32: Chapter 32 A Clumsy "Newlywed" Dawn

An Ran was wearing the gray apron that originally belonged to Huang Mao.

Due to the difference in their heights, the hem of the apron covered her shorts, and the two straps were wrapped twice around her slender waist before being tied in a knot, accentuating a breathtaking curve.

Her signature high ponytail swayed with her movements, like a restless metronome.

At this moment, the energetic girl from the Sports Department was holding her phone in her left hand, which was playing a TikTok video titled "Three Minutes to Teach You How to Fry the Perfect Sunny-Side-Up Egg." Her right hand gripped the spatula with a stiffness that looked like she was holding a tennis racket, as she stood on high alert against the egg in the frying pan.

"The heat is too high... Flip it? Should I flip it now? But it still looks like a puddle of water..."

An Ran muttered to herself, tentatively poking the edge of the pan with the spatula before recoiling as if she had been electrocuted.

The oil in the pan crackled and popped, making her shrink her neck back in fright, like a startled hamster.

Huang Mao leaned against the doorframe watching for a while, the corners of his mouth curling up uncontrollably.

This girl dared to go head-to-head with others to grab rebounds on the basketball court, yet she was being bullied like this by a single egg in the kitchen.

He didn't make a sound, walking over with light footsteps.

Just as An Ran was preparing to make a desperate move and give the egg a "shoulder throw" with the spatula, a hand reached out from behind her and naturally grasped the handle of the spatula she was holding.

"Don't move."

Warm breath brushed against her ear, causing An Ran to stiffen, nearly dropping the spatula.

She turned her head abruptly, her nose nearly bumping into Huang Mao's chin.

"H-Huang Mao? When did you come down?" An Ran's voice instantly went up an octave, and her cheeks flushed a deep crimson at a visible speed.

"Right when you were about to cremate this egg."

Huang Mao's tone was calm, but his hands didn't stop. He didn't let go of An Ran's hand, instead guiding her wrist with a gentle flick, sliding the spatula under the egg and turning it over.

"Sizzle—"

The egg, which had been playing dead, instantly flipped over, revealing a golden-brown, crispy side.

"Turn off the heat, let it sit in the residual heat for another thirty seconds." Huang Mao released her hand, turned off the gas stove knob, and walked toward the refrigerator, "Go get the plates; the milk is next to the microwave, heat it up."

The entire sequence of actions was smooth and fluid, as if the two of them had been working together like this for countless mornings.

An Ran stood frozen in place, the warmth of Huang Mao's palm seemingly still lingering on the back of her hand.

That position just now... wrapping around from behind, holding hands...

Isn't this exactly the kind of thing newlyweds do in TV dramas?!

The husband gets up early to cook, the wife messes around on the side... No, that's not right, she's helping, and then they look at each other and smile, the air filled with pink bubbles...

"What are you spacing out for? The plates." Huang Mao turned around holding some bacon, giving her a strange look.

"Oh! Oh! Coming!"

An Ran snapped back to reality, the corners of her mouth curling up uncontrollably. She nimbly took the plates out of the sterilizer, and when she handed them to Huang Mao, her eyes were practically stringing along with affection.

Although she had been quite shaken by that "size intelligence" from Leng Qingxuan last night, looking at it now, life still needs to be grounded.

That kind of late-night excitement might be thrilling, but how could it compare to this morning light filled with the atmosphere of daily life?

This is the aura of the rightful partner! This is the value of a childhood sweetheart!

For the next ten minutes, the only sounds in the kitchen were the faint clinking of dishes.

Huang Mao was in charge of frying the bacon and toast, while An Ran stood by, handing him seasonings and setting the table.

Although the two didn't say much, the unspoken tacit understanding made An Ran feel as sweet inside as if she had gulped down a whole jar of honey.

Soon, three servings of decent-looking breakfast were set on the dining table.

Huang Mao untied his apron and glanced at the wall clock: 7:01.

"Is that person still not awake?" Huang Mao glanced toward the second floor, his brow furrowed slightly, "Isn't she usually touted as the benchmark for self-discipline?"

"Maybe... she's just not used to the bed." An Ran was spreading jam on her toast and replied casually, but she was sneering internally.

Not used to the bed?

Given the situation last night, who could possibly fall asleep? She's probably dying of shame and hiding under her covers contemplating life.

"I'll go wake her up." Huang Mao pulled back his chair, preparing to get up, "If we don't eat soon, it'll get cold."

"No!"

An Ran threw down her spreader almost reflexively and pressed down on Huang Mao's shoulder, "You sit! I'll go!"

Are you kidding me!

Right now, Leng Qingxuan is a dangerous element. Having just experienced that attempted "face-to-face" encounter last night, her psychological defenses are at their most fragile.

If I let Huang Mao go up, what if he sees something he shouldn't, or if that woman takes the opportunity to launch another "morning surprise attack"...

Then wouldn't the "newlywed atmosphere" she had worked so hard to create instantly collapse?

Absolutely cannot feed the enemy!

"I'll go wake her; it's not appropriate for you to enter a girl's room." An Ran said righteously, and without waiting for Huang Mao to react, she darted up the stairs like an agile cheetah.

Huang Mao watched her retreating figure, scratching his head in confusion: "I didn't say I was going to enter the room..."

Second floor, at the door of the guest bedroom.

An Ran took a deep breath, adjusted her expression, and raised her hand to knock on the door.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Leng Qingxuan? Wake up! The sun is already hitting your butt!"

There was no response.

"Hey? You didn't faint, did you?"

An Ran pressed her ear against the door panel to listen. It was quiet inside.

Strange, does this woman usually have such good sleep quality?

She tentatively turned the doorknob.

"Click."

The door wasn't locked.

An Ran pushed it open a crack and peeked inside.

The curtains in the room were drawn tight, and the light was dim. The air conditioning seemed to have been on all night, and it was quite cold.

There was a small lump under the quilt on the bed.

"Did you really sleep like the dead?" An Ran muttered as she walked into the room, went to the bedside, and reached out to poke the lump under the quilt, "Hey, wake up, it's time to eat."

The person under the quilt squirmed and let out a vague whimper.

Immediately after, the quilt was thrown off violently.

Leng Qingxuan's exquisitely beautiful face was revealed, her hair as messy as a bird's nest, her eyes dazed, clearly not yet fully awake.

But what made An Ran instantly turn to stone wasn't her hairstyle.

It was...

As the quilt slid down, a large expanse of snow-white skin was exposed to the air.

Collarbones, shoulders, and the graceful curves going downwards...

This woman was completely naked!

She wasn't even wearing underwear!

An Ran's brain crashed in that instant.

Although they were both girls, and it wasn't like she hadn't seen her in the bathroom before.

But in this private bedroom, seeing the usually cold and ascetic campus belle lying there completely bare like a white snake, this visual impact was nuclear-level.

"Mmm... what time is it..."

Leng Qingxuan rubbed her eyes and sat up groggily, the quilt sliding down to her waist.

Two crimson points were faintly visible in the dim light.

"Ahhh!!!"

Before An Ran could scream, Leng Qingxuan screamed first.

Perhaps it was the cold air irritating her skin, or perhaps it was An Ran's expression, which looked like she had seen a ghost, that awakened her shame.

Leng Qingxuan looked down at herself, her pupils instantly dilating in shock, and let out a short, sharp scream before diving back into the quilt with lightning speed, wrapping herself up like a silkworm cocoon.

"Y-y-you... why did you come in!" Leng Qingxuan's muffled, trembling question came from under the quilt.

"Big sister! The door wasn't locked, okay!" An Ran finally snapped back to reality, feeling her face burning, unsure if it was from shame or anger.

"And you... you're way too unrestrained! This is someone else's house! And you just... sleep naked?"

"Last night... it was too hot..."

Leng Qingxuan's voice was as small as a mosquito's hum.

Hot?

An Ran glanced at the air conditioner panel on the wall, which displayed 20 degrees, and the corner of her mouth twitched.

This wasn't because the temperature was hot, it was clearly because she was restless inside!

Thinking about how this woman must have stripped naked last night because her head was full of dirty thoughts, that subtle sense of crisis rose up in An Ran's heart again.

However...

An Ran subconsciously looked down at her own chest, then recalled the image she had caught a fleeting glimpse of earlier.

Although she didn't want to admit it, that girl Leng Qingxuan really had something going on with her figure.

That just-right fleshiness was a completely different style from the toned lines she had developed from long-term exercise.

If it were that big pig's trotter Huang Mao... which type would he prefer?

"Hurry up and get dressed! Huang Mao is waiting downstairs!" An Ran irritably scratched her hair and turned to walk out, "I'll give you three minutes, otherwise I'm eating your breakfast too!"

"Don't! Coming!"

A few minutes later.

The atmosphere at the dining table was a bit strange.

Huang Mao sat at the head of the table, cutting his bacon at a leisurely pace.

On his left, An Ran held her head high and chest out, with a proud expression that said, "I am the mistress of this house."

On his right, Leng Qingxuan kept her head down, silently munching on her toast, her ears still slightly flushed.

She was wearing a modest long dress today, buttoned all the way to the top, as if trying to seal herself up with fabric.

"The eggs were fried well this time." Huang Mao broke the silence, casually complimenting his own cooking skills.

"That's right!" An Ran immediately chimed in, looking at Leng Qingxuan with a provocative gaze, "After all, we made it together!"

The emphasis was on "together."

Leng Qingxuan's hand holding the toast paused. She looked up, her eyes regaining some clarity, and the competitive spirit belonging to a top student was ignited.

"Is cooking difficult?" she said in a flat tone, "As long as you master the precise data for heat, time, and quantity, it's just a simple chemistry experiment."

"Heh, theory master." An Ran scoffed, "Just a moment ago someone couldn't even put on their clothes properly, and now they're talking about chemistry experiments."

Leng Qingxuan's face flushed again, but she quickly steadied herself: "I just lack practical experience. Since I'm living here now, for the sake of fairness, I also request permission to use the kitchen."

She turned to look at Huang Mao, her eyes determined: "I will learn. With my learning ability, as long as you give me a cookbook, I can replicate cooking skills on the level of Shirou Emiya."

Huang Mao took a sip of milk and almost spat it out.

"Let's forget about Shirou Emiya; just don't turn my kitchen into Fuyuki City and blow it up."

Huang Mao retorted mercilessly, "Also, the kitchen is a common area, you can use it if you want, but the condition is—someone must be watching you."

"It's a deal." Leng Qingxuan nodded, as if she had signed an important strategic cooperation agreement.

An Ran rolled her eyes on the side, muttering softly: "Tch, all talk and no action."

The three of them finished breakfast in this atmosphere that was filled with hidden barbs yet inexplicably harmonious.

7:30.

To avoid causing unnecessary commotion at school, the two girls very tacitly chose to leave at different times.

An Ran left first, and before leaving, she specifically helped Huang Mao adjust his collar. Although her movements were a bit stiff, the intent to declare her territory was unmistakable.

Two minutes later, Leng Qingxuan also grabbed her shoulder bag and left.

When she reached the door, she looked back at Huang Mao deeply, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she just said "See you at school" and hurried away.

With a "click" of the door locking, the villa finally returned to silence.

Huang Mao stood in the entryway, looking at the empty living room, and let out a long sigh of relief.

"A new day has begun again..."

He rubbed his slightly throbbing temples and turned to grab his schoolbag.

"I hope today... can be an uneventful day."