Chapter Twenty-Two: Jealousy

Jiang Lan also noticed Zhou Yun running and laughed, "So competitive?"
Zhou Yun slowed down a bit, her breathing rapid as she spoke in a coquettish tone, "Lan, you’re finally back. I was bored out of my mind."
Jiang Lan waved the bag in her hand, "I bought groceries, I’ll make something delicious for you."
"Thank you, Lan! Lan, you’re the best!"
Tang Zhichu didn’t speak to Zhou Yun, instead carrying things into the kitchen.
Out of the corner of her eye, Zhou Yun watched Tang Zhichu rushing to the kitchen, pretending not to care, but thinking to herself, So you’re not as tough and unapproachable as you seem.
Zhou Yun had noticed Tang Zhichu glancing her way several times, acting aloof and not greeting her.
"We’ll start prepping!" Jiang Lan called out loudly.
"Alright, I’ll keep running!"
Tang Zhichu had bought a lot, and, as he had done for Chen Siyang the other day, began organizing the ingredients.
Jiang Lan wasn’t familiar with the kitchen, but she was resourceful, and seeing Tang Zhichu prepping, she followed suit, imitating his actions.
Tang Zhichu had intended to make chicken soup, but Jiang Lan wanted pork rib soup, so he switched to spicy chicken instead.
He cleaned the chicken and cut it into tiny pieces. Then, he chopped green and red peppers into small segments, placing them in separate plates—one for the chicken, one for the peppers. The dish was ready to be cooked.
The river fish was already cleaned, needing only to be washed and marinated.
The crayfish just needed to be reheated when served, and Tang Zhichu placed the pickled chicken feet in the fridge, as they tasted better chilled.
In just ten minutes, Tang Zhichu had finished preparing all the dishes.
Jiang Lan, who had fewer dishes, was nearly done as well, but she wasn’t sure whether to start working on the pork ribs now or later.
"You can blanch the pork ribs now," Tang Zhichu said to Jiang Lan.
"Alright."
Jiang Lan knew how to blanch: put the ribs in cold water, add ginger and cooking wine to remove odors.
Tang Zhichu didn’t intervene, simply guiding Jiang Lan.
Once Jiang Lan finished blanching the ribs, she didn’t immediately ask Tang Zhichu what to do next; she thought it over and then asked, "Should I transfer them to the clay pot now?"
Tang Zhichu shook his head slightly, "You could, but it won’t bring out the flavor of the meat or the color of the soup. Try stir-frying the ribs first."
"Stir-fry?"
"Yes, use a little oil to release some of the fat from the ribs. It enhances the aroma and the texture will be chewier."
Jiang Lan understood, so she washed the pan, added oil, and put the ribs in.
"Be careful, the oil might splatter," Tang Zhichu reminded her.
Jiang Lan grabbed the lid and held it in front of herself.
Just then, a voice called out, "Whoa, you’re already cooking?"

Jiang Lan, unfamiliar with the kitchen, was focused, only glancing briefly.
Tang Zhichu greeted the newcomer—it was Huang Zejun.
Huang Zejun paused; it was fine for Jiang Lan and Tang Zhichu to cook together since they’d agreed beforehand.
But Jiang Lan’s indifferent attitude toward him made Huang Zejun a bit jealous.
"Seems it’s starting to smell good. Is it ready now?" Jiang Lan asked Tang Zhichu.
"Add some Sichuan peppercorns and stir-fry a bit," Tang Zhichu replied.
Jiang Lan nodded and began searching for peppercorns; Tang Zhichu handed her a bag—it was peppercorns.
Huang Zejun stepped closer, "Let me do it. This is a bit dangerous."
He inserted himself between Tang Zhichu and Jiang Lan, as if asserting his presence, and reached out for the spatula in Jiang Lan’s hand.
Jiang Lan instinctively dodged, but then handed the spatula to Huang Zejun.
Taking it, Huang Zejun frowned, "Peppercorns are used to remove odors. Shouldn’t you add them at the start?"
Tang Zhichu smiled, "Perhaps I forgot at the beginning."
Seeing Tang Zhichu admit his mistake so easily, Huang Zejun felt as if he’d punched cotton—his complaint had nowhere to land.
He stayed silent; to bring it up again would make him seem petty.
With someone knowledgeable present, Tang Zhichu stepped aside and opened another bag.
Inside were fruits Tang Zhichu had bought.
"Once you’ve stir-fried like this, transfer the ribs to the clay pot to simmer," Huang Zejun explained to Jiang Lan, taking over for Tang Zhichu.
Jiang Lan didn’t respond, simply thanked him.
She glanced at Tang Zhichu—would he really forget to add peppercorns at the start? Unlikely.
But even if he did, so what?
Was it appropriate to point it out so directly?
"It’s a bit warm, I’ll go get a glass of water," Jiang Lan excused herself from the stove.
Moments later, she returned, cup in hand, while checking her phone.
She had looked it up: for meat dishes, peppercorns are usually added first, to flavor the oil and enhance their aroma, but if stir-fried too long, they burn.
So, the best method is to let the oil release the aroma but not let the peppercorns burn.
Jiang Lan considered this—since the stir-frying for the ribs took a while, adding peppercorns at the start could indeed burn them.
So, for this dish, Tang Zhichu was actually right.
Jiang Lan put away her phone, glanced at Tang Zhichu peeling fruit, and at Huang Zejun washing the pan, thinking, No wonder Chen Siyang chose Tang Zhichu.
As for why Tang Zhichu didn’t argue on the spot?

Jiang Lan figured, first, he was saving face for Huang Zejun; second, he didn’t care much about Huang Zejun, so he let it go.
She admired this attitude.
Was Tang Zhichu really thinking that?
He simply didn’t want to make it look, in front of the cameras, as if he was competing with Huang Zejun for Jiang Lan.
After all, it was just a show.
"Why did you buy so much fruit?" Jiang Lan asked, approaching Tang Zhichu again.
She had wanted to ask in the supermarket.
Tang Zhichu had bought mangoes, dragon fruit, and blueberries.
He smiled mysteriously, "You’ll see soon enough."
"No big surprise hidden, right?" Jiang Lan laughed.
"Nothing major, just a little trick."
...
Seeing Jiang Lan chatting with Tang Zhichu again, Huang Zejun felt uneasy, thinking, Didn’t Chen Siyang give you up? Why are you always flirting with others?
"Jiang Lan, add the radish once the water boils."
"Alright, thank you."
"Anything else to do?"
Jiang Lan didn’t respond to Huang Zejun but looked to Tang Zhichu for guidance.
Tang Zhichu kept his head down, pretending not to notice.
But Jiang Lan felt she understood—it was Tang Zhichu giving Huang Zejun face by staying silent.
"That’s all, the rest can wait."
"Okay, I saw Xiao Yun running outside. Should we go for a run as well?" Huang Zejun, feeling threatened, started being direct.
He thought Tang Zhichu was a bit sly—quietly but shamelessly stealing the show.
That’s how Chen Siyang was lost to him.
Jiang Lan considered, then nodded. If she didn’t have at least this much emotional intelligence, she wouldn’t make a good boss.
Going out with Huang Zejun would be good for all three of them.