After My Rebirth, My Husband Pampers Me Everyday!

Chapter 185: AND I’M NOT LISTENING TO YOI COMPLAIN ABOUT IT LATER

"I know," Liuxian said. "I’m sorry."

Guiying said nothing for a moment. The eggs went into the pan with a soft hiss.

"Next time leave a note," he said finally. "Or take your phone. One of the two."

"Both," Liuxian said.

Guiying nodded and placed two packs of ramen inside the broth, he added the seasoning, greens, sausages and then covered it.

He moved to the pan, oiled it and tossed about ten dumplings into it.

"When did you get the time to make these?"

Didn’t say he had woken up hungry? Then it hasn’t been too long since he got up, probably a few minutes before he arrived.

"I didn’t. Uncle Li had some left overs. I’m just warming them up.."

"Ah. That makes sense.."

---

The ramen came up first.

Guiying divided the noodles between two bowls and spooned the broth over them until steam curled up from the surface. Greens and slices of sausage floated on top, while the dumplings followed a moment later, five on each plate with their bottoms still golden from the pan.

Liuxian’s sandwich went onto his side of the table, cut neatly in half, and two glasses of water completed the meal.

By the time Guiying sat down, breakfast was already waiting.

Liuxian looked at the food, then at Guiying, before picking up half the sandwich and taking a bite.

He chewed, swallowed, looked down at the sandwich, and immediately took another bite.

"This is good."

"I know," Guiying replied without looking up from his noodles.

"No, seriously."

Liuxian set the sandwich down long enough to try the ramen, and a second later he looked across the table at Guiying.

"Guiying, this is really good."

Guiying immediately looked suspicious.

That tone never led anywhere reasonable.

"I want you to cook for me from now on."

"From now on?"

"Every day."

"Every day?" Guiying repeated flatly.

"You’re clearly capable."

Guiying lowered his chopsticks and looked at him.

"I wasn’t exactly a pampered child," he said. "I learned how to fend for myself pretty early, so I can cook most things."

He picked up his chopsticks again and continued eating.

"I don’t mind cooking for you sometimes, but there’s a certain uncle in this house who’ll completely lose his mind if I take over his kitchen."

Liuxian considered that for a moment before nodding.

Guiying had a point.

Old Li discovering someone else had claimed authority over his kitchen would probably be enough to trigger a household emergency.

Neither of them brought the subject up again, though Liuxian still looked unconvinced.

The food was simple, but it was exactly what he wanted after the night he’d had. The broth was warm without being overwhelming, the dumplings still had a satisfying crunch, and the sandwich disappeared much faster than he intended.

Halfway through his meal, Liuxian glanced up and realized Guiying’s bowl was already nearly empty.

"You were really hungry.."

Guiying didn’t even bother denying it.

Outside, the sky had brightened completely, and sunlight had begun filtering through the kitchen windows, spreading slowly across the table and catching on the rims of their bowls.

When they finished eating, Liuxian stood and began gathering the empty dishes.

Guiying looked up immediately.

"I can help."

"You cooked. I can do this much."

Liuxian carried the dishes to the sink and turned on the tap.

"I can wash a plate, so let me do it."

"But you cooked."

"That’s not an argument."

"It is today."

Guiying stared at him.

Liuxian stared back.

After several seconds, Guiying sat down again, and Liuxian looked entirely too satisfied with himself.

Water ran steadily from the tap as he rinsed the bowls, stacked them in the rack, and moved on to the pan. The plates followed, then the glasses, each one cleaned and set aside with the same steady rhythm.

Guiying rested an elbow on the table and watched him for a while.

For someone who spent most of his life in boardrooms and meetings, Liuxian looked surprisingly comfortable standing in front of a sink.

"You’ve done this before?"

Liuxian glanced over his shoulder.

"I’ve washed dishes before, yes."

"You don’t look traumatized by the experience?"

"My mother believed children should learn life skills."

Guiying raised an eyebrow.

"Your mother made the future CEO of Liu Corporation wash dishes?"

Liuxian rinsed the last glass and set it aside.

"My mother once made me clean three bathrooms because I tracked mud into the house."

Guiying blinked.

Liuxian dried his hands and looked at him.

"I was nine then."

Guiying stared at him for another moment before nodding slowly.

"Suddenly a lot of things make sense."

Liuxian narrowed his eyes.

Guiying reached for the last dumpling on his plate and ate it before elaborating, and Liuxian was left with the distinct impression that he had just been insulted.

Unfortunately for him, he couldn’t prove it.

---

Liuxian dried his hands, hung the towel back in place, and looked at Guiying still leaning against the counter.

"Come sleep with me," he said.

Guiying looked at him for a moment, then pushed off the counter and followed him out of the kitchen without a word, up the stairs, and into Liuxian’s room.

He sat on the edge of the bed while Liuxian disappeared into the bathroom. The shower turned on, and steam began to leak under the door a few seconds later.

Guiying lay back on the pillows. The sheets were still warm from earlier, and the morning light coming through the curtains cut across the bed in soft lines. He stared at the ceiling until his eyes started to drift shut.

The bathroom door opened.

He opened his eyes again.

Liuxian stood in the doorway with nothing but a towel around his waist, water still sliding down his shoulders, and his hair pushed back but still damp at the ends.

Guiying stared.

Liuxian caught it immediately but said nothing. He crossed to the wardrobe and pulled it open, moving like he had all the time in the world.

Guiying sat up slightly.

"Liuxian," he said.

"Mm."

"We could—" He stopped, then corrected himself. "Maybe do a quick one."

Liuxian turned his head.

Guiying was still looking at him like he had forgotten basic survival instincts.

Liuxian closed the wardrobe.

Then walked back to the bed.

Guiying moved toward him, and they kissed. It started slow, then stopped being slow.

At some point, Liuxian reached over and opened the bedside drawer.

He paused.

Looked inside.

Then looked at Guiying.

"They’re finished," he said.

Guiying leaned over, checked for himself, then sat back. "We can do it without."

Liuxian stared at him.

"It’s fine," Guiying said again.

Liuxian let out a short laugh and leaned back slightly.

"You are unbelievable."

Guiying frowned immediately.

"What?"

"You," Liuxian said, still amused, "are a hypocrite. Yesterday you didn’t want a baby, today you do, last week you wanted protection, and now suddenly you don’t need it."

He shook his head once.

"I’m not doing it. And I’m not listening to you complain about it later."

Guiying opened his mouth.

"Sleep," Liuxian said, already standing and walking toward the wardrobe.

He came back two minutes later in house clothes, pulled back the covers, and got into bed.

Guiying had not moved.

Arms crossed. Eyes fixed on the wall. Expression completely closed off.

"Guiying."

Nothing.

"Come sleep."

The wall remained very interesting.

Liuxian lay back and stared at the ceiling.

"I did the right thing," he said quietly.

Guiying didn’t answer.

Outside, Saturday morning continued without them, sunlight sliding across the floor and ignoring the fact that one half of the bed was currently in a silent war with the concept of reason.