53 53_

After reading the paper, Ji Haishan crumpled it mercilessly and tossed it on the floor. His face gradually contorting in anger. There were veins popping out onto his forehead.

Bai Yulin too was at a loss of words.

"How can we shop for 40 f*cking ingredients just for less than three f*cking hours?!" he was mad. Profanities were just by the tip of his tongue.

Bai Yulin tried to pacify Ji Haishan as she said "W- well! We should never lose hope! I- I think we can do it!"

Bai Yulin herself was stuttering, how could Ji Haishan believe in her words? And to say that they could never leave each other's sight for more than two minutes. What insanity! Were they supposed to glue themselves together??

How could they stick together all the time to find 40 ingredients! They could never make it!! This was a breach of authority! To give penalty was just stupid!

"Let me see that doll and I'll wring its thin neck out of its stupid life!" Ji Haishan bellowed angrily. The doll might be too scared to show itself due to this absurd task.

He didn't have any idea that the neck of the doll he wanted to wring was actually his own poor daughter's neck. If Harmonia heard about it, she would definitely cry a river. But before she did that, she would wring his own neck first, without a doubt.

Bai Yulin took a few deep breaths in order to calm down. She herself was at the brink of losing her patience. But thankfully, she was a professional sprinter(?).

"I think I can run and take some ingredients in less than two minutes. As long as we don't lose sight of each other, that'll be fine right?"

Ji Haishan contemplated her words as he nodded slowly.

"Yeah, that should be fine. It's impossible to stick together all the time. We won't finish buying all 40 things that way." he said.

Bai Yulin beamed as she clapped her hands in high spirits. Then she exclaimed "So let's list down the ingredients! I'm sure your fridge is almost empty by now!"

Ji Haishan nodded. He even thought that maybe the doll knew that they were missing ingredients in the kitchen. This might be a good opportunity for them to fill their kitchen with more food.

Later, Ji Haishan tied his long hair into a messy bun. He took out a pen and paper to list down some things to buy. Bai Yulin sat beside him on the kitchen counter as she watched as he filled the space from 1 to 10.

"What's that? Chinese parsley?" Bai Yulin pointed at list number 9.

"Yes. Why?" Ji Haishan raised his brow. He stopped writing.

"Isn't that cilantro? Why do you use parsley?" she was a little dumbfounded. Weren't the two the same?

"Hey, I'm the chef in this house so I know better." he chided.

Then he added with a face like a strict instructor "Parsley is milder in taste while cilantro is a bit bolder. It's hard to balance in meals since cilantro tends to overpower the taste. Thus, I prefer to use parsley in my cooking."

"Ah.. is that so." Bai Yulin nodded as if she understood. She looked like a student who finally got things right.

"Moreover, I like the bright flavor coming from parsley leaf. It gives a slight peppery and spicy taste." Ji Haishan added with a smile. When talking about his food, his face lighted up unconsciously.

Then, they continued listing down ingredients. Bai Yulin also took her chance to write down some of her favorite snacks and chocolate bars to buy. She also put down five packets of instant noodles with variable flavors such as hot and spicy, spicy lime seafood, chicken, beef, and even veggie.

Ji Haishan looked at her with incredulous eyes as he gaped. He sighed "Your diet is unhealthy! You'll die young if you continue this way!"

Bai Yulin knocked on Ji Haishan's head as she defended "What's wrong with eating unhealthy food once in a while? It's not like I'm going to eat it alone. You're going to finish it with me whenever we do a marathon on TV!"

Ji Haishan didn't want to argue anymore since Bai Yulin looked so determined to never cross out the list she made.

"Fine. Suit yourself. But you have to follow me to the gym every time I'm free, got it?"

"Ugh, fine. You love your abs so much." she rolled her eyes and laughed.

This time, it was Ji Haishan who softly knocked on her head and said "I don't only love my abs. I love your health too. So do get healthy and never get sick, okay?"

Bai Yulin could feel her heart leap out of her chest. The way Ji Haishan was coaxing her with his slightly angry, slightly playful voice was making her heart drum in a strange rhythm.

She could never get tired of hearing his strict voice. As if she liked the way he was disciplining her.

Discipline..

Discipline??

Why did it sound like some sort of unspeakable action in the bedroom?

".. ey. Hey!" Bai Yulin was startled by his calling. She turned to face Ji Haishan with wide eyes. Her ears slowly turned red.

What the hell was she thinking just now??

'Pervert Bai Yulin! You pervert!' she scolded herself inwardly.

"You okay?" Ji Haishan took the list and snapped a picture of it as he eyed her who was beside himself. He didn't know why she was suddenly acting weird.

*

On the next few days after Bai Yulin no longer needed to put on bandage, the two of them went to the nearby supermarket.

At first, the bodyguards of Ji family were confused when they heard their young master himself would go and buy something personally.

Usually, they were always the ones tasked to buy things on Ji Haishan's behalf. Ji Haishan was always busy with work in the company. He never got the time to go shopping.

But ever since he became closer with Bai Yulin, he was seen more relaxed than before. He rarely focused on work now. Instead, he valued his personal life more.

And before, Ji Haishan always cooked alone for himself. Everyday after he came back home from work, he would simply make something light and simple. But after Bai Yulin lived with him, he always made something new. She would always recommend some new recipes for him to try.

It was a great change and Ji Haishan liked it.

His skills wouldn't get rusty and he could hone his creativity. It was as if his passion for cooking was ignited yet again.