Chapter 321 Guarding Their Food, Discussing Zheng

Song Ni couldn't quite grasp Tan Zheng's train of thought. How was telling her the steps considered discouraging her? Was she really someone who couldn't accept her own failures? She wasn't some divine being, and learning things didn't happen instantly. It was possible that if she applied herself, her culinary skills would improve by leaps and bounds, and she might even be able to rival Tan Zheng. Hearing Song Ni's constant chatter, Tan Zheng felt an unusual sense of awkwardness. He wished he hadn't said anything. Because she was upset, Song Ni made Tan Zheng drink two large bowls of plain fish soup. She also kept an eye on him, continuing to criticize his earlier behavior. Far from finding Song Ni's nagging bothersome, Tan Zheng actually seemed to relish it. Their interactions were increasingly resembling those of a loving couple. Seeing Tan Zheng smiling instead of annoyed, Song Ni found herself at a loss for words. She didn't feel angry anymore. What was there to be angry about? Looking back, her earlier demeanor in the kitchen must have been quite intimidating, even though her intentions were good. Watching Tan Zheng savor the simple fish soup, a warmth flowed through Song Ni's heart. "You're drinking it like it's some kind of delicacy," Tan Zheng remarked, raising an eyebrow. "Why isn't it? I think this fish soup today is the best thing." For him, anything Song Ni made for him surpassed everything else. As soon as he finished saying this, Song Ni got up and poured the remaining fish soup into a thermos. "We'll take this soup to the hospital later to give some to Xiao Jiang and Huan Yuan." Tan Zheng: ?????? The man frowned displeasurably. "This is the soup you made for me, isn't it? Why are you taking it for them?" Why should his soup be given to those two youngsters? Song Ni found Tan Zheng's possessiveness amusing and endearing. "You've already had two big bowls, isn't that enough?" Tan Zheng knitted his brows, reaching for the thermos in Song Ni's hand. "Not enough." Song Ni: ....... "If you want more, I can cook it for you later." This implied she would still take the soup to Sheng Jiang and Huan Yuan. ...... All the way to the hospital, Tan Zheng's expression wasn't very pleasant, and it turned even fouler the moment they entered Sheng Jiang's hospital room. Huan Yuan had stayed overnight in the room, sleeping on the sofa. Being tall with long legs, he hadn't slept comfortably. Sheng Jiang, despite being in considerable pain himself, chuckled as he watched Huan Yuan's uncomfortable sleep. "You have a proper bed at home, why are you staying here to sleep uncomfortably?" Huan Yuan was someone who rarely showed his emotions. Yesterday, he had beaten someone half to death for Sheng Jiang, yet today he couldn't muster any words of thanks or concern for Sheng Jiang. He reached up to rub his neck, moving his stiff muscles. Seeing Huan Yuan remain silent, Sheng Jiang felt a bit foolish and turned to Tan Zheng and Song Ni. "Tan Ge, Ni Jie, you're here?" Song Ni stepped forward and placed the thermos aside. The caregiver had already set up the small table on the bed. Sheng Jiang watched as Song Ni poured the fish soup from the thermos. For a moment, he felt hungry too. Song Ni also poured a bowl for Huan Yuan. Sheng Jiang, having only broken one hand, was still quite agile with his other. Smelling the aroma, he eagerly picked up his spoon and took a sip. He frowned, disbelieving, and took another sip. It still didn't taste right. Sheng Jiang looked up at Huan Yuan and noticed no discernible expression on his face. Tsk, logically, anything Ni Jie brought should be the best. Why was this fish soup so ordinary today? Sheng Jiang sensed something was amiss but couldn't pinpoint what it was. His mouth moved faster than his brain. "Ni Jie, where did you buy this soup? It tastes very average." Song Ni: ...... Tan Zheng: ...... "Is it because foreign fish soup doesn't taste good? That's odd. I've had some delicious Chinese food from various restaurants lately, and they were all excellent." Hearing this, Tan Zheng frowned and kicked the bed. Fortunately, the hospital bed was quite sturdy, and the kick only caused a slight jolt, not even spilling the soup in the bowls. However, with Sheng Jiang's injuries, even this slight movement was enough to make him feel pain. "You should be grateful to have something to drink. Why are you being so picky?" He had only drunk two bowls, and this brat dared to be dissatisfied? Sheng Jiang: ?????? What had he done? He had merely commented that the fish soup was ordinary, and now he had angered Tan Ge? Sheng Jiang looked at Song Ni, wanting to ask if Tan Ge had taken the wrong medicine today, as he seemed to have such a temper upon entering. But he noticed Song Ni's expression was also unusual. Song Ni appeared somewhat embarrassed. "Ahem, I made this." With a clatter, his spoon fell back into the bowl, splashing the fish soup gently. Sheng Jiang: ....... It's over. Had he offended both of them in an instant? Sheng Jiang didn't know how to react. Suddenly, he remembered that someone else in the room had also drunk the fish soup. He looked up abruptly at Huan Yuan and saw that the usually composed Huan Yuan had also coughed upon hearing Song Ni's words. Huan Yuan held his soup bowl tightly. Fortunately, he wasn't too demanding about food and wasn't very talkative, which saved him from uttering something foolish. Huan Yuan pondered for a moment, then looked at Tan Zheng, whose expression was extremely sour. He quickly finished the remaining fish soup in his bowl. He looked at Sheng Jiang. "I think it's quite good." "......" Sheng Jiang, realizing his mistake belatedly, quickly used his single good hand to finish the fish soup in his bowl. "My mouth was numb earlier, so I couldn't taste anything. Now I feel this fish soup is also very delicious." Song Ni was amused by Sheng Jiang and Huan Yuan's reactions. Tan Zheng, however, still looked displeased, convinced that these two youngsters had stolen his share. "Alright, I know it's just ordinary. You don't need to praise it so much. I was just trying my hand at cooking for the first time, and I wanted you all to have a taste. The flavor might not be the best, but it's nutritious. Drink it if you want, leave it if you don't." Before they could respond, Tan Zheng let out a heavy snort. Sheng Jiang: ...... Huan Yuan: ...... "Drink up, drink up! Why aren't you drinking! I'm starving." Saying this, Sheng Jiang wanted to pour himself another bowl, but he only had one hand and couldn't do it. He looked at the foolishly standing Huan Yuan and imperiously ordered, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and pour for me!" Huan Yuan glanced at Sheng Jiang. Seeing his miserable state with one broken hand and one broken leg, all because he had saved Huan Yuan, he overlooked Sheng Jiang's tone and stepped forward to pour him a large bowl. Sheng Jiang let out a sigh. "Don't give it all to me. You drink some too." He couldn't be the only one... Cough cough... Huan Yuan knew what he was thinking and poured the remaining soup into his own bowl. Watching them finish, Tan Zheng's expression remained sour. Song Ni, on the other hand, felt much happier. It wasn't because they had finished the soup she cooked, but because of the rather endearing reactions they had shown towards Tan Zheng. 70