Chapter 52: Young Master

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Young Master

When Huo Jingchen entered the kitchen, Xi Yunxui was already waiting for him.

She turned at the sound of his footsteps and immediately smiled.

"Young Master, you’re here."

Huo Jingchen nodded and followed her deeper into the kitchen.

The kitchen was spacious, bright, and spotless, with a long dining table positioned near the windows. It was separate enough from the main dining room to provide privacy, yet comfortable enough for someone to have a proper meal there.

Xi Yunxui pulled out a chair for him.

"Please sit here. It won’t take long."

Huo Jingchen sat down.

Xi Yunxui then returned to the kitchen counter, where several containers of prepared ingredients were neatly arranged.

She had already done most of the work earlier.

The vegetables had been washed and chopped, the meat had been cleaned and seasoned, and the sauces had been prepared.

She had originally considered cooking everything before Madam Huo’s gathering ended.

But then she thought about it.

If she cooked Huo Jingchen’s meal at that time, it would probably be cold by the time he returned from his meeting.

So she had simply prepared everything in advance.

All she needed to do now was cook it.

Xi Yunxui glanced over her shoulder.

"Young Master, please wait for a little while. I’ve already prepared everything, so it shouldn’t take long."

Huo Jingchen’s lips curved faintly.

"No problem."

He leaned back comfortably.

At that moment, there was a tiny movement beside him.

King C climbed onto the chair.

Then onto the edge of the dining table.

He looked around.

Satisfied that nobody was stopping him, the little white creature sat down directly on the table and stared at Huo Jingchen.

Huo Jingchen looked at him.

King C looked back.

Neither moved.

A strange silence settled between the man and the little creature.

Huo Jingchen raised an eyebrow.

King C narrowed his golden eyes.

It was almost as if the two were silently sizing each other up.

After a few seconds, King C turned his head away arrogantly.

Huo Jingchen’s lips twitched.

So this is the creature that has been causing her so much trouble.

He had already seen enough of King C to know that the little fellow was far from an ordinary animal.

Yet somehow, watching him sit proudly on the table as though he owned the entire kitchen was almost amusing.

Meanwhile, Xi Yunxui had begun cooking.

She moved around the kitchen with practiced ease.

She picked up a pan.

Added the ingredients.

Stirred.

Adjusted the flame.

Moved to another stove.

Checked another dish.

Added seasoning.

The entire process was smooth and natural.

Huo Jingchen initially tried to focus on his phone.

He really did.

But after less than a minute, his gaze drifted away from the screen.

Toward her.

Xi Yunxui was standing with her back partially turned toward him, her hair tied neatly behind her head as she concentrated on the food.

There was something strangely peaceful about watching her.

Huo Jingchen’s eyes softened.

He didn’t understand the feeling.

It wasn’t simply attraction.

At least, that was what he told himself.

It was something warmer.

Deeper.

Something that made the kitchen feel more comfortable simply because she was in it.

His gaze lingered for several seconds before he realized what he was doing.

He quickly looked back down at his phone.

A moment later, his attention drifted toward her again.

Then back to his phone.

Then toward her.

Eventually, even Huo Jingchen had to admit that his phone was doing absolutely nothing to hold his attention.

What’s happening to me?

He frowned faintly.

Xi Yunxui, completely unaware of his internal struggle, continued cooking.

The aroma gradually filled the kitchen.

Soon, the final dish was ready.

Xi Yunxui switched off the stove and carefully arranged everything onto plates.

She checked the presentation one last time before carrying the dishes to the table.

"Young Master, your meal is ready."

She placed each dish neatly in front of him.

The food was still steaming.

The aroma was rich and inviting.

Huo Jingchen looked at the meal, then at Xi Yunxui.

"Thank you."

Xi Yunxui smiled.

"You’re welcome."

She stepped aside and stood respectfully beside the table.

Huo Jingchen picked up his chopsticks.

But before he could take the first bite, he looked up.

"Why are you standing?"

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"I’m serving you, Young Master."

"You’ve already served me."

He gestured toward the chair opposite him.

"Sit."

Xi Yunxui hesitated for half a second.

"Young Master, I—"

"Sit."

His tone wasn’t harsh.

If anything, it was unusually gentle.

Xi Yunxui nodded.

"All right."

She walked over and sat down.

Unfortunately, she chose the chair farthest away from him.

Huo Jingchen stared at her.

His eyes moved from her face to the empty chairs between them.

Something inside him sank slightly.

He didn’t understand why.

She had done nothing wrong.

In fact, she was simply being respectful.

She was his employee.

He was the eldest young master of the Huo family.

Naturally, she would maintain a certain distance.

That was perfectly normal.

So why did he feel disappointed?

Huo Jingchen silently picked up his chopsticks.

Then he noticed something.

There was nothing in front of Xi Yunxui.

His brows furrowed.

"Aren’t you eating?"

Xi Yunxui immediately shook her head.

"No, Young Master. I’m not hungry."

The moment she finished speaking—

Grrrrrrr...

Silence.

Xi Yunxui froze.

Huo Jingchen froze.

Even King C stopped nibbling his carrot.

Xi Yunxui’s eyes widened.

Her face slowly turned red.

Oh, no.

She lowered her head.

Please let the ground swallow me.

She wished she could disappear through the floor.

She had just claimed she wasn’t hungry.

And her stomach had immediately betrayed her.

Huo Jingchen turned his face slightly.

His shoulders moved.

A quiet chuckle escaped him.

Xi Yunxui looked up.

"Young Master..."

"I’m sorry."

His voice was suspiciously amused.

Xi Yunxui’s cheeks grew even warmer.

Huo Jingchen composed himself and looked at her.

"Come and sit here."

He pointed to the chair beside him.

"Eat with me."

Xi Yunxui stared at him.

Was he serious?

She studied his expression carefully.

There was no teasing in his eyes.

He genuinely wanted her to eat.

"Young Master, are you sure?"

"Yes."

Xi Yunxui hesitated before finally nodding.

"All right."

She stood up, went to wash another pair of chopsticks, took a clean plate, and returned.

This time, she sat beside him.

Not too close.

But certainly much closer than before.

Huo Jingchen’s mood immediately improved.

The change was so sudden that even he noticed it.

Why am I this happy just because she moved one seat closer?

He didn’t have an answer.

Before he could think about it further, a small voice interrupted them.

"Hey."

Xi Yunxui turned.

King C was sitting on the table with one paw raised.

He looked deeply offended.

"Are you seriously going to eat without me?"

Xi Yunxui closed her eyes.

Of course.

She should have known.

King C continued indignantly.

"I’m hungry."

Huo Jingchen looked at the little creature.

Then at Xi Yunxui.

Xi Yunxui sighed deeply.

"Haah..."

She rubbed her forehead.

Here we go again.

"Wait."

She reached toward the side and retrieved two carrots she had already washed earlier.

She had separated them specifically for King C.

Unfortunately, she’d never imagined that the creature would disappear into the villa and cause trouble before she had the chance to feed him.

She placed the carrots in front of him.

"Here."

King C stared at the carrots.

His golden eyes immediately brightened.

They were clean.

Fresh.

Shiny.

He looked at Xi Yunxui.

"Thank you."

Then he immediately began nibbling.

Crunch.

Crunch.

Crunch.

Xi Yunxui shook her head.

"Honestly..."

She returned to her seat.

Soon, she and Huo Jingchen began eating.

For a while, neither spoke.

The kitchen became quiet except for the occasional clink of chopsticks against plates and the soft crunching sounds coming from King C.

Xi Yunxui ate quietly.

Huo Jingchen ate quietly too.

But every now and then, his eyes drifted toward her.

He would look at her face for a second or two before returning his attention to his food.

Then, a few moments later, his gaze would drift toward her again.

Xi Yunxui eventually noticed.

But she didn’t say anything.

She simply continued eating.

There was something strangely comfortable about the silence.

No awkward conversation.

No unnecessary words.

Just two people sharing a meal.

For Huo Jingchen, that simple moment felt unexpectedly precious.

He couldn’t explain why.

He simply knew that he liked it.

A lot.

Eventually, they finished eating.

Xi Yunxui placed her chopsticks down and began gathering the plates.

She stood.

"I’ll clear everything."

Huo Jingchen immediately moved to help.

"I’ll—"

"No, Young Master."

Xi Yunxui turned toward him.

Her response came quickly, but her voice remained respectful.

"You don’t have to help me. Please leave it to me."

Huo Jingchen stopped.

She continued gently.

"This is something I can handle. You’re the eldest young master of the family. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to let you do this."

There was nothing wrong with what she said.

In fact, from her perspective, she was simply doing her job.

She respected him.

She respected the position he held in the Huo family.

And she had no intention of treating her employer casually simply because he had been kind to her.

But Huo Jingchen didn’t hear it that way.

His expression remained calm.

Yet something inside him cooled.

She doesn’t want me to help.

The rational part of his mind immediately corrected him.

She’s being respectful.

He knew that.

He understood that.

But another, far less reasonable part of him whispered—

She’s keeping her distance.

His mood subtly changed.

He didn’t become angry.

He didn’t glare.

He simply became quieter.

The warmth that had been present in his eyes moments ago faded slightly.

Xi Yunxui didn’t notice at first.

She carried the plates to the counter and began cleaning.

When she eventually finished, she wiped her hands and looked toward Huo Jingchen.

He was still sitting at the dining table.

She blinked.

She had assumed he would have already left.

"Young Master?"

Huo Jingchen looked up.

"Is there anything else you need?"

It was an innocent question.

She was genuinely asking.

But somehow, his mind interpreted it differently.

Is there anything else you need?

His irrational thoughts twisted the words.

She wants me to leave.

She doesn’t want me here anymore.

His expression became even more unreadable.

"No."

He stood.

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"Young Master?"

Huo Jingchen didn’t answer.

He simply walked past her.

His footsteps weren’t hurried.

His face was perfectly composed.

But Xi Yunxui watched him go with a faint crease between her brows.

Something was wrong.

She could tell.

She had spent enough time around him recently to recognize the subtle changes in his mood.

Did I say something wrong?

She replayed their conversation in her mind.

Nothing seemed unusual.

She had merely told him she could clear the plates herself.

Then she had asked whether he needed anything else.

That was normal, wasn’t it?

Xi Yunxui stared after him.

"What’s wrong with Young Master?"

She couldn’t understand it.

And what she didn’t know was that Huo Jingchen was asking himself almost exactly the same question.

Only his question was different.

Why does it bother me so much when she keeps her distance?

And, more frighteningly—

Why do I want her to treat me differently from everyone else?