"I just found out these cucumber slices are actually pretty good—sour and sweet with a bit of spice, perfect with crawfish. You all should try them."

Geng Lele popped a chilled cucumber slice into her mouth.

She was instantly captivated by the crisp texture and the complex flavor—sour, sweet, and subtly spicy.

Hearing this, the others gave them a try too.

They were full of praise for the cucumber slices Lin Xu had prepared.

While they were eating, Dou Wenjing's phone, which was on the low cabinet by the sofa, suddenly rang.

It startled Dundun, who was next to her, munching on some treats.

Dou Wenjing got up, glanced at her phone, took off her disposable gloves, silenced the call, and went back to eating.

"Why didn't you answer? Boyfriend?" Chen Yan asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Dou Wenjing shook her head. "I don't have a boyfriend. It's my cousin. He had a failed blind date back home and now he's insisting on coming to Beijing to find me. I've refused, but he keeps calling every day."

Hearing Dou Wenjing didn't have a boyfriend, Chen Yan, who was also single, immediately brightened. "Come on, Dou Wenjing," she said, raising her glass. "A toast to us single women!"

"Count me in, count me in!" Zeng Xiaoqi also raised her drink.

Geng Lele joined the fun, but Shen Jiayue and Wu Kexin abstained.

It made sense for Shen Jiayue not to join in; after all, she was practically the proprietress.

But Wu Kexin not joining…

"OOH... no wonder Panda has been peeling for ages but hardly eaten anything! So there *is* something going on!" everyone teased good-naturedly.

Panda and Wu Kexin looked slightly embarrassed.

When they had nearly finished eating, Lin Xu cooked some noodles and tossed them in the leftover crawfish broth.

The aroma was so enticing that everyone, despite being nearly full, had a small bowl of noodles, leaving them all pleasantly stuffed with rounded bellies.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Chen Yan started assigning tasks. "I'll take Lele home. Panda, you and your Xinxin take Dou Wenjing and Reporter Zeng home. As for Yueyue, you stay and help my brother-in-law clean up… Oh my goodness, I'm so stuffed!"

After everyone had left, Lin Xu grabbed a trash can, collected the crawfish shells from the table, and then wiped the table clean.

Meanwhile, Shen Jiayue carefully packed the remaining few dozen crawfish into a large takeaway container, planning to take them home.

Hmph. The same way you kicked me out is the same way you'll have to invite me back. Otherwise, you won't get a single bite of these crawfish.

Once Shen Jiayue finished packing the crawfish, Lin Xu reminded her, "Add some broth to the crawfish. That way, it'll taste even better when you eat it later, and it'll stay warm longer. If it's not enough, have your nanny cook some noodles to mix in; it'll be delicious."

"Got it!"

Lin Xu carried the tray to the kitchen.

He planned to keep the crawfish broth. Cooking some noodles in it tomorrow morning would taste absolutely amazing!

After cleaning up, they went downstairs hand in hand, one carrying the packed food containers and the other the bag of trash.

"I really want to be with you every day." As they exited the elevator, Shen Jiayue leaned her head on Lin Xu's shoulder. How wonderful it would be if, after getting married, they could be this inseparable every day, even when just going downstairs to throw out the trash hand in hand.

"We will be," Lin Xu said. "Just give me a little more time. Once I buy a place, I'll marry you."

"An apartment isn't necessary!" Shen Baobao was already getting impatient.

Lin Xu gently pinched her porcelain-smooth cheek. "A princess always has a castle; my Princess Shen naturally deserves one too."

WOW!!!! Xu Bao, you're so good to me!

Deeply moved, Shen Jiayue instantly threw her arms around Lin Xu's neck and planted a kiss on his lips.

Lin Xu was startled by her sudden action.

Why is it always so... impulsive?

With one hand holding the trash bag and the other arm holding Shen Baobao tightly, he reciprocated her kiss.

"WOW! They're kissing!"

"HAHA! Definitely worth the wait."

"That looks so romantic…"

"But what's the fun in this for us singles?"

Just as Lin Xu and Shen Baobao were kissing downstairs, a burst of voices came from the nearby holly bushes.

Turning their heads, they saw it was the women from earlier.

These women had claimed they wanted to go home early, but they had actually stuck around, hoping to witness some drama. After watching, however, their sense of loneliness only intensified.

Right, what fun is there for a bunch of us singles? Plus, we got bitten by mosquitoes and now we have several big welts.

A moment ago, Shen Baobao had been brave and bold with her kiss.

But now, realizing everyone was watching, she instantly buried her face in Lin Xu's chest like an ostrich, the takeaway container in her hand tilting precariously.

Luckily, it was a leak-proof, sealed container; otherwise, her parents would have been eating crawfish out of a plastic bag when she got home.

"Alright, alright, no need to be shy." Lin Xu patted Shen Baobao's back, finally coaxing her out of her ostrich-like state.

The sight made the group of singles envious all over again.

"I want that kind of sweet romance too!"

"I told you guys we shouldn't wait here for the show, but you wouldn't listen."

"You were the one who kept suggesting we all wait and watch!"

The group walked together to the edge of the residential complex.

Lin Xu watched as everyone went their separate ways, then shuffled back upstairs in his slippers, planning to tidy up the kitchen, take a shower, and then lie in bed to chat with Shen Baobao.

「Morning.」

After waking up, Lin Xu cooked a bowl of noodles in the leftover crawfish broth.

The flavor was still intensely savory and fragrant with a spicy kick.

Eating it even reminded him of the first kiss he'd received last night.

Yes, they had kissed after eating crawfish last night, so both their mouths had been full of that spicy flavor. Eating these noodles now, he couldn't help but recall that enchanting scene from the previous evening.

After eating his fill, he took out the winter melon and pumpkin strips that had been soaking in the refrigerator.

Both the winter melon and pumpkin strips had become firm and crisp; this meant they were properly soaked. From this point on, no matter how they were prepared, their crispness would remain.

He poured out the limewater from the basin and rinsed the winter melon and pumpkin strips repeatedly with fresh water to remove as much of the lime taste as possible; otherwise, the candied winter melon wouldn't taste good. After rinsing them several times, he soaked them again in fresh water and put them back in the refrigerator's crisper drawer. Only by soaking them thoroughly could the lime taste be completely eliminated, ensuring the candied winter melon would be even more delicious.

After finishing these tasks, it was almost time for work.

Lin Xu got dressed, picked up Dundun, and drove to the Fishing Platform.

Another day's vacation, huh.

Not long after arriving at the Fishing Platform, just as he was about to check the aquaculture area for any dead fish, shrimp, or crabs, his Senior Brother Xie Baomin suddenly approached him.

"Junior Brother, weren't you planning to go to Building Six? Come on, I'll take you over there now."

Today? Well, I might as well, since there's nothing much going on here anyway.

With the mindset of clearing a new map for rewards, Lin Xu followed Xie Baomin to Building Six.

It was an edifice with a distinct Jiangnan architectural style; there were even goldfish and water lilies at the entrance, evoking the elegance and charm of a classical Jiangnan garden.

The two of them, senior and junior brother, chatted and laughed as they walked into the main entrance of Building Six.

The receptionist, a young woman in a qipao, smiled and greeted Xie Baomin.

Looks like Senior Brother comes here often; even the receptionist knows him.

Lin Xu followed Xie Baomin to the kitchen, where a group of people were bustling about.

Xie Baomin called out, "Zhenhua, I've come to see you!"

As soon as the words were out, a stern-faced, middle-aged chef among the group shot a cold glance in their direction. "Xie Baomin, you still dare to show your face here?"

Lin Xu: "..."

Senior Brother, is this what you meant by an inseparable friendship?

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