Chapter 778

As I got out of the car, I saw Edward, tall and lean, leaning against the door with a glass of water in his hand, watching me. “I thought you’d be here by now,” he said.

I took a moment to steady myself and managed a smile. “Traffic was a nightmare.”

Edward waved me over, and I followed him into the dining room. The table was already laid out with steaming hot dishes, and the delicious smell instantly made my stomach rumble.

“Do you want to eat first, or see the presents?” Edward asked.

I smiled. “Let’s eat first–I’m kind of hungry.”

Edward pulled out a chair for me. “Come sit down. The housekeeper just finished cooking, and there are a few spicy dishes you love.”

Sure enough, I spotted a few dishes from my hometown – stone pot fish head, spicy stir-fried beef, and a hearty soybean and pork trotter soup.

“Edward, you’re so thoughtful,” I said, genuinely moved by the surprise.

It wasn’t about how much money or time it took – what mattered was that he remembered what I liked and always found little ways to brighten my day. It felt like finding a rainbow in the middle of ordinary life.

Edward looked a little shy under my gaze, glancing down with a soft smile. “I figured some hometown food might tempt you to eat a bit more. I’ve noticed you usually keep things light to stay in shape.”

“I’ve put on a little weight lately,” I admitted. Ever since I started dating Edward, you could actually see I’d gotten a bit chubbier.

“Looks like you have,” Edward grinned, his eyes lighting up.

I picked up on his teasing and gave him a mock glare. “So, do you like it?”

Edward nodded. “I do. A lot.”

Ever since I started filling out, the extra weight seemed to land in all the right places. My oval face looked softer, my skin was plump and dewy, and I had that healthy, radiant glow – almost like I was living the good life.

Honestly, it probably had a lot to do with someone spoiling me lately. With all that pampering, even my skin was glowing from the inside out.

Edward was trying to build up his tolerance for spicy food, but after just a few bites, he’d immediately reach for his water.

Seeing him secretly trying to get into the things I liked made me like him even more.

“Any trouble at work lately?” Edward asked, bringing up my job.

Frank Wallace, that sleazeball, immediately came to mind. Out of all the clients I’d ever dealt with, he was the first one who actually dared to lay a hand on me. Just thinking about it made my skin crawl. With how nasty he is, who knows how many women he’s hurt – he’s just disgusting.

“Nope,” I replied, not wanting to talk about that jerk. I was done with him and his company.

Edward quickly switched to another work topic, and I took the glass of red wine he handed me. The wine smelled amazing.

Enjoying good food and a glass of wine after, I just melted into the quiet, laid-back vibe. This kind of chill, peaceful moment was exactly what I needed.

After dinner, I was about to start clearing the table when Edward gently took my hand. “Come upstairs with me.”

“But what about all this stuff on the table?” I hesitated.

“Let the housekeeper handle it,” Edward said softly.

“Is she here?” I asked, curious.

“The housekeeper will be coming by again in half an hour,” Edward said.

“I’ll have the table spotless in half an hour,” I replied, a little embarrassed. I’m kind of a neat freak – maybe even a bit OCD. I guess I’m just used to doing it myself, so cleaning up always feels like second nature to me.

But Edward just kept gently tugging me upstairs. “Don’t steal her job.”

I blinked in surprise, and Edward explained, “She works here and I pay her a salary. If I don’t give her anything to do, she’ll get anxious.”

I finally got it; he was right.

“Sometimes, letting others handle the chores isn’t a bad thing. That’s how they earn their keep,” Edward explained, noticing my puzzled look.