Chapter 49: Dare not hope
"Bian Yue's hand was injured. The bandage was just removed this morning. It hasn't healed yet. Just eat light meals at home." Shen Jinci asked Bian Yue: "Is that ok?"

Bian Yue is not picky about food and said it was okay.

So at night, the three of them suddenly ate together.

Zhuang Jie Ning smiled and said that she had learned a lot of life skills abroad, including cooking. She wanted to cook herself and show off her skills to Bian Yue and Shen Jinci.

Bian Yue kindly asked: "Will this be too tiring for you?"

"No, I'm not that delicate." Zhuang Jie Ning looked at Shen Jinci with a smile, her heart beating fast.

What a noble face, enough to make all women's hearts flutter.

Zhuang Jie Ning calmed her heartbeat and said in a gentle and clear voice, "I hope that Mr. Shen will do me the honor of eating a few more bites."

Shen Jinci finally looked at Zhuang Jie Ning.

Zhuang Jie Ning felt like her heart was about to stop beating.

She held her breath and blushed as she saw Shen Jinci nodding at her lightly.

"Thank you for your hard work, Miss Zhuang."

He remembered his name so quickly!

Zhuang Jie Ning's eyes became brighter, and she said in a crisp voice, "It's not hard. As long as Mr. Shen likes it, it's not hard."

The only person who realized it late was Bian Yue.

Zhuang Jie Ning left and went to the kitchen. Shen Jinci held Bian Yue's wrist and looked at the wound on her palm.

"I'm almost well now. Today..." Bian Yue paused and didn't continue.

Shen Jinci gently stroked her scabbed wound, his eyes indifferent: "What happened to you today?"

…I didn’t feel any pain in my hand when I beat Shen Zhaoli today.

Bian Yue coughed softly, "Nothing, I'll go see what Jie Ning is doing."

Shen Jinci held Bian Yue's hand tightly and said, "I remember you don't like cooking."

"I don't like it, but I still have to learn it," Bian Yue joked, "Doesn't Mr. Shen want a wife who can handle both housework and cooking?"

"Bian Yue, one should not be too greedy."

His tone was dull, and Bian Yue's eyes widened slightly, as if she understood something.

Shen Jinci blew on her scabbed palm, but still found the scar shocking.

He frowned for a long time before saying half-truthfully, "For a man like me who is dying soon, I am already content to have a wife. I don't dare to expect you to cook."

"Then can I expect you to cook?" Bian Yue asked back.

Shen Jinci raised his eyebrows and smiled at Bian Yue.

He said, "Yes."

At dinner in the evening, there was a table full of delicious food. Bian Yue and Shen Jinci sat in a row, and Zhuang Jie Ning sat opposite them.

One of the dishes, oxtail stewed in red wine, was made by Zhuang Jie Ning.

Zhuang Jie Ning put down the red wine glass, stood up, smiled, picked up a piece and put it into Bian Yue's bowl, "How about you try my cooking?"

Bian Yue took a bite and found it tasted really good.

"good to eat."

"As long as it tastes good." Zhuang Jiening sat down with a smile and looked at Shen Jinci expectantly, "Mr. Shen, do you want to try it?"

Shen Jinci saw the expectation and urgency in Zhuang Jie Ning's eyes.

"I don't like greasy food." The man lowered his eyelids with a cold expression.

There was a flash of disappointment in Zhuang Jie Ning's eyes, but she soon smiled again and said, "As long as Bian Yue likes it! This was originally made specially for Bian Yue."

She was very smart and knew who among the three people present could be her backer.

Bian Yue felt full after eating half of the oxtail, but Zhuang Jie Ning had just said that this was made especially for her, and if she didn't finish it all, it would seem like she was not giving her face.

Bian Yue held the oxtail between her legs, not knowing what to do.

"Can't eat anymore?" Shen Jinci said in a light voice. Bian Yue nodded and whispered, "Too much. It's a bit greasy, but..."

But this was something Zhuang Jie Ning had worked hard on, and it would seem a shame to just throw it away.

For Zhuang Jie Ning, working in the kitchen is considered a condescension.

Zhuang Jie Ning also noticed Bian Yue's embarrassment and was about to smooth things over when Shen Jinci took the half-bitten oxtail from Bian Yue's hand and put it in his own bowl.

The man who was saying that he didn't eat greasy food in the last second ate the leftover meat of Bian Yue without changing his expression.

Bian Yue was surprised, "Don't you dislike eating?"

"It can't be wasted." Shen Jinci said lightly.

Zhuang Jie Ning's face turned pale as she listened to their conversation.

Why, after so much time, am I still living under Bian Yue’s shadow?
Zhuang Jie Ning still remembers her first meeting with Bian Yue, which was at Hong Kong Girls' High School.

That year, Zhuang Jie Ning was in her second year of high school, and the news that Li's adopted daughter was coming to study there shocked the entire school.

"I heard that Li Siheng will send her here personally." Someone whispered.

"Personally? Is that so important?"

"That's the orphan of the Bian family, and his worth is higher than all of us! Don't you know? Before the Bian couple died, they transferred all their assets to Bian Yue!"

"No wonder he was adopted by the Li family, it must be because he is rich!"

The other girl looked hesitant and said anxiously, "But I heard that it was Li Siheng's father, Li Tingmo, who specifically asked for permission to allow the orphan of the Bian family to enter the Li family."

Everyone loves to hear the secret stories of top wealthy families.

Zhuang Jie Ning was originally the focus of the school.

Her family background is second only to that of the three families of Bian, Li and Shen. Moreover, she is the youngest daughter. She is the most favored and the most noticed one both at home and in junior high school.

But at this moment, Zhuang Jie Ning had a premonition that if this woman named Bian Yue appeared, she would never be as dazzling as she was now in Hong Kong Girls' High School.

The development of things was exactly as Zhuang Jie Ning had predicted.

Li Siheng personally sent Bian Yue to school. The dream lover of countless girls was very elegant. He got out of the car to open the door for Bian Yue, took her hand and walked into the teaching office. He said to every teacher and leader, "This is my sister Bian Yue. Please take good care of her."

Who dares not to give face to the Prince of Li?

All the teachers nodded in agreement, and no one dared to say no.

Bian Yue's appearance was grand and spectacular.

It shattered the glamorous and proud life of the past few years.

And now, this scene is happening again.

Zhuang Jie Ning really didn't know why Shen Jinci was so in love with Bian Yue.

The meal ended in silence and peace.

Bian Yue drank some wine and fell asleep on Shen Jinci's shoulder after dinner.

The man's eyes were gentle. He gently stroked Bian Yue's blushing face and asked her if she was sleepy.

Bian Yue said a little, and then said, Shen Jinci, I want to go upstairs to sleep.

Shen Jinci picked up Bian Yue and walked upstairs.

Zhuang Jie Ning sat upright with her back straight and gentle.

She heard Bian Yue say to Shen Jinci: "Wait for you to come down and see Jie Ning off. It's late at night, you have to watch her get into the car."

"it is good."

A strange light flowed in Zhuang Jie Ning's eyes, and something in her heart began to stir.

When Shen Jinci returned, Zhuang Jie Ning also looked slightly drunk, with a rosy face.

She supported her chin with her hand, sat crookedly on the dining table, and gave Shen Jinci a charming smile.

She stretched out her voice and said, "Mr. Shen, I have a headache. Can you take me home?"