Well, that was disappointing. He really just wanted to surprise his wife, and yet his attempt was disastrous. If he had known that it would end up being an epic fail, Shen Yi would have rather taken her to an exclusive all-around buffet for her to enjoy. Her favorite Garlic Chicken Pasta should have been easy to cook, and yet he had failed her big time!

Shen Yi’s mouth set in a hard line. He stood up without a word, took their plates, and threw the nauseous dish at the nearest trash bin with a wince. He really didn’t like wasting food, but this time, it was his own fault that it ended up not edible for consumption.

The corner of Lu Xinyi’s mouth quirked up. She knew her husband well and could tell that he was disappointed in himself. Oh, poor hubby. Now, he looked like a puppy that was kicked by his owner. Shen Yi went back to his seat and gulped down the wine on his glass.

He had tried to please her, and it was enough for her to be moved. At least, he tried; but nonetheless, the dish he cooked was beyond what she could stomach no matter how much she loved him. He might be embarrassed, but that didn’t compare to what she’d experienced.

Embarrassing, but she still did it. Food was more important than judgment. She’d experienced it several times in her life that she should feel ashamed of herself, but she wasn’t. For other people, taking the fifth trip back to the buffet line could be considered a walk of shame but not for her.

Apparently, there were people who ate when they’re hungry and stopped when they’re full. That negativity wasn’t welcome in her life. Because for her, knowing that she was going to eat yummy food later made her day a hundred times better, and it was all she looked forward to.

Lu Xinyi slipped out from her seat and moved to sit on her husband’s lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. -.

“It’s the thought that counts, Shen Yi. Thank you for trying,” she said before placing a kiss on his cheek.

Shen Yi growled, “Don’t let anyone know about this failed attempt.”

Lu Xinyi laughed. Of course, no one would assume that the great President Shen of the Shen Group was a bad cook. His dish could actually make one’s soul leave one’s body in the first bite. Maybe if they had some free time, she could teach him the basics of cooking, and that included tasting what he was cooking before serving it to another person.

“Oh, of course. We wouldn’t want to ruin Boss Yi’s reputation now, would we?”

She continued to laugh much to her husband’s chagrin.

“Stop laughing. It’s not funny.” He pinched her side.

“Wow.”

“What?”

“I was so sure before that I married the perfect guy, the man of my dreams.”

“So?”

Lu Xinyi grinned.

“Now, I am certain there’s something you don’t know.”

She shrieked out as his hands attacked her sides again. When she couldn’t take it anymore, Lu Xinyi bounced up from his lap and made her way to their kitchen, Shen Yi trailing behind her.

“You evil woman!” he exclaimed.

Her eyes landed on the pile of dirty dishes in their sink, her clean countertop filled with messy utensils and wrappers. One of her colored chopping boards, which was for vegetables only, was smeared with chicken skin and blood. Now, she was tempted to cry again. What had he done to her precious kitchen?!

“You really cooked?!”

Okay, now she was convinced that Shen Yi really tried to cook a special dish for her. Earlier, she had doubts that he might be pranking her.

“I told you,” Shen Yi sighed dejectedly. “So shall I call for delivery or take you out for dinner?”

Lu Xinyi shrugged her shoulders. She just wanted to eat, and it didn’t matter where he would get her food.

“Whatever you want is fine.”

Shen Yi pulled his phone out from his pocket and called for delivery while Lu Xinyi excused herself to take a quick shower while waiting for their food to arrive. Fifteen minutes later, he went to answer the door and paid for it.

“I assume you are still hungry?” he asked when he saw Lu Xinyi sitting on the floor of their living area, sighing to herself.

“I’m starving. Too bad your pasta isn’t edible.” Shen Yi winced again on that. “But you know, how to make a foodie like me happy. There are several ways to my heart.” She pointed it out.

“Bring me food, make me food, clean up my food,”—she lifted up her fingers to count them—”bring me more food, give me your food, and be the food.” She finished before sticking out a tongue on him.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” A smile tugged at his lips. He set the food in front of her at the coffee table before heading back towards the kitchen to grab some plates for them and a pitcher of lemon water for his wife.

When he got back, Lu Xinyi had already pulled the food out and started to eat without waiting for him.

“Thanks for waiting,” he teased.

Lu Xinyi stuck her tongue.

“You weren’t the one who got tired from the exam and was kept away from snacking. If I have known that Yuan Jin conspired with you, I should’ve kicked his ass for making me wait too long for food,” she said mockingly, taking another bite from her food before setting it down on her plate and made another plate for him.

“Before I forget, clean your own mess in the kitchen, or you know what your punishment for tainting my sacred place in this house.”

Shen Yi groaned. Washing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen weren’t the only ones he was expecting to hear from her.