My Jealous and Beautiful Villainous Wife (ABO) - Chapter 42

Fortunately, while Long Xiao’s cooking skills were only average, he had paid attention during his previous cooking classes.

Moreover, the high-quality, non-stick pan made even the somewhat challenging crispy-edged runny-yolk egg Alpha a success for this novice.

The recipe for Yangchun noodles was also straightforward, requiring only simple ingredients.

Apart from common seasonings, the only ingredients needed were scallions and eggs.

After watching a tutorial video, Long Xiao got right to work.

When Si An ordered the dishes, he had naturally considered Long Xiao’s cooking abilities. For the sake of his own stomach, he wouldn’t dare request anything too complicated.

Once the noodles were cooked, two steaming bowls of Yangchun noodles were placed on the table. Si An rose from the bar counter and settled into his chair at the dining table.

Long Xiao glanced at Si An, then at Su Su’s plain Yangchun noodles, feeling a pang of sympathy. His voice softened unconsciously as he asked, Are there any other ingredients in the house?

Si An picked up a mouthful of noodles to cool in the air, then paused to consider Long Xiao’s question.

Though he wasn’t entirely sure, the housekeeper must have stocked the pantry.

With this in mind, Si An nodded confidently and casually directed Long Xiao,

Check if there are any prawns in the fridge. Just boil them.

It wasn’t that Si An preferred bland food he was afraid Long Xiao wouldn’t know how to cook anything more complicated.

Could Long Xiao possibly make braised prawns?

Thinking it unlikely, Si An opted for the simplest dish.

Long Xiao silently turned to find the prawns in the fridge, leaving his bowl of noodles on the table.

Si An picked up the slightly cooled noodles and took a bite. They were still a bit hot, but the temperature was just right.

It felt like a gentle burn on his heart, the warmth smoothing out all the tension. With each mouthful of the warm noodles, a sense of comfort spread through his body.

The flavor wasn’t exceptional, but it was decent—very much in line with Long Xiao’s straightforward style. Si An didn’t mind.

The broth, enhanced with dried shrimp shells and oyster sauce, had a pleasant umami depth. Combined with the fragrant scallions and the chewy, smooth hand-pulled noodles, it was actually quite good.

Si An ate quietly, his gaze lowered, the upward tilt of his eyes softening. His long, pale gold eyelashes framed his eyes like delicate fans.

With his relaxed expression and fair skin, he looked remarkably docile, yet his handsome features created a striking contrast.

By the time Long Xiao brought over the prawns, Si An had already eaten half his noodles.

Seeing Long Xiao approach, Si An tilted his head back, his narrow eyes widening slightly.

I don’t peel shrimp, he said matter-of-factly. You peel them all.

If anyone else had made such a demand, Long Xiao would have ignored them completely. But facing Si An, whose request it was, how could he possibly refuse?

Fortunately, the Dragon Clan’s thick skin made them impervious to heat. Still, for hygiene’s sake—and to avoid any Omega complaints—Long Xiao put on gloves.

The Alpha sat down and began peeling the shrimp with practiced speed.

Before long, Long Xiao’s bowl of noodles was still warm, hardly a sign of mistreatment. Nor was this some deliberate act of torment for Si An, it was simply the most natural thing in the world.

His skin was thin, and his pain sensitivity was higher than average. Ever since a childhood burn, Si An had never peeled shrimp himself. It wasn’t that he couldn’t, nor was he being fussy it was simply unnecessary.

With a word, someone would gladly and eagerly peel them for him.

Like…

Long Xiao, right now.

Si An slurped a few mouthfuls of noodles, glancing at Long Xiao. The look softened Long Xiao’s heart. He pushed the plate of peeled shrimp toward Si An.

The shrimp had been thoroughly deveined. The aunt had bought large, fresh shrimp that were easy to peel.

When Si An saw the shrimp being pushed toward him, his eyes flickered with genuine desire.

He stood up from his chair and went to make a vinaigrette, pouring only a small amount to suit his light taste.

Though Long Xiao remained seated, his gaze followed Si An’s every move. As a dragon, his Alpha vision was exceptionally sharp. He watched Si An’s actions intently, secretly memorizing them.

A touch of vinegar, a splash of soy sauce, a pinch of sugar.

The description seemed abstract, but there was a precise ratio. Long Xiao committed it to memory, confident he could replicate it perfectly. After all, it wasn’t complicated.

Si An returned with the vinaigrette and began eating. He finished most of the noodles, occasionally sipping the broth between bites of shrimp.

This was undoubtedly one of the simplest dinners Si An had eaten in his twenty-odd years. Not necessarily the most basic, but certainly among the top three.

As Long Xiao watched the Omega eat with such refined grace, his heart stirred with determination. He resolved to master cooking, even without natural talent.

No talent? Then I’ll make up for it with effort.

Watching Si An slowly finish every bite of the meal he had prepared, Long Xiao felt a mix of satisfaction and heartache.

He might have been exaggerating earlier, but he was still determined to become a perfect husband in every way except cooking.

The Alpha objectively acknowledged his past mistakes and silently vowed to improve.

Long Xiao boiled all the shrimp in the refrigerator—roughly forty or fifty—likely enough for two meals, as prepared by the housekeeper.

Si An, with his normal appetite, ate a large bowl of noodles and eight or nine shrimp before feeling full.

The rest were all for Long Xiao, who didn’t bother with formalities when eating alone.

He didn’t even peel the shrimp, tossing them whole into his mouth, chewing them thoroughly before swallowing. What was this? Every dragon in the Dragon Clan had gnawed on mineral ores as cubs.

These shrimp shells were just extra calcium.

However, Long Xiao did remove the shrimp heads, which contained the shrimp’s innards. Though he didn’t mind them, he suspected Si An might find them unappetizing.

As expected, Si An, having finished his meal, was about to return to the bedroom.

But when he saw Long Xiao’s actions, he abruptly sat back down, his half-raised buttocks sinking back onto the chair.

The Omega stared fixedly at the Alpha, who chewed twice before swallowing, a phantom pain prickling in his throat.

He frowned slightly, his expression turning cold, and said, Peel them first.

Long Xiao paused mid-chew, swallowed the shrimp, and glanced at Si An’s expression.

Not disgust.

That means it’s concern.

Just expressed very subtly, and a bit awkwardly.

Long Xiao nodded, but didn’t heed the advice. He grinned, baring his sharp canines. I can bite through metal and digest it too.

As the words left his lips, the Alpha’s toothy grin vanished, his lips settling into a straight line. Thank you for your concern, Si An.

A hint of amusement seemed to linger in his deep voice, though it was faint and uncertain.

Si An frowned, shot Long Xiao a sharp look, but ultimately said nothing. He turned and walked away.

Finish eating and go home.

Only the dismissal and his retreating figure remained.

Long Xiao watched Si An’s retreating back, blinked a few times to conceal the amusement in his eyes, and, taking advantage of the Omega’s absence, tilted the plate and poured the remaining shrimp into his mouth.

Silver scales shimmered briefly across the Alpha’s facial skin as his mouth widened beyond its usual size.

Every tooth in his mouth reverted to its original form. The shrimp tumbled into his mouth, were chewed twice, and swallowed.

This transformation lasted only a second or two before his features snapped back to normal.

The handsome Alpha sat there, warm yellow light bathing his noble hair, showing no trace of the beast within.