C12 This Is What You Did to the Fish

Zhang Xiaodong was utterly insignificant in his eyes, less than the dog he kept at home.

He suspected that this was a challenge orchestrated by Nalan Feifei.

"What if I refuse?" asked Zhang Xiaodong with a mischievous smile.

"Then you're asking for trouble!"

The woman behind him mocked him fearlessly, "Just a broke nobody, don't make life harder for yourself. Cross the wrong person, and you're really asking for trouble!"

"You sure talk a lot," Zhang Xiaodong remarked, his gaze shifting to the woman as he closed in with a smirk.

"What are you planning to do?" Panic flashed in the woman's eyes as she watched Zhang Xiaodong draw nearer.

Zhang Xiaodong flashed a grin, "What do I want to do?"

He then stroked her face right in front of Zhang Liang.

"Tsk tsk, nice features, but the heavy makeup makes you look insincere," Zhang Xiaodong commented unabashedly.

"Get your hands off me, you little punk!" The woman lashed out in anger, swinging at his face.

"Smack!"

Zhang Xiaodong's hand moved swiftly, slapping her across her pale cheek, leaving a vivid imprint.

The woman was both shocked and enraged.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at the man before her, forgetting the intense pain in her face.

"How dare you hit me!" she exclaimed incredulously.

"No, I was merely helping you remove your makeup," Zhang Xiaodong said with a slight smile, delivering another slap to her other cheek.

"Perfect. Now it's symmetrical," he said, pleased with his handiwork.

"Ah! I will kill you!"

The woman finally snapped, screaming hysterically.

Had Zhang Liang not intervened, it might have escalated beyond a mere slap.

Zhang Liang fixed a venomous stare on Zhang Xiaodong, his voice filled with loathing, "You'll regret your foolishness!"

Zhang Liang wasn't your typical rich second generation heir.

He wouldn't make a move without being certain of the outcome. Losing a fight would be disastrous.

His rationality was what kept his temper in check.

"Heh, remember this, I'm Zhang Xiaodong, and I live right here. If you're ever feeling upset, feel free to look me up."

After clapping his hands, Zhang Xiaodong flashed an innocuous grin and strode into the courtyard.

"Alright! I'll remember you!"

Zhang Liang, seething with anger behind him, watched Zhang Xiaodong leave with a dark look in his eyes.

"I'm going to kill him! Brother Zhang, you must get revenge for me!"

The woman, after a brief struggle, collapsed into his arms, sobbing in agony.

She had never been hit by anyone in all her years, except when she was the one doing the hitting.

To be humiliated by some poor nobody today was more than she could stand.

Entering the house in a foul mood, Nalan Feifei was busy preparing dinner. She saw Zhang Xiaodong come in and chose to ignore him, treating him as if he were air.

Yet, she couldn't help feeling a secret surge of delight.

It was his own fault for being so disagreeable.

"Little wretch, trying to play tricks on me," Zhang Xiaodong muttered, eyeing the spread on the dinner table as if he had stumbled upon a treasure trove.

"She knows how to cook?" Incredulous, Zhang Xiaodong approached the table, his mouth watering at the sight of the feast before him, his stomach rumbling in anticipation.

For others, such a simple meal might be nothing special, but for someone like Zhang Xiaodong, who had lived on the brink of death for years, it was an unimaginable luxury.

It had been ages since he last enjoyed the comfort of a home-cooked meal.

The memories of his last such meal were distant and faded.

"At least she has some conscience, not letting my earlier assistance go to waste," Zhang Xiaodong thought, smirking smugly, mistakenly believing that this was Nalan Feifei's way of thanking him.

"Hmm, not bad at all. The flavor's there, but it could've been cooked a touch longer."

He sampled a slice of meat, critiquing it like a food critic.

"Let's see how the minced pork with eggplant turned out."

This had been one of Zhang Xiaodong's all-time favorite dishes.

"The meat lacks texture, and the choice of eggplant could be better; the skin's too tough. I can only give it 80 points."

"Uh... is this supposed to be the famous braised fish?"

Gazing at the fish in the dish, which looked as if it had been through an ordeal, Zhang Xiaodong struggled to reconcile its appearance with the name 'braised fish.'

The fish was in tatters, its skin charred to a crisp, resembling a fish that had suffered radiation rather than the red-braised delicacy it was meant to be. Nalan Feifei, who had been cheerfully humming a tune while bustling about the kitchen, turned to find Zhang Xiaodong seated at the dining table, heartily enjoying the dishes she had painstakingly prepared. A wave of tightness gripped her chest.

Brandishing the knife she had just used for chopping vegetables, she stormed out of the kitchen. "Zhang, what do you think you're doing?" she demanded, her eyes blazing with fury, her complexion ghostly white.

Startled by her sudden appearance, Zhang Xiaodong's hand shook, and he exclaimed, "Whoa, I just had a few bites of your food. No need to bring out the knife, right?" He was clearly bewildered.

"Who gave you permission to touch my food?!" Nalan Feifei was livid. She had left work early to buy groceries and cook, hoping to save some money, only to find that not a single bite was left for her, thanks to this guy who had devoured everything.

Nalan Feifei was strapped for cash, especially after Zhang Xiaodong's constant demands. Once the rent was paid, she was left with barely anything. Aside from her online purchases of skincare products, all she had was a little cash for daily expenses. If not for his relentless squeezing, she wouldn't have resorted to cooking at home—a far cry from the lifestyle befitting a lady of her prestigious background.

"Eh? Wasn't it made for me?" Zhang Xiaodong seemed to have an epiphany. Wiping his mouth, he offered a ludicrous explanation, "I thought you had prepared it for me."

"Why would I do that for you? Can't you fend for yourself?" Nalan Feifei was on the verge of tears from frustration.

"Fine, I'll just compensate you," Zhang Xiaodong relented. He fumbled in his pockets and laid out a few crumpled bills on the table, adding sheepishly, "Uh, this is all I've got left. Blew the rest on drinks last night."

Nalan Feifei's irritation flared at the sight of the measly sum. Was he mocking her intelligence? The total didn't even add up to a hundred yuan—this was his idea of compensation?

"Look, let's not do anything hasty. What if I take you out for a nice dinner tonight? I promise it'll be my treat, and you'll eat well."

Seeing the kitchen knife wavering in her hand, Zhang Xiaodong grew increasingly tense. "Damn, it's just two bites of food. No need to bring a knife into this, right?"

"You!"

Nalan Feifei was both furious and resentful. If only she had known sooner, she would have moved out to avoid the hassle of living with such an unbearable person. It was simply making life difficult for herself.