shuhaige
Chapter 73
Chapter 73
He was famished too.
Once upon a time, a chef was always at hand in the villa. But since Madison’s arrival, Ethan had dismissed the chef.
After all, with a woman in the house, the presence of a male chef was inconvenient, subjecting him to midnight hunger pangs.
Madison approached the fridge, swung the door open, “What’re you in the mood for?”
Ethan strolled up behind her, peering into the icy glow with her.
After a silence, he offered, “I’m easy. Whatever you make, I’ll eat.”
Madison turned with a quirk of her brow, “Instant noodles, okay?”
Ethan, hardly the instant food type, braced himself, “…Sure. I’ll eat anything you cook.”
son returned her gaze to the fridge, grabbing a few vegetables,
out of the way.”
“What for?” Ethan sensed she wouldn’t settle for mere instant
noodles.
With sleeves rolled, Madison prepped to cook, “You can’t cook. So why be in the kitchen?”
Ethan’s brow furrowed, “Madison is your memory that short? I’ve cooked for you before, remember?”
“…Ah.”
Indeed, that had happened.
But Madison didn’t give him the chance to interject further, simply
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instructing, “If you can, then help by washing the veggies.”
She was quite commanding when she wanted to be.
Madison handled the fresh meat, her pilot-trained hands skillful with a knife.
While she was busy, a burning gaze caught her attention.
With a slight turn of her head, she locked onto Ethan’s deep, amused eyes. Seeing her notice, he raised an eyebrow, “Yes?”
Ethan’s hands kept working, snapping the veggies with a crispness that echoed Madison’s racing heart.
His gaze was magnetic, almost pulling her into its depths.
“Why gaze at me while plucking vegetables?”
Having finished with the bok choy, Ethan handed it to her while
leaning casually against the counter, eyes sincere: “Familiar with the core socialist values?”
The question was unexpected.
Yet Madison responded almost reflexively, “Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, rule of law, patriotism, dedication, integrity, friendship.”
Rattled off without a hitch.
And then?
Ethan smiled, “Freedom means respect for rationality, and equality is about the rights of persons. So…”
Madison was puzzled but waited patiently.
“I watch because I want to, I just want to watch you.”
20
Her heart thundered in response.
Madison pinched the fresh meat on the cutting board.
What could she say?
He had played the card of core socialist values!
“Alright, enjoy your freedom.”
After pondering his reasoning, Madison couldn’t help but laugh.
Watching her laugh, Ethan joined in
But in the next moment, Madison stepped closer, their gazes clashing, “Take your time, take a good look.”
Ethan’s eyelid twitched, but it was fleeting.
He took her seriously.
He tilted his head, “Madison, shall I get you a beauty card?”
“???” Madison’s eyes widened, “You think my skin is bad?”
“Not at all,” he clarified, “It’s so good it deserves the best care.”
His compliments were so…
Unconventional.
“Stop talking. Go rest. I’m about to cook,” Madison ended the banter.
She knew she couldn’t outmatch him.
“Nope,” Ethan stood firm.
Madison turned serious, “Do you believe I’d hit you?”
Ethan straightened leisurely, “I’m not afraid of pain, go ahead.”
Ultimately, she managed to shoo Ethan out of the kitchen.
Too much of a meddler.
Not just in her cooking, but also a bit…
Distracting to her emotions?
However, the peace lasted only a moment before Ethan returned.
Madison: “…
With a sigh, she asked, “What now?
“Just keeping you company.”
Leaning on the kitchen counter, arms folded, Ethan simply watched,
her.
Confronted with his expression, Madison hesitated, “I apologize for what I said earlier, it wasn’t appropriate.”
Ethan blinked, “Which part?”
“When I asked if you believe I’d dare hit you.” Madison regretted it, after all, he was her superior.
Ethan clearly didn’t take it to heart, and as he strolled over, brushing past her to open the fridge, grabbing a bottle of mineral water.
Taking a sip with a mischievous glimmer in his eyes, he said, “Small spats, no big deal.”
Madison gave him another glance.
Interpreting his words as a reminder to moderate her actions, she assured, “I won’t cause you any trouble.”
Unexpectedly, Ethan set the bottle down, voice deepening, “Big
troubles, lean on me.”
Só, she was free to follow her heart, in minor and major matters
alike.
The meal Madison cooked had her nerves in knots.
By the time they sat down, it was well past midnight.
With communal chopsticks, Ethan served her effortlessly, “You’ve put in the work, help yourself to more.”
You’ve worked hard…
That acknowledgment, rarely heard outside of the control tower,
held significant weight to Madison.
Unable to resist, she smiled sweetly, “It wasn’t hard at all.”
Throughout the meal, Ethan occasionally inquired about her job, refraining from any teasing.
end of their meal, dawn was near.
her to the expansive balcony, offering a grander vista than
one below.
“What is this?” Madison gazed at a corner near the balcony door.
Ethan sat down, “Don’t recognize the God of Wealth?”
“I do, but…”
She hadn’t expected Ethan to worship the deity, let alone affix couplets to his shrine.
“I wrote these, like the look?” Ethan asked with a chuckle!
Madison scanned the couplets and took a deep breath.
The first line: To reap without sowing, basking in success.
The second line: To ascend to heaven in one step without merit.
Horizontal script: Wishes fulfilled.
Bluntly put indeed.
“They’re well-written,” said Madison, taking a seat opposite him.
Ethan chuckled, “Michael called me shameless when he saw them.”
Madison swiftly shook her head, “Not at all. It’s just that…”
She paused, and the man leaned back, waiting.
“They’re just not as direct as yours.
At that, Ethan laughed out loud.
His laughter welcomed the sunrise
“Hey, Madison,” he called her.
o hint of sleepiness, she shifted her gaze from the dawn to his
“You once said the city of Haisu is perfect for proposals, is that true?
Madison felt as if her blood had stopped flowing.
After a long moment, she answered, “That’s what I’ve heard.”
Tapping the armrest rhythmically Ethan suddenly smiled, “Maybe President Grant should take you there for a tour sometime?”