5: Chapter 5 Hmph! You think I'm your maid?

When Jiang Che returned home, it was 11:30 AM.

As soon as he pushed open the door, he faintly smelled the aroma of food.

Did the Stinky Girl order takeout without calling me? With a hint of suspicion, he walked into the house. Shortly after, he saw two dishes steaming on the table, and from the small kitchen nearby, he heard Jiang Ning humming softly.

Jiang Che walked over, still somewhat suspicious, and saw the Stinky Girl holding a spoon, scooping up a spoonful of soup to taste it.

"You made this?"

The sudden voice startled the girl in the kitchen. She turned her head, lifted her chin, and said, "Otherwise what?"

"The Stinky Girl is going to such great lengths, learning how to cook just to take revenge on me and poison me?"

Hearing her brother say this, Jiang Ning put away one of the two bowls she had just washed, then puffed up her cheeks and said, "Hmph! Order your own takeout."

"How could that be? Even if it's poisoned, if my little sister made it, I have to eat it." Jiang Che laughed awkwardly while stepping forward, taking out the bowl the Stinky Girl had just put away. "Besides, the pots and pans are all mine, so I'm at least a shareholder, right?"

As he spoke, watching Jiang Ning struggle to lift the pot of soup down, Jiang Che handed the bowl in his hand to her. "This is hot, let me do it. You take the bowls and chopsticks out."

Jiang Ning gave a soft hmph, then looked at the steaming soup. "Hold it steady, don't get burned."

Watching Jiang Ning's back, Jiang Che shook his head and smiled. This girl—she has a sharp tongue, but her heart is soft.

After the meal was ready, Jiang Che sat opposite Jiang Ning and looked down. In front of him were two dishes and a soup: Longjing Shrimp, Cola Chicken Wings, and a Tomato Egg Soup. It looked delicious and fragrant, but as for the taste... he hadn't tried it yet.

"I heard Mom say you knew how to cook before, but I thought she was joking. When did you learn?"

Jiang Ning glanced at Jiang Che and replied perfunctorily, "I forgot."

Jiang Che didn't say anything more; he picked up his chopsticks and picked up a shrimp ball.

Jiang Ning continued eating on her own, but when she saw Jiang Che lift his hand and put the shrimp ball into his mouth, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Her hand movements stopped, and she stared straight at him.

Jiang Che chewed twice, then his brows slowly furrowed, and Jiang Ning's hand holding the chopsticks slowly tightened.

"What's wrong? Is it not good?" After a long silence, Jiang Ning, looking nervous, couldn't help but ask.

Jiang Che didn't answer; he continued to chew a few more times, then swallowed and picked up a chicken wing.

He still ate a few bites with a solemn expression. Finally, he used a spoon to scoop up a spoonful of soup, blew on it twice, and drank it.

"How is it? You don't like it?"

Seeing the nervousness all over the girl's little face, Jiang Che finally spoke, "You girl, who did you learn to cook from? How is it so delicious?"

Hearing this, Jiang Ning finally breathed a sigh of relief, then feigned nonchalance, "What's so hard about cooking?"

Before Jiang Ning arrived, Jiang Che mostly ate takeout or at the company cafeteria. He only had time to cook for himself on weekends. As for his culinary skills... they were just so-so. They weren't terrible, but compared to the meal the Stinky Girl made today, they were a bit lacking.

"This apartment of mine costs 1,800 a month. Didn't Mom and Dad say to let you live here? How about this: if the school agrees to let you live off-campus, I have no objections. You don't have to pay rent, but from now on, you're responsible for cooking?"

Looking at her brother's serious expression, Jiang Ning's pretty brows furrowed slightly, "Hmph! You're taking me for a little nanny! I'm reporting you for employing child labor."

"Who said they were eighteen and a grown woman?"

Hearing this, Jiang Ning was momentarily speechless.

"Cooking, and occasionally cleaning up and doing some housework. Of course, I'll do it too when I have time. Or... you can pay rent instead."

Listening to her brother, Jiang Ning immediately looked like she was gritting her teeth, glaring fiercely at Jiang Che. Finally, after about ten seconds, she placed her chopsticks on the bowl, then puffed up her cheeks and reached out toward Jiang Che.

"What are you doing?"

"Wages! Being a little nanny is very expensive these days."

"Isn't that offsetting the rent?"

"The rent is split between two people, which is only 900 each. Where are you going to find a little nanny for 900?"

Seeing the girl speaking so reasonably, Jiang Che hesitated for two seconds before saying, "I can't give you a salary. What if you get money and learn bad habits? However, I'll cover your pocket money from now on."

Jiang Ning frowned tightly. After a moment, she gritted her teeth and said, "Fine! Deal! But I want to sign a contract!"

Jiang Che had black lines all over his head. "Are you serious?"

"Yes! Otherwise, what if I do the work and you welch on the deal?"

Seeing her look so serious, Jiang Che didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Finally, he nodded, "Fine, I'll draw up a contract later, and we'll sign it."

"Hmph, that's more like it!"

Seeing her smug look, Jiang Che couldn't help but tease her, "It starts tomorrow. Today's meal counts as the probationary period."

Jiang Ning pouted and muttered softly, "Evil capitalist!"

Jiang Che smiled, then tasted another shrimp ball... Hmm, it really tasted good.

After dinner, the 'little nanny' cleared the table and went to the kitchen to clean up. When she finally came out, Jiang Che, sitting on the sofa, nodded with satisfaction. He took a red hundred-yuan bill out of his wallet, hesitated for two seconds, stuffed it back, and exchanged it for a ten-yuan bill.

"Well done. This is your bonus for the probationary period."

"Hmph! Ten yuan! Stingy! I used my own money to buy the groceries."

"You don't want it?"

"I do!" Jiang Ning snatched the ten yuan from Jiang Che's hand and grumbled, making Jiang Che laugh.

Only half an hour later, Jiang Che received a call from his mom.

The first sentence was, "Did you bully Jiang Ning?"

Jiang Che looked at Jiang Ning lying on the other end of the sofa and was slightly stunned. The latter immediately turned her face away, feeling guilty.

"Jiang Ning said you make her cook, mop the floors, do laundry, and even wash your feet? She also said if she doesn't do these chores, you won't give her food, and she has to wake up at 5:00 AM every day?"

Listening to his mom, Jiang Che felt black lines all over his head. What is all this nonsense? Cooking and mopping were one thing, but laundry? And even more ridiculous, washing feet? Waking up at 5:00 AM?

"Mom, I'm your son, not Huang Shiren. This Stinky Girl is clearly framing me. Besides, growing up, she's the only one who has ever bullied me."

"Hmph! That's not true." Jiang Ning muttered from the side, "He also hit me... hit me there!"

Jiang Che heard this and handed the phone over with a provocative look, implying that she should tell Mom directly that he spanked her.

Jiang Ning felt somewhat embarrassed, her face turning red. But after a few seconds, being the face-conscious person she was, she held back and didn't say anything.

After chatting with Mom for a few more sentences, Jiang Che just hung up the phone when the Stinky Girl stood up. "My stomach hurts, I'm going back to my room!"

Jiang Che was quick-eyed and nimble-handed; he grabbed the girl. "Trying to slip away?"

The next second, Jiang Ning lost her footing and fell back onto the sofa.

"Ah! Help! A stinky man is hitting a child!"