The bad value system is measuring values.

Chapter 53 Taste

Back at the villa, Qiao Xiao smelled a fragrance that was unique and appealing.

Qiao Xiao: "It smells so good, what is it?"

Gu Jinghe put on an apron and brought over a bowl of soup.

At that moment, a phrase came to Qiao Xiao's mind: "virtuous wife and loving mother".

Qiao Xiao: "Is it soup?" She vaguely remembered that Gu Jinghe didn't like to drink soup.

Gu Jinghe: "Be careful, it's hot."

The soup was still steaming hot. He put on heat-resistant gloves and soon picked up a bowl and spoon.

He smiled broadly and said, "Try it." He was secretly delighted.

Qiao Xiao took a bite and exclaimed with delight, "Excellent! Your cooking skills are superb!"

She genuinely loved the food Gu Jinghe cooked; it was both beautiful and fragrant.

Gu Jinghe's eyes darkened slightly: "This is one of my mother's most frequently made dishes."

A faint sadness welled up in his heart when he thought of his mother.

Qiao Xiao stopped what she was doing, wanting to listen quietly to Gu Jinghe's thoughts.

She knew that Gu Jinghe wanted to speak freely.

Gu Jinghe: "Qiao Xiao, can you cook me a dish?"

Qiao Xiao: "Is this the dish?"

Gu Jinghe smiled and nodded directly: "Yes."

She continued, "Of all the dishes, this is my favorite. It represents the taste of home to me."

Gu Jinghe's eyes changed slightly, and complicated emotions welled up. "But, since my parents... passed away, I have never eaten it again."

He scooped a few spoonfuls of soup into his own bowl, tracing the rim with his delicate fingertips. "I think I'll taste it again later, because it will be the flavor I want now, but Qiao Xiao..."

After saying that, he looked at her with hopeful eyes and said, "Can you learn to do it for me? It will definitely be different if you do it."

I have no home anymore, Qiao Xiao. The only memories I can rely on are this bowl of soup, this "delicacy" that once ruined me.

Only by attaching new and beautiful memories can we cover up the shadows cast by past pain.

Qiao Xiao: "I might not have cooked it well."

She agreed immediately.

Gu Jinghe was overjoyed. "It's okay, I'll teach you. We have plenty of time."

Qiao Xiao learned this dish, and every day, wherever she was, there was the taste of home.

Qiao Xiao understood Gu Jinghe's little scheme without even thinking.

There had to be a response. Look, she did it. It wasn't difficult.

He would probably be content as long as he depended on Gu Jinghe in everything.

Her cooking skills aren't great, but she can win someone over with just one soup. Why not give it a try? It won't hurt.

Qiao Xiao tried to bring a hint of joy to her eyes as she asked with concern, "What do you draw in the attic every day?"

Gu Jinghe blinked. "I'm painting a sunrise."

Qiao Xiao: "You really like painting?"

Gu Jinghe: "Well, my childhood dream was to be a painter. My undergraduate major was finance, which was... required by them."

Qiao Xiao: "Didn't you want to go see the sea? I'll take you there once I've saved up some money this month."

Gu Jinghe: "Okay, but can I take care of some of the travel arrangements?"

Qiao Xiao picked up the spoon again and took a sip of soup: "Okay."

Gu Jinghe gave Qiao Xiao a car key.

“This car is parked in the underground garage. You can take it and drive it. It’s registered in my father’s name.”

Qiao Xiao: "No need, I (have someone deliver it)..."

She thought for a moment, then accepted it.

"Thank you, Jinghe."

Gu Jinghe was stunned when he heard Qiao Xiao address him. He looked up at her in disbelief, his face flushed like the buds of a flower in early spring, a breathtaking sight.

He lowered his head shyly.

Qiao Xiao deliberately said, "What, you don't like this nickname?"

Gu Jinghe: "No."

At this moment, he revealed an incredibly radiant smile.

“I’m really happy, Joe.”

He gazed at her with deep affection, his eyes yearning for her.

This smile startled Qiao Xiao; she seemed to hold a very important place in Gu Jinghe's heart.

She replied, "It's okay, I'll learn what you like."

Gu Jinghe didn't think much of it: "After all, you are my housekeeper."

Qiao Xiao echoed, "Yes, I'll be your personal housekeeper."

Gu Jinghe is like an exquisite porcelain doll; his facial expressions never make large movements, but a slight smile can captivate people's hearts.

No wonder Wang Wanqing liked him; there must be many admirers at his school.

That evening, Jiang Yu waited early outside the fence of Qiao Xiao's wealthy neighborhood; he didn't have a pass.

The railings, like the twilight line, distinguish between light and shadow.

He hid in the dark shadows of the trees, gazing at the bustling villa district.

However, Qiao Xiao was unaware that Jiang Yu would be coming today; the system did not provide any notifications for such trivial matters.

She drove off gracefully.

Jiang Yu waited for an hour.

Did I miss my chance with her?

He checked the time on his phone: 20:32.

"I should have asked her about the time earlier."

He dialed her number.

"Jiang Yu?" Qiao Xiao asked.

Jiang Yu: "Where are you?"

Qiao Xiao frowned: "What's wrong? What happened to you?"

Jiang Yu: "No, I wanted to find you and ask if you were home?"

Qiao Xiao: "I'm on my way back."

Jiang Yu: "Taked a taxi?"

Qiao Xiao: "Drive."

Jiang Yu: "You have a car now?"

Qiao Xiao: "It's not mine. That young master gave it to me so I can be on call at any time. What do you need me for?"

Jiang Yu: "There's a problem I don't know how to solve."

Qiao Xiao: "Is it some kind of math competition question? You don't know it? You've asked the wrong person. Asking your phone is much better than asking me."

Jiang Yu: "I have an idea, but it's late and I'm a little sleepy. I need someone to keep me company."

Qiao Xiao: "We finally have some time to rest early, why don't you go to sleep early?"

Jiang Yu rubbed his forehead: "I can't sleep."

Qiao Xiao: "If you can't sleep, what do you do when you have insomnia?"

Jiang Yu: "Do the problems."

Qiao Xiao: "..."

"If you feel that solving the problem is ineffective, I can have you practice some martial arts when I get back. You'll definitely feel sleepy when you're tired."

Jiang Yu: "Let's skip it today. I need to finish this problem. Let's talk about it tomorrow."

Qiao Xiao: "Then, I'll hang up now."

Jiang Yu: "Okay."

After finishing the phone call, the gloom on his face vanished, and the problem was solved.

Her voice was like a heavenly song sung by an angel, which relaxed his nerves, and he recorded the conversation.

Qiao Xiao was resting in bed when she heard a woman's voice coming from across the hall.

The woman's voice wasn't loud, but you could clearly sense her emotions: dissatisfaction and complaints, and the sound of a girl crying.

Just then, the door over there opened.

A few indistinct male voices, then silence.

Qiao Xiao assumed it was Jiang Yu's father and didn't think much of it.

"System, can we live in another world? It's so boring here."

The setting is mediocre, the plot is mediocre, she doesn't want to experience this kind of life, this kind of life similar to modern society, yet she feels an emptiness that transcends it.

Jiang Yu suffers from insomnia, but she is sleepless.

He was in high spirits, but his eyes were closed.