Chapter 349: Life in the Villa

They returned to the villa and used the key to open the front door.

The group chatted and laughed as they stepped inside, then Lin Zheng Ran’s phone rang—it was Jiang Jingshi calling.

She mentioned she might be late getting home because the school was holding a meeting for advisors.

Lin Zheng Ran told her not to worry.

After changing into slippers, he sat on the sofa, poured a glass of water, and took a sip. Heqing said, “I’ll make dinner. Everyone, take a break.”

Han Wenwen asked curiously, “Heqing, you’re cooking? Didn’t we plan to just buy something?”

“Now that we have a house, why eat out? Home-cooked meals are healthier, of course.”

Han Wenwen thought it made sense and laughed, “Then I’ll go help Heqing with the veggies.”

“Sure!”

Lily added, “I’ll feed the fish in our pond first, then join you in the kitchen.”

Han Wenwen blinked her fox-like eyes. “There are fish in the pond?”

Lily nodded. “A couple of days ago, I mentioned the pond was empty, so Jiang Jie brought over some goldfish. I even plan to add lotus flowers later.”

“Really? Take me to see!”

Lin Zheng Ran watched the three playfully busy themselves, lost in thought.

With the other two heading to the garden, Heqing stood in front of Lin Zheng Ran and asked, “What do you want for dinner tonight? I’ll make it. If it’s not in the fridge, I’ll run to the store—there’s a big supermarket nearby with everything.”

Lin Zheng Ran didn’t answer right away but asked back, “When I went south with Han Wenwen last week, were you the one cooking?”

“Last week? No, Jiang Jie and I each made a couple of meals at most. We mostly ordered out since you weren’t around, and no one felt like cooking much. But now that you’re back, we’ll eat at home.”

Lin Zheng Ran reached out his hand, and Heqing’s face turned red as she slowly placed her hand in his. “What is it?”

“Nothing urgent. Don’t rush into cooking yet. Come sit with me for a bit.”

Heqing glanced over at Han Wenwen and Lily in the garden, then quietly sat next to Lin Zheng Ran.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and she softened against him, leaning on his shoulder.

In a soft voice, she asked, “What’s on your mind, Lin Zheng Ran?”

“I’m thinking about hiring a housekeeper for the place soon.”

“A housekeeper? Why? That seems like a waste of money, and we’d have a stranger living here.”

Lin Zheng Ran noticed Heqing’s clear disapproval:

“It’s not about the cost. The issue is, if we’re eating at home, that’s meals for five people every day. It takes too much time, and while occasional cooking is fine, doing it daily would wear you out.

Plus, Han Wenwen and Lily don’t cook, and Jiang Jingshi is already swamped with her company and school work.”

Heqing said blankly, “It’s okay, I can handle it. Cooking isn’t tiring—it’s just preparing food. Otherwise, what would I do when I get home?”

Lin Zheng Ran looked at the straightforward Heqing. “Are you dense?”

Heqing hesitated. “I—I guess not…?”

Lin Zheng Ran flicked her forehead.

She yelped, pouted, and rubbed her head.

She had no idea why she’d been flicked again.

“If you’re not, then who is?” Lin Zheng Ran asked.

Heqing didn’t argue:

“Fine, if you say so, I’ll go with it.”

Lin Zheng Ran sighed. “Hiring help isn’t about money—it’s that you don’t want strangers around, right?”

“Yeah, sort of. We’re all living together as it is. What if they blab about us? And with outsiders, I feel awkward. I don’t like it. Besides, cooking is simple. Are you just worried I’ll get tired?”

Lin Zheng Ran gently stroked her head.

He admitted freely, “Definitely.”

Heqing blushed. “I know you care, but this is no big deal. Back home, I cooked for three or four people all the time while Mom worked and Grandma was too ill to help. It didn’t take much time at all.”

Lin Zheng Ran pondered. “Let me think about it.”

“Take your time, but first, tell me what you want tonight, or how can I decide what to make?”

Lin Zheng Ran said, “Let’s go with seafood. I’ve been craving it.”

“Great! I’ll go buy some!”

“I’ll transfer you money.”

“I still have some from last month. No need.”

Heqing stood up, and before heading out, she saw Han Wenwen and Lily weren’t around, so she quickly leaned in and planted a soft kiss on Lin Zheng Ran’s cheek.

“Off to get the seafood.”

Lin Zheng Ran turned toward the garden and called, “Han Wenwen!”

Han Wenwen, who was watching the fish, perked up like invisible fox ears twitching, and turned. “Brother Zheng Ran, did you call me?”

“Yeah, come over here.”

“Okay!”

As Heqing returned to the living room, Lily saw her heading out to buy things and decided to join her.

Han Wenwen asked Lin Zheng Ran, “What is it, Brother Zheng Ran?”

Lin Zheng Ran got up and headed to the study. “Han Wenwen, do you remember what you said a long time ago about when we all lived together, everyone handling their own tasks?”

Han Wenwen recalled. “Of course I do!”

“Remind me of your ideas back then.”

“Sure!”

That evening, Heqing and Lily returned with the seafood.

Jiang Jingshi also left school and came back to the villa.

The group headed to the kitchen together, chatting and laughing as they prepared the meal.

After dinner.

The night grew quiet.

The four women were in the bedroom, arranging the beds and sheets.

On the massive bed that could sleep seven, there were now five single quilts lined up.

Han Wenwen, excited for her first night here, asked curiously, “Why are the quilts on the bed all single ones?”

Heqing, Lily, and Jiang Jingshi looked at Han Wenwen.

Jiang Jingshi asked, “What do you mean?”

Han Wenwen said, “Jiang Jie, Heqing, and Lily, is this how you slept last week?”

The three nodded.

Han Wenwen whispered, “Shouldn’t we all be sharing one big quilt? Why sleep separately?”

Everyone blushed.

Luckily, Lin Zheng Ran wasn’t there yet.

They glanced at the door—Lin Zheng Ran was still in the bathroom, washing up.

Heqing, her face red, said, “At first last week, we planned for the three of us to share, but since Lin Zheng Ran wasn’t here, we used separate quilts.”

Han Wenwen burst out laughing. “You three were just being shy?”

Lily retorted playfully, “How could we not be?”

As the eldest miss of the Jiang family, Jiang Jingshi had never even thought about sharing a bed with other girls and her boyfriend.

“But Han Wenwen’s right—now that Zheng is back, maybe we should switch to a big quilt and all sleep together?”

The women exchanged glances.

In the end, they all agreed.

They put away the five single quilts and spread out one huge custom-made quilt on the bed.

This large quilt was something Jiang Jingshi had specially ordered the previous week—it could cover seven or eight people.

As they arranged it, the four women stayed silent, their faces faintly flushed.

They imagined what might happen that night.

Until Lin Zheng Ran, fresh from his shower and in pajamas, pushed the door open.

“I’m done washing up. Why aren’t you all getting ready for bed? Still messing with the quilts?”

The four women jumped in unison, quickly finished tidying, and chorused, “We’re going, we’re going!”