Chapter 51: Be My Cook

He withdrew his hand, and as he watched Ji Tianxin finish eating, her smile brought a gentle relaxation to his own brow.

After tasting the candied fruit that Sikou Yan had given her, Ji Tianxin found the flavor delightful. She reached for another from the plate and ate it on her own.

“If you like them, I’ll have someone pack some for you to take home,” Sikou Yan said, noticing a trace of syrup at the corner of her lips. Instinctively, he raised his hand and gently wiped it away.

From a distance, it looked as if an elder brother was caring for his younger sister.

Sikou Yan withdrew his hand, looking at her with indulgent affection as she smiled softly.

Ji Tianxin blinked at him. “Thank you.”

“You haven’t told me your name yet,” Sikou Yan prompted, already raising his hand to instruct the servants to wrap up the candied fruit.

“My name is Ji Tianxin,” she replied, her voice slow and measured.

Now that she was full, she began to ponder how she might persuade this man to become her cook.

Ji Tianxin...

The name lingered on Sikou Yan’s tongue for a moment. He smiled as he looked at her. “I am Sikou Yan. You may call me Yan.”

The youth’s voice was clear as jade, like a flowing stream passing by one’s ear—pleasant and pure.

“Could you cook for me?” Ji Tianxin asked. “Be my chef. Whatever you wish for, I can give you.”

She spoke as if she had recited these words many times before, though in this life, it was her first time uttering them.

She truly appreciated his culinary skill.

Not far away, Lin Si nearly choked on his food upon hearing this.

What??

This young girl actually dared to ask the prince to be her chef??

Sikou Yan raised an eyebrow slightly. “I can.”

Lin Si was even more stunned. The prince said what???

He can??!!

He lost all appetite, staring blankly at Ji Tianxin and Sikou Yan.

Su Qing looked over as well, puzzled and a little surprised.

Sikou Yan smiled. “But what I mean is, you may eat whatever I make. You can come and eat whenever you wish. However, I cannot leave with you.”

Ji Tianxin understood and nodded. “That’s fine.”

She was not someone who forced her will upon others; she respected their choices.

Besides, bringing someone along would always be inconvenient.

A glimmer of light flashed in Sikou Yan’s deep eyes as he gazed at the child before him. An unfamiliar ripple stirred in his heart.

He found himself caring so much for a child...

“Lin Si, bring me my token,” he suddenly instructed.

Lin Si immediately came over and presented the token.

Sikou Yan handed it to Ji Tianxin. “This is the token of my residence. If ever you wish to taste my cooking, simply come to the Prince Rong’s mansion and find me.”

Ji Tianxin held the token—its palm-sized weight seemed enormous in her small hand.

“Anytime?” she asked, a faint smile curving her lips.

Sikou Yan’s brow knit slightly, then he replied, “If I am not present, I will let you know in advance.”

Ji Tianxin called Su Qing over and put the token away.

She looked at Sikou Yan. “Alright.”

Sikou Yan was in high spirits—in fact, he hadn’t felt such joy in a very long time.

“Tianxin...” He had just uttered her name, but as the syllables left his lips, he suddenly felt as if he were frozen in place.

Tianxin... Tianxin...

Why did this name feel so... familiar?

“Hmm?” Ji Tianxin frowned slightly. “Were you calling me?”