Chapter 82 - Visiting Dai Family's House (2)

"Th-this taste is….!"

The Dai brothers looked at her confusedly, while Li Caiyi stared down at the tea with widened eyes. Her exclamation earlier was not because the tea was exceptionally delicious or something like that, but because the taste was identical to the warm honey tea Shen Qiang made for her. The only difference was this tea was the iced version. 

Dai Shenqiang said Dai Zhiqiang made this tea, but how could that be? 

Li Caiyi raised her head, and her gaze met with Dai Shenqiang's inquisitive one, then she shifted it to Dai Zhiqiang, who looked composed as ever, although he also waited for her to say something. 

Li Caiyi's mind was jumbled, so she tried to calm down and think everything through once again calmly. Why would Dai Zhiqiang know how to produce the same taste that Shen Qiang made? Was it possible that this was just a coincidence?

Did Dai Shenqiang perhaps learn how to make the same tea from his older brother? Yeah, that was one of the possibilities.

"Caiyi? What's wrong? You suddenly yelled and then got quiet." Dai Shenqiang tilted his head in puzzlement.

"Oh, it's nothing. I was just surprised by the taste. It was so delicious."

"I know, right? My brother could not make anything but this, but it's so delicious!" 

Li Caiyi's mouth twitched when she heard that. Another familiar information. "What about you, Shenqiang? Can you make this?"

"Me? Well, I have never tried before, so I don't know."

"It's easy to make. I can teach you how to, if you want," Dai Zhiqiang said to her.

"T-thanks, but maybe later." Li Caiyi replied awkwardly. Although she still believed that Dai Shenqiang was her Shen Qiang, she could not just pretend it was nothing when a new possibility was presented in front of her. It made her fall into deep thought.

What if she had a terrible misunderstanding all along? 

She did not like the idea of losing her lead after she had gone through so much trouble to find it, but if there was one in a hundred chance she had a wrong idea all this time, then she wanted to prove it. But what could she do to do that? 

Li Caiyi barely had any information regarding Shen Qiang, and even if she could narrow down the list of candidates, if Shen Qiang himself did not come out and admit it himself, there was no way for her to know for sure. However, what if Shen Qiang did not have memories of his previous life? Even if she searched for him anywhere, she could only guess, but never one hundred percent sure.

Ever since she ate the candy Dai Shenqiang gave her in the hospital, she was starting to have doubts. She wished she was just overthinking it, but the nagging feeling in her gut kept increasing the more she got to know him.

Li Caiyi stared at Dai Shenqiang with an inexplicable gaze. He said he remembered her, but what if the thing he remembered about her was different from what she thought?

She had to make sure of it!

"Um, are you guys hungry?" Li Caiyi asked amicably.

"Now that you mention it, I feel a bit hungry," Dai Shenqiang said while rubbing his stomach.

"Then, how about I make you guys something?" Li Caiyi suggested, which made the brothers' eyes lit up.

"Seriously? Are you going to do that for us?!"

"You don't have to do that, you know. We have been inconveniencing you by making you help us clean the house. We can't make you cook something for us as well."

"Don't worry! I won't make any complicated dishes, and it just happened I need someone to be my taste-tester. So it's like killing two birds with one stone!" 

"But…" Dai Zhiqiang still felt terrible for making Li Caiyi do so much for them when they were supposed to be the ones who should treat her with hospitality. 

"Then how about this? I will do the bulk, and you will help me with the menial task. That way, it would be fair to everyone." Li Caiyi suggested but then remembered something. "Ah, but you don't have to do anything, Shenqiang. It will be dangerous if you step into the kitchen with that hand."

Dai Shenqiang smiled victoriously. "Nice! I could taste your homemade cooking without needing to spend energy. So lucky!"

"Fine, then. I have never cooked anything before, but I will try my best to assist you," Dai Zhiqiang said with a serious expression.

"It's settled then. Shall we start now?"

***

First, because the ingredients were not enough, they had no choice but to shop first. Li Caiyi had expected it to some extent, but to think the brothers survived until now by eating instant noodles alone, they must have a strong stomach to be able to eat the same type of food for a long time. 

Dai Shenqiang suggested eating pork this time since it had been a long time since he last ate it. When Li Caiyi was about to pay, Dai Zhiqiang held her back, saying that she should not spend her money since she would be the one who made it. She understood that Dai Zhiqiang did not want to inconvenience her further, so she did not argue with him this time. 

After buying the necessary ingredients, they went back to the Dai family's house to cook. 

"Shall we start now?" Li Caiyi smiled at Dai Zhiqiang, to which he replied with a nod. 

Li Caiyi swiftly wore an apron and tied her hair into a bun, exposing her slender nape more. 

Dai Zhiqiang gulped when he realized how stunning she was wearing an apron. She was already beautiful in her uniform, but even more so when she wore an apron. He liked it so much. 

When he realized his mind was going out of the track, he quickly brushed off his unnecessary thoughts. He had to focus here!

In the Dai family, Dai Heng was the one in charge of cooking while cleaning, scrubbing the bathroom, doing laundry, and other house chores were split between the brothers. Ever since their father was hospitalized, the two clueless boys thought they could survive by eating whatever and had never attempted to cook something for themselves. They both thought it was too much of a hassle.

Dai Zhiqiang watched how Li Caiyi mixed some sauce and spice in a small bowl, then gave it to him, "Can you help me mix them?"

Even he could do that much, so he nodded his head obediently. While Dai Zhiqiang was doing her job, Li Caiyi chopped the pork into cube shape and marinaded it. After that, she also chopped the vegetables. 

She would check on Dai Zhiqiang from time to time and instruct him to do things. After her experience with Shen Qiang, she felt like Dai Zhiqiang was a better student. Although his movement was stiff, at least he did not try to do anything weird with the knife or accidentally break things with his uncontrollable strength. 

Li Caiyi heaved a sigh of relief.. Shen Qiang was just too unique in everything he did.