235: Candlelight dinner! Emotions heat up...

Zixuan's residence in the capital was not large; it was a quiet and elegant small courtyard.

It seemed somewhat out of place for her status as a Xuanyi Guard Commander and a third-rank master, but the courtyard was clean and tidy, with a few green bamboo plants in the corner, revealing a hint of the owner's cool and refined taste.

It quite matched her temperament.

The two bought some seasonal vegetables and fresh meat, and the atmosphere subtly changed.

On her own territory, Zixuan seemed to relax a little, but also became more sensitive and nervous due to Li Shengyuan's intrusion.

Li Shengyuan, on the other hand, acted as if he had come home, looking left and right with a curious expression.

Then he chuckled, "Although your place isn't big, the environment is quite nice and quiet. It's really good."

Zixuan glared at him, but she couldn't do anything about Li Shengyuan. She could only point in a direction, her voice as calm as possible:

"The kitchen is over there. You said you'd help me make dinner. I certainly won't be helping you in the kitchen!"

Then she crossed her arms, picked up some washed fruit, and settled comfortably into the rocking chair in the courtyard.

Li Shengyuan, however, was completely at ease. He carried the ingredients into the kitchen and skillfully tied on an apron. Zixuan had told him about it—a plain cotton apron that looked a bit out of place yet strangely harmonious on him.

It was clear that Zixuan usually didn't cook at home, but fortunately, all sorts of kitchen utensils were readily available.

Zixuan leaned against the kitchen door, watching this man—a Marquis with immense power and unfathomable cultivation.

Now, he was washing vegetables and cutting meat in her small kitchen, his movements fluid and natural, his profile appearing exceptionally gentle in the warm light filtering through the window as evening approached.

She felt a moment of trance, and a corner of something deep within her heart quietly collapsed.

"Do you need help?" she asked softly, feeling a little embarrassed as the host to sit by and watch him.

"No, thanks. I don't believe you can help. Just don't mess things up," Li Shengyuan turned and smiled at her. "Don't you dare say my cooking isn't good in the end, that would be a huge injustice!"

Zixuan's face flushed, and she glared at Li Shengyuan angrily, but he was right; she really couldn't cook...

She didn't leave, nor did she go in; she just watched quietly.

She couldn't help but wonder, how could this guy, who came from such an extraordinary background and held such a high position, know how to cook?

Li Shengyuan seemed to see the doubt in her heart and smiled slightly, saying:

"I joined the Demon Suppression Division for missions at a very young age and often went on official trips outside, sometimes spending nights in the wilderness. To eat well, I naturally learned these skills."

"Oh..." Zixuan nodded calmly in response, but her gaze towards him grew softer.

Li Shengyuan then confidently said, "Hey, let me tell you, with my cooking skills, even if I did nothing else, opening a restaurant in the capital would definitely be a resounding success!"

"You're all talk..." Zixuan pouted, but her curiosity grew even stronger.

The aroma of food gradually filled the kitchen, mingling with the bubbling sounds from the pot. An unprecedented warmth and tranquility enveloped the small courtyard, quietly seeping into Zixuan's long-frozen heart.

The dishes were served. Though not delicacies, they were visually appealing, fragrant, and flavorful, clearly made with care.

It wasn't about what they ate, but about who made it and with whom they ate!

As dusk deepened, the two sat opposite each other in the courtyard, and the atmosphere became quiet for a moment.

Two candles were lit on the dining table, making it look like a candlelight dinner, which couldn't help but stir a trace of memories in Li Shengyuan's heart...

The candlelight flickered, illuminating their faces.

"Try it and see if it suits your taste," Li Shengyuan picked up a piece of food for her.

Zixuan lowered her head, took a bite, and her eyes lit up slightly: "...It's delicious."

She paused, then added softly, "It's better than Drunken Immortal Restaurant's."

Li Shengyuan smiled, a satisfied look on his face: "As long as it's delicious. Can we put the two times I stood you up behind us now?"

"Mm..." Zixuan lowered her head, eating in small bites, nodding inattentively.

Li Shengyuan then continued with a smile, "There's a good saying: to capture a woman's heart, besides going through... that path directly, the simplest way is through her stomach!"

"I guess I've captured your stomach, haven't I?"

The words slipped out, carrying a hint of unintentional intimacy, and both of them froze for a moment.

The air seemed to solidify, and an ambiguous aura silently flowed through the small courtyard.

Zixuan felt her cheeks flush, her heart inexplicably pounding faster. She dared not look up at him, only buried her head in her food, which tasted like chewing wax, yet every bite also seemed infinitely flavorful.

After dinner, Li Shengyuan was about to clear the dishes, but Zixuan quickly stood up:

"I'll do it."

Their fingers accidentally brushed as they cleared the dishes, separating quickly as if from an electric shock, yet both tacitly kept silent. A certain inexpressible emotion quietly germinated and spread in the air.

Although they had already kissed, feelings often grow fastest through warm, subtle details.

At this moment, the two looked like an ordinary couple supporting each other through life...

With everything tidied up, the moon was high in the sky outside the window.

Li Shengyuan sat in the courtyard, drank a cup of tea, looked at the sky, and sighed repeatedly in his heart, thinking, 'This must be a rare moment of peace in this life, right?'

Then he stood up, smiled slightly, and said softly, "It's getting late. I should go."

Zixuan escorted him to the door, feeling a sense of reluctance in her heart.

This feeling deep within her was different from the post-passion desire she'd felt before; it was very strange...

Everything tonight felt like an unreal dream.

She had expected Li Shengyuan to do something, but he was very well-behaved, which left Zixuan feeling a little disappointed, yet also a little joyful and subtly content.

Their feelings for each other also warmed rapidly in silence.

"Shen... Shengyuan..."

Just as Li Shengyuan was about to step out the door, Zixuan suddenly spoke, her cheeks flushing. She realized this was the first time she had called Li Shengyuan so intimately.

Li Shengyuan turned around, but Zixuan's gaze was somewhat evasive.

"...Be careful on your way." A thousand words ultimately condensed into this simplest sentence, and finally, she looked up and met Li Shengyuan's gaze directly.

Her eyes were exceptionally bright in the moonlight, carrying a hint of imperceptible softness.

Li Shengyuan looked at her deeply, a gentle smile playing on his lips:

"Mm, next time... it's your treat..."

With that, he turned and disappeared into the night.

Zixuan closed the courtyard gate, leaned her back against the door, slowly exhaled, and gently pressed a hand to her chest.

Her heart there... was beating incredibly fast.

This time, the flutter in her heart was different from the accelerated heartbeat after passion; the feeling of reluctance had reached its peak.

In the air, the aroma of the food seemed to linger, along with his reassuring yet stirring scent.

This dinner, just the two of them, seemed... truly wonderful.

Zixuan couldn't help but look forward to the next time she would properly treat this guy to a meal...