After Rebirth, I Discovered the Whole World Wants to Harm Me [GL] - Chapter 11

Xiao Shixin looked at the playful smile on her face. Those deep brown, almond-shaped eyes were shimmering with mirth, making it impossible to tell if she was joking or truly making the request.

Meeting President Xiao’s slightly probing gaze would usually exert a certain amount of pressure on anyone else.

Just as Tang Xiaoran began to feel her smile stiffen and searched for a way to back down, the other woman replied simply with two words: “I can.”

Walking to her car and unlocking it with the remote, Xiao Shixin looked back to find the youngster still standing frozen in place, seemingly stunned by her straightforward response.

The car’s headlights flashed, pulling Tang Xiaoran back to her senses. She climbed into the car, her mind still in a whirl.

It wasn’t until Xiao Shixin stepped on the gas and drove out that she felt as though she might have hallucinated earlier. She leaned over to peek at her and asked again, “Sister Xin, do you really intend to cook for me?”

The woman driving remained calm. The profile of her face was breathtakingly beautiful, especially with a few stray black curls partially veiling her pale, delicate cheek, further accentuating her exquisite features.

When not facing those cold eyes directly, her intimidating aura weakened significantly, allowing more attention to fall on her natural beauty.

“What do you want to eat?” Xiao Shixin drove directly toward a supermarket near her home.

Having received confirmation, Tang Xiaoran felt a bit out of place again, especially remembering the scene of her napping on the office desk at noon.

She felt as if the seat beneath her were growing thorns, making it impossible to sit comfortably. She finally compromised with her conscience, hoping it would stay quiet: “I was joking earlier~ Sister Xin has already accommodated me all day. I’ll make dinner, if you don’t mind.”

Xiao Shixin glanced at her, catching the hint of guilt in her eyes.

Strange. Why has ‘Little Ingrate’ been looking at me with those eyes all day?

She had never been this polite before. She’d only spent one day here, so why did she look like she had done something terribly wrong to her?

Tang Xiaoran looked at the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, then turned back to see the minimalist decor of the interior. Surveying the space of nearly two hundred square meters, she asked in surprise:

“Do you live here alone, Sister Xin?”

Xiao Shixin was placing the groceries they had just bought onto the kitchen counter. Hearing the question, she gave a casual hum of affirmation.

The sound of the faucet turning on and the rushing water became the only noise in the room.

Tang Xiaoran looked at the view outside the wide windows, which captured most of the bustling district. Rows of high-rise buildings, roads winding like endless snakes, and the people below looking like tiny ants…

Despite having imagined the view at night, Tang Xiaoran felt a different, heavier sensation enveloping her.

Solitude.

A solitude so profound it made one’s soul tremble with cold.

Recalling the decor of the Xiao Group headquarters and visiting Xiao Shixin’s home for the first time, Tang Xiaoran couldn’t help but wonder: What kind of life does Xiao Shixin lead every day?

She didn’t even dare to ask why she didn’t live at the Xiao family manor.

The afternoon sun fell through the transparent glass, but it felt as if even the warmth had been stripped away, leaving very little heat on her skin.

Tang Xiaoran stood by the window for a while until she could no longer stand the inexplicable chill and edged toward the open kitchen.

The multi-billionaire President Xiao had no idea that in just a few moments, this youngster had developed a deep sense of sympathy for her.

Seeing Tang Xiaoran roll up her sleeves to help, she didn’t stop her, letting her have free rein in the large kitchen.

Tang Xiaoran wanted to make Sweet and Sour Pork with Pineapple.

Sliced fresh tenderloin was placed in a large transparent bowl. Round, golden egg yolks were added, followed by fine white flour. As she stirred with chopsticks, the sound of them hitting the bowl was crisp and pleasant.

She poured oil into the pan and began frying the meat strips. The sizzling of the hot oil and the aroma of the pork finally brought a sense of domestic warmth to the cold room.

Tang Xiaoran washed a pair of clean chopsticks and secretly snatched a piece of fruit from the bowl soaking in salt water.

“Hiss…” She gasped, immediately catching Xiao Shixin’s attention.

“It hasn’t soaked long enough, has it? Spit it out quickly. Does your tongue hurt?” Xiao Shixin walked over, reaching out to gently cup her chin, seemingly wanting to check her mouth.

Instead, Tang Xiaoran’s eyes darted around with fox-like cunning. She picked up another piece of fruit and stuffed it into Xiao Shixin’s mouth.

Seeing Xiao Shixin’s eyes widen as she sat frozen with the fruit in her mouth, Tang Xiaoran finally burst into laughter at the success of her prank. “I realized when I was peeling it that I bought a golden pineapple, not a regular one. It doesn’t need salt water and won’t sting. Is it sweet?”

Even just holding it in her mouth, the rich juice slowly overflowed, filling her palate with a wonderful sweetness.

Soaked in that sweetness, even the slight irritation of being teased dissipated.

The spark in Xiao Shixin’s eyes turned into a helpless smile. Seeing Tang Xiaoran still blinking expectantly for an answer, she had no choice but to nod.

At that, the almond-shaped eyes instantly curved into crescent moons.

While cooking, Tang Xiaoran explored the kitchen and found two bottles of alcohol in a cabinet. Initially thinking it was cooking wine, she opened one and took a sniff.

“Wait? I remember this is a specialty from your hometown, Sister Xin. It’s home-brewed by your family, right?”

Xiao Shixin saw the bottle in her hand and nodded, trying to remember when it had been put there. It was likely stuffed into her car by family during the New Year, and she had placed it in the kitchen after discovering it.

Since she lived alone and didn’t have a habit of drinking by herself, she only occasionally used it to make fermented rice balls.

Tang Xiaoran enthusiastically washed a glass and poured herself half a cup.

The clear yellow liquid sparkled in the glass, emitting a sweet temptation. The rich sweetness hid the scent of alcohol, completely intoxicating her senses. Even her logic couldn’t hold out; one sniff and it surrendered.

She took a small sip. The mellow sweetness conquered her tongue. The scent of the wine lingered in her mouth even after she swallowed, the enduring sweetness dancing on the tip of her tongue.

She had intended only to have a taste, but the authentic flavor was too good to stop. Before she could take a second sip, a jade-white hand reached out and snatched the glass away.

Xiao Shixin’s deep, dark gaze made her sober up instantly. She heard her say slowly, “Drinking on an empty stomach is bad for the soul.”

Tang Xiaoran pouted, seeing the glass moved far away from her. She leaned in and muttered softly, “I checked, the alcohol content isn’t high at all. Just one more sip, okay? Just one.”

Xiao Shixin gave her a light glance. Seeing her pitiful expression, she replied, “Drink it during the meal.”

She hadn’t intended to stop her entirely. Drinking here was better than letting her run off to some messy bar.

Tang Xiaoran happily flashed a “V” sign, then remembered she was only halfway through the cooking. Seeing that Xiao Shixin had already drained the fried pork, she immediately prepared the final steps.

Forty minutes later.

Seeing the table spread with Sweet and Sour Pork with Pineapple, a Pumpkin and Purple Yam Lily Pot, Longjing Shrimp, Cola Chicken Wings, and Garlic Bok Choy, Tang Xiaoran couldn’t help but grin, showing her white teeth.

Her making the sweet and sour pork was instinctive, but she hadn’t expected Xiao Shixin to make the Pumpkin and Purple Yam Lily Pot—it was as if she knew Tang Xiaoran only wanted sweet things right now.

Even the wine she had been promised was placed back in front of her.

The bok choy had a hint of vinegar to stimulate the appetite; the sweet and sour pineapple mixed with perfectly fried pork made her want to eat three bowls of rice. When it became a bit too rich, the light tea fragrance of the fresh shrimp cleared the palate.

Finally, when she was nearly full, she took a spoonful of the lily pot as a dessert. From the light lily bulbs to the crisp-sweet pumpkin, and finally a bite of the sugary purple yam, she felt a sudden rush of happiness, like soaring from a valley into the sky.

Taking occasional sips of the mellow wine, Tang Xiaoran felt the massive grievance hidden in her heart being soothed by the layers of sweetness.

When Xiao Shixin saw the girl’s eyes beginning to grow misty, she knew the “after-kick” of the wine was starting.

She sighed softly. She had wanted to say earlier that drinking on an empty stomach was bad, and that this wine had a strong kick. But perhaps Xiaoran just really needed a meal like this.

Tang Xiaoran felt quite sober, so after finishing one glass, she poured herself another. It wasn’t until she stood up and the world started spinning that she sat back down. Staring at Xiao Shixin with wide, bright eyes, she asked very slowly:

“Sister Xin, I think… I’ve had too much?”

Xiao Shixin was about to pour her some soup. Seeing her delayed reaction, she wasn’t sure how drunk she was. She simply acknowledged it and asked:

“Do you want to sit on the sofa for a while?”

She couldn’t let her lie down right after eating; she had to let her sit and recover.

Tang Xiaoran’s head was spinning. Dreading any large movements, she stood up as slowly as a sloth. She took her first step toward the sofa, taking ten seconds to confirm her direction was correct, then took the second. She repeated this, painstakingly migrating toward the sofa.

Xiao Shixin had been worried she might trip, but seeing this scene, she couldn’t help but curve her lips.

By the time she had cleared the dishes and wiped the table, she found the person sitting perfectly upright on the sofa.

She was as well-behaved as a kindergarten child, hands placed neatly on her knees. Xiao Shixin hadn’t expected her to be this obedient when drunk—completely different from her previous prankish self.

Seeing her approach, Tang Xiaoran raised her head, a hint of misty dependency appearing in her deep brown eyes.

“Do you feel unwell?” Xiao Shixin stopped in front of her, leaning down to ask.

Tang Xiaoran answered precisely, “My head is a bit dizzy.”

“Should I make you something to sober up?”

“No.”

President Xiao was amused. She smiled again, the charm of the expression dispelling the coldness in her eyes. “Do you like being drunk?”

“I’m not drunk,” Tang Xiaoran replied with a very serious face.

Not drunk and yet so well-behaved?

Xiao Shixin felt as though the youngster was an automated answering machine—the kind that spoke the whole truth without reservation.

As if sensing the other’s silent amusement, Tang Xiaoran repeated, “I’m not drunk.”

She really wasn’t drunk; she just couldn’t walk straight and her head was a bit dizzy, but she still remembered exactly who was in front of her.

Xiao Shixin was truly beautiful when she smiled—so beautiful it made her head spin even more.

Reflexively, she reached out to cover the woman’s lips. She blinked several times, locking eyes with Xiao Shixin’s slightly narrow, elegant gaze.

They stared at each other in silence.

She lowered her hand. Because they were so close, the sweet scent of wine wafted from her breath, carrying a lingering, intoxicating hint of alcohol—as if trying to dye the other person drunk across that small distance.

It made the listener daze for a moment—

“Sister Xin, why are you so good to me?”