Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 571 The Little Demon 32

Yun Chu paused, her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively turned to look.

Bai Muyuan.

He appeared at the kitchen doorway at some point, his tall figure blocking out almost half the light.

He was wearing a simple dark gray tracksuit, which made his skin appear even paler.

His eyes, which were as cold as ice and could penetrate the heart, now clearly reflected a hint of surprise as he stared intently at Yun Chu, who was wearing an apron and holding an egg.

The kitchen was quiet for a moment, with only the soft bubbling of tiny bubbles coming from the porridge pot.

"Teacher Bai... Teacher Bai? So early?" Yun Chu was a little surprised and flustered. She subconsciously hid the eggs in her hand behind her back, as if she had done something inappropriate.

The older of the twins is known for his cold and aloof demeanor. During the dinner last night, he was very quiet and his eyes conveyed a sense of distance.

The unexpected solitude made Yun Chu feel an invisible pressure.

Bai Muyuan's gaze swept over her somewhat embarrassed face and then moved to the casserole dish that was steaming.

His nostrils seemed to twitch almost imperceptibly—a very subtle movement, so quick it was like an illusion, but Yun Chu was certain she saw it.

Deep within those cold, stern eyes, something seemed to be stirred by the enticing aroma of the porridge, slowly, like an imperceptible crack appearing on an iceberg.

He didn't answer her question immediately; his gaze remained fixed on the edge of the casserole lid, which was gently undulating due to the steam.

A silence spread between the two, thicker than the morning mist, yet less chilly.

After a long while, he finally moved.

Instead of backing away, he stepped into the kitchen.

With a few long strides, he walked to the kitchen counter and stood diagonally opposite Yun Chu, about two meters away from her across the kitchen island.

The crisp scent spread silently as he approached, mingling with the warm aroma of the kitchen, creating a strange and wonderful combination.

“...It smells very good.” A deep voice broke the silence, like a bass string being plucked.

The voice was flat, without much emotion, but it was simply stating a fact.

His gaze finally shifted from the porridge pot to Yun Chu, a hint of inquiry in his eyes. "I didn't expect someone would get up and prepare all this before the recording even started."

Yun Chu felt a slight sense of relief; the tension from before was largely dispelled by this simple expression of approval.

She gave a slightly shy smile: "I'm used to it... I often make breakfast at home. And I feel more comfortable having some hot porridge in the morning. Everyone was probably tired yesterday."

She carefully lifted a corner of the pot lid, and the rich aroma instantly intensified, with white steam rising and swirling, blurring the boundaries of light.

She stirred it gently with a spoon. The porridge had thickened, the rice grains were soft and fluffy, the red dates were cooked until tender, and the ginger flavor was enhanced by the steam.

Bai Muyuan didn't say anything more, but just quietly watched her actions.

He had his hands in his sweatpants pockets, his posture still upright. His innate aloofness hadn't completely faded, but it seemed to be softened by the warm, misty air and the aroma of food.

The kitchen window wasn't completely closed, and the cool morning breeze, carrying the salty smell of the sea, drifted in, ruffling the slightly damp strands of hair on his forehead.

He didn't move to close the window, seemingly unconcerned about the coolness mingling with the warmth of the kitchen.

He watched as Yun Chu carefully scooped out the boiled eggs and placed them in cold water to soak.

Watching her take the prepared light side dishes out of the refrigerator and plate them.

Her movements carried a domestic, methodical, and meticulous quality.

In the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry, amidst the constant stream of cameras in variety shows, seeing such a genuine, down-to-earth morning scene evokes a sense of unreal tranquility.

The first ray of golden sunlight finally pierced through the mist over the sea, shining obliquely through the small kitchen window and landing right on the edge of the sink.

In that beam of light, tiny dust particles danced merrily.

The rising steam from the stove, the slender figure preparing ingredients at the counter, and the man standing quietly by the door, bathed in the soft light—all these elements combine to create a serene and wondrous silhouette of the morning.

No one broke the silence; only time flowed by silently.

This was an unexpected "warm-up" before the official recording of the show. It had nothing to do with tasks or competition, only the simple appeal of food and a cold man's unintentional momentary longing for warmth.

Until Bai Muyuan withdrew his gaze from the leaping dust, as if he had made up his mind.

"Porridge..." he spoke again, his voice lower and deeper than before, almost blending into the rising steam, "How much longer?"

He didn't look at Yun Chu; his gaze fell back on the casserole, as if it contained some incomprehensible delicacy.

"Huh?" Yun Chu was slightly taken aback, not expecting him to continue this topic. She quickly checked the time and then used a spoon to check the consistency.

"It's almost done. Let it simmer for another three to five minutes, and it will be even softer and more tender. It's ready to eat now," she explained, but a question lingered in her mind: Why did he ask that? Did he... want some too?

The moment this thought crossed her mind, she heard Bai Muyuan say almost without pausing:

“I…I’m not running anymore.” His tone remained as calm as if he were stating the weather, yet it carried an undeniable decisiveness.

He didn't even explain why, as if there was an unspoken logical chain between "the porridge smelled good" and "wanting to stay".

After saying that, he didn't leave the kitchen doorway. Instead, he took two steps closer to the island and glanced at the boiled eggs and side dishes that had been prepared.

This action speaks volumes more than any flowery language.

Yun Chu's heart skipped a beat, and a strange feeling welled up inside him—this person? Because of a bowl of porridge, he changed his unwavering morning exercise plan? This was quite...contradictory.

"Then... would Teacher Bai like to... have a small bowl to try first?" Yun Chu asked tentatively, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

She took a plain white porcelain bowl, and with a spoon, gently skimmed away the bright red date flesh and fine white ginger shreds from the bubbling porridge. She scooped up a spoonful of thick, golden millet porridge, steaming hot.

Bai Muyuan's gaze followed her movements.

He nodded, in a very simple gesture, so small it was almost imperceptible, uttering only a low, indistinct monosyllable from his throat: "Mmm."

Yun Chu placed the bowl of porridge she had prepared on the side of the central island counter closest to him and pushed it towards him.

She deftly placed a peeled, water-dripping hard-boiled egg into the accompanying small dish, along with a small handful of seaweed strips that she had mixed with a little salt and sesame oil that morning, and pushed them over as well.

"Be careful, it's hot," she whispered a reminder.

Bai Muyuan's gaze lingered on the food in front of him for a few seconds.

Under the warm yellow light, the thick porridge gleamed with an enticing sheen, its red, white, and yellow hues intertwined, exuding the simplest fragrance of grains and a subtle hint of ginger and the sweetness of red dates.

This is the "high-carb breakfast" that his agent has repeatedly emphasized he needs to "stay away from," an "indulgence" outside of the training plan.

He didn't act immediately, but just watched the wisps of white smoke rise.

Then he sat down.