CH 71

In the end, with Chef Xu in charge and Marshal Ling’s personal help, a simple, warm and delicious dinner was served on time.

Xu Xinghe was used to cooking all kinds of fancy Chinese and western meals normally, but at this moment, he felt that ordinary home-cooked dishes would taste better.

In addition to the three or four home-cooked dishes on the table, he also made some barbecue skewers, and asked He Han to share them with the guards and servants in the house.

Of course, Chef Xu did due diligence when making these ordinary dishes.

The sparerib yam congee was boiled until smooth and thick, with soft and tender meat, and full of taste.

Even Ling Changfeng drank two or three bowls in one go.

Marshal Ling didn’t know if it was because of the principle of “food made by yourself is extra delicious”, but he always felt that tonight’s simple dinner was extraordinarily delicious.

In the past, he’s always had an indifferent attitude towards all food. Whether it was made by the chef of a five-star hotel or a classic dish at a state banquet, everything was tasteless in his mouth.

This situation only improved slightly when Xu Xinghe appeared.

It wasn’t because of Xu Xinghe’s superb cooking skills. It was because he loved the person that he also cared about food.1 爱屋及乌 is a metaphor for loving a person and caring about the people or things related to them

However, at this moment, after finishing his bowl, he actually took the initiative to eat a second bowl.

It was as if the food in the mouth suddenly regained its original taste and color.

Adjutant Qin, who was beside him, noticed the subtle changes in his boss and blinked in surprise.

He originally wanted to eat another bowl, but in the end he put down his spoon and decided not to fight for food with his superior.

Yes, Adjutant Qin hasn’t left yet. Although he could tell that Ling Changfeng wanted him to leave as soon as possible.

But with Xu Xinghe’s kind invitation to keep him, he still stayed righteously-

Since the other master of the mansion has spoken, can’t he stay for a meal?

Sure enough, Ling Changfeng didn’t say anything after hearing Xu Xinghe invite him to stay for dinner. He didn’t push Qin Yuan out, tacitly allowing him to stay and be a light bulb.

It’s just that the gaze in those mismatched eyes was a little hostile.

Fortunately, after being by Ling Changfeng’s side for a long time, Qin Yuan has cultivated a thick skin and cheeky face. He also knows Ling Changfeng well, and knows when he can and can’t defy him.

So he sat down at the table with peace of mind, and ate happily.

“By the way, do you have a plan for your honeymoon vacation?” Qin Yuan wiped his mouth and suddenly brought up the old topic again.

He looked up at one person, then at the other, with a kind smile on his face: “It’s rare that we’re all here and have time to discuss this. If you can give me a general direction, I’ll make the plan?”

Xu Xinghe: “…”

After going around, things returned to this topic.

However, the atmosphere of the dinner was too good, and he couldn’t say anything to reject the topic, so he simply buried his head and continued to eat his own meal, tactically avoiding the problem.

Ling Changfeng felt that Qin Yuan suddenly became pleasing to the eye at this moment.

At least not as annoying as a 24K pure electric light bulb.

Dual-colored pupils turned to look at his little spouse, softening slightly. “Where do you want to go? You decide.”

“I’m okay with whatever, you can decide.” As soon as Xu Xinghe finished speaking, he suddenly realized that his answer was equivalent to agreeing to anything!

However, after thinking about it, he had already agreed to this trip. Ling Changfeng had been working overtime for this, so he couldn’t suddenly flake at this point.

Therefore, the trip can’t be avoided. Instead of worrying about this and that, it’s better to take the opportunity to enjoy it.

Quietly doing his own psychological construction in his heart, Team Leader Xu fell silent after speaking.

As soon as he stopped speaking, Ling Changfeng followed suit.

The atmosphere became a little awkward.

Fortunately, the atmosphere will never completely turn cold with Qin Yuan present.

This topic was started by him, so he continued: “Forget it, if you can’t think of anything, just put it on hold for the time being, and discuss it when your schedules are clear. There’s no need to make a decision too early. The plan may not keep up with changes and other things might come up at that time.”

After Qin Yuan finished speaking, he quickly changed the topic: “By the way, it will be your birthday in more than two months.”

He turned to Ling Changfeng and said, “Before, when you were on the frontier battlefield, there wasn’t a need to celebrate. But now that you’re back in Capital Star, someone has come to me two or three months in advance to inquire about your interests, in order to prepare a big gift…”

After a pause, he joked: “It’s a pity they don’t know, our Marshal Ling has no desires or requests, and doesn’t like any gifts.”

Ling Changfeng frowned after hearing this: “If someone comes to give gifts—”

“None of them will be accepted.” Qin Yuan smiled clearly and finished his sentence. “Don’t worry, I know what you have in mind.”

Ling Changfeng nodded and said no more.

Xu Xinghe vaguely remembered that Ling Changfeng’s birthday was at the end of December. Hearing the topic of conversation, he couldn’t help but ask Ling Changfeng curiously, “What gifts do others usually give you?”

Ling Changfeng shook his head: “I don’t know.”

He doesn’t accept gifts casually, and gifts from strangers won’t reach him at all. Qin Yuan’s understanding of this aspect was even better than him.

He looked at Xu Xinghe’s curious eyes, and asked back, “What do you think others will give me?”

Xu Xinghe thought for a while: “Probably just money and jewelry, luxury cars and watches… and maybe beautiful women?”

His voice just fell, and Ling Changfeng raised his eyes and glanced at him meaningfully.

Xu Xinghe shrank inexplicably neck down.

Adjutant Qin burst out laughing. “Pfft, ahahahahahahahahah! There are people who gave money and jewelry, there are also people who gave luxury cars and famous watches, but no one has given a beauty before… how did you think of this? Before he met you, our marshal was a famous fake monk2as in celibate/asexual…”

As soon as he finished speaking, a cold gaze hit Qin Yuan, which caused Qin Yuan to fall silent for a moment.

He coughed dryly and said: “Cough, I mean, our marshal is selfless, treats money like dung, and disdains these earthly temptations. On Gamma Star, a big group once tried to give him the largest natural sapphire in the galaxy in exchange for something. It was promptly sent back by the marshal.”

“Oh.” Xu Xinghe nodded, feeling a sense of freshness from listening to the story, but suddenly an inexplicable sense of loss.

He remembered the gift he had prepared for Ling Changfeng.

The “little surprise” he used as a thank-you gift was lying in the small box in his right pocket at the moment. He originally planned to give it away after dinner.

But now, after hearing Qin Yuan’s words of people rushing to give expensive and valuable gifts being rejected without even seeing Ling Changfeng’s face…

Suddenly the little thing he bought online felt lacking.

But Ling Changfeng had to open the pot and mention it: “Didn’t you say, you want to give me a surprise too?”

Dual-colored pupils slowly turned to Xu Xinghe: “What is it?”

Marshal Ling remained expressionless when he said this, but Xu Xinghe seemed to see a cat’s tail swaying leisurely behind him, as if looking forward to the surprise.

This expectation made Xu Xinghe feel even more cramped.

But since Ling Changfeng had already asked, he had no choice but to take out the small box from his pocket. “It’s nothing… just a very small gift.”

A pair of cufflinks he stumbled upon in an ad when thinking about what gift to give.

Initially, he was drawn to the sapphire on the cufflinks.

Because the pure blue color was too similar to Ling Changfeng’s right pupil, Xu Xinghe’s fingertips paused slightly, and he involuntarily clicked on the advertisement.

Then, he saw another pair of amber cufflinks. The color was a little darker than Ling Changfeng’s left pupil, but also very close.

Xu Xinghe’s heart moved, and he suddenly had an idea.

He bought these two pairs of cufflinks together, and contacted the seller for expedited delivery.

Fortunately, the shop was in the same city, so he received the package last night.

Xu Xinghe took out one cufflink of each color, put them in a small box, and packed them carefully. Because the model was the same, and only the color was different, the sapphire-amber pair didn’t seem discordant.

So when Ling Changfeng opened the small box, he saw a sapphire blue and an amber gold cufflink lying quietly in the navy blue velvet cloth.

He hesitated slightly and took out the cufflinks.

Then, unhurriedly, he pinned his cuff.

His movements have always been neat and tidy, not one bit sloppy. There was a hint of elegance in his actions, as if slowly appreciating the new gift he received.

After attaching the cufflinks and adjusting his cuffs, Marshal Ling suddenly raised his head and asked Xu Xinghe, “Did you match the colors yourself?”

Xu Xinghe was still a little discouraged from the earlier conversation, and didn’t notice the carefulness in his actions.

Hearing him ask, he thought he saw something wrong, so he drank a mouthful of cold sweet congee, and answered absentmindedly, “Yes, if you don’t like it, just…”

Before he finished speaking, Ling Changfeng interrupted him: “I never wear things I don’t like on my body.”

Stunned, Xu Xinghe raised his head.

Ling Changfeng lowered his head and continued to tidy up his cuffs, casually adding: “I won’t cook for someone I don’t like.”

Xu Xinghe’s face turned red.

Ling Changfeng raised his eyes and asked again, “Where are the other two cufflinks?”

Xu Xinghe stammered and replied, “Ah, with me… what’s wrong?”

Ling Changfeng pondered for a moment, but did not answer. Instead, he directly changed the topic: “One can’t wear these when wearing military uniforms.”

“I know.” Xu Xinghe nodded. “I discovered you usually wear dress shirts in private, so I thought you might use cufflinks. But this kind of small thing, whether you wear it or not is up to you.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard Ling Changfeng say: “En, when I don’t wear military uniform, I will wear these often.”

Xu Xinghe: “…”

Don’t wear it often.

“When you wear dress shirts, you can also wear them.” Ling Changfeng said.

“Ah?” Xu Xinghe was stunned and thought to himself: Why should I wear them??

Seeing his doubts, Ling Changfeng explained: “Otherwise, what are you going to do with the other pair? It’ll be a waste to leave it as is.”

After a pause, he reminded him again: “Don’t give it away.”

Xu Xinghe: “?”

Marshal Ling lowered his eyes and said, “I don’t want to collide with other people.”

“Oh.” Xu Xinghe agreed. “Then I’ll use them the next time I wear a dress shirt.”

Marshal Ling nodded with satisfaction.

His fingertips brushed his cuff cherishingly, but said nothing.

Only Adjutant Qin, who was hiding on the side and acting as a transparent person, could see through the careful thoughts of his boss at a glance-

Isn’t this a couple’s set?

QY gets stuffed with dog food.

QY’s internal thoughts: this meal can’t be eaten!!!

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