The Engineer Falls for His Sweet-Scented Maid - Chapter 44: Somewhere I Want to Take You

Huai put down the half-washed greens and shook the water from his hands.

“Mom, if you keep talking, we’ll be eating raw vegetables for lunch.” He took a dry towel and wiped his hands, feigning impatience.

He strode to her side, placed a broad hand on her shoulder, and gently but firmly steered her toward the kitchen door.

With the other hand, he caught Nianhe’s arm as naturally as could be.

His palm was broad and warm. Through the thin fabric of her blue floral blouse, his lightly callused fingers pressed securely against her skin.

Before she could react, he was drawing her outside too.

Guilty alarm surged through her. Afraid Huizhen would notice something, she struggled to pull free.

Instead of letting go, Huai tightened his fingers and ushered both women through the door.

“Just wait outside for your meal.”

He stood in the doorway as he said it.

His face was stern. The words sounded as though they were meant for Huizhen, but his dark gaze rested squarely on Nianhe’s scarlet ears.

One instruction, meant for them both.

The same force that allowed no refusal.

The kitchen door shut firmly with a bang.

Standing in the corridor with her fan, Huizhen stared at the closed door and laughed in exasperation. “That brat. A few words from me and he gets a temper. Now he even dares throw his mother out.”

She shook her head and turned to Nianhe. “All right. Since he wants to show off, let him get on with it. Come and rest in the sitting room. The heat is dreadful.”

Nianhe murmured assent, her hands clasped before her. His heat seemed to linger on her arm.

Just wait for your meal.

The words circled through her mind.

Behind the water tower, he had made her acknowledge that they were going out together.

Now, in this discreet way, he had drawn her under his protection.

She followed Huizhen to the sitting room.

From the kitchen came the light, steady rhythm of chopping.

Huai had known his own mind since childhood.

He could not only cook; he cooked extremely well. He had insisted on learning in junior high school.

Wanshan and Huizhen had not understood. With a domestic helper in the house, why should a man learn to cook?

Huai saw it differently.

He hated depending on anyone in any form, even for something as small as a meal.

He wanted complete independence, control over every part of his life firmly in his own hands.

Now he wore his white short-sleeved shirt slightly open at the collar, its hem tucked into his crisp trousers.

The knife moved swiftly in his hand. Whether cutting strips or slices, his movements were clean and sure.

Hot oil sizzled in the wok. The scent of scallion and ginger burst through the kitchen.

He worked methodically at the stove, his tall figure conveying a reassuring strength.

A little over half an hour later, the door opened.

Huai emerged carrying two steaming dishes.

One was braised hairtail, glossy red-brown in a rich sauce. The other was stir-fried bok choy, brilliantly green.

Next came a large bowl of fragrant crucian carp and tofu soup.

At the table, Huizhen breathed in the aroma. Her earlier annoyance had long since vanished.

“You haven’t lost your touch.” She tasted a piece of fish and nodded in approval.

Wanshan set aside his newspaper and joined them.

Ordinarily, he was not particular about food or clothing, but after tasting his son’s cooking, he ate more than usual.

As custom required, Nianhe stood to one side to serve their rice.

She had just picked up Huai’s bowl when he reached to take it from her.

Their fingers touched at the rim.

She quickly drew back.

After lunch, Huizhen checked the wall clock. It was already half past one.

“Huai, hurry and change,” she urged. “Two o’clock at the state-run café. Don’t keep the young woman waiting. This time you must give the political commissar’s niece a proper chance.”

Huai remained seated.

Nianhe was clearing the table. At those words, her hands slowed.

She lowered her head and lifted a stack of plates.

“Go wipe down the bicycle in the courtyard,” Huai said suddenly, pointing outside.

Nianhe paused.

Why clean a bicycle at midday, with the sun so fierce?

But she dared not ask. She nodded, took the dishes into the kitchen, then carried a cloth outside.

Huai rose. Ignoring his mother’s urging, he walked straight out of the sitting room.

In the courtyard, cicadas shrilled in the trees. The sunlight was dazzling.

Nianhe crouched in the shade, absently wiping the bicycle’s mudguard with a damp cloth.

Footsteps stopped behind her.

She knew who it was without turning.

The fresh soapberry scent had already reached her.

“Do you really want me to meet her?” His voice came from above, low and faintly probing.

Nianhe stopped, the cloth clenched in her palm.

She remembered him pressing her to the wall behind the water tower at noon, kissing her and making her acknowledge she was his girlfriend.

Now he was asking her this.

She stood and turned to him.

“If I say no, will you not go?” Her voice was quiet, with a trace of hurt.

Looking into her bright eyes, Huai felt the weight in his chest vanish.

“Of course.” He took the damp cloth from her hand and tossed it into the nearby basin. “Come on.”

She stared. “Where?”

“There’s somewhere I want to take you.” He lifted the bicycle off its stand. “Get on.”

“No!” She backed away anxiously. “Auntie Liu and the others are still inside. And it’s broad daylight. If someone sees us leaving together…”

“Then they see us.” He would not be contradicted. “You’re my girlfriend. Do I have to submit a report to take my girlfriend out?”

Nianhe turned red as a cooked shrimp.

“Sister-in-law Wang and Auntie Liu will scold me…”

He sighed, set the bicycle on its stand again, and came to her.

“Nianhe Su.” He lowered his voice. “Do you think everything I said at noon was a joke?”

She shook her head.

“Then trust me. I said I would handle my family.” He took her wrist, his thumb lightly stroking the back of her hand. “Get on. I won’t put you in a difficult position.”

She looked at his resolute face.

In this household, she was like drifting duckweed, liable to be cast out at any moment.

But Huai gave her a sense of security she had never known before.

She clenched her teeth, went to the bicycle, and sat sideways on the back.

He pushed down on a pedal and rode smoothly out of the courtyard.

A breeze met them along the tree-lined road.

On the rear rack, Nianhe gripped the metal bar with both hands, swaying a little as the bicycle jolted.

There were few pedestrians.

Huai rode slowly, his back straight.

“Hold on to me,” he said.

Nianhe did not move, her cheeks hot. “I’m fine like this. I won’t fall.”

“I said hold on.” His tone left no room for discussion. “It’s downhill ahead, and the road is uneven. Don’t worry. Everyone’s eating or having a nap. No one’s out in this heat.”

She hesitated, then slowly reached out and slipped her arms lightly around his waist.

Through the white shirt, she could clearly feel his firm muscles and body warmth.

The corners of Huai’s mouth lifted. He pedaled a little faster.