Chapter 110: If You Like Them, I Shall Tell You More

“Is that so? Then I’ll cook you a delicious meal someday.”

Zhang Xiaolan wasn’t sure where her courage came from as she said this. She hardly knew how to make any delicacies; it seemed she was just teasing Li Rui.

“Xiaolan, are you good at cooking too?”

Li Rui didn’t think much of it at first, assuming Zhang Xiaolan was truly skilled in the kitchen, but he still asked with some surprise.

“Me? I only know how to scramble eggs. There’s no instant noodles here, but if there were, I’m quite good at making those too.”

Zhang Xiaolan hesitated for a moment, then revealed her “secret weapon.” She used to complain about eating instant noodles all the time, but now recalling that spicy flavor brought a wave of nostalgia.

“What exactly are these ‘instant noodles’ you mentioned?”

Li Rui was once again puzzled by her words. What on earth were these instant noodles?

“Instant noodles are a magical kind of noodle. You just pour in boiling water, add the seasoning packet, and in five minutes, the noodles are ready. But I can’t wait that long—I usually start eating after four minutes. I’m also good at tomato scrambled eggs, but there aren’t any instant noodles or tomatoes here, so I don’t even know what I could cook for you.”

Zhang Xiaolan spoke with longing, sharing her habits and favorite recipes, though tomatoes hadn’t been introduced to China until the Ming Dynasty, so even if she wanted some, they were nowhere to be found in this time.

“The instant noodles you describe sound quite magical. As for tomatoes, I’ve never heard of them. But honestly, I wouldn’t want you to go through the trouble of making these things for me. As long as we can be together for a long time, that’s enough.”

Though Li Rui didn’t understand the specifics of what Zhang Xiaolan was talking about, he saw the enthusiasm in her voice and didn’t press for details. Instead, he quietly committed it all to memory.

Someday, he vowed to find these things for Zhang Xiaolan. Though he kept this promise to himself, his words revealed the warmth and depth of his feelings—the very thoughts he longed to express.

“I didn’t expect Brother Li to be so sweet with his words, but I like it. I like it very much.”

Zhang Xiaolan hadn’t anticipated Li Rui’s sudden declaration, but it made her happy. After all, don’t all girls love to hear such tender words?

“If you like it, I’ll say more of them to you.”

Li Rui didn’t know why, but ever since meeting this woman before him, the ice encasing his heart had gradually melted, warming and stirring emotions within him.

At first, perhaps because they resembled the women he’d known, but after spending time together, he realized they were entirely different people.

Now, the woman he cherished in his heart was the one before him—the one he wanted to protect and treasure.

“Thank you, Brother Li, for everything.”

Zhang Xiaolan felt the sincerity in Li Rui’s words and nestled into his broad, strong chest.

Her cheek pressed against his heart, she felt the warmth radiating from his body and listened to his steady heartbeat, taking it all as a source of comfort and reliance.

She knew well that during this time, Li Rui’s care and affection had given her a lifeline in this distant place—a reason to live and hope.

“There’s no need to say such things between us.”

“Brother Li, why are you so good to me? Sometimes I feel you’re too good, and it overwhelms me, making me even more dependent on you.”

This was a question Zhang Xiaolan had long wanted to ask. Though Li Rui had accidentally hurt her before, he had been kind to her from the very start.

“This is what I should do. When you love a woman, you treat her well. I don’t want to have any regrets, especially not with you.”

Li Rui spoke honestly of his feelings at that moment. He didn’t directly answer Zhang Xiaolan’s deeper question, but she didn’t mind. As long as they were together, that was all that mattered.

“Thank you, Brother Li.”