The Foolish Wife Turned Scheming After Her Recovery - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: I’m a Complete and Utter Lesbian

Ever since Lu Zhili got Yu Yao’s permission, she’d been even more enthusiastic about learning to cook. Not only did she ask Aunt Chen to teach her how to make everyday home-style dishes, but she even had Housekeeper He hire a nutritionist to come to the house—mainly to design a personalized meal plan for Yu Yao.

She wanted to give Yu Yao the best meals—safe, healthy, and above all, joyful.

Lu Zhili spent over eight hours a day in the kitchen—more dedicated than a typical office worker.

Naturally, her intense focus drew concern from her parents. When Fu Shuang asked her about it, Lu Zhili didn’t try to hide anything and openly said that she was learning to cook to pursue Yu Yao.

Fu Shuang had already promised not to interfere with Lu Zhili’s choices, so she couldn’t really stop her daughter from learning now.

So, the couple began returning to the villa every day—mainly to help finish off the “semi-failed” dishes that didn’t quite turn out, but weren’t entirely inedible either.

Every afternoon, Lu Zhili would carefully pick out the best dish she made that day, pair it with other dishes prepared by Aunt Chen, and personally deliver the lunchbox to Yu Yao’s studio.

On her first day delivering food, everyone at the studio was surprised and curious. But after a few days, they got used to their boss’s persistent admirer.

This afternoon, as usual, Lu Zhili arrived outside the studio building carrying the lunchbox. She’d left the house a bit later today, so by the time she arrived, several employees were heading out to grab lunch. When they saw her, they greeted her cheerfully.

“Miss Lu, you’re here! Sister Yu is still upstairs waiting for you!”

“Yeah! Sister Yu gets delicious meals delivered every day—so lucky!”

“Ugh, I knew it! There’s no way every relationship is the same—please, heaven, give me a partner like this too!”

Yu Yao had never explicitly acknowledged her relationship with Lu Zhili at the studio, but everyone was sharp—they had long since noticed that something was up. More accurately, they had noticed Lu Zhili’s obvious behavior.

That breathtakingly beautiful face rarely smiled at strangers, but when she looked at their boss, she always had a soft smile—and her eyes were overflowing with love that couldn’t be hidden.

Lu Zhili calmly greeted the group of girls chatting with her, and handed out some baked cookies she’d prepared in the car—courtesy of Aunt Chen, of course.

The group smiled and thanked her. Only then did Lu Zhili trot toward the elevator.

The studio was already empty, with only the light in Yu Yao’s office still on. But the door was closed.

Lu Zhili, familiar with the place, stepped up and knocked on the door. Soon, Yu Yao’s voice came from inside: “Come in.” Then came footsteps.

Thinking Yu Yao was coming to open the door herself, Lu Zhili instinctively withdrew her hand from the doorknob.

The next second, the glass door swung open from inside—revealing the smug and punchable face of Chu Jiayan.

Leaning against the doorframe, Chu Jiayan grinned and raised his hand in greeting. “Yo, the young lady’s here.”

Lu Zhili’s expression stiffened and her brows furrowed unhappily. “What are you doing here?”

Arms crossed, Chu Jiayan chuckled smugly. “Why wouldn’t I be here? I’m working with Yu Yao’s studio, okay?”

“Tch.” She was definitely not jealous!

Pushing past him, Lu Zhili turned her attention to Yu Yao, her tone softening. “Ah Yao, did you wait long today? I left a bit late. Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine, come on in.” Yu Yao was sitting on the sofa. Several dishes were already laid out on the coffee table in front of her. “Chu Jiayan came to talk business today. Since it was lunchtime, I ordered a few dishes from the private kitchen.”

“Oh.” Lu Zhili mumbled, then quietly began unpacking the lunchbox and setting out her dishes one by one.

Yu Yao noticed she seemed upset and leaned toward her, resting her hand on the sofa for support, whispering in her ear, “You’re unhappy?”

Lu Zhili bit her lip and said nothing.

Across from her, Chu Jiayan snickered. “What a grump.”

Lu Zhili immediately looked up and glared at him. “You’re the grump!”

Yu Yao could maybe handle one of them, but dealing with both at once was too much. She quickly pulled Lu Zhili closer and whispered, “Let’s not stoop to his level. I still like your cooking the best. Let him eat all the ones I ordered.”

Instantly soothed, Lu Zhili tilted her chin up proudly and gave Chu Jiayan a condescending glance. “I’m not arguing with you, kindergartener.”

Chu Jiayan was about to reply, but Yu Yao cut him off. “Let’s eat. I’m starving. Talk later.”

Not wanting to upset Yu Yao, Chu Jiayan shut up and picked up his chopsticks.

He pointed at the dishes Lu Zhili had brought. “These are all made by you?” Without waiting for a reply, he moved to grab a bite. “Let me try one for seasoning.”

Smack! Lu Zhili’s chopsticks nearly knocked his out of his hand. “Those are for Ah Yao only. You eat these.” She pointed to the private kitchen dishes and a few made by Aunt Chen.

Not wanting to argue with a fool, Chu Jiayan withdrew his chopsticks and silently planned to sneak a bite later when she wasn’t watching.

The meal was relatively peaceful. Yu Yao and Chu Jiayan talked business, while Lu Zhili quietly sat there, poking her rice with little appetite—feeling that Chu Jiayan was extremely annoying.

If he weren’t here today, she would be the one chatting with Ah Yao.

The conversation didn’t last long before Yu Yao’s phone rang. She got up to take the call elsewhere, leaving only Lu Zhili and Chu Jiayan at the table.

Chu Jiayan, chewing on his chopsticks, squinted as he studied her—clearly thinking about something.

Lu Zhili glared at him, lips pressed into a pout. “What are you staring at? Eat properly, or you’ll get a stomachache!”

Chu Jiayan laughed. “I’m not a kid. I won’t get a stomachache.”

Then he put down his chopsticks, leaned in, and lowered his voice, asking, “Hey, do you like Yu Yao?”

Before she could react, he added with a self-satisfied smile, “I like her too. Let’s compete fairly, okay?”

Lu Zhili lifted her chin proudly, like a little peacock. She wasn’t afraid at all. “Of course I do. We’re going to get married.”

“Huh?” Chu Jiayan looked shocked. “No way. Yu Yao’s not going to marry you. She’s going to be my girlfriend and marry me.”

“She won’t! She’s only going to marry me!”

“Tch. Whatever. She’s not going to marry a girl—especially not an idiot like you,” Chu Jiayan said without thinking, blurting out what was in his heart.

“Hey!” Lu Zhili slammed her chopsticks down and jumped up, pointing at him. “You wanna get hit? I’m not an idiot!”

Their commotion caught Yu Yao’s attention. She frowned, said a few words to the person on the phone, then quickly walked over.

Chu Jiayan realized he’d said something wrong and started to sound less confident. “Y-You’re sick anyway. Yu Yao’s not going to marry someone who’s sick.”

“You’re even cursing me now?! Watch me beat you up!” Lu Zhili was furious. She ran around the coffee table, chasing after him.

Chu Jiayan had never seen her this angry. He jumped up and ran around the sofa.

“Stop running! You called me stupid, and now you’re cursing me?!” Lu Zhili grabbed a cushion and threw it at him.

She hated getting sick—because when she got sick, her mom got very sad. She didn’t want to see her mom cry. She only wanted her mom to smile. That’s why she took her health seriously and even forced herself to go to jiu-jitsu classes to stay strong.

“Enough!” Yu Yao stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Lu Zhili’s waist, but her glare was aimed at Chu Jiayan.

“Mr. Chu, I’ve told you before—I don’t like men. I’m a complete and utter lesbian.” She patted Lu Zhili’s back gently to calm her, but her voice remained cold. “You promised me our collaboration would remain strictly professional. That’s the only reason I agreed to work with you. But now you’ve stirred up trouble and said awful things to Zhili. I don’t think we’re suited to work together after all.”

Yu Yao hated mixing work and personal matters. It sounded like she was standing up for Lu Zhili—but in truth, she was protecting her own peace.

Working with Chu Jiayan wasn’t a necessity, and she wasn’t about to invite trouble just for a deal.

“No no no!” Chu Jiayan looked miserable. “Yu Yao, come on. I’ve already arranged for my artists to meet you. I still wanted you to visit the company.”

“I’m sorry, I messed up. I know you like girls. I was just messing with Lu Zhili. Don’t be mad anymore, okay?” Chu Jiayan walked over to Lu Zhili with a pitiful expression. “I’m sorry! I said something stupid. Go ahead, hit me if it’ll make you feel better.”

He even closed his eyes like he was ready for martyrdom.

Lu Zhili snorted. “Hmph, even though you apologized, I still won’t forgive you. I’m not giving you an invite to my next party!”

“Nooo—” Chu Jiayan regretted his words. “Hey, do you want to go to Su City? Yu Yao and I are going there for work next week. I’ll take you with us. Lots of good food and fun stuff. I’ll cover all your expenses, how’s that?”

Lu Zhili perked up a little, her expression still pouty but her mind already imagining telling her mom about the Su City trip later.

Chu Jiayan went on and on, saying everything he could to sell her on the trip. Eventually, Lu Zhili nodded reluctantly. “Fine. Since you’re so sorry, I’ll go.”

Chu Jiayan brightened instantly and looked at Yu Yao, eyes sparkling, waiting for her approval.

Yu Yao said, “Alright. But Mr. Chu, let me remind you again—I will never like men.”

“Got it,” Chu Jiayan replied, his head immediately drooping like a wet puppy.

Yu Yao had called him by name before—now she was calling him “Mr. Chu.” What a loss. Ugh.