturbing you today."

"Don't bother me, don't bother me! Come often, Xiaolin!"

Xue Sumei and Song Qian accompanied her to the door, especially Xue Sumei, who had a huge smile on her face.

Yang Tao walked ahead silently, her steps quick, just wanting to quickly complete this task of "seeing the guest off." When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she immediately stopped, without even looking at Lin Bufan, and said stiffly: "Goodbye, I won't see you off." Then she turned around and was about to go back.

"Manager Yang, wait a moment." Lin Bufan called out to her.

Yang Tao turned around impatiently: "What else?"

Lin Bufan walked up to Yang Tao with a relaxed smile on his face. "Are you free tomorrow? I heard there's a hotel having a big sale. Stay two nights, get one free. It's a really good deal. And best of all, they have a jacuzzi. Isn't that amazing?"

When Yang Tao heard this, she immediately responded angrily, "Are you crazy? Who else has ever asked someone to go to a hotel for the first time?"

Lin Bufan blinked, a look of just the right amount of confusion on his face: "Not going to a hotel? Then... where would be more suitable? This is my first time formally asking a girl out, I don't have much experience, and I'm afraid I can't arrange it well." His tone was sincere, as if he was really asking for advice humbly.

"Of course, when you ask a girl out for the first time, you should go somewhere normal! Like, go to an art exhibition, listen to a concert, or take a walk in the park, sit in a cafe and chat..." Yang Tao was talking, and suddenly realized why she was talking to Lin Bufan about this: "No! You can go wherever you want! What does it have to do with me? I'm not going anyway! You should discuss it with someone else!"

Lin Bufan looked at Yang Tao's angry expression and couldn't help laughing: "Okay, okay, no more jokes. Seriously, Manager Yang, are you free tomorrow? Would you mind going out with me?"

Yang Tao refused without a second thought: "Tomorrow? I have to go to work tomorrow, I don't have time."

"Going to work?" Lin Bufan raised an eyebrow in feigned surprise. "But... Aunt Xue clearly told me that you have tomorrow off. Could it be that Aunt Xue got it wrong?"

When Yang Tao heard this, she immediately felt resentful of her mother's betrayal, and her tone became even more aggressive: "Why does my mother tell everyone everything? Yes, I have tomorrow off, but I'm very tired after working all week. I just want to rest at home tomorrow and don't want to go anywhere."

"Is that so..." Lin Bufan showed a rather regretful expression, and nodded thoughtfully: "It seems that there is no way. Alas, it seems that I can only tell Aunt Xue the truth and say that her daughter only wants to stay at home and live out her life alone. I can't do anything about it. Let her think of other ways." As Lin Bufan said this, he sighed helplessly and turned around to leave.

These words immediately hit Yang Tao's sore spot. She immediately flew into a rage and shouted at Lin Bufan's back, "Lin Bufan! Aren't you bored? You're such a grown-up and you're still going to complain to your parents?"

Lin Bufan stopped and turned around. The regret and helplessness on his face disappeared without a trace, replaced by a sly and determined expression. "Then Manager Yang, give me a clear answer. Do you want to rest alone at home tomorrow, or are you willing to reluctantly go out for a walk with a boring person like me, and by the way... give Aunt Xue a few days of peace and quiet?"

Yang Tao was so angry that she wanted to kick Lin Bufan. But she knew her mother's temper very well. If this scoundrel really went out and started talking nonsense, she would have no peace for the next few days or even weeks. She glared at Lin Bufan fiercely, her chest heaving several times, and finally squeezed out a word through her teeth: "Time! Place!"

Lin Bufan smiled triumphantly: "I'll lend it to you downstairs at seven o'clock tomorrow morning. Remember to wear a pair of comfortable shoes." After that, he waved to Yang Tao, turned around and left happily.

Yang Tao looked at Lin Bufan's smug back, stomped her feet in anger, turned around and quickly went upstairs, cursing Lin Bufan countless times in her heart.

Just when Yang Tao was angry, she didn't notice at all that right above where she had just "confronted" Lin Bufan, two heads were carefully hiding behind the green plants on the edge of the windowsill, one above and one below, staring intently at everything that had just happened downstairs.

"Gone, gone, Xiaolin is gone... Look, Taozi even stamped her feet. She must have been irritated by something Xiaolin said!" Xue Sumei lay on the windowsill, whispering worriedly, her tone full of disappointment: "This child, why doesn't she understand Xiaolin's kindness!"

Seeing Xue Sumei's worry, Su Qing hurried to comfort her, "Aunt, don't worry. I don't think it's a bad thing. Think about it, if Taozi really didn't want to do it at all, with her temper, she would have started arguing with Xiaolin downstairs, or she would have just turned her face up and gone upstairs. She wouldn't have stood there talking for so long. You see, although she stomped her feet at the end, as if she was angry, but... but it didn't seem like she really turned against him. It was more like... she was sulking because she couldn't do anything about Xiaolin. Moreover, when Xiaolin left, she stood there and watched for several seconds before turning around and going upstairs."

Xue Sumei immediately felt it made sense when she heard it. Her frown relaxed again, and a spark of hope rekindled in her eyes: "Right, right, right! Qing'er, you're right! If she really didn't want to, with Taozi's personality, she would have turned around and left long ago! She's been talking for so long, which means there's still hope! Oh, this Xiaolin has a way. Look at how he's eating Taozi to death! It's called a conqueror! I think there's a chance between them!"

Seeing Xue Sumei was a bit blindly optimistic again, Su Qing was afraid that Lin Bufan and Yang Tao would be too sad if they didn't get together, so she quickly tried to calm her down: "But Auntie, let's not be too optimistic. Matters of the heart are the most difficult to predict. We have only just begun. Taozi hasn't gotten over that hurdle in her heart yet. Xiaolin needs to work harder. We also have to take it slow and not push too hard, otherwise it will backfire."

"I know, I know," Xue Sumei nodded repeatedly, her eyes still following the empty space downstairs, a longing smile on her face: "I just feel that this time is different! Xiaolin, this child, makes me feel at ease! Who knows, maybe our peach blossom Taozi will really bloom this time!" The more she thought about it, the more beautiful it became. She couldn't help but gently pat the windowsill: "God bless, this fate must come true!"

……

After leaving Yang Tao's residential complex, although it was still early, Lin Bufan went straight back to the hotel where Gao Wen and Yang Mi were staying, because Lin Bufan had a hunch that Gao Wen would definitely not wait until work was over before coming back, and would definitely come back early.

After all, a short separation is better than a new marriage, and it’s not just men who feel itchy, women do too.

Lin Bufan guessed correctly. As soon as he entered the room, Gao Wen came back running in her high heels. Just as he was about to take out the room card from his bag, the door was opened from the inside with a "click".

Before Gao Wen could react, a big hand suddenly reached out, grabbed her wrist precisely, and pulled her in with unyielding force!

"Ah!" Gao Wen let out a short scream, feeling dizzy and her back hit the cold door panel firmly.

Then, Lin Bufan's hot body pressed against hers, carrying the fresh scent of a fresh shower, yet filled with an impatient aggression. One hand still tightly gripped her wrist, pressing it against the door, while the other hand cupped the back of her head. He pressed down on her with a searing kiss, capturing her lips, which had parted slightly in surprise.

"Hmm..." All of Gao Wen's exclamations and questions were silenced by this sudden, deep kiss. His breath overbearingly invaded all her senses, and with obvious desire and longing, he eagerly entangled with her tongue, absorbing her sweetness.

At first, Gao Wen subconsciously struggled a few times, but soon softened under Lin Bufan's passionate and familiar kiss. The hand against his chest gradually lost its strength, and instead climbed up his neck, responding awkwardly but enthusiastically.

After a long time, until both of them were breathing unsteadily, Lin Bufan stepped back a little, resting his forehead against Gao Wen's, breathing heavily, his eyes so deep that they seemed to want to suck people in.

Gao Wen's cheeks flushed, her eyes moved, she panted slightly, and glared at Lin Bufan coquettishly: "You...you scared me to death...you're like a bandit..."

Lin Bufan chuckled softly, and caressed her slightly swollen lips lovingly with his thumb: "I miss you...I can't wait even a moment."

Gao Wen felt sweet inside, but she pouted deliberately and touched her rumbling stomach: "But I'm hungry... I haven't eaten properly after filming all afternoon..." She raised her eyes and looked at Lin Bufan with a bit of coquettishness: "I want to eat the food you cook."

Lin Bufan raised his eyebrows and deliberately leaned close to her ear, his hot breath spraying on her earlobe, his voice low and ambiguous: "It just so happens... I was just thinking of feeding you..."

After he finished speaking, Lin Bufan kissed her again without saying anything!

……

In the evening, the afterglow of the setting sun filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a warm glow on the carpet. Lin Bufan half leaned against the headboard, while Gao Wen curled up in his arms like a lazy cat, her cheek pressed against his chest, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on him.

In the silence, Gao Wen suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with curiosity and newly regained clarity. "By the way...what exactly was that condition you mentioned this morning? It's so mysterious."

Lin Bufan looked down at Gao Wen, a playful smile on his lips, and gently combed her long hair with his fingers: "Let me make it clear first, you are not allowed to get angry after hearing this."

This made Gao Wen squint her eyes and stand up alertly: "Wait...you tell me the content first. I have to listen to what it is about before I can decide whether to be angry or agree." She would not fall into this kind of language trap easily.

Lin Bufan looked at Gao Wen's sudden alertness and immediately realized - it was not enough!

Gao Wen actually still has the energy to think!

Lin Bufan said no more, and turned over swiftly, covering Gao Wen under him again.

"Hey you..." Gao Wen's exclamation was drowned out by the sudden kiss.

……

A few hours later, it was dark and neon lights were flashing outside the window.

Gao Wen slumped exhausted on the pillow, not wanting to move a finger. She turned her head to look at the calm Lin Bufan beside her, mumbling weakly, "Alright... I agree... No matter what the conditions, I agree..."

She finally understood that if she bargained with this guy, especially at this time, she would not gain any advantage at all.

Although Gao Wen agreed, Lin Bufan didn't say it directly. Instead, he asked, "How is it? Are you full?"

Gao Wen was a bit confused by Lin Bufan's sudden question, but when she saw Lin Bufan was about to press forward again, Gao Wen immediately reacted and shouted, "I'm full, I'm full, I really can't eat any more!"

Lin Bufan chuckled, his fingertips tangled in her hair, and said slowly: "You are full...but some people are still hungry."