Switched Marriage: The Coddled Little Wife Chapter 809: Extra Story (Part 5)

After serving a bowl of rice to Xiao Long and then to Wang Tianxue, He JianShe smiled warmly. "It's just a simple meal, please don’t be too critical."

Wang Tianxue initially sampled the shredded potatoes. The balance of acidity was perfect, and the vegetable strips were sliced with impressive precision and uniformity.

A realization began to dawn on her; she then reached for a piece of braised pork, and her eyes instantly brightened with surprise.

Nearby, Xiao Long was eating with such gusto he could hardly stop.

"Brother He, if you claim your cooking is poor, then the food I make is nothing but pig feed. This is absolutely delicious!"

He JianShe appeared genuinely taken aback. "Is it really? I’ve always believed my culinary skills were quite mediocre. I'm just glad you find it edible."

"It’s far more than just edible; it’s top-tier," Wang Tianxue remarked, giving him a thumbs up. "It is significantly better than my own cooking."

Her praise was no exaggeration. The braised pork was glazed in a savory, aromatic sauce that felt indulgent without being greasy.

The fish had been fried to a perfect golden crisp on the outside while remaining succulent inside, all before being simmered in a spicy sauce that combined a crunchy texture with a mouth-watering heat.

Even the greens had been stir-fried to remain vibrant, crisp, and appetizing.

The quality was nearly professional, echoing the skills of a seasoned chef.

"Were you stationed in the cooking unit during your time in the army?"

He JianShe let out a soft chuckle as he served more meat to Xiao Long and placed a piece of fish belly on Wang Tianxue’s plate. "Not at all. I simply lived by myself for a period and taught myself the basics."

"You possess a natural talent."

Wang Tianxue felt thoroughly content after the meal, though a wave of bashfulness soon followed.

She recalled that at noon, she had only offered Brother He a simple bowl of noodles.

"Actually, Brother He, I’ll be moving into my new place next weekend. I’m planning a small housewarming party for everyone. Would you be free to come?"

She hoped this would be a chance to treat him to a proper meal and return the favor.

"I'd like that," He JianShe replied without pausing. "I will arrive early to assist you with the meal prep. After all, didn't you just say my cooking was excellent?"

Wang Tianxue waved her hands frantically in protest. "That wasn't what I meant when I was complimenting your skills!"

"I understand, but it's settled then."

Given his firm and direct attitude, Wang Tianxue found she couldn't argue further.

As darkness began to fall outside, Wang Tianxue offered to assist He JianShe with the cleanup, but he firmly refused her help.

With that, she prepared to take her leave.

Noticing the late hour, He JianShe insisted on walking her and Xiao Long back to their residence.

Wang Tianxue was currently staying in a small rented courtyard, which was located a short distance from the police department's residential quarters.

Upon reaching the gate, He JianShe waved a final goodbye and departed.

Xiao Long watched the tall man disappear into the distance before tugging on his mother’s sleeve. "Mom, are you sure we can’t ask Uncle He to be my dad?"

Wang Tianxue sighed, covering her face with her hand. "Stop saying such things; it would be embarrassing if someone overheard you."

"Fine," Xiao Long murmured, pouting slightly.

Wang Tianxue stole one last glance at the retreating figure. The man’s posture was remarkably straight; even while pedaling his bicycle, his back remained perfectly upright, cutting a sharp silhouette.

......

The weekend arrived quickly, and Wang Tianxue rose with the sun.

The tradition of "warming the pot," or housewarming, meant the first meal in a new residence was a significant event.

While their belongings had been transported to the new house days prior, today was the official day to light the stove and cook.

She had scheduled the gathering for noon. After a quick breakfast, she and Xiao Long prepared to head to the market for supplies.

Before they could even step out, a masculine voice greeted them from the entrance. "I hope I haven't arrived too late?"

Wang Tianxue spun around in surprise to find He JianShe standing at the gate, gripping the handlebars of his bicycle.

She was momentarily stunned; this man was truly—wasn't he being a bit too literal?

She had assumed his offer to come early was merely a polite gesture. Not only was he serious, but he had arrived incredibly early.

Upon seeing He JianShe, Xiao Long leaped off his own small bike and began running circles around him in excitement.

The boy’s enthusiasm was fueled by the fact that He JianShe was dressed in his full police uniform today, complete with his official peaked cap.

"Uncle He, you really are a policeman! Mom, look at him, Uncle He looks so cool..."

He JianShe patted the crossbar of his bike. "Would you like to ride on my bicycle, Xiao Long?"

"I do! Mom, can I please ride with Uncle He?"

Before Wang Tianxue could even give her consent, Xiao Long had already begun scrambling onto the frame.

With a single steady hand, He JianShe hoisted the boy up and settled him onto the bar.

Being so close to the uniformed officer, Xiao Long’s face turned red with pure joy as he looked up at him.

Wang Tianxue cast a skeptical look toward He JianShe.

He hadn't been wearing his uniform when they met last weekend. It didn't seem like something he was required to wear today either.

He JianShe spoke up casually, "I had some business to attend to this morning and just finished. Since I was already in the area, I figured I’d head over. I promised to help you early, and I didn't want to go back on my word. Shall we head to the market for the groceries now?"

Wang Tianxue: "..."

With the way he was taking charge, he might as well be the head of this house.

After picking up the necessary ingredients, the group headed straight to the new residence.

Once inside, He JianShe acted as if he were at home, hanging his hat and jacket on the rack before rolling up his sleeves and heading for the kitchen.

Observing the orderly way he handled his clothing, Wang Tianxue felt a strange sensation she couldn't quite place.

However, the sounds of activity from the kitchen snapped her back to reality.

He JianShe was technically a guest, and as the host, she couldn't simply let him do all the work.

He JianShe didn't act like a stranger, immediately organizing the groceries and discussing the menu with her.

The chicken and ribs required immediate stewing, the fish needed to be scaled, and the vegetables had to be prepped...

While they were in the middle of their tasks, the doorbell rang. Xiao Long ran to answer it, finding Lin Chuxia, Qin Yang, and Old Master He arriving together.

They were joined by Su Wensong and an elderly woman whom Wang Tianxue didn't recognize.

Su Wensong was the first to speak when he spotted Wang Tianxue. "Director Wang, I hope you don't mind me crashing your party?"

Wang Tianxue was acquainted with Su Wensong through her work; as a member of Xiyang’s high-level management, they had crossed paths in meetings.

However, their relationship had always been strictly professional.

Knowing that he and Lin Chuxia were close, Wang Tianxue welcomed them warmly, as she wasn't the type to be a poor host to any guest.

She busied herself ushering everyone inside.

After serving water to the group, she needed to return to the kitchen to continue the preparations.

Lin Chuxia followed her, offering to help. As soon as she entered the kitchen, she spotted the man expertly cleaning the fish.

Hearing footsteps, He JianShe glanced back and nodded. "Junior Sister."

Lin Chuxia smiled back. "Brother He." She then pulled Wang Tianxue out of the room and whispered, "What's the story here? Why is he in your kitchen?" And so early in the day, too.

Wang Tianxue was still preoccupied with Su Wensong’s arrival. He made sense, but why was Granny Su there?

"I was going to ask you the same thing. Are you sure Granny Su came just for a housewarming?"

"I... I'm not entirely sure," Lin Chuxia admitted.

She had been just as startled to run into Su Wensong and Granny Su downstairs.

"Well, they say the more guests you have at a housewarming, the better. This much life in the house means your future here will be bright. But seriously, why is Brother He here acting like the chef?"

She hadn't even been aware that Brother He possessed any cooking skills.