20: Feeling of home

“It’s the light bulb in my bedroom. I don’t know what happened, but it just stopped working.”

Mu Qingge scratched her head and smiled, her heart extremely anxious.

There was no broken light bulb; she had clearly taken down a perfectly good one and replaced it with a broken one.

Ever since Ye Xi entered, she had been silently observing Ye Xi’s expression. The first glance Ye Xi gave her upon entering was one of admiration and fervor.

Although she was dressed a little provocatively, as long as her brother liked it, it was fine, Mu Qingge silently comforted herself.

“Hmm, then I’ll take a look for you.”

The two walked into the bedroom together. Ye Xi looked around the girl’s room; it was pink and quite pretty.

“It’s not too high, I should be able to reach it if I stand on a stool.”

With that, Ye Xi had already taken a stool from the side, placed it on the floor, and stepped onto it.

“Be careful, Xiao Xi.”

After saying that, Mu Qingge suddenly hugged Ye Xi’s calf and sniffed it with her nose.

It really was her brother’s body scent, it smelled so good.

Afraid that Ye Xi might notice something, Mu Qingge deliberately said, “Xiao Xi, I’ll hold onto you for a bit, so you don’t fall off the chair.”

Ye Xi secretly pursed her lips and smiled, too embarrassed to expose her.

“Then thank you, Sister Mu.”

“You’re working for me after all, it’s only right, only right.”

Mu Qingge hugged Ye Xi’s calf and nodded repeatedly.

“Sister Mu, I think this light bulb might be broken. Do you have a new one at home?”

“If not, then it might be the wiring, and an electrician would need to come to the house.”

Ye Xi pretended to examine it. Without even thinking, it must have been the other party who deliberately broke the light bulb.

“Yes, yes, yes, shall I get it for you now?”

Mu Qingge smiled, an expression of a successful scheme, and quickly got up to get the pre-prepared light bulb from a nearby drawer.

Taking the light bulb, Ye Xi quickly unscrewed the old one and put in the new one.

Immediately, the light illuminated the entire room.

A hint of joy flashed in Mu Qingge’s eyes, and her face instantly broke into a wide smile.

Once Ye Xi safely landed, she excitedly grabbed Ye Xi’s hand.

“Xiao Xi, thank you so much!”

“If you weren’t here, I really wouldn’t know what to do?”

Ye Xi looked at the woman in front of her. “Your green tea level is really pathetic, isn’t it?”

“Although you try to put on a sad expression, all your eyes show is joy.”

“Unlike me, who’s almost evolved into a master of tea art.”

Xiao Ai: “Aiya, aiya, you sound quite proud. Her performance is different from yours. She’s like Jiang Taigong fishing, waiting for those who are willing to bite, do you understand?”

Ye Xi: “Nonsense, of course I know what she’s thinking.”

“It’s a small matter, Sister Mu. If you need any help in the future, just ask. I’ll do my best to help with whatever I can.”

Ye Xi patted her chest, putting on a righteous demeanor.

She didn’t know why, but seeing Mu Qingge’s shy appearance, a hint of joy actually arose in her heart.

When men see girls, they naturally have a self-righteous desire to protect.

As long as they aren’t too much of a burden, they are still happy to see girls’ clumsiness and cuteness, and enjoy this intellectual superiority.

This point was still effective even for Ye Xi, who had already transformed, after all, which boy wouldn't want to show off in front of a pretty girl?

Looking at the bubbling beautiful boy in front of her, Mu Qingge swallowed, and asked shyly again, “Is that true?”

Ye Xi didn’t even think: “Of course.”

Mu Qingge lowered her head again, really wanting to ask if he could be her boyfriend, as she was missing one.

After being single for so many years, she finally fell in love once, and she didn’t want to let him slip away like this.

Ye Xi scratched the top of her head, and smiled awkwardly, “Sister Mu, since the light bulb is fixed, I won’t bother you anymore.”

With that, Ye Xi was about to turn and leave.

However, before she could leave, Mu Qingge suddenly grabbed her hand.

She really wanted to tell the boy in front of her, “Stay with me, big sister will support you for life.”

“Don’t you boys like rich women, hungry for food? Big sister will give you everything.”

“Don’t go.”

Mu Qingge had a thousand words in her heart, but in the end, they all condensed into the two simplest words.

“Sister Mu, is there anything else?”

Ye Xi secretly smiled to herself, she truly was a genius; manipulating a woman was so simple.

Mu Qingge opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found she couldn't speak.

“If you just leave like this, who will I thank? Asking for help and not giving compensation, I’ll be sad for the rest of my life.”

“You haven’t had dinner yet, have you? Why don’t you stay at my place? I’ll treat you to a meal.”

Mu Qingge glared fiercely at Ye Xi. “You bad guy, big sister has no shame, dressed so sexy. I really don’t understand what big sister is thinking?”

“Once big sister gets her hands on you, this little puppy, I’ll make you write self-criticisms every day.”

Ye Xi gave an awkward smile, “Well, if big sister says so, and I’m hungry too, I’ll stay for a meal.”

“Mhm mhm, I’ll call the best chef right away.”

Mu Qingge beamed with joy. She truly regretted why she hadn’t learned to cook well before. Would her brother be disappointed if he knew she couldn’t cook?

“Sister, you don’t need to do that. I can actually cook home-style meals. I’ll just make a few simple dishes.”

Ye Xi smiled sweetly, her eyes meeting Mu Qingge’s.

Mu Qingge was slightly lost in thought. It was her first time observing Ye Xi’s eyes up close like this.

Her eyelashes were like the first blooming stamens of spring, distinct and long and curled.

When she blinked, it was as if a butterfly gently fanned its wings, each opening and closing carrying a lively rhythm, her eyes like Colored Glaze (liúlí) glass, holding clear depths.

Such beautiful eyes, these were absolutely the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen since childhood.

…

In the kitchen, smoke billowed.

Ye Xi’s figure was light and graceful, standing before the stove, focused on stir-frying the dishes in the wok.

The swirling smoke, like a thin veil, gently enveloped her.

Warm yellow light penetrated through it, outlining her silhouette.

She occasionally brushed her hair aside, her brows and eyes appearing faintly in the hazy mist, beautiful as a dream.

Mu Qingge stood nearby, gazing at the other person infatuatedly. Meeting such a perfect brother, she felt like she had truly found a treasure.

“You worked hard.”

Mu Qingge slowly approached and tied an apron around Ye Xi’s slender waist.

Their bodies touched slightly, and Mu Qingge wished time could stand still there.

Listening to the other person’s steady, faint breathing, a fleeting fantasy simultaneously flashed in both their minds, and their thoughts drifted far away with the scent of cooking.

Perhaps.

Having a soulmate who leaves a light on for you when you come home from work, and brings you a steaming bowl of porridge when you're hungry.

On a weekend afternoon, you snuggle on the soft couch by the window, reading a book together, sharing the little moments of the day.

Such a life seems pretty good too.

“The oil is quite hot, be careful.”

Mu Qingge, wearing another apron, watched Ye Xi cook while washing vegetables.

“It’ll be ready soon, dinner will be served shortly!”

Ye Xi turned off the heat, a sweet smile on her lips, and wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.

Mu Qingge saw all of this, isn't this the feeling of home she had always pursued?

She really loved it to death!