Chapter 21: From Fire to Frosting

Qin Li's heart nearly jumped out of her chest as she felt a hand land on her shoulder from behind.

On a dark, windy night like this, with the surrounding pitch black, she didn't have the luxury of thinking. Instinctively, she grabbed whatever she could get her hands on and turned around, swinging wildly at the figure behind her. Her scream pierced through the night, sending a flock of startled birds flapping into the sky.

The unexpected victim took a direct hit, staggering backward with a hand clutched to his nose. Seizing the opportunity, Qin Li raised her knee and aimed a swift kick at his lower half. A muffled groan later, the figure dropped to his knees.

Hearing Qin Li's cries, Qu Dani abandoned her bathroom break and sprinted over, pants hastily pulled up. "What happened?" she asked anxiously.

Qin Li, still trembling, pointed at the crouched figure. "I was attacked!"

Alarmed, Qu Dani rushed back to the car to grab her phone, ready to call the police.

Before she could dial, the figure on the ground raised a hand and croaked, "Wait! Wait! Don't call the police—it's me!"

The voice sounded familiar.

The moon slipped out from behind the clouds, casting a silvery glow on the scene. Qin Li squinted at the figure and let out an exasperated sigh.

"It's you!"

Thomas clutched his stomach, his expression pained. "Who else would it be?"

"Why the hell would you sneak up on me like that?" Qin Li demanded.

"How was I supposed to know you're so jumpy?" Thomas shot back.

"Creeping up on someone in the middle of the night isn't exactly reassuring," Qin Li retorted.

"It's not the middle of the night!" Thomas snapped. "It's barely eight. And this is my brother's land—there's no one else around. Who's going to attack you here?"

Qin Li glanced down at him, realizing she might have overreacted. The strength of her earlier kick had been no joke—he was lucky she hadn't left him permanently incapacitated. Feeling a twinge of guilt, she stepped forward to help him up.

"Are you okay?"

Thomas glared at her. "Okay? If I end up unable to have kids, I'll never forgive you!"

Qin Li winced. "Maybe you should go to the hospital, just in case."

Thomas turned his head away with a huff, clearly not interested in further discussion.

Qu Dani, meanwhile, was anything but pleased. She'd rushed over mid-bathroom break only to find out it was all a misunderstanding. To top it off, her friend had been scared half to death. Her tone was icy as she demanded, "What are you even doing here?"

"My brother told me to come get you," Thomas muttered reluctantly.

Qu Dani blinked. "Excuse me?"

Thomas shifted uncomfortably before grumbling, "Fine, you can stay at the house. Stay as long as you want, okay?"

Qin Li and Qu Dani exchanged bewildered glances. The abrupt turnaround was baffling. Only hours ago, both brothers had been adamantly against it.

"Why the sudden change of heart?" Qin Li asked skeptically.

"What do you mean, why?"

"Why are you being so generous? What's in it for you?"

Thomas scowled. "What could I possibly want from you? You're not rich or attractive!"

His eyes darted away as he spoke, betraying his unease. Clearly, there was more to the story.

Qin Li squinted at him, her mind working. "Let me guess—it's because there's no dinner, isn't it?"

Thomas hesitated before letting out a sheepish grunt. "Maybe."

Qin Li's suspicions confirmed, she rolled her eyes.

"Are you coming or not?" Thomas snapped, impatiently changing the subject.

Before Qin Li could respond, Qu Dani cut in. "Of course, we're coming back. But I want my own room with a private bathroom. And you can't change your mind and kick me out later."

"You're pushing it," Thomas grumbled.

Qu Dani folded her arms smugly. "Take it or leave it."

Thomas threw up his hands. "Fine! Whatever you want."

Qu Dani shot Qin Li a victorious grin, flashing a subtle peace sign.

When they returned to the farmhouse, a burnt, acrid smell greeted them at the door. In the kitchen, a charred pile of unidentifiable food sat on the stove, surrounded by a frothy mess. An empty fire extinguisher lay discarded nearby.

"What happened here?" Qu Dani asked, alarmed. "Did you guys have a fire?"

Thomas sighed wearily. "Almost burned the house down."

Qin Li frowned. "How does an electric stove even catch fire? It's not like you're using gas."

Thomas slumped into a chair, defeated. "Too much oil. Then it caught fire…"

"…So you used a fire extinguisher?" Qu Dani said dryly. "Well, at least you didn't try putting it out with water."

"I'm not that clueless," Thomas muttered, waving her off.

"Where's your brother?" Qin Li asked, scanning the room.

"He went to bed," Thomas said flatly.

"This early?"

"He said he was hungry, so he decided to sleep it off and combine dinner and breakfast tomorrow morning."

Qin Li was at a loss for words.

Qu Dani, however, couldn't hold back. "You guys managed to turn dinner into a disaster. How do you even survive day-to-day?"

Thomas shrugged. "When I'm at university, I eat in the cafeteria or order takeout."

"And your brother?"

"Mostly bread. He doesn't really cook."

Qu Dani couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for these two brothers' chaotic lives. Sure, she wasn't exactly a five-star chef, but at least she could whip up dumplings or a decent fried rice. It was moments like this that made her realize her own relative fortune—her small victories shone brightest against someone else's disasters.

Meanwhile, Qin Li unceremoniously dumped the scorched pots and pans into the trash bin, deciding it'd be easier to replace them tomorrow.

Qu Dani peeked into the trash bin and gasped. "Oh my god, these are WMF pans! Each one costs hundreds of euros!"

Expressionless, Qin Li replied, "Then feel free to clean them."

Qu Dani cringed and dropped the pan back into the trash. "No way. They're charred beyond saving. These brothers have no idea how to appreciate nice things."

Thomas, oblivious to their conversation, sidled up and asked in his slightly accented English, "What's for dinner?"

Qin Li shook her head. "The fridge is empty, the pots are ruined. There's nothing to cook."

Thomas groaned, the very picture of despair.

Qu Dani rummaged through the cabinets and drawers, her curiosity piqued. "There's still some flour and baking powder. We could make a cake."

Qin Li nodded decisively. "Let's make a cake."

"What? I was just kidding," Qu Dani protested.

Qin Li shot her a look. "Then what do you suggest we eat?"

With her stomach growling, Qu Dani raised her hands in surrender. "Fine, I'll help."

The farmhouse kitchen wasn't short on dairy supplies—milk, cream, and eggs were in abundance thanks to the farm's livestock. After searching a bit more, Qin Li even found a jar of hazelnut spread. Perfect. She decided on a hazelnut cream cake.

The decision stirred up memories of her ex-husband, Sun Yi. He used to love cream cakes but complained that the ones from the store were too sweet. So Qin Li would buy ingredients and make them from scratch. Back then, her cakes were masterpieces—light, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. Sun Yi had been so proud, often boasting to friends, "I married the best wife! Her cooking is amazing."

Now, standing in this foreign kitchen, the past felt distant and bittersweet.

Thomas, noticing her hesitation, asked, "Need anything else?"

Qin Li shook off the memories and focused. "No, I've got everything I need. I'll let you know if something comes up."

The first step was to make the chiffon cake base. She separated the eggs, whipping the whites and yolks with milk, butter, and flour until they were perfectly airy. The batter went into the oven with a satisfying whoosh of heat.

Qu Dani and Thomas watched in awe as Qin Li worked, her movements swift and precise.

"Sun Yi was a total idiot," Qu Dani muttered. "He gave up a perfect wife like you for some talentless bimbo."

Qin Li gave a wry smile. "These days, bimbos are more valuable than perfect wives."

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Qu Dani scoffed. "That guy will regret it sooner or later. Mistresses are great until they have to deal with the realities of everyday life. Watch, the cracks will show eventually."

About 30 minutes later, the smell of freshly baked cake filled the room—a rich, creamy aroma that was utterly irresistible.

Thomas couldn't contain himself any longer. He hovered near the oven, sniffing the air like a starving wolf. "When can we eat?"

Qin Li shot him a pointed look. "Not until the cream is whipped. You've got at least another hour to wait."

Thomas groaned, pacing like a caged animal, his eyes fixed on the oven.

When the cake was finally done, Qin Li set it out to cool and began whipping the cream. The intoxicating smell even lured Schrödinger the cat into the kitchen. The sleek feline leapt onto the table, meowing persistently.

Qin Li tossed a few crumbs to Schrödinger, but the cat's feast was interrupted by Thomas's sudden shout. The startled cat bolted, hissing in indignation.

Thomas snatched the crumbs off the table and stuffed them into his mouth, chewing like a man possessed.

"You're like a dog," Qu Dani teased, laughing.

Thomas licked his fingers unapologetically. "A dog with great taste."

Once the cream was whipped, Qin Li began frosting the cake with smooth, deliberate strokes.

Qu Dani, still curious, asked, "You two can't cook, but your kitchen is stocked with fancy gear. Why?"

Thomas shrugged. "It's all my mom's."

"Your mom cooked?"

"Yeah, she was a homemaker."

Qu Dani's ears perked up at the mention of family. "What about your parents? Why is it just you two living in this huge house?"

Thomas's tone turned brusque. "Mom ran off. Dad passed away."

Qu Dani opened her mouth to ask more, but footsteps from upstairs interrupted her. The three turned to see Yan Sen descending the stairs—completely naked.

Qu Dani let out a dramatic gasp and covered her eyes. "Is he seriously naked, or am I hallucinating?"

Thomas didn't even blink. "Not hallucinating. My brother always sleeps in the nude."

Qu Dani couldn't help but peek through her fingers. Yan Sen's body was a marvel—lean and muscular, with well-defined abs, a chiseled chest, and perfect proportions.

At first, she pretended to avert her gaze, but soon enough, she was shamelessly staring. Flustered, Yan Sen turned back upstairs, disappearing into his room.

Thomas slammed his hand on the table. "Hey! Stop ogling my brother like some pervy creep."

Qu Dani shrugged unapologetically. "I'm admiring a work of art. If it were you, I wouldn't bother looking."

Thomas let out a wounded howl. "What's wrong with me? I may not have muscles, but I'm not that bad. I've got a scholarly physique!"

Qu Dani gave him a scathing look.

Moments later, Yan Sen returned, this time draped in a robe.

"You're just in time," Qin Li said, setting the finished cake on the table.

Thomas cheered and hurried off to fetch his prized tea set, asking everyone what they wanted to drink.

Qin Li cut the cake into four pieces, and the group dug in. The hazelnut cream was rich yet light, the chiffon base perfectly airy—a delicate balance of flavors that melted in their mouths.

Thomas, nearly moved to tears, clutched his fork dramatically. "This is the best thing I've ever eaten. Qin, you have to promise to make this for us all the time."

Qin Li smirked. "That depends on your behavior."

As they ate, Schrödinger reappeared, leaping onto Thomas's arm in a desperate bid for cake. Unfazed, Thomas continued eating, his arm jerking up and down as the cat clung on like a determined gymnast.

Yan Sen, ever the quiet observer, cut a small slice of cake, placed it on a plate, and pushed it toward the cat.

Schrödinger wasted no time, devouring every crumb with gusto.

Watching the scene, Qin Li felt a surprising warmth. For all his stoic demeanor, Yan Sen clearly had a soft side—it was just hidden under layers of stone-cold reserve.