Chapter Fifty-Five: Can't Do Without Him

Though she said so, Xu Nuo was not so callous as to force Gu Xingze, whose arm was injured, to cook dinner that night. Nevertheless, Gu Xingze naturally entered the kitchen as usual to prepare the evening meal. Xu Nuo could not dissuade him; seeing that he was almost recovered, she no longer tried to stop him and instead assisted by preparing ingredients.

Lin Qisheng, who once harbored the ambitious desire to surpass Gu Xingze in culinary skill and win over Xu Nuo, rolled up his sleeves ready to show his prowess. But he accidentally touched Gu Xingze’s wounded arm, and Xu Nuo promptly sent him out of the kitchen with a curt, “Don’t make things worse.” Lin Qisheng’s dejected expression drew hearty laughter from Sheng Ming, who was watching the spectacle.

“What are you so pleased about?” Lin Qisheng scoffed, “You’re just an outsider.”

Sheng Ming was even more dismissive, “I may be an outsider, but are you really that close to her?”

Once again, their words clashed and an argument erupted. The old housekeeper, witnessing the quarrel, sighed deeply. Glancing toward the kitchen, he saw Miss Xu and young Gu working in perfect harmony. The door separated their world from the chaos of the living room, as if inside belonged only to the two of them.

Ah, young master, please stop arguing and open your eyes to see who your true rival is.

The verbal sparring ended with the completion of dinner. Sheng Ming, who should have left, shamelessly stayed, offering a formal apology to Xu Nuo and Gu Xingze. Though he masked it well, Xu Nuo still detected the condescension and disdain in his tone toward Gu Xingze.

For someone like Sheng Ming, born to wealth and privilege, superiority toward others was ingrained in his bones. Even though Gu Xingze was a psychic, he was also a rival in love. Quiet and reserved, his presence was barely felt; his days were spent cooking for Xu Nuo, making snacks, much like a servant.

Lin Qisheng was more straightforward. He apologized with a careless air, knowing he was wrong but ready to do it again, and his words were deliberately barbed, clearly aimed at Sheng Ming.

The atmosphere at the dinner table grew subtly tense once more. Xu Nuo, unconcerned, watched the drama unfold as she ate, chatting with Gu Xingze about the vegetables and fruits growing in the fields.

Bang—

Suddenly, a bowl of soup was knocked over, splashing directly toward Xu Nuo.

“Careful!” Lin Qisheng cried.

It happened so quickly that Xu Nuo instinctively dodged aside, colliding into Gu Xingze’s arms. The soup spilled entirely onto Gu Xingze, while Xu Nuo’s clothes only caught a few drops.

“Are you all right, Xu Nuo? I didn’t mean it just now,” Lin Qisheng said anxiously, rushing over. Luckily, the soup was not too hot and would not burn the skin, but it landed right on Gu Xingze’s wounded arm. The white bandages, soaked through, began to seep blood, making him look pitiful.

“I’m fine,” Gu Xingze told Xu Nuo. “I just need to change clothes.”

After suffering yet another mishap, Xu Nuo was growing anxious for Gu Xingze. She ignored the flustered Lin Qisheng and hurriedly took Gu Xingze away to treat his injury.

Sheng Ming put down his chopsticks and turned his gaze to the housekeeper, who was lowering his head in an effort to minimize his presence. “Return for now,” Sheng Ming instructed.

During his earlier quarrel with Lin Qisheng, Sheng Ming had seen clearly that the soup bowl was knocked over only because the housekeeper accidentally tripped Lin Qisheng.

Back in the room, the old housekeeper immediately offered his explanation.

“…I believe, young master, that Gu Xingze is actually your greatest competitor.”

Sheng Ming narrowed his eyes. “Him?”

The housekeeper replied, “Only he can stay by Miss Xu’s side at any time, and is accepted and valued by her.”

Sheng Ming frowned, “Why?”

The housekeeper continued, “From my observations, Gu Xingze fulfills all of Miss Xu’s daily needs.”

“What do you mean? Be more specific,” Sheng Ming reacted, dissatisfied with this answer.

“First and foremost, the matter of food…” The housekeeper analyzed slowly, sharing his findings with the young master. “…Lin Qisheng is dispensable to Miss Xu, whereas only Gu Xingze can influence her quality of life and mood.”

After the housekeeper finished speaking, Sheng Ming was stunned for a long moment, unconsciously gripping the armrest of his chair. He had failed to notice this point.

The housekeeper gently reminded him, “Young master, if you truly wish to win Miss Xu, you must make it so she cannot do without you.”

Was he doing too little now? Sheng Ming was no simple-minded rich boy; he quickly understood. Indeed, he had done far too little for Xu Nuo. In peaceful times, pursuing a girl required flowers and gifts—he, too, must do something that would make Xu Nuo realize that she could not be without him.