While washing the ingredients with care, Xu Mey was solely focused on the work at hand. She had asked all the servants to get everything ready in the garden. Because she didn't need their help in the kitchen.
"Why don't you spend some time with your mother-in-law?" Fan Bingbing's voice made Xu Mey halt for a second before she resumed her movements.
"You heard what dad said?" She wasn't really asking since she knew the answer already. Fan Bingbing only pretended not to know what they were discussing in the hallway.
"Haiz! She seems like a nice lady. I think she'll love to have a bond with her only daughter-in-law." Xu Mey pretended like she wasn't paying attention but in reality, she understood Fan Bingbing's meaning very well. Fan Bingbing held Xu Mey's hand and turned her body so that they stood facing each other as she continued, "Do you love Jie?"
Xu Mey frowned a bit but still nodded her head. "Then love the woman who gave him birth as well. You don't need a mother-daughter bond with her that's your choice but there has to be a bond between you two... Not just for your sake... For Jie's sake as well..."
Xu Mey bit her lip trying to ponder over her words before she nodded, "I'll try my best, Auntie."
Fan Bingbing caressed her cheek lovingly and said, "That's like my girl."
Unbeknownst to both women, Jie was standing right outside the kitchen door listening to their conversation. Although he wasn't going to pressurize Xu Mey about anything, he still wished that his wife would also be like a daughter to his own mother.
Seeing that both ladies went back to their own work, he entered the kitchen and announced, "Baby, look your husband is here to help you."
He was putting on a kitchen apron when Xu Mey rolled her eyes at him. "Ah-Jie, don't joke around right now. Let me work."
"I'm also here to help you," he argued. "Isn't that why I learned to cook? Just so that I can help my wife."
"Yes, yes... But right now, you'll just be a distraction for me." Xu Mey said it straightforwardly making Jie chuckle. "Go out... and if you want to really help, just go and call Jun. Tell him to get here ASAP!"
Her urging words actually lit up the bulb in his mind as he understood why this dinner party was happening so promptly. It was all for Jun's sake. Jie couldn't help but smile to himself at his wife's thoughtfulness.
Seeing that Fan Bingbing's back was towards them, Jie picked up some ingredients and placed them before her on the counter saying, "Baby, these five carrots are for you. And take these 2 onions as well. Look this empty pot is also for you. There is nothing in it... Zero."
Xu Mey creased her brows as she pushed these things away in annoyance and said, "Ah-Jie, what are you doing? Stop touching my ingredients."
While Xu Mey was scowling, Jie was brooding over her being dense. But a certain someone was finally unable to hold back her laughter and bouts of laughter rang in the huge kitchen. "Sorry!" Fan Bingbing apologized as she turned to them. "Jie, I didn't know you're such a romantic person. But you really have a dense wife. Try harder." Jie could only nod in agreement while Fan Bingbing looked at Xu Mey and knocked on her head saying, "My silly girl, he's saying, 'I love you'. How can you be so dense?"
"When did he say that? And why didn't I hear it?" Xu Mey didn't like being called dense so easily.
"Aiyoh! Look five carrots, 2 onions, and an empty pot equals to 520. Meaning I love you!" Saying that Fan Bingbing tousled her hair and walked out of the kitchen to give them some privacy not before saying, "I'll be back in five minutes."
"Ah-Jie, how can you say that before Auntie?" Xu Mey glared at him since she felt embarrassed.
"What's wrong with that? I'm telling my wife that I love her." He answered righteously.
"Then you could have said it straightforwardly. Why play with carrots?" Obviously, she wouldn't understand such indirect words.
"How would I know that my wife won't take the hint?" Seeing her huffing and puffing, he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and propped his chin on her shoulder as he continued, "Thank you!"
"For what?" Xu Mey asked inquisitively.
"For doing all this just to make Jun feel happy." Xu Mey pressed her lips together at being caught. She thought if she played differently, her motive won't be clear but she really couldn't hide anything from him.
"Well... I have to do it... Jun Li Na is not here and I know she needs time. So while she's taking her time, I can just help my little brother. He needs to cheer up and I'm here just for that."
Xu Mey already knew that her husband was worried about his brother. Even if Jun said he's fine, it won't change the fact that he was hurt badly. Xu Mey didn't want him to cope up with everything all by himself. She needed Ye Jun to see that there was a bunch of people willing to stand by his side.