After briefing, Han LeLe sighed with relief. After several years, this former underachiever felt the familiar dread of being under the vice principal's thumb again.

Thankfully, Xing LiXuan got the information he needed and quickly gave the space back to Yu AnTong and Han LeLe.

Watching Xing LiXuan's figure disappear around the stairwell's bend, Han LeLe confided in Yu AnTong, "TongTong, weren't you nervous when you first got involved with Mr. Xing? His presence is overpowering; just looking at him makes me uneasy."

Yu AnTong chuckled, "What's there to be nervous about? Aren't we all just ordinary people?"

Han LeLe thought about those CEO romance novels he'd read, realizing the protagonists truly were exceptional. With such a strong mindset, they wouldn’t cower at the sight of the CEO. Unlike him, who would probably flee like a chick from a hawk, how could they even clash with the CEO, drawing their attention and igniting sparks of love?

Yu AnTong was amused by Han LeLe's timid expression, recalling his own first meeting with Xing LiXuan.

It was backstage at a wedding. He barged in, interrupting Xing LiXuan's moment of repose. Xing shot him a fierce glare, clearly annoyed.

Despite the stern face, he looked incredibly handsome in a black suit, neatly combed hair, and sharp features. It was an image that instantly captivated him.

Yu AnTong found it surprising how vividly he remembered that first impression of Xing LiXuan even after so long.

Maybe he wasn’t fully rooted in this world back then, seeing Xing LiXuan as a mere cardboard cutout, ogling without sensing any threat.

"I guess I was just fearless," Yu AnTong joked about himself. "You wouldn’t know. In the beginning, Xing LiXuan was so aloof. I was the one who kept bugging him until he was annoyed beyond words."

Han LeLe looked astonished, his round eyes widening even more.

He never imagined the initiative in Xing LiXuan and Yu AnTong's relationship came from Yu AnTong. Now it seems that Xing is clearly more invested in their relationship.

Han LeLe eagerly asked Yu AnTong for relationship advice.

"Um...," thought Yu AnTong, searching for the right words.

He couldn’t very well say he initially thought he'd only have half a year left to live and was just playing around, later to find himself unexpectedly smitten.

That'd be a negative spin. He couldn’t let innocent Han LeLe know, especially if Xing LiXuan overheard – that jealous man would throw a fit.

"Everyone's relationship is unique. The way Xing LiXuan and I get along might not be the same for you and Qi JingYao," Yu AnTong vaguely responded.

Though Han LeLe arrived downtrodden, he left invigorated and broad-minded, feeling he had learned a lot. Having Yu AnTong as a friend truly was worthwhile!

After seeing off Han LeLe, Yu AnTong went upstairs to find Xing LiXuan.

Hearing a noise, Xing LiXuan looked up and, seeing it was Yu AnTong, asked, "Has he left?"

"Yeah, just now," Yu AnTong sat next to Xing LiXuan, probing, "What do you think of your friend named Qi JingYao?"

Han Lele is one of the few close friends Yu Antong has in this world, so he's naturally concerned about him.

"Aren't you comfortable with my friends?" Xing Lixuan recalled Qi Jingyao's suggestion to formally meet Yu Antong and took the opportunity to say, "How about I invite them over for a casual dinner, so you can get to know them?"

"Why the sudden desire to invite them over?" Yu Antong hesitated, feeling that meeting Xing Lixuan's friends might change the dynamics of their relationship.

It's like when two people in a relationship reach a certain stage and introduce each other to their families and friends; it signifies a solidifying of the relationship.

Having never been in a relationship before, the idea of formally meeting Xing Lixuan's friends left Yu Antong a bit overwhelmed.

Xing Lixuan added, "During the wedding, things were rather casual, and you guys didn't get to know each other. This might be a good opportunity for you to vet him for your friend."

Xing Lixuan had an ulterior motive with his words, fearing that if he directly suggested a get-together, Yu Antong might decline. So, he used vetting Qi Jingyao as a ruse.

Yu Antong playfully sat on Xing Lixuan's lap, wrapping his arms around his neck, and teased, "Are you wanting me to evaluate your friend or are they evaluating me?"

Supporting his waist, Xing Lixuan retorted, "Stop overthinking it. If you're not comfortable, forget it."

Mischievously, Yu Antong trailed his finger down Xing Lixuan's Adam's apple, pouting, "It's not that I don't want to, it's just sudden. But fine, set a date and let them know."

"Quit teasing." Xing Lixuan captured Yu Antong's wandering hand, lightly slapping it away, and mused, "I kind of regret telling you now. Those guys are probably salivating at the thought of your cooking."

Considering Yu Antong's pregnancy, Xing Lixuan was hesitant to let him cook. If Qi Jingyao and others came, it might be exhausting for Yu Antong.

Xing Lixuan suggested, "Let's order from the Xianren Banquet. There will be many people, and it'd be tiring for you to cook."

Yu Antong, always resourceful, reassured, "Don't worry, I have a plan."

Checking the weather forecast on his phone, he noted, "The weather's nice this weekend, warm. Let's gather then."

Xing Lixuan had no objections. Once settled, he informed his friends in the group chat.

Xing Lixuan: We talked about getting together before. Let's do it this weekend, at my place.

Bao Ji responded the quickest.

Bao Ji: Sounds good! Eagerly awaiting a feast prepared by my sister-in-law!

Wei Zhejun: Make some extra, we'll bring our own takeout bags.

Qi Jingyao: Can I bring a plus one? I want to bring my boyfriend.

Bao Ji: Changing to which forest? @Qi Jingyao

Qi Jingyao: Always wanting to stir up trouble, aren't you? Friendship over!

The weekend was sunny and radiant. Even though spring hadn't arrived, under the warm sun, it wasn't cold outside.

"Why are you all in the yard? Welcoming me?"

Bao Ji arrived the latest due to an unexpected errand. As soon as he reached the Xing residence, he saw the intricately carved gates of the villa wide open, with Xing Li Xuan, Wei Zhe Jun and others in the courtyard.

Burning text

Wei Zhe Jun and Xing Li Xuan set up the barbecue grill together, then turned to Bao Ji and quipped, "Welcoming you? You're the last one here, quite presumptuous, aren't you?"

Only then did Bao Ji notice: chairs and a barbecue grill were set up in the yard, and Qi Jing Yao was coming out of the house, holding two plates of skewered meat. It was clearly a barbecue setup.

"What's this?" Bao Ji's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "I was expecting a grand feast, and it's just a BBQ?"

The disappointment was quite overwhelming for him.

Bao Ji looked around, noticing Yu An Tong wasn't present, and voiced his concerns to Xing Li Xuan, "Come on Xing, this is a bit much, isn't it? Even if the main purpose of this gathering is to meet your partner and secondary to dine, surely we could have had something more elaborate? I'm not asking for a grand banquet, but at least a proper meal?"

Their bond was strong; they could voice concerns without worries, and they weren't truly complaining.

Xing Li Xuan replied nonchalantly, "Didn't you mention you've been dining at Xian Ren Yan recently?"

Bao Ji was puzzled by the sudden change in topic, "Yes, what about it?"

"Have you been disappointed by any of their dishes?"

"Not at all!" Bao Ji passionately began, "Every dish at Xian Ren Yan is outstanding. I tried everything over several days, and not a single dish disappointed... wait, what are you getting at?"

As he spoke, Bao Ji suddenly realized what Xing Li Xuan was hinting at.

If Xian Ren Yan's dishes were impeccable, then Yu An Tong's BBQ could make everyone drool.

Confident in Yu An Tong's culinary skills, Xing Li Xuan walked back into the house without another word.

Bao Ji turned to his two other friends, "Am I actually looking forward to this BBQ party now?"

DIY BBQ is mostly about grilling meat and veggies with some sauce. Even with the finest ingredients, it typically tastes similar. It's more about the fun atmosphere than the actual food.

A casual BBQ, paired with beer, laughing with friends; that's the essence. If one wanted gourmet, why not go to a Michelin-starred restaurant instead of grilling skewers themselves?

They had organized countless such BBQ events in the past and were quite used to it. But now, with Xing Li Xuan's confidence, Bao Ji had high expectations.

Qi Jing Yao and Wei Zhe Jun, who arrived earlier, were also convinced by Xing Li Xuan's confidence and eagerly helped set up the BBQ.

It might be unbelievable, but these three young masters, brought up in luxury, were as excited as school kids on a field trip about a simple BBQ.

Bao Ji asked them, "You both arrived early, have you met Yu An Tong?"

Wei Zhe Jun replied, "Yes, he's quite amiable. I can tell Xing is really fond of him."

"Really?" Bao Ji's impression of Yu An Tong was from their encounter at the bar where Yu An Tong didn't hesitate to berate someone. That made him seem fiery, not exactly the amiable type.

As the three of them were chatting in the courtyard, Yu An Tong, Xing Li Xuan, and Han Le Le came out of the house together.

"This is Bao Ji, always the last one to show up," Xing Li Xuan introduced Bao Ji to Yu An Tong.

"An Tong," Bao Ji greeted with a smile, opting to call her by her first name instead of "sister-in-law" to avoid any discomfort. He handed her a gift, "I didn’t bring anything when you married Li Xuan. Consider this a belated wedding gift."

Yu An Tong graciously accepted and thanked him.

As they were all young, formalities were minimal, and they quickly warmed up to each other after a few exchanges.

"It's getting late, shall we start?" Qi Jing Yao, growing impatient, proposed they start the barbecue. "Le Le, come help skewer the potato slices."

Some vegetables were already prepared but not skewered. Wei Zhe Jun and the others took the initiative to handle the vegetables, leaving the grill for Yu An Tong.

"Be careful, don’t burn yourself," Xing Li Xuan cautioned as he placed skewers of meat, chicken wings, and sausages for Yu An Tong to grill.

The meat had been marinated beforehand with Yu An Tong's secret sauce. Now, after thoroughly marinating, the delicate aroma began to emerge after just a few minutes on the grill.

Yu An Tong turned the skewers with one hand, using the other to brush a thin layer of oil onto them. As the heat intensified and moisture evaporated, the juicy meat began to shrink slightly, its glistening fats becoming more pronounced.

"Keep turning these," seeing the chicken wings turning a golden hue, Yu An Tong handed the skewers to Xing Li Xuan, who liberally brushed them with honey sauce before continuing to grill them.

Judging the meat to be almost ready, Yu An Tong swiftly seasoned most of the skewers with cumin and chili powder, while leaving some only with cumin. After seasoning, they needed another half a minute on the grill.

The occasional "sizzle" was reminiscent of the unique burst of flavor from the cumin seeds in one's mouth.

A gentle breeze wafted, spreading the tantalizing aroma of grilled meat.

Han Le Le, unable to resist, moved closer and eagerly asked, "It smells so good, An Tong, is it ready? I'm drooling already!"

"All done," Yu An Tong declared, placing the grilled skewers on a clean tray.

"Is it ready?" Qi Jing Yao and the others, who had been salivating at the aroma but maintaining their composure, now gathered around with anticipation.

On hearing Yu An Tong’s confirmation, the group, who had been waiting patiently, immediately stood up, their eager expressions resembling hungry wolves.

"Here are some seasonings, chili powder, cumin. Add more if you find it bland," Yu An Tong said while flipping a chicken wing.

Seeing Yu An Tong still busy, Wei Zhe Jun hesitated, "Let's wait for you to join us."

"It's fine, go ahead," Xing Li Xuan took a few skewers, removed the sticks, cooled the meat slightly, and offered it to Yu An Tong, "Be careful, it's hot."

After tasting a couple, Yu An Tong handed them back to Xing Li Xuan, "Needs a bit more chili. I’ll have the wings later."

Yu An Tong was still grilling chicken wings. Their golden hue, dripping with oil, turned a darker shade as she brushed them with a sticky honey glaze. The sweet and savory aroma was tantalizing, making the wings look irresistibly delicious.

Seeing the intimate exchange between Xing Li Xuan and his wife, Qi Jing Yao teased, "Le Le, come, let me feed you too."

"Huh?" Han Le Le, skewer in hand and mouth full, resembled a hamster. She pondered; she could finish a skewer in three seconds, but Qi Jing Yao took forever when feeding her.

A realization struck.

"You eat yours," she quipped.

Han Lele is now solely focused on feasting on meat; showing off love is the last thing on his mind. Nobody can distract him from enjoying his skewers, not even his boyfriend!

Qi Jingyao said playfully, "Then, feed me."

"Psh, in your dreams!"

Bao Ji and Wei Zhejun, the two singles, were initially taken aback by the public display of affection by Yu Antong and Xing Lixuan. The meat they held suddenly seemed less appetizing. But their moods were instantly lifted with the playful antics of Qi Jingyao and Han Lele.

The two exchanged a glance, signaling a plan: While the other couple flirted, they'd seize the chance to eat!

The skewers were grilled to a slight crisp on the outside. The straightforward grilling process retained the natural flavor of the meat. Biting into it, the juicy tenderness inside, complemented with just the right amount of cumin and chili powder, created an unparalleled taste – an aroma unmatched by any other food.

"How did you two eat so quickly?!" Han Lele and Qi Jingyao realized that most of the skewers were already gone after their brief diversion.

Initially, Bao Ji and Wei Zhejun managed to maintain a calm demeanor, gracefully biting into their skewers without smearing any sauce on their faces. However, the aroma of the skewers, specially prepared by Yu Antong, was irresistible, making them eat faster than they realized.

Yu Antong could only grill so fast. The group quickly consumed the batch of skewers. Not wanting to burden Yu Antong alone, they decided to pitch in.

Bao Ji said, "Antong, take a break. Let me handle this."

Wei Zhejun interjected, "Are you sure? Maybe I should do it."

"Sure? Don't doubt your Brother Bao," Bao Ji retorted, "I'm known as the BBQ Prince!"

Though uncertain of the origin of Bao Ji's new title, Xing Lixuan happily pulled Yu Antong aside to enjoy some chicken wings, leaving the grill to the so-called "BBQ Prince."

The meats were pre-prepped by Yu Antong. With some grilling experience and the right heat control, achieving great taste was almost guaranteed.

Each iron skewer held two chicken wings. Yu Antong took a pair; he gave one to Xing Lixuan and took one for himself.

The chicken wings were juicy. The standout feature was the crispy skin, thanks to several coatings of honey glaze and meticulous grilling. A bite delivered a caramelly sweetness outside, contrasting with a savory marinade inside – a delightful combination that was truly memorable.

Xing Lixuan poured a cup of juice for Yu Antong. Seeing this, Qi Jingyao curiously asked, "Is pairing juice with BBQ a new trend?"

Author's note:

I felt unwell recently. My mental state was so poor that I couldn't write a word. I was in a strange state where nothing interested me. I even wondered if I was depressed. But I've adjusted now, thank you for your concern.

During these trying times, take care of yourselves, my angels.

A huge thanks to those who supported me from January 22, 2020, 21:35:47 to January 25, 2020, 19:55:39!

Thanks for the 'landmine' gifts: Yu Qingdai (2), asura, Meng Si Ta 23333, kookv (1 each).

Gratitude for the nourishment gifts: Yue Qi (38 bottles), Really Don't Eat Wannabe Celebrities!, Chu Chu (20 bottles), asura, One Melancholic Tune, van (10 bottles), Jiu (6 bottles), Qian Shi, Thanks to Mr. He Zhaofu, Shallow (5 bottles), Man Ya (4 bottles), Wordless Strings, Leng (3 bottles), Imaginative Patient (2 bottles), Nan Lizi, Fei Jun, Lu Xing Ci, Yu Fish, Snow Fox, Qian Cheng, Qing Li, Ni Hao Ah, Qin Bu Zhi (1 bottle each).

I'm genuinely grateful for all your support. I'll continue to work hard!

Click to download the best reading app. Many readers use it for audiobooks!