Chapter 068: Kind Benefactor, Please Stay

Chapter 068: Kind Benefactor, Please Stay

Gu Pushu worried that he would mess up the kitchen, so she walked in eating a slice of bread. She found that Yin Zhu was cooking in a very professional manner, and with his good looks, it was a pleasure to watch—except that his cleanliness obsession was severe.

Yin Zhu would wash his hands and wipe them dry as soon as he touched a kitchen knife, and also after touching the cutting board. If he kept washing so frequently, even his skin would peel off.

"Why did you come in? Online videos say that women entering the kitchen and being exposed to oil fumes is bad for the skin, and pregnant women are advised not to enter the kitchen. You should go out; I'll be done cooking soon."

Yin Zhu turned to look at her, first washing his hands and wiping them dry, then taking out his phone to display the video tutorials recorded by the family's chef—dozens of cuisines, dozens of videos. He played one about making soup. "Tonight we'll have black chicken soup; it's nutritious, but you can't drink too much—it can cause obesity and fat accumulation. Hmm... but you won't get fat. Or if you want something else, I can change it."

The video played, with the old chef's detailed teaching being broadcast, speaking very slowly, determined to teach Yin Zhu.

"No need, let's have black chicken soup tonight." Gu Pushu wasn't particularly picky; as long as she didn't have to cook it, she would generally eat and support someone else's dinner, and wouldn't be too critical—basic politeness required it. "But if it doesn't taste good, I won't drink it. You couldn't even tell salt from sugar."

"Don't worry about that, it will definitely taste good." Yin Zhu propped up his phone and started cooking while watching the tutorial. "The kitchen is my territory now. You go out and wait obediently for the meal. And don't eat too many snacks, or you won't have room for dinner later."

"It seems that if I stay here, I'll only hinder your culinary skills." Gu Pushu smiled, patted her slightly protruding belly, "Alright, then I won't disturb you, Chef Yin."

Yin Zhu was busy, but took a moment to give an OK gesture.

Gu Pushu returned to the living room, took out her computer to handle work, follow up on projects, and review files from the Yin Corporation—the current CEO had already entrusted many matters to her.

After typing for a while, one of her subordinates called to ask for advice. Gu Pushu went to the balcony and talked for quite a while, instructing on how to proceed—about half an hour.

Mentoring people was really not easy. Gu Pushu pinched the bridge of her nose. This was why she didn't like training newcomers—it was time-consuming and energy-consuming, and even after they were trained, they might not be grateful. Instead, they would think they had skills and believed they could get a higher salary by jumping ship, harboring thoughts of leaving and using her as a stepping stone.

Faced with such people, Gu Pushu would not be soft-hearted. She had reached this position, and her network was naturally extensive. If someone used her as a springboard, they might as well forget about working in this industry.

"Time to eat." Yin Zhu laid out the prepared dinner, finally bringing out the fragrant chicken soup. Even without tasting it, just looking at it was appetizing.

"Hold on, let me finish approving this last document." Once Gu Pushu got busy, she liked to finish the big tasks in hand before resting; she didn't like to stop halfway.

"Your busyness is far beyond my imagination. In human terms, you're a career-driven strong woman. The gold and silver treasures I gave you are enough for several lifetimes, yet you seem more enthusiastic about working." Yin Zhu set the bowls and chopsticks, added rice, ladled out the soup, and let it cool. Only then did Gu Pushu come over, and he pulled out a chair for her to sit down.

"It's a different feeling. What's easily obtained loses its sense of conquest and value manifestation." Gu Pushu took a sip of the soup and was surprised to find it really tasted good. "I don't work just to earn money; it's about experiencing the pleasure and excitement of dominating the workplace, and the sense of achievement from building a career. This is tangible wealth I can feel as soon as I open my eyes—it's a different experience."

The Gu family was wealthy; she had lived a rich life since childhood, lacking neither material foundation nor love. What she wanted was the thrill of conquering in her career—it was really satisfying.

When others mentioned her, they would say she had strong tactics and ability, an admirable strong woman, rather than being labeled as a dependent of the Gu family's eldest daughter—the underlying implication being that without the Gu family, no one would look up to her and she would be nothing.

"I can understand you, and I admire you for that—you're the same type as me. In human terms, we're a match made in heaven, sympathizing with each other." Yin Zhu liked a partner who could fight side by side, not the weak type; he didn't have much patience to teach a fool to become smart—even communication would be a problem.

"Then thank you for the high praise." Gu Pushu smiled, lifted her soup bowl and gently clinked it against his. "The chicken soup is delicious. You didn't boast and disappoint me. It seems you have a talent for cooking; from now on, the kitchen is yours."

"Great, it's my honor. I'll definitely take good care of and use your kitchen." Yin Zhu also smiled, naturally picking up on her humorous remark.

These words also implied that he could stay here—she had accepted him.

Gu Pushu looked at him, and they smiled at each other. She also opened her mouth and accepted the food Yin Zhu fed her.

"By the way, I have a doubt." After finishing the meal, Gu Pushu put down her chopsticks. "Will I also become a human-headed snake-body like you in the future?" This was quite important to her; it would take a long time to convince herself to accept a new body.

"No, you are human. You just have divine power and life. I know you're afraid of my true form, so don't worry about that." Yin Zhu hadn't revealed his true form in front of her for a long time. When Gu Pushu went to work during the day, he would reveal it while resting at home.

"So that's how it is." Gu Pushu breathed a sigh of relief—she would still have a human body. Thinking of something funny, she joked, "If I could change, I'd be worried about becoming someone like Nüwa. You've looked into our mythology, so you should know Nüwa. Last time you transformed at the villa, I thought you were Fuxi; I heard both of them are human-headed snake-bodied."

"I know." Yin Zhu nodded. "But unfortunately I'm not, and they aren't the only ones with human heads and snake bodies. Actually, there are many, but those two are more famous. My being human-headed snake-bodied goes back to a fusion of bloodlines, just like the nine sons of the dragon being different from each other—a similar principle."

"This is just my true form. I can also change into other forms if I want." As he spoke, his head changed into a bird's head, a horse's head, a dragon's head, a fox's head... many forms.

Gu Pushu's eyes widened as she watched. "Better keep your original human head; I'm not used to seeing other heads."

"Once you see more, you'll get used to it—as long as you're strong enough." Yin Zhu changed back to his original appearance, a very handsome face that Gu Pushu had grown used to.

After the meal, Yin Zhu voluntarily cleaned up the dishes. He put them in the sink, waved his hand, and they were automatically cleaned.

The two sat together watching a drama. Yin Zhu held her, his hand on her belly transferring spiritual energy, until Gu Pushu grew drowsy.

"Can I stay tonight?" Yin Zhu asked first.

"Yes." Gu Pushu yawned, not refusing his overnight stay.

She wasn't that stubborn; since they would be bound together by the child, and they had been open with each other many times, there was no shyness—it was very natural.

Yin Zhu smiled. "I'm very glad; it seems you're willing to accept me."

But his words received no response. Looking down, he saw that Gu Pushu had already fallen asleep. Whether she was truly asleep or faking it, he didn't delve into it; the answer was what he wanted.

After helping her bathe, Yin Zhu held her as they slept; it was much more comfortable than sleeping alone—being alone in an empty house was not pleasant.

*

The next day.

Gu Pushu went to work as usual. When colleagues at the company saw her and asked in surprise if she was pregnant, she didn't hide it and nodded in acknowledgment.

This caused a lot of private discussions, but she didn't care; gossip belonged to others, why bother thinking too much?

However, at noon, when Gu Pushu went out to have lunch with a colleague and came back, she encountered an old man dressed as a Taoist priest. Judging by his appearance, he should have some cultivation, because she felt a sense of repulsion. His gaze wasn't good, even though he was pretending to be kind and amiable.

He said, "Kind benefactor, I am Changqing. Could you step aside for a word? I see that you've been troubled by evil spirits recently, and your brow is dark; I fear there may be a bloody calamity."

"Good eyesight, Master. I have indeed been having nightmares repeatedly, often waking up in the middle of the night. I was originally planning to go up the mountain to burn incense and pray to remove the bad luck, afraid that I might have picked up something unclean. Now that I've met you, Master, it's truly my fortune."

Gu Pushu's mind turned. On the surface, she appeared very surprised at the Taoist's judgment of her appearance and trusted his authenticity.