A Family That Eats Together Stays Together

The table is full of mouth-watering dishes, there is long grain basmati rice, Prawns curry, lemongrass Salmon and juicy Meatballs and vegetable salads.

I see a lot of solid food on the table.

(It would be a lie if I say I am not tempted to try these. You will understand my plight for being on a liquid diet for over three months. You will learn to appreciate food.)

I pick my spoon and started to serve Xiao Wei then Brother Li Jie. As I started to move on-

"Young lady, how about you serve master Qiang, we will self-help ourselves," Li Jie prompted.

"No, he should serve me. While I serve you all food by myself, allow me to show my gratitude and sincerity to you all. Zhang Wei do eat more don't be shy, you are a part of my family now."

While I turned to Qiang "Do you mind if you serve me?"

"No, I have no problem at all. I am pleased to serve you, boss."

I turned to the rest of them and told them "See he doesn't mind."

Then I faced Qiang and say "Serve me good food this lunch and I will give you a brownie point later." and I give him a wink.

I see him standing still with his eyes wide open and his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as if it found something hard to swallow.

I guess my wink knocked him out. (Score: Me-1; Qiang - 0)

He didn't waste time either he started to serve food on my plate and without any further ado, I started to dig in.

It's really juicy. The rice, the Meatballs and the crunch of the vegetable salad.

(Now I vaguely understand the term 'food-porn' it really is satisfying.)

I look around and then narrowed my eyes to face Qiang "This won't cut, from today onwards you are making lunch on weekends until I ask you to stop."

The people gathered around the table started to giggle among themselves.

(I could care less about it right now. It is good food vs. World. Here Good food wins the battle.)

'Ohh.. it is really juicy and tasty.' (The food, not the man just to be clear.)

I don't even bother to hide my satisfaction.

Everyone enjoyed the meal to their heart's content.

***

After lunch as the taste still lingers on I start to calculate in my heart,

'I need to keep this free VIP meal ticket I have to control myself otherwise the chef would be lost. I have to play hard to get to enjoy good food.'

While contemplating my future meals, I and Xiao Wei moved towards the study room to clear Xiao Wei's doubts regarding medical science. I accompanied him all afternoon. After the intensive study time, he fell asleep on the armchair itself. I let him be.

Finally, Qiang, who has been lurking around us like a ghost all this time stood in front of me.

"Hey, do I get your time now?"

"Yes, you may…"

"You promised you would be my girlfriend then why are you avoiding me?"

"I am not avoiding you; you are simply on probation as my boyfriend."

"Calling you Bai Chang feels distant. How about I call you 'Wifey'?"

"Huh…"

(It gave me Goosebumps.)

I looked at him disapprovingly.

"Not okay, then how about 'dear' or better 'honey' or its Korean version 'Yeoboo".."

(I cringed at his sugary words.)

"Just call me Chang or Ms Bai."

"Then why not Mrs Hu?"

"Because I have still not promoted you to the ranks of my husband."

He raised his eyebrows at my choice of words.

"Then what do I have to do?"

"There are quests and missions to fulfil to get promoted to the status of my husband or even my boyfriend. Remember you are still on 'probation'. So fighting."

"And what are these missions?"

"They would be assigned to you as and when I deem them appropriate. If you feel the conditions unbearable, you may quit."

"Nope, I am sticking to you."

"Even if I give you missions all your life?"

"Even if I have to slog in servitude to you, I will do so happily all my life as it is you."

"No one can guarantee his/her life."

He seems to understand my undertone, so he rushed forward and pulled me in his big arms.

I got slammed against his hard but warm chest and for a second I felt I am secure.

I lay my head on his shoulders as I continued "You never know?"

"I won't let you go away this time. I already came close to losing you. My life became colourless.

I do not want to lose you as it would cause my destruction."

I am taken aback for such a strong man to willingly admit his soft spot so openly, portraying his vulnerability.

So I asked, "Aren't you afraid that I will destruct you myself?"

"I will happily lay down my arms and offer myself to you so that you can destruct me to your heart's content."

I couldn't stop myself from asking, "Qiang aren't you investing too much of yourself?"

"No, I am afraid I never really invested myself in you emotionally before. It is only after you woke up this time and I got to know you more that I found myself becoming the moth flying towards the Sun and I am willing to burn."

"Hmm… then let's burn our enemy first."

"Wife you point and I will destroy whale you sit back and enjoy the show."

I am still in his arms and unwilling to leave the warmth as is he reluctant to let me go.

We stood in each other arms as suddenly Qiang dropped his head to my eye level and spoke in my ears- "Where is my brownie point for today's lunch?"

That hot air that blew in my ears as he is speaking turned my face red as all blood rushed there, I feel my face heating up and my breathing hitched.

I look up; in his eyes I see the desire and barely controlled lust.

'This man, Should I entrust him with my heart?'

I decide to take a small leap of faith.

I stand on my toes as I give him a light peck on his lips. He is quick to respond as he caught my lips with his and then it quickly escalates to the heated kiss of passion.

We were entangled in this deep kiss.

(I think the boys, they have it embedded in their genes, how to kiss a girl?)

I am a novice in this department, my virgin soul is jolted. He takes over the charge and guides my lips accordingly. I lost all my bearings. Finally, he left my lips.

He again kissed me on my lips one last time before leaving me.

I look at him accusingly as I feel that tingling sensation on my lips.

He smiled and patted my head.

(As Xiao Wei kept on sleeping on the armchair, he has no idea that his father nearly turned into a 'big bad wolf'.)

"From now on in private I will call you 'Bad Wolf'."

"So private are we talking here?" he grinned cheek to cheek.

"You…"

(Definitely 'Bad Wolf'.)

"I will kick you to spend the rest of the night in our other Villa."

He behaved himself, though barely.

***

For dinner, I cooked. It seemed a safer option to me.

It is simply pasta and sweet and sour soup. It may not be as delicious as Qiang's cooking but as I looked around the dinner table, I found everyone hearty and satisfied.

It reminded me of an old saying-

'A family that eats together stays together.'