My Wife Came From A Thousand Years Ago

Chapter 77: Liking and being liked are equally beautiful things

Last time, they had buffet hotpot, so this time Xu Qing didn't take her to the same place again.

There were still so many good things Jiang He hadn't experienced yet. Repeating the same thing on this trip felt like a bit of a waste.

"Sir, how many guests?"

"Two."

Xu Qing spoke to the server while holding Jiang He’s hand. She turned her head to look around the restaurant.

Unlike the steaming hotpot place last time, here each table had a grill, and the place was livelier than the hotpot restaurant they visited before.

"Buffet barbecue. You pick, I'll grill."

After paying the bill and collecting the receipt, Xu Qing leaned in and whispered to her, handing over two receipts, "Let’s see how lucky you are."

"Scratch-off. You might win a prize... Never thought I'd still see this kind of receipt nowadays."

He demonstrated with the few he still held. "See this part here? You scratch it off. If you win a big prize... Nope, no luck. Now, scratch yours and see."

"Do these really have prizes?" Jiang He mimicked him, scratched off the two receipts, carefully compared them, but didn’t understand. She simply handed them to him.

"You won." Xu Qing raised his eyebrows.

"What did I win?" Jiang He asked, surprised.

"Congratulations, you won third prize: the right to warm your hands in my pocket."

"......"

A passing server was stunned. Good grief, can’t he have a little shame?

"Go get some food. Take whatever you like. Don't just pile on veggies like last time—pick what you enjoy."

Xu Qing was just joking and didn’t expect to trick her. He washed the utensils and led her to the buffet area.

The odds of winning these scratch-offs were lower than the lottery, just a little fun. But it seemed like a clever way to attract return customers. As long as there was nothing unpleasant about this meal, he'd remember this place if he returned to Jiang City Plaza.

"What kind of meat is this?"

"Beef. You had it during hotpot last time... Oh, right, I grabbed it for you then. You didn’t know?"

During their last hotpot, Jiang He was a bit reserved, taking mostly vegetables. Xu Qing had picked most of the meat for her; all she did was eat.

"Beef, huh..." Jiang He seemed conflicted, hesitating with her hand outstretched.

"If you want it, just take it. It's good." Xu Qing looked around and whispered, "No one's going to arrest you."

If he remembered correctly, back in her time, killing cattle was forbidden.

"Cattle and horses were critical for farming and the military. Killing them meant a sentence of a year and a half—about the same as catching wild birds."

"I know." Jiang He shook her head, finally overcoming her hesitation. She took a plate of beef, ready to try it. "I just... thought of some things."

"Missing Second Boss?"

"Yeah."

"She'd be happy for you. You're here to enjoy life, not to share it... No one deserves you splitting your happiness. Eat as much as you want."

"One plate is enough."

Seeing Jiang He reluctant to take more, Xu Qing didn’t push. Some things couldn't be changed overnight.

Once she realized how good it tasted, maybe she'd stop worrying so much.

"Do you like the shrimp?" he asked.

"Yeah, it's good."

"I'll grab another plate."

Xu Qing, now familiar with Jiang He’s patterns, knew how to handle this. He didn’t ask if she wanted more—he just asked if it was good. Whether it was a hassle didn’t concern him.

As long as Jiang He ate, that was enough.

With him grilling the meat, he was practically her personal chef.

Beef and pork belly sizzled on the grill, tiny wisps of smoke rising as the meat browned and fragrant juices started to drip.

"I still think boiling is better," Jiang He commented once she realized this place was different.

"Because it’s faster?"

"Yeah, you just throw it in and wait. No need to fuss over it."

"Different cooking styles are part of the fun. You’re a martial artist but so impatient. You should learn to relax... Try to enjoy it, don’t just eat to fill up."

Xu Qing pointed out the window with the tongs. "It’s freezing outside, and we’re warm in here, grilling our favorite food. That’s enjoying life. It’s like holding hands—another kind of experience."

"Living is about experiencing joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. Try new things, learn to like them, and life gets easier."

He flipped the pork belly and placed a piece in her bowl. "Try this. You’ll like it."

The more time he spent with her, the clearer it became just how long Jiang He’s learning path was. Things that seemed normal to him were hard for her to grasp.

Enjoying life wasn’t as simple as deciding to. Some habits were tough to break.

Like those wealthy uncles and aunts who owned millions in property but worked low-profile cleaning jobs—not for the experience, but because they truly wanted to.

Some things were ingrained to the bone.

Luckily, Jiang He was still young, adaptable, and not too set in her ways.

"Why aren’t you eating?" Jiang He noticed Xu Qing grilling but not eating.

"Did you forget your appetite?" Xu Qing smiled and flipped the meat. "You eat three pieces, I eat one. Perfect balance."

"I’ll grill instead."

"You don’t grill as well as I do... Here, one for you, one for me."

He handed her a freshly grilled piece, took a bite of his own, and watched Jiang He blowing on hers to cool it. His eyes softened.

Loving someone was so good.

"What are you looking at?"

"You."

"......"

Seeing her lower her head, Xu Qing stopped teasing. He resumed his role as grill master, tossing a few shrimp onto the grill and glancing elsewhere.

"This place is nice... Want that?"

He pointed to the bar shelf with toys, mostly stuffed animals and a few plastic figures.

"No."

"It’s free."

"Really?" Jiang He perked up and looked over.

Free... Who wouldn’t want that?

"There’s a promotion. If we finish everything on our plates, we get a gift." Xu Qing had noticed the flyer when they entered. "With you here, we’re set."

"Then let’s get one."

"They only give one per table."

It didn’t matter if it was a thousand years ago or a thousand years later—girls seemed to have no resistance to stuffed toys.

Xu Qing imagined a cold, skilled lady knight finishing a fight, sheathing her sword, then pulling out a plush bear for a hug...

Kind of cute.

"Jiang He."

"Yeah?"

"You’re really cute," Xu Qing whispered.

"......"

Jiang He lowered her head and focused on eating, ignoring him.

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