Chapter 39: The Bai-Bai Couple Won't Break Up

Yu Baichuan set down the bottle of mineral water and slowly rose to his feet.

Ma Xu hesitated for a moment and asked, “Are you going to the restroom, Professor Yu?”

“No, I’m going to the kitchen.”

Quan Hao, noticing this, forced a smile and said, “What are you going to do in the kitchen, Professor Yu? Don’t tell me you’re going to help out? I never would have guessed that someone as busy as you, who hardly ever goes home, actually knows how to cook.”

Yu Baichuan glanced at him, unwilling to waste words, and headed toward the kitchen.

But Quan Hao grabbed his arm with a less-than-kind tone: “Professor Yu, maybe you’d better not. I’ve heard some people only make more trouble trying to help. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse; I just want to eat as soon as possible, so please, don’t get in the way!”

“If you want to eat right away, you shouldn’t be stopping me,” Yu Baichuan replied coolly.

The moment he finished speaking, Li Wanbai took two steps back and poked her head out from the kitchen, her bright, limpid eyes blinking as she stared intently at Yu Baichuan.

Yu Baichuan chuckled softly and strode over.

Li Wanbai muttered, “You always used to help me before. Now, all of a sudden, I have to cook by myself and I honestly don’t know how.”

During the holidays, Yu Baichuan and Su Chengzi would always come to her home. But Su Chengzi was a disaster in the kitchen—she’d turn it upside down if she set foot inside—so the kitchen was strictly off-limits to her. Cooking always fell to Yu Baichuan and Li Wanbai together.

Perhaps reminded of past times, Yu Baichuan’s gaze softened with a hint of nostalgia, and he couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you sure we cooked together? Wasn’t it more me cooking while you watched from the side?”

Li Wanbai, slightly embarrassed, bit her lip. “That’s only because you never let me touch anything! Otherwise, I’d cook better than you now! I’d put those New East young chefs to shame!”

“All right, all right, young chef, hand me the knife. Why don’t you go beat some eggs?” Yu Baichuan’s lips quirked up in a faint smile, and a trace of curiosity flickered in his eyes as he looked at Li Wanbai.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that this Li Wanbai was somehow different from before—or perhaps, she was simply too much the same as she once was. So much so that it unsettled him.

A heart that had lain dormant for so long couldn’t help but stir for her once more.

As the tips of Li Wanbai’s hair swayed before his eyes, Yu Baichuan instinctively reached out, intending a playful gesture, but something made him freeze, the smile slipping from his face.

[Everyone, it’s official—these two are way too close!]

[Husbands and wives cooking together in the kitchen—cliché, maybe, but it’s so heartwarming. How many families can even manage that these days?]

[Delicious, delicious! I’m eating this up!]

[Why didn’t I notice before how good these two look together?]

[Of course! They’re both top-tier in the entertainment industry—no one else even comes close!]

[I’ve criticized Li Wanbai’s acting, her EQ, her character, but I’ve never had anything to say about her looks.]

[Seriously? Even cooking together is trending now? Is the old drama not working, so now it’s time to hype up the couple again?]

[I can already imagine what kind of press release Sunny Entertainment is going to put out next.]

[This kind of forced couple-hype is just getting old.]

[What, you can’t stand a real couple? Even if your idol divorced LWB, it’s not like he’d marry you. Get real!]

[What’s wrong with hyping up a couple when they’re actually married? If you think this is forced, you clearly haven’t seen LWB on variety shows before—she never goes three sentences without mentioning YBC, it’s so cringey!]

[As long as she puts in the effort for me, I’m happy!]

[……]

Yu Baichuan quietly lowered his hand again. Li Wanbai, distracted by the sound of running water, didn’t notice, and the barrage of comments kept the internet busy, so no one caught the moment. When he looked up, he met Quan Hao’s gaze through the glass. Quan Hao grinned and quickly walked into the kitchen.

Yu Baichuan felt a pang of unease, darted forward to block him, but was a step too late.

Quan Hao squeezed in regardless, his smile broad. “So, what are you making? Need any help?”

“We’re doing scrambled eggs with tomatoes, sautéed pork with zucchini, and I thought I’d make a soup—there are five of us, after all. I’ll also make a little millet porridge for Ye Xiruo,” Li Wanbai replied offhandedly.

No matter how much she disliked Ye Xiruo, she had to remember the woman was still a human being. Besides, she hadn’t yet figured out what exactly was going on between herself and Mu Sang, and with the cameras rolling, whipping up some millet porridge to gain good favor seemed worthwhile.

Something stormy flickered deep in Quan Hao’s eyes, and he let out a self-mocking laugh. “You’re right, you and she—of course you should look after her.”

His voice was so soft that only the three in the kitchen heard; not even the cameraman caught it, let alone the audience.

Li Wanbai’s guard shot up. Why did he sound so loaded with meaning?

Then she recalled what Su Chengzi had told her about Quan Hao confessing his feelings. She glanced at Yu Baichuan, trying her best not to show her unease. For some reason, she felt as if she’d been caught in the act.

She wasn’t sure if Yu Baichuan himself knew about it, but since Su Chengzi did, it probably wouldn’t be hard to find out.

Li Wanbai quietly shifted a step closer to Yu Baichuan, who seemed to sense something and looked up at her.

Li Wanbai flashed him a bright smile, as if to say: Even now, my heart still belongs to you! Brothers for life!

Yu Baichuan’s heart skipped a beat, his gaze wandering as he turned back to finish slicing the tomatoes he’d left undone.

The kitchen, which had just moments before felt warm and intimate, instantly became a chaotic scene—Quan Hao’s presence alone seemed to throw everything off. He was chatty, his hands uncoordinated, and several times nearly knocked the pan onto Yu Baichuan.

Unable to stand it any longer, Li Wanbai raised her voice. “Anyone with no kitchen experience, get out! This isn’t your place! Go wait for dinner!”

“Come on, those were just accidents. I’m actually a great cook!” Quan Hao clung to the doorframe, calling out, unwilling to give up. “Give me another chance! Besides, it’s not proper for a man and woman to be alone in a room together—it wouldn’t look good if word got out.”

Li Wanbai burst out laughing in exasperation. “Do you even hear yourself? Yu Baichuan and I are married—what’s wrong with being in a room together? We even sleep in the same bed!”

Only after speaking did she realize what she’d just said, rubbing her reddening ear uncomfortably.

Oh no, looks like she’d blurted out her true feelings in a moment of excitement.

But who could blame her? Who wouldn’t want to share a bed with a six-foot-one, eight-pack-abs heartthrob? Even if they just lay there and chatted, it’d be a total win.

A handsome man lifts my spirits; an ugly one shortens my life.

Yu Baichuan coughed lightly, a little embarrassed himself.

As for Quan Hao, he was so infuriated by her shameless words that he stormed off.

[I’m done for; I’m totally a fan of this couple now.]

[Haven’t they been married for ten years? Why do they still act like a young couple?]

[What’s that saying? Someone who really loves you will always see you as a child. Both of them seem to think the other hasn’t grown up!]

[So sweet! So sweet!]

That night, a trending hashtag titled “Baibai Couple Never Breaks Up” remained at the top of the charts for three days.