Chapter 5: Two People, Four Dishes, the Look of Home

Two hours later.

The living room had been tidied up slightly, and the dining table—along with the rest of the furniture—had been wiped clean of surface grime, revealing its original mahogany hue.

Zhang Hao wiped the fresh beads of sweat from his forehead, breathing heavily. He had finally managed to get the living room into some semblance of order; a bit more light tidying and another wipe-down, and it would look almost as good as new. Of course, some of the furniture had been so thoroughly soaked with trash, grease, and spilled alcohol over the years that the stains were permanent—there was nothing to be done about that for now. He would have to figure something else out later.

The smell, however, was another matter. There had been so much trash piled up that the stench seemed to have burrowed into every piece of furniture. Even with all the windows and the front door thrown wide open, it wouldn't dissipate completely in such a short time. It looked like he would just have to let it air out for a few more days.

Just as he was feeling a sense of helpless resignation, a fragrance drifted into the living room—an indescribable scent that pierced straight through his nostrils, stirring an ineffable longing deep within his heart.

Zhang Hao turned his head and saw Li Siyu standing in the doorway, holding two plates of freshly cooked food, staring blankly at the clean, orderly living room.

He didn't hesitate. He turned immediately, swallowing hard, and walked toward her with a smile. "Here, let me take those."

He took the plate of shredded potatoes from her—perfectly julienned, speckled with red and green chili strips, the heat and aroma woven together into a single, cohesive delight—and the plate of stir-fried shredded pork with peppers, where the meat and chili were distinct, coated in a thin, glistening layer of sauce.

Zhang Hao’s mouth watered uncontrollably, his pupils dilated, and a joy beyond words filled his chest. This was the scent. This was the exact fragrance he had dreamed of, the one he had pined for throughout his previous life.

He placed the dishes on the dining table and stepped forward to help Li Siyu into a chair. She started to stand back up, but he gently pressed her down.

"You've done enough by cleaning the kitchen and cooking. You sit here, and leave the rest to me."

With that, he turned, exited the living room, and ducked back into the kitchen to retrieve the remaining dishes.

Li Siyu stared at his retreating figure, the expression in her almond-shaped eyes complex and filled with disbelief. She was increasingly aware of a change in Zhang Hao... no, "change" wasn't the right word. It felt as if he had become an entirely different person. At the very least, this Zhang Hao bore no resemblance to the man the neighbors gossiped about, and he was worlds apart from the impression she’d had when they first met.

Was he truly like this only because she had arrived? Or was it... deliberate?

"Food's here!"

Before she could delve deeper into her thoughts, Zhang Hao returned, placing a braised river crucian carp and a dish of stir-fried cured meat on the table. He had already set out the steamed rice and arranged the bowls and chopsticks.

He sat down opposite her, his eyes filled with anticipation as he looked at the spread.

For some reason, the way Zhang Hao looked at the food was as if he were a man who had been starving in the mountains for days, finally seeing something he could eat.

"I just made a few simple dishes. I'm not sure... I don't know if they're to your taste," Li Siyu said in her cool, quiet voice.

Before she had even finished, Zhang Hao had already picked up his bowl and chopsticks, sweeping up a mouthful of potato shreds with the intensity of a gale-force wind.

The softness of the potatoes, the subtle resistance when chewed, combined with the sharp heat of the red and green chilies—all enhanced by simple seasoning—sent a rush of flavor across his taste buds. The aroma saturated his mouth, lingering long after the bite was gone.

This was the taste. It was still the same taste!

Zhang Hao wore a look of blissful satisfaction; tears welled up in his eyes before he could stop them. He had missed this flavor for so, so long. Now, finally, he was eating it once again.

He shoveled a large bite of rice into his mouth, then dove back in with his chopsticks, alternating between the shredded pork, the braised carp, and the cured meat.

Chewing the food and savoring the magnificent flavor, he narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at the woman opposite him, who possessed the beauty of a celestial maiden. "Sh-o (So) g-ood (good)!" he said, his mouth half-full. "Sh-o (So) p-erfect (perfect) for my t-aste (taste)."

Watching him wolf down the food, Li Siyu blinked, her eyes narrowing slightly as a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the smile vanished.

"Eat slowly. If it's not enough, I'll make more," Li Siyu said softly, continuing to eat with delicate, measured bites.

...

After the meal, Zhang Hao insisted that Li Siyu rest while he cleaned up the dishes. Then, he worked with her to tidy up the main bedroom and the side room, at least enough to make them suitable for sleeping.

Night fell. The sky was dotted with stars, the bright moonlight occasionally obscured by dark clouds, only to break through again to cast a silvery glow upon the world below.

Zhang Hao handed Li Siyu a tissue and took one himself to wipe the sweat from his face.

*Whew.*

"You sleep in the main bedroom tonight. I'll take the side room," Zhang Hao said, catching his breath with a smile. "The main room is more comfortable, and your health is fragile; if you sleep in the side room, you might catch a chill and fall ill."

In his previous life, before they were married, Zhang Hao had always slept in the main room while Li Siyu stayed in the side room. It wasn't until they were married that they moved into the main room together.

Li Siyu paused for a moment, pondering this. She didn't argue, simply nodding in agreement. They were only betrothed, bound by a wedding agreement; staying in the same room really wouldn't be appropriate. Moreover, Zhang Hao was not a man who felt the need to rush things. He wanted to build a career, and he was determined to wait until he was truly ready to provide for her before they took that step.

With the lessons of his past life, he refused to let this woman, so dear to him, be ruined by his own hand again. If he were to live this life and still be unable to provide Li Siyu with a good life, or if he couldn't repay the devotion she had shown him in his previous existence, he would rather let her go and live out his life alone.

He went to the bathroom, took a quick shower, and changed into a clean set of clothes. After saying goodnight to Li Siyu, Zhang Hao picked up his bedding and stepped out of the main room, walking into the side room he had just finished cleaning.

*Click.*

The light flooded the room, banishing the darkness.

A dining table with six chairs sat in the middle of the side room. Opposite the door, two master chairs and a tea table were arranged neatly. To the left of the room stood a wooden bed, its paint faded with age.

It was a simple, cramped room. Li Siyu had lived in this tiny space for nearly half a year.

"Now it's my turn to 'enjoy' the accommodations," he thought with a self-deprecating smile. He made his bed and lay down, feeling comfortable enough.

*Ah...*

A comfort beyond words washed over him, instantly dispelling the exhaustion from his limbs and allowing his mind to finally relax. He had spent the better part of the day cleaning, and though the meal Li Siyu prepared had provided him with both physical sustenance and spiritual comfort, the weariness in his bones still required sleep to recover.

Lying on the bed, he stared up at the ceiling. Yet, he felt no sleepiness at all.

He lay there with his eyes wide open, staring into the dark. After a long while, he sighed silently. As expected, he couldn't sleep.

He struggled to sit up, walked to the table, and poured himself a glass of water. As he drank, he looked out at the pitch-black scenery beyond the window. He narrowed his eyes, his fingers tapping a rhythmic *tap-tap-tap* against the corner of the table.

Just as he set his glass down, intending to return to the bed and try to sleep again, his peripheral vision was caught by an ancient book lying on the table.