Picked Up a White Cut Black Wife - Chapter 18

Shen Zhao led Shen Qiao through the back door to the break room, adjusted the air conditioning to a warmer setting, and poured her a cup of hot water. “Did you eat at home?”

Shen Qiao nodded, urging, “Wife, hurry and eat.”

Shen Zhao opened the lunchbox and was immediately stunned by the overflowing display of affection. A heart-shaped fried egg lay atop the snow-white rice, its outline traced with bacon. Neatly arranged beside it were several heart-shaped carrots, and even the sesame seeds sprinkled across the dish formed tiny hearts. The presentation culminated in a large ketchup heart.

There was no artistry, only pure emotion.

“Uh, where did you learn to do this?” Shen Zhao’s hand froze mid-air, spoon poised, unsure where to begin.

“I didn’t learn it anywhere! This is all my original creation,” Shen Qiao declared proudly, leaning across the table. “Wife, there’s soup inside too.”

A flicker of unease flashed through Shen Zhao’s mind.

Let’s just stop here. Opening it further would be impolite.

“Wife, hurry and open it!” Shen Qiao urged impatiently when she didn’t move.

Shen Zhao frowned slightly. “Alright, alright. Stop fussing.”

Despite having mentally prepared herself, Shen Zhao couldn’t help but gasp when she saw the bowl of soup. She picked up a heart-shaped piece of white yam with her chopsticks and asked, “What’s this?”

“Heart-shaped yam!”

Oh, it’s yam and pork rib soup. Ignoring the shape, the milky-white broth, garnished with scallions, looked…

Wait, these scallions?

Shen Zhao picked up a tiny scallion, her eyes widening in disbelief. It was clearly a miniature heart. I’ve seriously underestimated her!

Across the table, Shen Qiao watched Shen Zhao’s every move, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. When she saw Shen Zhao’s reaction, she nearly jumped up in excitement. “Wife, you’re amazing! You noticed it!”

Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes, Shen Zhao asked, “Are you bored at home?”

Shen Qiao didn’t answer, instead asking, “Does Wife not like it?”

“The food is good,” Shen Zhao replied, choosing her words carefully. “But the carving… it’s unnecessary.”

“Wife doesn’t like carved food? Then I’ll just arrange it nicely next time.”

“…Arranging it won’t change the taste. There’s no need to go to such lengths.”

“How could it not make a difference?” Shen Qiao pouted stubbornly.

Shen Zhao gritted her teeth, forcing herself to remain patient. “Then tell me, what difference does it make?”

“I saw online that eating something replenishes what you need,” Shen Qiao said, resting her cheek in her hand and gazing at Shen Zhao with bright, expectant eyes, as if asking, Wife, what do you think it replenished?

Shen Zhao lowered her head, staring at the food in the lunchbox. Replenished carbs? Vitamin C? Protein? Does shaping it like this make it more effective?

Nonsense!

Feeling hungry, Shen Zhao picked up the small bowl and took a sip of the soup. It was warm and surprisingly delicious, rivaling even the best restaurants she’d tried. She couldn’t resist taking a few more sips, feeling her body warm up and her appetite awaken.

“Wife, is it good?” Shen Qiao asked, her voice filled with anticipation and nervousness.

Shen Zhao hummed in acknowledgment, saying casually, “It’s alright.”

Shen Qiao’s face fell. “Oh.”

“Ahem, it’s actually quite good,” Shen Zhao corrected herself, glancing at Shen Qiao before awkwardly taking another sip.

“I knew you’d like it, Wife!”

Watching Shen Qiao’s face transform from disappointment to elation in an instant, Shen Zhao couldn’t help but smile, shaking her head in amusement.

This girl can’t handle compliments. She absolutely can’t.

Shen Zhao picked up her spoon and stirred the rice, revealing a generous layer of pan-fried meat and shrimp beneath, arranged with the same artistic flair. After a brief glance, she ruthlessly mixed it all together.

“Wife~” Shen Qiao cried out in distress at the sight.

Shen Zhao scooped up a spoonful of rice and brought it to her mouth. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

The distinct grains of rice, plump with moisture, were fragrant, soft, and slightly chewy, perfectly complementing the savory, slightly charred meat bits. The combination filled her mouth with a delightful aroma.

Shen Zhao couldn’t help but nod in satisfaction.

Meanwhile, Shen Qiao was heartbroken, nearly bursting into tears. “Wife, how could you ruin my heart?”

Shen Zhao suppressed a smile. “It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter.”

“But my little heart is gone! How can it not matter?” Shen Qiao’s voice grew increasingly pitiful. “It can’t be fixed!”

“It’s already in my mouth. It can be fixed,” Shen Zhao reassured her, finally unable to hold back her laughter.

“Really?” Shen Qiao asked skeptically, then added with a hint of bashfulness, “Then, Wife, do you… love me a little more now?”

“Huh?” The smile froze on Shen Zhao’s face. “What?”

“I wanted to replenish your love for me.”

So, what you eat replenishes what’s missing? And you’re replenishing that?

Shen Zhao’s smile vanished completely. Staring at the heart-shaped carrot in her lunchbox, she suddenly lost her appetite.

“Wife, eat quickly! It’ll get cold soon,” Shen Qiao urged.

Shen Zhao tightened her grip on the spoon. Do I really have to eat this?

“Wife, hurry up.”

Shen Zhao forced a smile and nodded, stiffly bringing the rice to her mouth while deliberately avoiding the heart-shaped carrots.

At first, Shen Qiao watched Shen Zhao with eager anticipation, her face radiating satisfaction. But gradually, she sensed something was amiss and began to intervene. “Wife, the carrots! Eat the carrots!”

“I don’t like carrots,” Shen Zhao said flatly.

“Really?” Shen Qiao retorted, her tone indignant. “Last time we ate together, you ate dumplings filled with carrots!”

Shen Zhao felt a pang of guilt, surprised by how closely Shen Qiao had been observing her.

Shen Qiao lowered her gaze, her voice tinged with sorrow. “If Wife doesn’t want to eat them, that’s fine. Even though I spent so long carving these hearts and even simmered them in meat broth to enhance the flavor… all that effort…”

“Stop talking,” Shen Zhao said dismissively, shoving a carrot into her mouth, hoping to shut her up.

Shen Qiao immediately stopped nagging, her lips curving into a triumphant smile.

Damn it! Shen Zhao thought. I know she’s faking sadness, so why am I still…

Wait a minute. Shen Zhao suddenly realized she’d been manipulated. She’s been CPU-ing me!

Shen Qiao watched with a contented expression, her joy nearly overflowing from her eyes. Seeing that Shen Zhao had eaten her fill, she began clearing the table, acting like a virtuous little wife. “Wife, did you enjoy it?”

Aside from Qiao’s unique plating and her fiery gaze, Shen Zhao found the meal quite satisfying. She had rarely eaten so much, and she nodded in acknowledgment.

“Then I’ll bring you another meal tomorrow, Wife?” Shen Qiao moved around the table to stand beside Shen Zhao, hooking an arm around her neck.

In the past, Shen Zhao would have rejected her outright. But the thought of the warm, delicious food made her hesitate for a few seconds before gently pushing Shen Qiao away. “No need. It’s too much trouble.”

“It’s no trouble at all,” Shen Qiao countered, seizing Shen Zhao’s hand with one hand while hooking her other arm around her neck. With a swift motion, she settled sideways onto Shen Zhao’s lap.

Pinned against the table, Shen Zhao couldn’t push her off or stand up. Giving up, she simply remained still and said flatly, “Get up. I need to work.”

“Can’t Wife spend a little more time with me?” Shen Qiao wriggled mischievously, leaning closer.

Shen Zhao froze, urging, “Get up now. My leg’s going numb.”

“Fine,” Shen Qiao said, though she didn’t budge. She hummed softly, then whined playfully, “Then give me a kiss, Wife.”