"Jin Ling, what do you want to eat?"
The Young Mistress lazily sat upright in his chair, scanning through some papers while Sizhui propped himself up by resting his chin on Jin Ling's shoulder. "What do you think I want to eat?" Jin Ling asked back fervently.
Sizhui frowned, deep in thought. If I get this question wrong... what would happen?
Jin Ling didn't allow him to think anymore, dropping the stack of papers back down on his desk and raising upwards. "You choose."
Sizhui blinked. "Huh?"
"I said," Jin Ling sighed. "You choose what I want to eat."
A small smile unearthed in Sizhui's lips, as he played with Jin Ling's hair. "What about... you cook for me?"
*****
"That idiot Sizhui..." Jin Ling mumbled under his breath as he wiped Suihua's blade clean.
"Anyone with a proper brain should know that I have no idea... how to cook."
All the servants of Lanling Jin was in utter chaotic-mode, swarming around outside the kitchen like a bunch of hungry dogs. "Can you believe it, Young Master Jin is going to cook!"
"The one that'll taste his dish is absolutely lucky! This is Young Master Jin's first time cooking!"
"Are you sure we shouldn't help him?"
"Why should we? I'm sure Young Master Jin wants to complete the dish all by himself."
Jin Ling swung open the kitchen doors, alarming all the crowd outside. "Scram!" He roared, and 'scram' they did. It took him some time to finally prep the kitchen supplies and food, then... finally, he turned on the heat.
*****
"Jin Ling..." Sizhui squirmed in the bed.
"Yes?" Jin Ling frowned, hiding his hands behind his back. "Don't you think that this is too much?" Sizhui squeaked, eyeing the food with a great level of surprise. "Yeah, it's kind of a lot." Jin Ling looked away, "so you better finish it all."
Sizhui bit his bottom lip guiltily. "What if I don't finish it all?"
Jin Ling turned away, his face turning dark. "Then I'll feed the rest to the dogs."
"I'll make sure to eat it all." Sizhui was determined. He picked up the chopsticks and poked gently at the meal in front of him, which had steam pouring upwards. Sizhui got a piece of fish on his chopsticks and fed himself. The fish was-
Spicy.
Why does Jin Ling cook like Senior Wei! That thought thundered in his mind.
"Do you like it?" Jin Ling shyly asked. The tips of his ears were redder than the chili spice sprinkled over the fish. Sizhui's throat burned as he tried to respond. Instead, coughs escaped. Jin Ling's face was full of worry and concern as he ran out, shouting, "I'll go get some tea!"
Sizhui watched the back of his lover scurrying out of the room. It didn't take long for him to come back.
Jin Ling carried a tray of a boiling hot tea cup set. He plopped it down gently, with a small clink sound trailing afterwards. "Here let me pour it for you." Jin Ling said softly.
He reached for the tea set, pouring steaming hot tea into a porcelain cup.
After setting down the tea set, he reached for the porcelain cup. Picking it up, he was about to hand it over to Sizhui, but was interrupted by a twitching pain in his fingers. CRASH!!! Went the porcelain cup, as it fell back onto the table with the tea splashing everywhere. "Jin Ling, are you okay?" Sizhui rose from the bed, hurriedly running towards the table.
He examined Jin Ling's fingers, which were wrapped in bandages.
"What happened?" Sizhui angrily asked. Whoever did that to Jin Ling will pay!
"I..." Jin Ling melted underneath Sizhui's intimidating gaze. "I accidentally cut myself while cooking."
The fire burning in Sizhui's eyes vanished. "Huh?"
"Don't laugh!" Jin Ling fumed in a deep shade of mahogany red. "It was my first time..."
Sizhui blinked. Then, a small laugh escaped from himself. "I said don't laugh." Jin Ling's face had burnt redder in shame. "I'm not." Sizhui smiled, reaching a hand to gently caress Jin Ling's cheek. "I'm only laughing at my own stupidness."
"You're not stupid." Jin Ling frowned.
"No, I am." Sizhui urged.
Jin Ling shook his head, "Sizhui, you're not stupid."
Sizhui bit his lips, "but... I am."
Jin Ling stood up from the table, his face furiously red. "If you were stupid, then I wouldn't have become your boyfriend."
Sizhui stared in awe before rising to his feet as well. "Then Sizhui is smart."
"Yes, Sizhui is smart." Jin Ling nodded.
"But," Sizhui smirked. "Jin Ling is smarter."
Jin Ling's red face faded as he stared blankly at Sizhui. He held his hands behind his back as he leaned in closer, his eyes closed as they twitched involuntarily. A soft and gentle peck was placed on the corner of Sizhui's lips. Tremors had dotted Sizhui's heart lustfully as his eyes widened. Jin Ling gave a small smile after pulling away. "Sizhui really knows how to sugarcoat his words."
Sizhui shamelessly touched his lips, blush coating his cheeks. His heart fluttered once then twice.
"Jin Ling..."
"What...?" Jin Ling had awkwardly eyed him from afar.
Sizhui had a hand clutching his chest. "Can you kiss me again?"
"Huh!?!" Jin Ling was in disbelief. "Why should I kiss you when..." his cheeks stirred in uncontrollable red. "When you can kiss me..." he lowered his voice down to a whisper, but Sizhui heard it wholeheartedly. "Then... don't mind if I do." Sizhui lowered his head, and took one of Jin Ling's hands among his own. His lips pressed against Jin Ling's palm, kissing gently and kindly.
Sizhui could feel Jin Ling trembling, not daring to pull back.
"Jin Ling, you're so precious." Sizhui lifted his lips from Jin Ling's shivering hand, then watched him curiously. Jin Ling's lips were parted as they quivered with ecstasy. "Sizhui... don't tease me."
Sizhui nodded, then brought their lips into a heated kiss.
Jin Ling's connection to his breaths were cut off, as the two lovers' chests pressed against each other. Their arms wrapped around each others' waists, with their lips never breaking apart. They ate at each other like hungry dogs, but never lost their sanity. In fact, they melted against each others' touch, with their eyes closed.
After their session, they pulled apart and gasped for breath. "Sizhui..." Jin Ling's eyes were trimmed with tears.
Sizhui used his thumb and gently wiped away his lover's tears.
"What is it, Jin Ling?"
Jin Ling sniffed once then twice before answering, "Aren't you hungry?"
They both turned to stare at the uneaten spicy fish that Jin Ling made. Sizhui stammered, "just a bit."
"Come," Jin Ling pulled away from Sizhui's touch and arrived at the bed, where the tray of food was placed. They both settled on the bed, with the blanket covering their laps warmly. Jin Ling took a spoonful of fish on the chopsticks, lifting it up to Sizhui's mouth. "Say 'ahh'..." he added. Memories of their past in Cloud Recesses had spilt in Sizhui's mind as he nodded with delight.
"Ahh..." Sizhui followed right after.
And just like that, Jin Ling repeatedly fed his lover with the spicy fish until Sizhui needed ten bowls of rice to compensate for the spice.