Chapter 38: You Can Cook?

The next day.

Lin Ting woke up early. Before washing up, she went to the terrace to breathe in the fresh morning air. The sun rose bit by bit, slowly spilling its light across the ground. She leaned against the terrace railing for a while, listening to the birds chirping in the trees. Then, she stood up, rested her leg on the railing to stretch, and went inside to wash up.

After finishing, she stepped out of the room and looked left and right. There was no one around. While there were plenty of patrol guards outside, the interior felt strangely empty. For such a large space, it was remarkably quiet and desolate. Last night, she hadn't seen a soul other than Shang Moting. She had expected to see a housekeeper or at least someone cooking breakfast, but when she reached the first floor, the only person she saw was Fang Cheng.

Fang Cheng was sitting on the sofa, gnawing on an ear of corn. He was startled when he saw Lin Ting, and he jumped, causing Lin Ting to flinch as well. The two stared at each other. Fang Cheng watched her wearing a loose, ill-fitting outfit, and after a moment, he swallowed the corn in his mouth and said, "Sneaking our boss's clothes to wear, are you?"

Lin Ting: "..."

Fang Cheng continued to watch her while munching on his corn. Lin Ting looked around again, and seeing no one else, she asked, "Do you live here?"

"I live in the back," Fang Cheng replied.

The estate was massive. When she had snuck in before, Lin Ting had gotten a rough look at it. It had gardens, ponds, small bridges, flowing water, and a landscape of flowers and birds. There wasn't just this one villa; there were several more in the back. Although they looked close together, they were actually quite a distance apart.

"Oh," Lin Ting looked around again and asked, "Where did you get that corn?"

"The kitchen," Fang Cheng said.

Lin Ting asked, "Where is the kitchen?"

Fang Cheng pointed the way: "Go around this way; it leads straight to the kitchen and dining area."

"Oh." Lin Ting started toward the kitchen, then turned back after two steps and said, "Thanks."

Upon reaching the kitchen, she heard the sounds of cooking. She assumed it was the house cook, but when she walked in, she found it was Shang Moting. Lin Ting stared at him in a daze. Shang Moting was frying an egg pancake; hearing her, he glanced over and looked at the clothes she was wearing. She always looked tiny, but in his clothes, she looked even smaller.

"Up so early?" Shang Moting said.

"You’re actually cooking," Lin Ting said, surprised.

Shang Moting smiled slightly and said, "Am I not allowed to cook?"

"The legends say you're ruthless and cold-blooded," Lin Ting said, studying him carefully. "There are no legends about you cooking."

Shang Moting didn't speak. Lin Ting moved from his left side to his right and said, "But... doesn't the oil splatter when you're wearing a white shirt?"

It was a soul-searching question.

Shang Moting: "..."

"Still, you look quite handsome like this. Very..." Lin Ting laughed, "domestic."

Shang Moting looked at her, a subtle glint of amusement in his eyes. Lin Ting stood beside him, watching the egg pancake in the pan. She suddenly felt a sense of peace—a safe, beautiful feeling she had never really known before. It felt as if she could lead a simple, safe life here.

"Isn't it smoky?" Shang Moting asked.

Lin Ting shook her head, looked up at him, and paused before saying, "Fang Cheng said there was corn here."

Shang Moting looked at her, his gaze filled with the look of someone needing to be fed, and replied, "In the back."

Lin Ting turned to the back, grabbed an ear of corn, and returned to Shang Moting's side, standing with him while she ate. She stayed until he finished breakfast.

Wei Zhishu arrived just then: "Boss, everything has been retrieved."

As he spoke, he caught sight of Shang Moting and froze. Cooking in a white shirt? What was going on? Before he left to run errands, the man had clearly been wearing loungewear.

"Mm," Shang Moting said. "Let's eat."

Wei Zhishu didn't dwell on it and began carrying the breakfast out. Lin Ting helped. The four of them sat down to eat. Lin Ting tasted everything Shang Moting had made, and it was all delicious. She was very satisfied with the meal.

After breakfast, Shang Moting went upstairs to change into a suit, preparing for work. "There are clothes at your door. They're new, washed, and dried."

Lin Ting looked at him. Early that morning, Shang Moting had called a department store and provided Lin Ting's height and weight. She had told him her height herself, and as for her weight... he had carried her the night before and could make a rough estimate. The store manager had calculated the sizes, and all the styles were from the latest collection. Wei Zhishu had gone to the store to pick them up that morning.

"Are you going to the hotel?" Shang Moting asked.

Lin Ting shook her head: "No. I’m taking the day off."

Shang Moting nodded and left for work. Once he was gone, Lin Ting returned to the guest room.

A row of new clothes was laid out in front of the door. Lin Ting had to make several trips to bring them all into the room. There were not only clothes but also shoes and jewelry. She spent half the day playing dress-up in her room. By lunchtime, the housekeeper and the chef had arrived. After lunch, Lin Ting decided to head to the hotel anyway; there were too many things left unfinished, and rest was just a fantasy.

...

She was busy all afternoon. Around eight in the evening, Lin Ting prepared to head home. The elevator in the hotel's office area was under maintenance, so she went to the elevator on the residential side. She took it down to the parking garage. As the doors opened, she stepped out, and two men stepped in.

They brushed past each other. Lin Ting walked two steps, then suddenly stopped and turned back toward the elevator. The doors were just closing. She immediately pressed the button, but it was already heading up.

Watching the elevator ascend, Lin Ting immediately pulled out her phone and made a call: "Hotel residential section, elevator number three. Two men in their mid-twenties, one in a black short-sleeved shirt and blue jeans, the other in a gray tracksuit. The elevator is going up, currently at the fifth floor. They smell like they’ve been using drugs. Follow them, don't alert them, and see if they have any accomplices."

The person on the other end acknowledged the order.

Just then, another elevator came down. Lin Ting quickly got on.

As soon as she was inside, a text message from Qin Lü arrived: [A body was found behind the apartment building where Xingxing lives. Identity unknown, not a resident of the complex. The police just took it away.]

Lin Ting pressed the button for the office floor, her expression darkening as she read the message. It was too close to Yin Xing. Was it a coincidence, or were they coming for her? She had been in that area just a few days ago, and now something had happened nearby.

Lin Ting replied: [Keep an eye on that area. Is Yin Xing okay?]

Qin Lü: [She happened to run into it when she came home. She's a bit shaken. I'm taking her back to my place for now. You should come over tonight to check on her.]

Lin Ting: [Okay.]

As the elevator went up, Lin Ting frowned. If they were coming for her, had her whereabouts been exposed that quickly? She had only stayed at Yin Xing’s place for one night since arriving in the capital, and she had already been targeted? She hadn't noticed anyone following her. Who could it be?